BioWare Gives a Peek at Anthem Javelin Builds the Studio Is Looking Into

Anthem Javelin Builds

While BioWare initially planned for a September update on what’s happening with Anthem, the month went by without anything official announced. Well, here we are in the last few days of October, and surprise! BioWare has now posted a new blog on the Anthem Javelin builds!

This blog focus on the concerns of Anthem players, what the studio is looking into, and what they’re brewing in the studio. Note that whatever it is shown below, nothing is final, as we’re quite far off from seeing Anthem 2.0 pop out of the woodwork.

Check out the studio’s explanation and thought process below.

Javelin Gameplay and Builds

As we’ve spent time engaging with all of you, and avidly playing the game, we’ve seen and heard a common theme: “Anthem doesn’t offer satisfying Javelin Builds!” We want to improve this too, so we’re excited to hear what you think about the changes we are trialing around the concept of “builds”:

  • Choice and Experimentation in your Loadout
    • All items are categorized to one of the 11 available equipment slots
    • Weapons are either Primary or Secondary, allowing distinctiveness in their role
    • Mods and Artifact slots replace Components
    • Manage Equipment and Abilities in your Loadout Screen
  • Reliably Create Builds
    • Abilities are unlocks, not drops! Play with the Abilities you want, when you want
    • Empower your Abilities by equipping them with Mods
    • Builds are defined by the synergies of Specializations, Abilities, and Equipment
    • Inscriptions improve build synergies, but are no longer the primary factor
  • Provide Choice and Progression through Skill Trees
    • Each Javelin can level up, awarding Skill Points
    • Skill points can be spent to unlock Abilities, Passives, and Stat Boosts
    • Each Specialization has its own Advanced Skill Tree
  • Expand on the Fantasy and Playstyles of Each Javelin
    • Javelins have access to multiple specializations that cater to different styles of gameplay
    • Each Javelin now wields a powerful Artifact that can be customized

Exploring Skill Trees

When considering how you grow and become more powerful in Anthem, we observed that Pilot Level isn’t a satisfying measure of your progress, so we set out to answer the question, “What would it look like for Freelancers to become more skillful at piloting each Javelin?” We’ve been exploring the idea of Javelin experience and levels which allow you to permanently unlock Abilities for your Javelin that you can then customize further with Mods.

We’re currently testing these ideas via a new skill tree system. In this system, each Javelin would have a “basic” skill tree where all the baseline Abilities, Passives, Triggered Abilities, and Stat Boost for your Javelin can be unlocked.

We would like you to be able to focus on the specific style of gameplay you like best about your Javelin, so after the basic tree is completed, we’re also testing the concept of Specializations. Each Specialization would have an Advanced Skill Tree where you’ll unlock Specialization-specific Abilities, Upgrades, and more.

In addition to that, the studio is also looking at new Artifacts system! Read on what it means for the overall gameplay.

What is an Artifact?

We’ve heard from you that Components feel like nothing more than stat modifiers. With that in mind, we’re also experimenting with a new Artifacts system to replace them. Artifacts are pieces of super powered tech that set your Javelin and Freelancer apart. Each Javelin type would have a distinct Artifact catering towards its class fantasy. For instance, your Ranger’s rocket pod would be upgraded into the Skyfell Launcher Artifact, a pair of back-mounted pods that transform into powerful rocket launchers.

These Artifacts would change in appearance, depending on what parts you equip. There’s also an opportunity to allow for more interesting decision making. The parts you equip would contribute to a powerful passive ability generated by the Artifact.

Well, there you have it! Hopefully, we’ll see another update on the game before 2020 is done. Don’t forget to check out the previous development update on Anthem regarding the loot (even if it looks similar to Destiny).

Source: BioWare Blog

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