March 10, 2026 - Yesterday, NEXON and The First Descendant development team revealed key details in a special livestream for the March Update coming on March 12. This update will include several key features, including the rebalance of the Descendant ‘Sharen’, the addition of a new melee weapon ‘Crime and Punishment’, and the new dungeon ‘Legion Laboratory’.
Descendant Balance Update: ‘Sharen’
This update will primarily focus on balancing Sharen, such as increasing the usability of skills beyond ‘Area Suppression’, improving mobility to better align her with the current meta, and enhancing the underutilized ‘Skill Module’ to broaden build options. Additionally, improvements are being prepared to further reinforce ‘Sharen’s assassin concept, including base skill adjustments to her ‘Cutoff Beam,’ ‘Active Camouflage,’ ‘Shock Nuts’ and ‘Flash Shortsword.’ Adjustments will also be made to her Skill Modules, including ‘Release Cutting Force,’ ‘Overcharged Edge’ and ‘Focused Edge (Former Area Suppresion.’
New Infiltration Operation: ‘Legion Laboratory’
A new Infiltration Operation will be added to Axion, set in a facility once used to develop a new legion, featuring a distinctive route that transitions from indoor to outdoor areas, then back indoors. This also introduces a new ‘Champion Special Effect’ and the boss ‘Sculptor,’ the head of the laboratory, but now serving as a commander developing the ‘Vulgus’ legion. The ‘Artillery’ effect periodically fires lobbed projectiles from Champion monster towards nearby targets, splitting into exploding mines upon impact.
New Melee Weapon ‘Crime and Punishment’
A new dual-blade-type melee weapon, ‘Crime and Punishment,’ is coming in this update, which has been designed to deliver powerful attacks to a small number of enemies within a narrow range. Players will be able to farm this new weapon in the new ‘Legion Laboratory’ Infiltration Operation.
New Modules Added
Two new Trigger Modules, ‘Tactical Disruption’ and ‘Bloody Deployment’, will be added alongside the update. ‘Tactical Disruption’ is a stealth-focused module that, upon exiting stealth, either deals damage to enemies or grants a buff to the player, depending on the situation. It can further be utilized by stealth-capable Descendants such as ‘Sharen‘ and ‘Hailey.’ Additionally, ‘Bloody Deployment’ grants additional melee damage proportional to Max HP, which can be particularly effective for Descendants with self-sustain capabilities, such as ‘Yujin’ and ‘Gley.’
Three new Defense Modules will also be added, introducing three weapon modules that utilize the melee weapon defense system. These modules either accelerate defense gauge recovery or grant beneficial effects—such as increased ‘Critical Hit Damage’—when consuming defense gauge.
Two new Skill Modules Fierce Attack and Septic Torrent will be added to improve Descendant Keelan’s gameplay. Fierce Attack will assist with lowering the operational difficulty, adjusting ‘Fierce Attack,’ ‘Septic Turbulence,’ and introducing a shift from his previous forward-engagement concept. Additionally, Septic Torrent was designed to create synergy with melee weapons, allowing Keelan to gain ‘‘Acidic Infusion Level’ through melee attacks, enabling a blink-style approach attack and grants a buff that increases melee damage.
Weapon Balance Updates
New balance adjustments for ‘Wave of Light’ will be made where shooting enemies generates a ‘Solar Halo’, and shooting it again creates an ‘Aureole.’ Additionally, the ‘Aureole’ now generates an AOE field that deals damage to surrounding enemies, improving its capability for wide-area attacks.
‘King's Guard Lance’ new balance adjustments will improve firearm effects, usability, and overall efficiency, while removing the mechanism of charging the installed ‘Guardian Lance’ by shooting it. Additionally, a new function has been added where the ‘Guardian Lance’ deals increased damage when it attacks enemies already hit by the ‘King's Guard Lance.’
‘Descendant Mission Board Update’
A new system will also be introduced that consolidates routine daily and weekly activities, offering high-efficiency rewards into the ‘Descendant Mission Board’, allowing all players to intuitively track and complete them through a single interface.
March Events
Through this update, new events will take place for players to participate in. Beginning on March 12, a five-week attendance event, ‘Premium Cleaning Service Request’ will occur where players can earn key rewards, including the ‘Bunny's Cleaning Service skin’ and ‘Freyna's Cleaning Service skin.’
Also on March 12, another five-week event ‘Silion's Module Enhancement Mission’ will also begin, where players can earn ‘Master Token’ through daily missions and use them to purchase items. Key rewards for this event will focus on Ancestors Modules–related items.
Discount Coupon Distribution Event
Starting March 12, all Descendants will receive a '100 Caliber' discount coupon upon login. Additionally, purchasing the new 'Reborn Assassins Bundle' (available March 12) will grant an extra '500 Caliber' discount coupon, exclusive for use on 'Limited Bundle' items.
Descendants can dive deeper into the world of The First Descendant by joining the conversation on Discord. This channel was created as part of The First Descendant’s ongoing commitment to improving communication and gathering valuable feedback from the community. Players have responded positively, appreciating that their feedback is being heard and reflected in the game’s development.
Stay connected by following on X (formerly Twitter), liking on Facebook, catching updates on YouTube or keeping up with the latest news on tfd.nexon.com.
More about The First Descendant:
Launched in July 2024, The First Descendant is a next-generation third-person co-op action RPG looter shooter featuring high-quality graphics developed using Unreal Engine 5. In the game, players become a Descendant whose mission is to combat against alien invaders – The Vulgus who crossed dimensions over 100 years ago and brought with them the devastating Colossi and destruction– for the survival of humanity and to protect Albion and the continent of Ingris. Players will encounter spectacular stories as they grow stronger through various missions and raids to finally discover the Descendants' secret. Cooperation is crucial as players team up with one another in strategic 4-player boss fights where teamwork and tactics are key. New equipment, materials, and items obtained through a myriad of missions and boss fights will contribute to players’ character development.
About NEXON Co., Ltd. https://www.nexon.co.jp/en/
Founded in 1994, NEXON Co., Ltd. (Nexon) (3659.TO) is a global leader in the production, development and operation of online games. First listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in December 2011, Nexon has since been listed on JPX400, Nikkei Stock Index 300, and Nikkei 225. Nexon currently has more than 40 games operating in more than 190 countries on PC, console, and mobile. Major game franchises include MapleStory, Mabinogi, and Dungeon&Fighter. In 2024, the company set a multi-year IP Growth Initiative that details vertical growth with new experiences in existing major franchises and horizontal growth with the creation of the new pillars in the company’s IP portfolio.