August 20, 2026 - Today, NEXON and The First Descendant development team revealed the title’s Season 4 Episode 1 Update, now available and brings with it the new main story: The Great Clash, new mega dungeon content, new Descendant Raven, additional weapons and new systems, a new game mode, Boost Path, rebalance adjustments for Descendants Keelan and Kyle, special in-game events and more.
Season 4 Episode 1 Main Story: The Great Clash
In Season 4 Episode 1, the core narrative finds Descendants facing their final showdown with Karel, the long-standing archenemy who has led Qliphoth’s Legion of Darkness for years, bringing the many storylines to the grand finale. Karel’s invasion sets Albion, the Descendants’ home base, ablaze, portraying him not as a simple villain but as a character with his own motivations and justifications, with long-hidden secrets that will be revealed through this story.
New Content: Mega Dungeon ‘Karel’s Mothership’
The Mega Dungeon ‘Karel’s Mothership’ is introduced in this update and sets the stage for the story’s grand finale, where players intercept the final boss, Karel. Focused on a compelling and satisfying clear experience, it is far larger in scale than existing Infiltration Operations. Players must fight Karel a total of three times, with each battle taking place in a different location. Within each escalating phase of the encounter, players must fight to uncover an instrumental change to Karel’s attack patterns, delivering a final boss encounter of an epic scale. A number of new gimmicks placed throughout dungeons will allow players to turn fights to their advantage.
The highest difficulty, ‘Conquest’, opens for a limited time alongside the Conquest Event on September 3 and closes on October 15. Clearing Conquest even once during the event period grants limited rewards regardless of ranking, including the ‘Hero of the Dawn’ Name Card and UI Theme and an exclusive skin for the Transcendent Weapon ‘Malicious Dominator.’
New Descendant: Raven
A new Descendant Raven will be added to the roster, boasting a history as the former boss of an Albion back-alley guild, where she served as its arbiter. As a goth-concept Descendant with a raven-feather suit and a pet raven at her side, she also shares history with existing Descendants Viessa, Kyle and Sharen. As a Non-Attribute Fusion, firearm-based skill dealer who fights with a shotgun and stylish mobility skills, she does not consume MP. Instead, Raven specializes in shield grinding and shotgun play, coming with differentiated handling such as her own dedicated roll animation.
Raven can be farmed in both high-level and lower-level content. Completing the Season 4 Episode 1 story grants ‘Raven Amorphous Material’ and 100 Rare Basic Materials, making her considerably easier to obtain simply by playing through the story.
Transcendent Weapons - New Weapon System
This update introduces the new Transcendent weapon tier, ranging from pure firearm dealers to attribute-based skill dealers, with each featuring its own firing method and visual effects that feels distinct from existing weapons.
As players farm Transcendent Weapons, the base Quality continuously rises, eventually guaranteeing high-Quality drops and ensuring that early farming is always rewarding. Transcendent Weapons drop from Normal difficulty onward, so Descendants who are still growing can build their progression around them.
New Game Mode: Trials
This update will also feature Trials, a new game mode with repeatable content built on roguelite elements. A single run consists of seven zones, and players select a ‘Variable Code’ each time they advance to the next zone. Variable Codes are not simple buffs but a deck-building system that can be stacked and synergized between codes. These special codes include effects that cannot be experienced in any other content, such as expanding the maximum limit of skill range, and completing a targeted build causes firepower to spike dramatically in the later stages of a run.
'Rotational Build'
Players can borrow and play fully completed Descendant builds prepared in advance by the development team. Descendants who have not yet met entry requirements such as Arche Activity can join Trials immediately, and Rotational Build play is served through a separate matchmaking pool.
Rotational Builds still allow normal farming of Transcendent Weapons, growth currencies such as Archive Shards, and Reactor & External Component progression materials. Two to three builds are offered and rotated each week, so beginners and returning Descendants can experience the power of a finished build and jump straight into farming without needing to manually create a completed setup.
Boost Path: Ultimate Bunny Build Guide
On completion, players will receive a fully equipped ‘Electric Condense’ Ultimate Bunny build, complete except for Ancestors Modules. All gear and growth materials required for that build are provided as rewards.
Running from August 20 throughout Episode 1, all Descendants at Mastery Rank 20 or below are automatically enrolled regardless of when they return (no separate sign-up required).
Descendant Rebalances for Keelan and Kyle
Kyle is undergoing a rebalance by being buffed to leverage his signature mechanic of scaling damage with maximum Shield, bringing him up to a level where he is viable in high-end content such as Onslaught. His skill-to-skill chaining has also been improved for better handling.
Keelan will also be undergoing a rebalance to rework on lowering his execution difficulty and raise his damage floor, delivering more consistent firepower.
Special In-Game Events
A total of 6 assorted events await TFD players:
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[Attendance] Frontline Medical Support - August 20 update through September 23
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An attendance event where players who login daily will be rewarded with Luna’s ‘Medical Support’ skin along with Reactor and External Component growth-support rewards.
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The Great Clash Deployment Mission - August 20 update through September 16
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A challenge mission supporting the new Descendant Raven’s growth and the rebalanced Kyle and Keelan. Rewards include Raven’s Transcendent Module Selection Box, Crystallization Catalysts and Trigger Modules.
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New Content Challenge Mission - August 20 update through September 16
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A challenge mission encouraging Descendants to play new content such as the Mega Dungeon ‘Karel’s Mothership’ and Trials. Rewards include the ‘Butcher’ Malevolent weapon skin for obtaining Transcendent Weapons, as well as Ultimate and Rare Alignment Devices.
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[Returning] Back to Albion - August 20 update through November 11
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A challenge mission for returning Descendants, walking them through the major content added since they left, with rewards centered on Ultimate Weapon core enhancement and Ancestors Modules.
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Accelerate Research Week - August 20 update through September 16
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A research acceleration event offering boosted research speeds, with an even greater effect on weekends.
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Descendant’s Weekend - Runs every Weekend from August 21 through September 16
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A Weekend boost granting additional 20% Descendant EXP, Weapon Mastery EXP and Arche Tuning EXP in the Mega Dungeon ‘Karel’s Mothership,’ Infiltration Operations, and Sigma Sector, plus an additional 20% Gold and Kuiper Shards in Special Operations and Breach Tracking dungeons.
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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. Through this open dialogue with players, the development team is actively listening to fan feedback and reflecting corresponding updates 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 up to 8-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 Korea
Founded in 1994, NEXON Korea is engaged in the production, development, and operation of online games. With a diverse portfolio of over 40 live games available in more than 190 countries, NEXON Korea offers engaging entertainment experiences across PC, console, and mobile platforms. Renowned for its iconic franchises, including MapleStory and Dungeon&Fighter, as well as newer titles like ARC Raiders, The First Berserker: Khazan and MABINOGI MOBILE, NEXON Korea is dedicated to delivering innovative, high-quality game experiences to players worldwide. For more information, visit the official website: https://company.nexon.com/en/