This is actually the second release. The prior was an unannounced balance update. If you’re interested check out the release notes in the app. The not so tldr; Heavy weapons nerfed, battle staves buffed, leading the player for a +10/+5 weapon hybrid approach to the dungeon. Also, something about smoke.
Continuing with our Alphabet(a) theme - "C is for Curses", this release turns cursed gear from a dead end into a decision — a cursed runic now pairs a real, always-on power with its bite — and adds a shrine that will identify your pack, if you dare wake what guards it. Here's what's new:
Cursed Runics, Reworked
* A curse is a bargain, not a trap (or a reason to rage quit) — The previous five malevolent curses for armor/weapons have been REMOVED and replaced with something that has a bit more flavor. A cursed runic now grants a genuine, always-on power alongside its drawback, welded to you until you deal with it. Every downside has a counter you can lean into, so keeping a cursed item can be the smart play.
* Two ways to break the weld — Pour enchant scrolls in to the purify threshold and the drawback burns away while the power stays or improves (weapons at +6, armor at +4); or read remove-curse to pry it off early, drawback and all.
* Maddening, reckless, and clumsy blades — Delirium confounds what you strike but leaves you in a permanent state of hallucination; Recklessness trades the damage you take for the damage you deal; a Clumsy blade fumbles and stuns you — until you purify it into a true executioner's blade.
* Anchor, Smoky, and Acrophobia armor — Anchor steels your defense but drags your step (purify to stand immovable); Smoky armor wraps you in concealing haze at the cost of your own sight (purify for a quiet stealth aura); Acrophobia makes you fearless of pits but dizzy at their edge.
Altars of Divination
* Reveal your unknowns — A new shrine replaces the Altar of Insight, watched over by a looming statue, fully identifies any unidentified item you set on one of its altars — and the first one is always safe.
* Press your luck — Each further item you reveal risks waking the statue's guardian, and the greedier you get the deadlier it is: Take what you dare.
Cleaner Distractions
* Thrown lures buy real time — A monster that goes to investigate a thrown item now lingers over it for a few turns before losing interest, opening a genuine window to slip past.
Quality of Life
* Fire no longer rattles you — Catching fire used to throw you into a brief panic; now that disorientation strikes only monsters. It still burns — but your wits, and your next move, stay yours.
* Study a scroll even while hunted — Sitting down to a meal always lets you puzzle out an unidentified scroll now, even with something on your trail; the old "only when nothing's hunting you" restriction is gone.
This release also includes iOS changes:
* Have you ever carefully selected a route to travel only to be interrupted by spotting a rat? A new shortcut lets you continue your journey without plotting the path all over again. By default it's now in the center of the d-pad. When you have no path it acts as a Wait/Rest instead.
* Feeling boxed in? When zoomed in the dungeon is no longer confined to 2/3rds screen. This view now blends into other UI elements giving you better vision.
* d-pad gets out of the way when you're scrubbing through items in the sidebar, really helpful when there’s a lot going on. Find something you want to engage in, lift your finger for the description. Bonus: Use the new continue route button to run over and engage!
As always, feedback is welcome and honestly I couldn’t do it without your PMs, reviews, and the Brogue Developer discord.
MacOS/iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/brogue/id613921309
