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Cacao Games is stepping into 2026 with a bold vision for Odin: Valhalla Rising, promising to expand the game’s roster of classes and redefine how players experience support and damage roles in the MMO landscape. With the announcement of two highly anticipated classes—the Bard and the Thunderbringer—the development team is signaling that the game is committed to both depth and creativity, bringing players not just new abilities, but entirely new ways to approach combat, teamwork, and strategy. The Bard: Redefining the Support Role The first announcement revolves around the Bard, a class that many MMO players might immediately associate with a musical instrument and a cheerful personality. However, Cacao Games is doing something far more innovative. This Bard is not just a skin with a guitar, nor is it simply a cosmetic or flavor addition. It is a fully realized class that derives from the Priestess tree, indicating that it will operate as a support-focused role with its own identity and mechanics. In many MMOs, the Bard is often a misunderstood class. Players tend to think of it as a “weak support” that merely boosts party stats in minor ways. However, in Odin: Valhalla Rising, the Bard promises to push the boundaries of what support classes can do, offering a rich blend of utility, Valhalla Rising Diamonds, team control, and clever combat manipulation. It’s designed to shine not only in PvE scenarios but also in PvP, where its abilities can have dramatic and unpredictable effects. The real strength of a Bard in high-level gameplay is its capacity to make opponents question what is happening on the battlefield. Are they losing because of raw damage? Or is the Bard’s “poisoned ballad” or magical melody slowly tipping the scales in your team’s favor? This type of gameplay introduces a level of psychological complexity rarely seen in traditional MMO combat, where reaction speed and strategic awareness are just as important as gear and damage output. From a thematic perspective, the Bard fits seamlessly into the Norse-inspired world of Odin: Valhalla Rising. Drawing from the rich mythology and aesthetics of the game, the Bard is not merely a classical musician. This class embodies a mystical, almost ritualistic connection to magic, weaving the lore of Norse gods and sagas into every spell and buff. Players can expect the Bard to operate as a crucial linchpin of team dynamics, capable of turning the tide of a raid or a skirmish with the right sequence of melodies and magic. Thunderbringer: Channeling the Fury of the Storm While the Bard focuses on subtlety and strategy, the Thunderbringer is all about raw, destructive power. This class is derived from the Warrior tree, and its very name evokes imagery of storm and fury. Players encountering the Thunderbringer will immediately recognize its focus: overwhelming, electrifying damage that dominates the battlefield. The appeal of the Thunderbringer is multi-layered. On a purely mechanical level, it offers a satisfying blend of melee combat and elemental impact. Imagine striking an enemy with the weight of a hammer, only to see lightning crackle across the battlefield, stunning foes and leaving devastation in its wake. This is the sort of fantasy that resonates strongly in the MMO genre: players want to feel powerful, god-like, and heroic, and the Thunderbringer delivers on all fronts. From an aesthetic standpoint, the Thunderbringer feels tailor-made for Odin: Valhalla Rising’s universe. The Norse setting, with its dramatic skies, rugged landscapes, and mythic tone, naturally lends itself to a class that embodies the force of a thunderstorm incarnate. The game’s developers understand that players are drawn to visually impressive abilities as much as they are to mechanical efficiency. The impactful visuals of thunder, lightning, and heavy blows are designed to make every engagement feel cinematic and thrilling, reinforcing the fantasy of being a mighty Norse warrior. The Thunderbringer also has the potential to become a fan-favorite. Classes that provide high-impact visual and mechanical satisfaction often rise to prominence in the MMO community. The combination of raw strength, elemental flair, and the archetypal “godly warrior” theme is a recipe for a class that is both fun to play and fun to watch, which is crucial in an era of streaming and competitive PvP. Balancing Identity and Gameplay One of the most intriguing aspects of these two new classes is how they reflect Cacao Games’ commitment to identity-driven gameplay. In many MMOs, new classes are often added with the risk of overlapping with existing roles. A new damage dealer might feel too similar to an existing warrior, or a support class may feel redundant in raids. Odin: Valhalla Rising, however, is taking a different approach. The Bard and Thunderbringer are not just variations on existing mechanics—they are archetypes brought to life with distinct abilities and thematic resonance. The Bard brings teamplay complexity and subtle battlefield influence, while the Thunderbringer offers sheer power and visual spectacle. This dual focus ensures that players of different playstyles—those who enjoy strategy, coordination, and subtlety versus those who prefer raw destruction and dramatic flair—can find a class that truly resonates with their preferences. Furthermore, the introduction of these classes in the first half of 2026 signals that the developers are serious about refreshing the player experience regularly. MMOs thrive when their class systems feel dynamic and evolving, and Odin: Valhalla Rising’s approach demonstrates an understanding that class identity is central to long-term engagement. Players are not merely looking for numbers and stats—they are looking for roles that feel meaningful, iconic, and immersive within the game world. Impact on PvE and PvP Both the Bard and Thunderbringer are designed to impact multiple aspects of gameplay. In PvE, the Bard can enhance the effectiveness of parties, helping to manage complex encounters, while the Thunderbringer can deal with high-health bosses with impressive efficiency. The synergy between these classes and existing ones opens up new strategies and team compositions, which can transform dungeon runs, raids, and exploration alike. In PvP, the stakes become even more fascinating. A Bard’s ability to manipulate buffs, debuffs, and crowd control can create situations where skillful timing outweighs raw damage. Players must not only react to the obvious threats, such as the Thunderbringer’s lightning strikes, but also anticipate the subtle, hidden influences of a well-played Bard. This adds a layer of depth and unpredictability to PvP encounters, making fights less about who has better gear and more about strategy, awareness, and execution. The Thunderbringer, on the other hand, introduces the kind of visceral thrill and spectacle that is immediately recognizable in competitive play. Watching a player summon thunderous impacts and crackling lightning across the battlefield is not just mechanically satisfying—it is emotionally rewarding, which can make moments of victory feel particularly epic. Looking Ahead: 2026 and Beyond Cacao Games’ announcement for 2026 represents a strategic evolution for Odin: Valhalla Rising. The introduction of these classes is more than just an addition of new abilities; it reflects a philosophy of design that prioritizes player engagement, creativity, and narrative cohesion. By providing distinct roles with strong thematic resonance, the developers are reinforcing the game’s commitment to a living, breathing Norse-inspired MMO universe. The first half of 2026 is just the beginning. With the Bard and Thunderbringer setting new standards for identity-driven gameplay, the community can anticipate further innovations. Future classes will likely continue to explore unique archetypes and mechanics, keeping the game fresh and encouraging players to experiment with new strategies and team compositions. This approach is likely to strengthen both the PvE and PvP communities, as players seek to master the nuances of each new role and discover the best synergies between them. Conclusion The announcement of the Bard and Thunderbringer in Odin: Valhalla Rising marks an exciting chapter in the game’s evolution. By introducing classes that are both mechanically distinct and deeply rooted in the game’s Norse aesthetic, Cacao Games is not just adding options—it is reshaping the way players interact with the game world, with each other, and with the very mechanics of combat buy Odin Valhalla Rising Diamonds. The Bard promises strategic depth, team control, and subtlety, challenging players to think critically and act skillfully. The Thunderbringer offers raw power, elemental fury, and cinematic satisfaction, appealing to players who want to feel the might of the storm at their fingertips. Together, these classes exemplify the balance of innovation, fantasy, and gameplay excellence that has come to define Odin: Valhalla Rising. As we move further into 2026, players can look forward to experiencing the full impact of these classes, experimenting with new strategies, and exploring the ever-expanding tapestry of Norse-inspired adventure that Cacao Games has so meticulously crafted. With such thoughtful design and a commitment to identity-driven MMO gameplay, Odin: Valhalla Rising is poised to remain a standout title in the MMO landscape, offering both familiar thrills and fresh, imaginative experiences for players around the world.

In the sprawling universe of Warborne: Above Ashes, few champions capture the imagination quite like Veska, the Spirit Serpent. As one of the game's most versatile and strategically complex heroes, Veska excels at both disruption and survivability, making her a formidable presence in PvP encounters and PvE challenges alike. Understanding her unique skill set, passive abilities, and tactical applications can elevate any commander’s gameplay, turning the tide of battle in the most critical moments. The Essence of Veska: Who is She? Veska embodies the duality of offense and defense. While many heroes in Warborne: Above Ashes specialize in either aggressive crowd control or tanky resilience, Veska blends both into a cohesive, reactive kit. Her gameplay revolves around timing, Warborne Above Ashes Solarbite, and understanding the layers of her abilities—most notably her active skill, Serpent’s Whisper, and her passive, Shedskin. At first glance, Veska may appear deceptively fragile. Her base health and defenses are modest compared to tanky frontliners, and she relies heavily on timing and strategic placement to maximize her potential. However, players who master her skill rotation and cooldown management will find Veska to be a game-changing hero capable of turning dire scenarios into decisive victories. Active Skill – Serpent’s Whisper Veska’s signature ability, Serpent’s Whisper, is as versatile as it is deadly. This skill is not just a damage tool—it is a utility powerhouse that allows Veska to dictate the pace of combat. Mechanics and Effects When cast, Serpent’s Whisper can target either Veska herself or an allied unit. Its effects are multilayered: Movement and Skill Suppression: For 4 seconds, the caster or allied target becomes immune to all damage and control effects while also preventing movement and skill usage. This paradoxical combination makes Serpent’s Whisper a potent protective mechanism, allowing Veska or her allies to survive high-damage burst attacks or hazardous environmental effects. Damage Over Time (DoT): Simultaneously, the skill deals magic damage to nearby enemies every 0.5 seconds at a [Damage Rate: 58%]. The persistent damage ensures that Veska’s ability contributes offensively even while serving as a defensive utility. Creeping Stone Application: Serpent’s Whisper applies Creeping Stone, a stacking debuff that petrifies enemies and reduces their armor by 25% at maximum stacks. The debuff lasts for 1 second per stack and can stack up to 4 times. After reaching the maximum, targets cannot receive Creeping Stone for 6 seconds, balancing its power. This aspect of Veska’s skill is crucial in both PvP and PvE, as it provides reliable crowd control and softens enemy defenses for follow-up damage. Dispel Resistance: A notable advantage is that Serpent’s Whisper cannot be dispelled. Unlike other buffs that enemies may remove with cleanse abilities or certain items, Veska’s protection and control effects remain steadfast, giving her unparalleled reliability in prolonged engagements. Tactical Applications The versatility of Serpent’s Whisper allows it to fulfill multiple roles: Defensive Pivot: By casting it on herself, Veska can absorb lethal bursts, cleanse debuffs, and reposition safely in the middle of chaotic battles. Ally Protection: When used on a key teammate, such as a damage dealer or healer, it can prevent devastating enemy combos and sustain the team’s momentum. Offensive Utility: By strategically placing enemies within the AoE of Serpent’s Whisper, Veska can reliably apply Creeping Stone, reducing enemy armor and setting them up for devastating chain attacks from the rest of the team. Timing is everything. Using Serpent’s Whisper too early may waste its protective capabilities, while using it too late can result in the death of the caster or allies. Veteran players often combine Serpent’s Whisper with high-damage ultimates or zone-control effects, maximizing both offense and defense simultaneously. Passive Skill – Shedskin While Serpent’s Whisper handles situational control and protection, Veska’s passive, Shedskin, ensures that she remains a persistent threat even in the deadliest of encounters. Mechanics and Effects Shedskin is a reactive survival mechanism that triggers automatically when Veska would otherwise take lethal damage. Its effects include: Survival at 1 HP: Instead of dying, Veska retains 1 HP and transforms into her spirit serpent form. This near-miraculous survival ability gives her a second chance in critical moments, often catching opponents off guard. Cleansing Debuffs: Upon activation, all negative effects—controls, damage-over-time effects, and other debuffs—are immediately removed. This includes stuns, silences, poisons, and other lingering effects that would otherwise incapacitate her. Temporary Immunity: Veska gains immunity to damage, debuffs, and control effects for 2 seconds, creating a brief window to escape, reposition, or counterattack. Movement and Healing Boost: While in spirit serpent form, Veska moves 100% faster and heals 5% of her HP every 0.5 seconds. This allows her to flee from threats, reposition for optimal skill usage, or even continue contributing damage. Cooldown Management: Shedskin has a cooldown of 120 seconds, emphasizing the importance of careful planning and strategic engagement. Mismanagement of this cooldown can leave Veska vulnerable during subsequent battles. Tactical Applications Shedskin makes Veska extremely difficult to kill in burst-heavy scenarios. The ability synergizes with Serpent’s Whisper, as players can use the active skill defensively, then rely on Shedskin as a safety net in prolonged fights. In PvP, clever use of Shedskin can bait enemies into overcommitting. Opponents may assume Veska is vulnerable and invest high-damage abilities to finish her, only for her to survive with 1 HP, cleanse their crowd control, and retaliate. In PvE, Shedskin reduces downtime, letting her navigate dangerous zones and boss mechanics with a higher margin of error. Combos and Synergy Mastering Veska is not only about understanding her individual abilities but also about integrating her into broader team strategies. Creeping Stone Chains: Veska’s Serpent’s Whisper stacks Creeping Stone debuffs, which can be exploited by damage dealers. Coordinating her skill with heavy-hitting AoE or single-target burst attacks allows the team to capitalize on the 25% armor reduction at max stacks. Ally Protection Cycles: Pairing Serpent’s Whisper with allies who have long cast animations or channeling abilities ensures uninterrupted damage output while mitigating enemy counterattacks. Spirit Serpent Escapes: When combined with mobility-heavy teammates, Shedskin can act as both a distraction and escape mechanic. Veska can trigger her passive, draw enemy attention, and allow her allies to reposition or focus on high-priority targets. Timing with Ultimates: Many ultimate abilities in Warborne: Above Ashes have long wind-up times or require positioning. Using Serpent’s Whisper defensively on allies or herself buys the necessary time for these ultimates to land effectively. PvP Dominance Veska shines in PvP due to her ability to disrupt enemy formations and survive otherwise fatal encounters. Her unique combination of immunity, crowd control, and self-preservation makes her a nightmare for opponents who rely on predictable burst damage or status effect chains. Baiting and Punishment: Skilled Veska players can bait enemy skills, absorbing high-damage abilities with Serpent’s Whisper or Shedskin, then punish the overextension with her magic damage and Creeping Stone stacks. Team Fight Control: By petrifying multiple enemies and reducing their armor, Veska effectively sets up her entire team for devastating follow-up attacks, turning otherwise balanced skirmishes into decisive victories. PvE Applications In PvE content, Veska’s toolkit is equally valuable: Boss Fights: Bosses with high burst or debuff-heavy mechanics are countered effectively by Shedskin, allowing Veska to survive lethal phases and continue dealing damage. Dungeon Crawls: Her AoE magic damage and armor reduction facilitate smoother dungeon progression, allowing the team to clear mobs faster and more efficiently. Solo and Semi-Solo Play: Veska’s survival mechanics make her forgiving for players navigating difficult zones alone, providing a unique mix of sustain, damage, and crowd control. Mastering Veska: Tips for Players Timing is Crucial: Both Serpent’s Whisper and Shedskin rely on perfect timing to maximize their impact. Overuse or premature activation can squander their potential. Positioning Matters: Veska’s abilities affect areas around her. Staying near allies or central points in team fights increases the efficacy of Creeping Stone and AoE damage. Cooldown Awareness: Tracking the 120-second cooldown of Shedskin is vital. Avoid reckless engagements when it is unavailable. Combo Planning: Coordinate with teammates who can capitalize on Creeping Stone debuffs or protect Veska while her defensive abilities recharge. Conclusion Veska in Warborne Above Ashes Solarbite for sale is more than just a hero—she is a paradigm of tactical flexibility. Her combination of offensive damage, crowd control, and near-miraculous survivability makes her a unique pick for both seasoned commanders and new players seeking impactful gameplay. Mastering Veska requires an understanding of timing, positioning, and synergy with allies. When used correctly, she can dictate the flow of battle, turn the tide in PvP arenas, and overcome challenging PvE encounters. Whether petrifying foes with Creeping Stone, protecting allies with Serpent’s Whisper, or surviving the deadliest blows thanks to Shedskin, Veska exemplifies the depth, strategy, and excitement that Warborne: Above Ashes has to offer. For players looking to elevate their command, Veska is a must-learn champion. Her blend of offense, defense, and utility ensures that every battle is not only a test of reflexes but also of strategy, creativity, and precise timing. In the evolving battlefield of Warborne: Above Ashes, few heroes are as rewarding—or as deadly—as the Spirit Serpent.

Wildfire Games doesn't do packaging for distros, the distros package it on their own. That way they can package the dependencies and other things required for the game. In short, that is more of a Linux mint problem, not a Wildfiregames. However, they usually only provide up-to-date packages because that's what most people want. I honestly would recommend trying to port the scenarios. It may be difficult, but while installing v23 successfully might work, you'll be kicking the can down the road, and eventually you'll have to port it.

Wow. I most certainly appreciate all the work and responses in this post. Thank you. But I feel like Im back to square 1 (start) and dont know what I should try that will actually work. -The Debian Bullseye is just that isnt it? Using Bullseye to compile and try and get a working .deb that will work in Mint 22.2. But Mint (the cinnamon version I use) is Ubuntu. Why wouldnt you use a Live USB of 22.2 that is Ubuntu based? - I still dont get why I cant get Wildfire to merely state WHERE the original Ken Wood v23 is that was uploaded to the Mint repositories already in a complied .deb format. If I run these commands in the terminal it will install the latest v. 0AD only apt-get update apt-get install 0ad

I checked the python repo and it picked my interest. Particularly headless option you mentioned would be very useful. I have question regarding this cmd: pyrogenesis --rl-interface=0.0.0.0:6000 --autostart-nonvisual --mod=rl-scenarios --mod=public Is there any api documentation regarding how to communicate with this interface? I.e. what should you send to this port to execute some part of the game (assuming I understand this interface correctly, sorry I didn't have much time to examine python scripts in detail..). In my case what I needed would be to actually load given map remotely, and save this map after period of time.

Happy and prosperous new year to all of you!

My idea is to place each tip in one category of each, e.g. the siege tower tip in "Medium" & "Military". That way the number of tips per combination stays relatively small and will hopefully make it easier to find specific tips or browse in an area that you're interested in. An index for all tips would be nice to have indeed, and some basic search functionality too. But that'll be more work.

The de-facto standard these days is GLTF.

I( wonder then, if we were so inclined, what format would we go to then? Why is Collada dropped? Its XML formatting seems really handy.

All clear now? (it would be possible to run the game headlessly (with no rendering) and to force it to execute turns a quickly as it can)

Thank you Stan. All looks amazing. Still doing some minor fixes here and there but overall, very nice! Added some screenshots here https://www.danielnylander.se/2025/12/30/uppdatering-av-0-a-d/

While I'm here: luiskeys111 left the game while in a losing position last night. This was a bit after a 30 minute pause, as well. commands.txt

Apparently a repeat offender, jojolapra left the game instead of resigning as I was capturing buildings and demolishing them. commands.txt

Nope. Very interesting. This would be precisely what I'm looking for. Thank you.

Happy New year guys

Bonne année 2026!

Feliz ano novo a todos! Muita paz saúde e prosperidade!

@ffm2 I assume Arch has the latest Blender which deprecated (removed?) the DAE import and export because they no longer wanna support this. This means 0 A.D. is probably the last big open source project to use the Collada format. I haven't checked if the settings allows you to restore it; Doing a bit of 3D printing myself, NIFA is right, unless you get a way to get the normal map details from the textures, your models will look very bland, and they clearly are not meant for printing, because of their non manifold nature.

Have you seen -> https://gitea.wildfiregames.com/0ad/0ad/wiki/GettingStartedReinforcementLearning

The Vulkan renderer is on by default, for the shaders, you can either compile them yourself (which is a bit annoying) or you can use the script to download the current built ones https://gitea.wildfiregames.com/0ad/0ad/src/branch/main/source/tools/spirv/get-nightly-shaders.sh (on Linux)

Another question: how can we compile and use the Vulkan renderer on the main branch of gitea?

You could use this for import: I think you might have to modify the meshes though, because the game meshes are often just "flat planes" and they need some thickness for printing. Also keep in mind that a lot of the details is stored in a normal map. I think there is a way to turn the normal map into geometry via nodes editor.

Don't use cargo but install the distribution package instead.

Hope 2026 will be good for us all.

I looked a bit in to it. The files are stored as .dae files. You should learn how to convert them to .stl so you can do it yourself and chose which model you like. Blender can export to stl and here is the wiki for blender. However I couldn't import it easy in blender since import .dae wasn't listed (arch linux) and I couldn't solve it in a reasonable time (tried searching addons inside blender, packages in the arch repo and chatGPT). I found this: https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/4.5/files/import_export/collada.html But it was a bit tl;dr at one time. I could load the models in FreeCAD which can also convert it to stl. Your slicer then should be able to scale the unit up or down. Tbh. there might be nicer models to print on thingyverse or so which take in to account that arms/arrows aren't so thin so they don't break. But converting the 0ad models shouldn't be too hard and also feasable. Other question that comes up: What's 0ad's plan if .dae support ends?