Once Human the Way of Winter: Everything You Need to Know

Once Human: The Way of Winter is finally here! Here’s everything you need to know about the latest scenario update!

On October 17, 2024, Once Human unveiled its most ambitious update yet: Version 1.3 – The Way of Winter. According to the developer’s press release, this update is the largest and most content-packed since the game’s launch. It introduces players to the treacherous northern region of Nalcott, where survival hinges on mastering new gameplay mechanics in extreme cold.

This update also introduces a brand-new scenario format that spans over 35 days, with four main stages and a season break lasting 28 days. In this guide, we’ve compiled everything you need to know about The Way of Winter and how to make the most of this exciting new version.

Once Human The Way of Winter: What You Need to Know

Once Human throws you into a post-apocalyptic world shaped by the disaster known as Starfall. In the Way of Winter update, the adventure unfolds in the icy region of Nalcott, where your character can team up with friends to explore the harsh environment.

Along the way, you’ll encounter powerful new Deviants and battle the vicious Vultures faction that controls the area. With larger squads and new allies, this update ramps up the action and challenges as you navigate Nalcott’s frozen landscape.

The latest update introduces the following new content:

New Temperature Survival Mechanics in The Way of Winter

The Way of Winter expansion is all about surviving in extreme weather. Set in the frozen region of Nalcott, you’re faced with a tougher challenge: managing not just your sanity, stamina, and hydration, but also battling through freezing cold and intense heat.

Depending on where you are and the time of day, temperatures can change drastically. You’ll encounter everything from frigid ice fields to scorching lava flows. Even holding items like torches or Molotov cocktails can impact your body temperature, adding another layer to survival.

To handle this, craft heat- and cold-resistant gear. You can make clothing from thick furs dropped by enemies or cook spicy dishes using ingredients from the northern landscape. Without proper gear or meals, the weather can slow you down and even make you sick.

There are also unique crops like Spikematoes, Polar Peppers, and Sunny Ginger in the frozen north. Cooking them helps you stay warm and healthy during long treks, making them essential for surviving the harsh environment.

Cooperative Play and Thermal Towers

The Way of Winter introduces one of the most challenging environments yet in Once Human, pushing players to enhance their survival skills. The latest update increases squad sizes, promoting collaboration in this unforgiving landscape.

As players embark on their journey, teaming up with friends to explore strongholds and gather essential resources becomes key. The update emphasizes cooperative gameplay, where larger squads foster teamwork.

This cooperative element is further strengthened with the addition of Thermal Towers. These are essential structures that provide various bonuses to the surrounding area. These towers play a significant role in regulating the temperature within a wide radius. This is a necessity in a world where extreme cold and heat can drastically impact health and mobility.

By strategically placing Thermal Towers, players can establish safe zones to counter the harsh environmental effects and make exploration and resource gathering more manageable.

Thermal Towers are not just passive structures; they actively shape their surroundings. They can generate oil fields, boost crop yields, and even influence the mutation rates of plants. This makes them vital for crafting and sustaining resources. However, building and maintaining these towers requires teamwork, so you need a team in this challenging region.

Building and Upgrading Thermal Towers

Constructing a Thermal Tower requires careful planning, as players are limited to building only one tower each. The towers must be placed outside their territory with specific spacing to prevent overlapping effective areas. Once built, towers can be upgraded using various modules—such as the Reactor, Thermostatic Cover, Defense Structures, and Radiator. Each of these provides unique enhancements that improve temperature control and offer additional benefits.

Collaboration plays a significant role in building these towers. Players can invite others to help with construction and management. This fosters community engagement and enriches the overall gameplay experience through teamwork in a survival setting.

Defense Mechanisms

While essential for temperature regulation, Thermal Towers also attract powerful enemies like the Colossal Chaosweavers. These formidable foes target the towers and players must unite to defend their heat sources. This adds an exciting strategic layer to the game, where players must balance resource gathering and exploration with the need to protect their Thermal Towers from destruction.

Exploration

The Way of Winter introduces an expansive new map in Once Human, inviting players to explore a vast, snow-covered landscape filled with unique challenges and opportunities. This new environment enhances the game’s visual appeal and significantly alters gameplay dynamics. As a result, players get multiple starting points for adventurers eager to navigate the icy terrain of Nalcott.

Diverse Starting Points and Exploration

In this game, players can choose from various starting locations for a customized experience as they begin their journey. Each starting point presents distinct advantages and challenges that enciurafes strategic planning and exploration.

As players traverse the snowy landscapes, they will encounter new strongholds like Frost Forge and Fort Obsidian. These locations are not just visually impressive but rich with mysteries, resources, and formidable enemies that players must overcome to succeed.

Unique Strongholds: Frost Forge and Fort Obsidian

Frost Forge, one of the newly introduced strongholds, serves as a crucial hub for crafting and resource gathering. Here, players can forge advanced gear needed to survive the harsh northern climates. The stronghold is populated with NPCs who offer quests that delve into the lore of the region to reveal secrets about the world of Once Human while providing essential rewards for completing tasks.

Fort Obsidian, another key location in The Way of Winter, is fortified against the elements and the hostile creatures that roam the land. This stronghold offers strategic benefits for players looking to establish a base of operations. Here, players can strengthen their defenses while planning expeditions into more dangerous territories.

The fort also serves as a prime location for gathering intelligence on enemy movements. One such enemy is the savage Vultures faction that seeks to dominate the region.

New Enemies and Deviations

The Way of Winter update introduces a host of new challenges in the form of altered Deviants and living machines that populate the northern wilderness.

This harsh environment is teeming with threats, including formidable foes such as Rime Frosts, red-hot Crucibles, and a powerful boss known as The Secret Servitor. Each adversary presents unique challenges that require players to adapt their strategies and effectively use their resources.

New Threats in the Northern Wilderness

The northern region of Nalcott is characterized by its severe climate and treacherous terrain that’s home to various new enemies. Rime Frosts are icy creatures that can freeze players in place, leaving them vulnerable to attacks. To counter these foes, players must learn to manage their own temperature while avoiding being frozen or risk becoming incapacitated.

Red-hot Crucibles, on the other hand, are fiery entities that present a different kind of danger. Their intense heat can cause severe damage, which forces players to strategize around and avoid direct confrontations unless equipped with heat-resistant gear. These enemies exemplify the dual nature of threats in the game, where environmental conditions directly influence combat dynamics.

The Secret Servitor

One of the most significant challenges introduced in this update is The Secret Servitor, a boss that embodies the dangers of the northern wilderness. Players will need to gather resources, craft powerful gear, and possibly team up with others to defeat this formidable foe. Overcoming The Secret Servitor not only provides valuable loot but also advances players in their quest to uncover the mysteries of Nalcott.

New Deviations

Interestingly, not all creatures in The Way of Winter are hostile. The update also introduces new Deviations, creatures that can serve as allies to players. For example, Snowsprites possess the ability to generate razor-sharp ice crystals during combat. This provides a tactical advantage against tougher enemies. These Deviations can be captured and strategically utilized, adding layers of complexity to gameplay through ally mechanics.

The Vultures Faction

In addition to the environmental challenges and new enemies in The Way of Winter, players must contend with the villainous Vultures faction, led by the enigmatic Igna. This faction seeks control over the living machines that roam Nalcott who pose a significant threat to player survival.

To thwart Igna’s plans, players must infiltrate Vulture territory and conquer the Black Sector dungeon. This location is filled with dangerous foes and valuable resources.

The Vultures are more than just another enemy faction; they represent a narrative element that ties into the broader lore of Once Human. Their motivations and actions add depth to the gameplay experience, encouraging players to engage with the story while battling for survival.

The Way of Winter’s Exclusive Rewards and Language Support

Players logging into Once Human during the Way of Winter scenario are in for a treat, as they can engage in daily quests that offer exclusive cosmetic rewards. Items like the Strawberry Wool Hat and Smiling Sponge Vest not only enhance character aesthetics but also serve as badges of participation in this seasonal event.

These rewards allow players to personalize their in-game avatars, adding a layer of individuality to their experience.

Limited-Time Halloween Rewards

In addition to the regular cosmetic rewards, players can earn limited-time Halloween-themed items in The Way of Winter by participating in Once Human’s Twitch streams.

This initiative encourages community engagement and interaction. It also offers unique rewards such as the Weapon Charm: Kitty’s Hat-Trick and Dark Pumpkin Lantern. These incentives not only boost the festive atmosphere but also promote a sense of community within Once Human.

Expanding Accessibility with Language Support

To further broaden its reach, the game now supports additional languages, including Russian, Portuguese (Brazil), and Spanish (Latin America). This expansion allows a more diverse player base to immerse themselves in the game’s rich narrative and complex mechanics.

By accommodating various languages, Once Human ensures that players from different backgrounds can fully engage with its content.

Conclusion

The Way of Winter significantly enriches the Once Human experience by introducing innovative survival mechanics, engaging community events, and a wealth of new content to explore. As players delve into this expansive update, they are invited to uncover the mysteries of Nalcott while facing thrilling challenges that redefine their journey.

With ongoing updates and community interaction encouraged through social media, Once Human continues to evolve, promising an exciting future for its dedicated player base. As always, we’ll keep you updated with more information about the game as it unfolds.