Episode 37: Birds of Prey Artifacts Preview on Test Server!

Ahead of Episode 37: Birds of Prey arriving on Test Server, it looks like the Artifacts managed to make it on somehow! Three new artifacts to be exact, B.O.P. Commlink, Everyman Prototype, and Source Shard.

Birds of Prey Artifacts

Due to these artifacts being released on Test possibly ahead of time, the stats and effects are subject to change as testing is done, with internal balance testing by developers currently set to commence. The artifacts may potentially be unlocked similarly to past Episode Artifacts, upon completion of a 1 or 2 player, 4 player and 8 player content, while all were purchasable from John Constantine in both Watchtower and Hall of Doom Headquarters today only, and have since been removed.

B.O.P. Commlink, recommended for Controller, is inspired by the communication link the Birds of Prey utilize to stay in contact especially with Oracle. It utilizes three Birds of Prey members attacks to apply different effects on the opponent in the form of a new loadout power, Bird Blitz that applies Expose Weakness: Oracle’s attack reduces target’s defenses, Huntress’ attack reduces target’s healing ability and Black Canary’s attack reduces target’s damage. Currently Rank 80 provides Huntress’ debuff and Rank 160 for Black Canary’s debuff. Then once it gains Siphon Weakness which grants power to you and group members when hitting an enemy with 3 debuffs, where the power granted can later be doubled!

Everyman Prototype, recommended for Tank, is inspired by the Everyman Project Lex Luthor conducted to give ordinary humans superpowers, with the first recipients becoming founding members in Lex’s superhero team, Infinity Inc. The Exo-Gene can grant one of a myriad of powers, (list featured below,) while for the artifact’s purposes it seems to give a defensive-type buff either inspired by steel skin or invulnerability. It provides Genetic Adaptation, which gives you a defense buff gain equal to a percentage of your max health pending on where your health range is.

Source Shard, recommended for DPS Role for pets, is inspired by The Source itself, a shard holding a sheer fraction of the power that created the multiverse and imbues powers to some as well. The Source is protected by the Source Wall, which traps all those who dare to pass it as a Promethean Giants. Utilizing a new loadout power from this artifact, aptly named Godwave Strength, you can double the damage from 1 to 3 pets and have a chance to refresh the cooldown of Godwave Strength when casting a superpower. It also states that it does not affect Turret Pets, potentially meaning it could work for trinket pets, not only power sets with pets, making it viable for all loadouts that utilize any pets except the aforementioned.