Newsletter, March 2026

March delivered two of the most significant changes to the core gameplay loop since launch. Adventure Energy is gone. Tactical combat is in. And with Season 8 now previewed and opening April 1st, the momentum heading into next month is as strong as it's been all year.

Adventure Energy Is Gone — AFK Rewards Takes Over

The system that shaped how Commanders earned rewards since day one has been replaced. AFK Rewards removes Adventure Energy entirely — rewards now accumulate automatically in the background, whether you're deep in a dungeon or haven't opened the game in hours. Log in, collect, and get back to playing.

The rewards aren't flat either. They scale with your progression — the further you've pushed in-game, the better what's waiting for you when you return. Your Pets have adapted alongside this change, with their skills now triggering as part of your reward collection rather than at the end of a dungeon sweep. VIP and Guild Perks have been reworked to extend how high your AFK rewards can stack and how fast they accrue — Guild bonuses now benefit every member collectively. Daily quests have been updated too, now built around claiming rewards, triggering Speed-Ups, and using crafting materials to forge and enhance gear.

All the details on what changed and what it means for your progression is in the AFK Rewards and FTUE Update blog.

Class Skills and Challenge Mode Are Live

Combat in Guild of Guardians is no longer passive. Class Skills are active abilities you equip to your Guardians and trigger yourself — manually, mid-fight, with the screen pausing for you to choose your target. No automation. No passive timing. Just you, reading a fight and acting at the right moment.

Season 1 launches three skills across the Warrior, Ranger, and Support classes: Taunt, Hunter's Mark, and Barrier. Each runs on a cooldown that starts counting the moment battle begins — when it hits zero, you decide when to cast. There's no cap on how many times you can cast across a fight, but you have to earn each window. Cooldown timers differ per class, so the order you can act in changes the way you sequence your plays.

Full breakdown of all skills, cooldowns, chest tiers, and the Challenge schedule is in the Class Skills, Challenge Mode and Updated Combat blog.

Season 8 Lands April 1st

The Season 8 preview dropped on March 25th, and it covers everything coming when Spring's Renewal opens in a few days. The headline: Prielle and Dribb both reach Legendary rarity this season, unlocking new skills, evolved abilities, and updated Exclusive Equipment effects that push both into territory the meta hasn't seen before.

Class Skills Season 2 opens alongside Season 8 with a new rotation — Mage, Assassin, and Warrior take over from the Season 1 classes, with a new seasonal leaderboard starting fresh. Week 1 is unranked; the ranked window opens in Week 2.

The season also brings one of the more comprehensive balance passes in a while. A number of Founders and Early Adopter Guardians receive meaningful upgrades — TianLong in particular sees updates across three abilities. Gruff's Vault returns with a new seasonal pool that includes a Legendary Potion of Awakening as an unlockable perk, directly tied to the Prielle and Dribb upgrade path this season.

Everything in the Season 8: Spring's Renewal preview.

What's Next

Guild vs. Guild playtesting is underway, with the focus currently on the player experience side of the mode. We'll share more when there's more to share.

Season 8 opens April 1st. If you haven't read the full preview yet, now is the time — there's a week to plan your pulls, set your leaderboard priorities, and decide where Prielle and Dribb fit into your squad before the gates open.

Head over to our Discord and bring your guild.

— The GoG Team

Please note that images used in this newsletter may come from playtest and are subject to change prior to launch.

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