Welcome to The First Descendant Roadmap for 2026. This page will constantly be updated with the latest information we know about the roadmap.
Note: Onslaught used to be in March, but got pushed out to April.
The Big Shift: Season 4 Delayed to Summer 2026
In a move to ensure the game’s long-term health, Nexon has pushed the launch of Season 4 back to Summer 2026. This allows the team to focus on a "redemption arc" centered on reorganizing how players set goals, farm materials, and engage with endgame content. When Season 4 finally arrives, it will conclude the current narrative arc with the final battle against Karel and introduce a massive new Mega Dungeon that far exceeds previous infiltration operations in scope.
New Descendant: Dia (February 2026)
The February update brings Dia, a sophisticated "skill dealer" who fights using a summoned lance and ice-based abilities.
- Core Mechanic: Her kit revolves around a custom resource called Delight. She gains Delight through her Glacial Clash and Avalanche skills and consumes it to power up her ultimate.
- HP-Based Scaling: Her passive increases her Skill Power proportionally to her Delight level, but more importantly, her Skill Critical Hit Rate scales based on her Max HP. Experienced players have found that reaching approximately 20,000 HP allows her to hit the 100% Critical Hit Rate cap when paired with specific modules.
- Transcendent Modules: You can specialize her further with modules like Blooming Ecstasy (which adds pulling effects and timed explosions) or Chill Brand (which focuses on single-target damage over time).
Onslaught Mode: April Beta Delay Clarified
There has been some confusion in the community regarding Onslaught Mode, an intense four-player wave-defense challenge. While some early interpretations of the roadmap suggested a February launch, the developers have officially clarified that the Onslaught Mode Beta is scheduled for April 2026.
- Gameplay: In this mode, teams must defend against waves of increasingly powerful enemies while strategically placing turrets and buffs using resources earned during the fight.
- Release Schedule: The April beta will serve as a testing ground before the full version of the mode officially launches in May 2026.
Core System & Quality of Life Overhauls
The 2026 roadmap is defined by massive improvements to the "cumbersome" parts of the game :
- Companion App Integration: Starting February 6, players can remotely start and receive research projects via the official Companion App, significantly reducing the friction of time-gated progression.
- Operation Command System: High-level farming is being rebuilt. Instead of repeating disparate missions, players will choose the specific item they want to farm, and the game will assign missions with guaranteed or weighted rewards.
- Stat Info Display Improvements: A new in-game menu will allow players to simulate their final damage output, accounting for all modules, reactions, and external components in one consolidated view.
- Arche Tuning (Mutant Cell) Renewal: The fragmented item drop system is being replaced with a clearer, node-based selection system, making it easier to track and understand progression benefits.
Roadmap Overview: January – Summer 2026
- January: Introduction of Breach Tracking (a rotating gold-farming region) and major balance updates for Enzo and various weapons.
- February: Release of Dia, the Exposed Undersea Base dungeon, and Ultimate Blair.
- March: A dedicated rework for Sharen and the introduction of dual swords.
- April: The Onslaught Mode Beta and a comprehensive mechanical overhaul for Viessa.
- May: Full release of Onslaught Mode and Ultimate Esiemo.
- Summer 2026: Launch of Season 4, featuring Ultimate Hailey, a total weapon system overhaul, and the finale of the Karel storyline.