Surprise! Highguard has just dropped another massive batch of free content, introducing a new warden, map, ranked mode, mount, and numerous quality-of-life improvements. This free-to-play PvP raid shooter, developed by creators behind Respawn's Apex Legends and Titanfall, launched just a couple of weeks ago, yet developer Wildlight has already rolled out its second major update with Episode 2.
Meet Ekon, the new warden—a legendary monster-slayer who transforms into a powerful direwolf to track and hunt his prey. As the last of the Wildwalkers, an ancient line of magic wielders once thought extinct, Ekon springs into action when his mentor and closest family figure vanishes in the lost land of Highguard. His abilities include Dread (passive), which reveals the heartbeats of wounded enemies until they die or heal; Wolf Spirit (tactical), unleashing a spirit wolf to hunt the nearest enemy and apply Dread, even through obstacles; and Wolf Form (ultimate), turning into a direwolf to chase down mounted foes with enhanced speed and tracking.
The new map, Skydrift, joins the 3v3 and permanent 5v5 rotations. Wardens can explore hollowed-out caverns once inhabited by winged beasts, battle in an ancient stone ring, and traverse colossal chain bridges and Sky Jumpers to reach a palace above the clouds. Full details are provided below.
Ekon's abilities are detailed as follows: Dread highlights low-health enemies with pulsing beats; Wolf Spirit sends a spirit wolf to hunt enemies, passable through structures and shootable if spotted; and Fearsome Howl applies Dread to all enemies and boosts movement speed. In Wolf Form, Ekon becomes a direwolf with unmatched speed, third-person vision, and a deadly bite attack, while retaining all other powers and the ability to track enemy scents.
Skydrift, located far west of Headwall in uncharted Highguard, features caverns, stone rings, chain bridges, and Sky Jumpers leading to a cloud-top palace. It's now part of the 3v3 and 5v5 map rotations.
Ranked Mode allows players to earn Ranked Points (RP) and climb from Bronze (Hare) to Grandmaster (Leviathan) for rewards, with victory points scaled for big wins. A new wolf mount is free for all players.
Quality-of-life updates address Gear Phase feedback: Red Weapon Chests in Points of Interest (POIs) now contain Masterwork weapons with improved stats; Ultimate Chargers in white barrels have a gold glow for better visibility; waypoint icons guide players to POIs, which are pingable for communication; and the map indicates POIs with Masterwork Weapons and Ultimate Chargers. Speed Gates are always active near players to facilitate quick returns to combat after respawning.
Additional improvements include a Stats menu in Headwall, tracking retroactive data from Episode 1 and new Raid Attack/Defense stats for Episode 2, with plans for expansion. New orange weapon mods like Viper - Impact Rounds add variety without removal. The Episode 1 Quest remains active through Episode 2 due to its short duration, with more challenges and rewards planned for Episode 3. Developer notes will explain changes as the game evolves through feedback and bug fixes.
