Go behind the scenes with NC on Gauntlets, the new weapon arriving in The Frozen Divide: Nix. Following the Spear and Orb, Gauntlets are Throne and Liberty's third weapon addition since launch, a close-range brawler that turns your body into the weapon. Here's how the Combat Design Team built a weapon that lets you anchor the frontline one moment and tear through the enemy backline the next.
Q: Why did the team choose Gauntlets as the next new weapon?
A: Where existing weapons like swords, bows, and staff rely on range advantages or holding specific positions, we wanted Gauntlets to deliver the raw, intuitive thrill of direct hand-to-hand combat. The idea was to turn the character's body itself into a weapon.
To maximize that feeling, we designed a completely new playstyle. One that rewards diving headfirst into the heart of the enemy formation and relentlessly seizing control of the battle's flow, even at personal risk. We hope the bold, dynamic identity of Gauntlets brings a fresh kind of excitement to your gameplay.
Q: What makes Gauntlets feel different from other weapons in actual gameplay?
A: The core of Gauntlets is relentless, chained combat flow. The weapon's efficiency is maximized when skills connect as naturally as flowing water. That's when its true potential comes out.
The biggest differentiator is the Eclipse of Blood skill. Activating it elevates your attack power and combat speed to another level. Along with the enhanced performance, the weapon's appearance transforms into fierce claws, giving you an entirely new visual experience as well.
Q: What role do Gauntlets fill on the battlefield?
A: At baseline, Gauntlets serve as a melee tank that engages enemies directly on the frontline. But the moment you enter Eclipse of Blood, the tide of battle completely flips.
With enhanced mobility, you transform into an offensive damage dealer that swiftly infiltrates the enemy's rear, disrupts their formation, and relentlessly pressures key targets.
Whether you anchor the frontline or become the force that tears through the enemy camp is entirely up to you.
Q: With two opposing roles packed into one weapon, what was the team's top priority during development?
A: We put the most effort into creating a clear contrast in action, so that players can intuitively feel two completely different identities in both the visuals and the mechanics.
In the default mode, we focused on expressing the linkage between skills and a heavy, impactful striking sensation. Each attack carries definitive weight with crisp visual effects, so you can maintain a clear sense of control even in the center of large-scale combat.
When you switch to Eclipse of Blood, that completely changes. We maximized the sense of speed, added much swifter and sharper effects, and developed the mode so you can experience the thrill of continuous attacks raining down in rapid succession.
We're explaining through text right now, but we genuinely can't wait for the update to arrive so you can experience it firsthand.
Q: How difficult are Gauntlets to pick up and master?
A: Gauntlets are easy to pick up but has a high ceiling to master. Anyone can start using them right away, but maximum performance scales endlessly with proficiency.
The default mode is designed to deliver solid efficiency without any special mechanical burden. Eclipse of Blood mode, however, requires optimizing your skill combos within a limited window. It demands split-second judgment and focus.
That said, our Adventurers' mechanical skill and game understanding are exceptional. We don't expect any major difficulties in picking up the weapon, and we fully expect you'll quickly be captivated by the new combo patterns Gauntlets open up.
Q: Were there any memorable stories from the Gauntlets development process?
A: Gauntlets were developed from the start as a weapon with two contrasting combat styles. In the early stages, we actually explored an orthodox boxing style.
Testing showed that while the speed felt good, it fell short of the uniquely destructive aggression we wanted Gauntlets to have. After fierce internal discussion, we made the bold decision to pivot. That's how the current “Eclipse of Blood” mode was born.
The pivot meant a massive increase in new production work, but the entire team rallied behind a single goal: never presenting anything less than our best to the players. Thanks to that commitment, we were able to perfect the unique identity of Gauntlets and finally bring them to you.
Q: What was the biggest challenge during development?
A: Within TL's dual-weapon combination system, finding the right balanced mechanism was our biggest challenge.
We needed to refine not only the Gauntlets' standalone performance, but also meticulously tune the synergies and balances that emerge when combining them with every existing weapon. On top of that, designing them to integrate seamlessly with growth systems like skill specializations and weapon mastery meant an enormous number of variables to account for.
Layering the Gauntlets' original fun on top of that complex system was our fiercest challenge. We sincerely hope the effort we poured in reaches you as a deep and polished gameplay experience.
Thanks for your support! We can't wait for players to feel the impact of Gauntlets firsthand when The Frozen Divide: Nix arrives on June 25. Stay tuned for a comprehensive video covering all the content coming with the expansion.
