Illuvium is set for its most awaited launch on July 25, 2024, and here at GAM3S.GG, we've had the privilege of trying the early patches. We are incredibly excited about the new features and enhancements to both the Overworld and Arena. In this edition of our guides, we'll walk you through the basics of Illuvium Overworld.
As a quick rundown before we get started with the guide, the Illuviumseries of games revolves around exploring the world of Illuvium and the unique creatures called Illuvials. In Illuvium Overworld, you can battle and eventually catch these Illuvials, similar to Pokémon. But instead of the usual turn-based Pokémon battles, you can use these Illuvials to fight in the Illuvium Arena, an auto-battler game akin to popular titles like TFT. Illuvials come in various shapes and sizes, some cute and some fierce, and Illuvium Overworld gives you the chance to catch and harness the power of these awesome creatures!
Getting Started
Illuvium Overworld is now available on the Epic Games Store. It's primarily a PC game played with a keyboard and mouse. Recent updates have significantly improved controller support, making it easier for those who prefer using Xbox or PlayStation controllers. As you roam around the overworld, you can travel fast by sprinting or using your jetpack to hover around. You can also do multiple jumps in the air to reach high places, as long as you still have stamina.
The map in Illuvium Overworld is an essential tool for navigation and exploration. It shows the entire region and highlights explored areas. Players can use the heat map feature by pressing 'H' to identify nearby Illuvials and resources. This feature helps players plan their exploration and resource collection more efficiently. For enhanced accuracy, drone upgrades can be used to improve the heat map's precision.
Your home base found in Sanctum Mesa is where you conduct your upgrades, such as using the forge. Some portions of the map are located at very high places that your jetpack can't reach. To access these areas, some creatures spawn bubbles on the map. You can enter these bubbles to float up to those higher locations. Some regions also have hazards like poisonous water so watch out!
Extracting Resources
Resource extraction is a core aspect of Illuvium Overworld. Players mine for resources to collect shards, which are used to capture Illuvials. Shards need to be cured in Sanctum Mesa’s Forge before they can be used. Aside from shard materials you can mine, you can also collect harvestable plants and Morphopods that will be useful for crafting better gear and consumables. The energon (energy) bar starts with a fixed amount and depletes as players gather resources and catch Illuvials. Efficient resource management is crucial to avoid missing out on rare Illuvials due to a lack of prepared shards. You can also check your map to see markers for harvestable materials you might have missed.
To gather resources, you need to set your energy rifle's mode to charged shot. Your drone will then collect the resources you hit with your charged shot. You can change your gun's shooting mode by pressing either 1 or 2 on your keyboard. Press the Q key to scout the map for harvestable resources, highlighted in a different color.
All About Illuvials
Catching Illuvials is the main concept of Illuvium Overworld. As you explore, you will see Illuvials roaming around in the wild. Upon seeing you, the Illuvial will run away and escape through a portal if you don't manage to damage it enough. To catch an Illuvial, you have to damage it using your energy rifle to fill up the blue bar. Your drone can also help you with catching Illuvials by using its skill (press F while chasing an Illuvial).
Once you deal enough damage to the Illuvial, a portal will show up, giving you two options: scan or fight. Scanning gives you information about which Illuvials and how many you are going to fight if you choose the fight option.
When you choose to fight, you will be transported to a battle with the Illuvial, via the auto-battler game mode. You can then place your character and your other Illuvials on the battle board. Take note that each Illuvial, consumable, etc., you place costs mastery points, and you only have a certain amount per battle. Once you are ready to fight, press the start button and the Illuvials will battle it out.
If you lose, the Illuvial escapes. If you win, you will have the chance to catch the Illuvial using Shards. Shards are Illuvium's version of Pokéballs. They come in various rarities, with each higher tier increasing the likelihood of catching more powerful Illuvials.
You can drag the specific shard you want onto the Illuvial you are trying to catch, and the probability will play itself out. If you successfully catch the Illuvial, congratulations! You can now add your new Illuvial to your team and use them for your next battles.
Illuvial Storage and Fusing
Captured Illuvials are stored in two main locations: the player's inventory and Locker Storage. The inventory is the active roster where players keep the Illuvials they intend to use in immediate battles. Locker Storage is a strategic reserve, housing Illuvials not currently needed for combat. This system is essential for managing and planning team compositions based on upcoming challenges and objectives. By rotating Illuvials between the inventory and Locker Storage, players can adapt to different scenarios and optimize their strategy. Locker Storage also plays a crucial role in the fusing process.
Fusing Illuvials at The Forge is a progression mechanic in Illuvium, aimed at enhancing the strength and capabilities of your team. This process involves combining three Illuvials of the same type to create a more powerful version, known as a Stage 2 Illuvial. Each Illuvial must have sufficient experience before it can be fused. To perform a fusion, players navigate to the Illuvials page at The Forge, where they can see which Illuvials are eligible for fusion. As players progress, they can continue this process to create even higher stages of Illuvials. For example, fusing three Stage 2 Illuvials results in a Stage 3 Illuvial. The stats of the new Illuvial are randomly rerolled during the fusion process, adding an element of unpredictability and excitement.
On the other hand, Shard Integrity is another important mechanic in Illuvium. Each time an Illuvial fights, its Shard Integrity decreases. If the integrity drops too low, the Illuvial gets a Nanitic Discord debuff, weakening it. Consumable items can restore a portion of an Illuvial's Shard Integrity, and returning to Sanctum Mesa fully restores all Illuvials' integrity. Managing Shard Integrity ensures Illuvials are always ready for action.
Crafting and Upgrading Items
In Illuvium, upgrading items is a critical aspect of gameplay that significantly enhances efficiency and performance. After completing a run, your first destination should be The Forge. This hub is where all your newly acquired items are processed and upgraded, providing various ways to strengthen your arsenal.
At The Forge, you’ll encounter different sections dedicated to upgrading various types of equipment. Weapons, for example, can be enhanced to increase their damage and effectiveness in battles. The upgrade process for weapons typically involves gathering specific resources found throughout the Overworld.
Becoming an Illuvial Master
We hope this Illuvium Overworld guide helps you become the very best, like no one ever was. Armed with this knowledge, you're ready to dive into the world of Illuvium Overworld. Mastering the game means understanding the controls, map, resource extraction, item upgrading, and Illuvial capturing mechanics. Remember, this guide covers just the basics to get you started. There's so much more to discover, like maximizing resource harvesting, the intricacies of Illuvial fusing, and choosing the best equipment to craft first.
For those looking to dominate in Illuvium Arena, we've got additional guides and detailed content to help you climb the daily leaderboard. Happy adventuring, and may you catch 'em all!
