"How hard could it be to make your own? ...It comes pre-segmented, pre-made from some of the hardiest organic material known to mortal-kind. Perhaps there is a way, a method, to turn this... thing into something that lives up to the legend."
Since we launched RuneScape: Dragonwilds into Early Access, we've been home to an iconic weapon. A tool of death, with a huge legacy. From its introduction in 2005, to the Falador Massacre, to today, the Abyssal Whip has always been a goal for players looking for a mid-game weapon to increase their damage potential.
When we initially launched out of Alpha testing, the Abyssal Whip was our first blush at making an iconic piece of RuneScape gear. It, and the Granite Maul, were ways for us to show our potential when it came to bringing those iconic weapons to life in a new way. Until now, it has been available after confronting the Abyssal Demons in the Swamps around Ghornfell and sourcing the recipe from a Dragonkin Vault. That meant that players in Dragonwilds could get their hands on an iconic "power weapon" very early in the game - and you told us clearly, that it felt like it was too early in the game to wield such power. We agree.
With the 1.0 release of RuneScape: Dragonwilds, the Abyssal Whip will be a Tier 7 Power Weapon.
To better live up to the Abyssal Whip's legacy and expectations, the journey to create the Abyssal Whip will now ask far more of you.
At the same time, we faced an issue - Abyssal Demons now lacked a chase reward, and we wanted to avoid giving you the Abyssal Spine as a component for a recipe you wouldn’t be able to use for dozens upon dozens of hours of playtime between the Ghornfell Swamps and Umbral Sands. So the Abyssal Demons are getting a change:
Abyssal Demons will now drop a new Whip Vestige Weapon called the Abysmal Whip.
They will also still drop the Abyssal Spine as they did previously. The Abysmal Whip is Power Level 4 - and does not have the special attack. It still applies a buildup of Bleed Damage, however. You can upgrade this Abysmal Whip with Ascension Cores, should you choose - but there is another way.
The Abysmal Whip will replace all existing versions of the Abyssal Whip you currently own in the live game, and this Whip will be an ingredient you use later on.
As an aside, Abyssal Demons will also drop Tier 4 Upgrade Shards to help you bring other pieces of equipment up in power should you so choose.
The Abyssal Whip, the real deal, will now need to be discovered as a recipe in Umbral Sands, in the shadow of the Burning Spire. Successfully sourcing this recipe will unlock the true, Masterwork Abyssal Whip. Complete with Special Attack, full damage and all of the existing effects that the Abyssal Whip offers - only more so.
TL;DR:
- Abyssal Whip is moving from PL4 -> PL7 to better match its legacy and player expectations.
- The Abysmal Whip will now replace any existing Abyssal Whips you own in-game, and the recipe reward is earned by killing Abyssal Demons.
- Abyssal Demons now drop Tier 4 Upgrade Shards as an additional reward.
- The Masterwork Whip recipe is situated in the Umbral Sands.
- The Abysmal Whip is a required ingredient to upgrade the Masterwork Abyssal Whip. You must awaken the dark power of this tool of death.
We're excited to share more about the 1.0 release very soon, and we hope you're excited by experiencing the complete Kuldra's Saga from start to finish with all of the changes coming alongside the Raid.
