There are many ways a cleric can assist their companions. While some focus on healing or offering buffs, others embrace the power to control those who would try and cause them harm. Because sometimes the best way to protect your allies is to turn your enemies into more allies!

Viconia DeVir was cast out of Menzoberranzan and house DeVir after refusing to sacrifice a child to the spider goddess Lolth. She has lived a dangerous and difficult life, and she joins the Champions at the behest of some of her acquaintances from Baldur's Gate this Wintershield!

I. Viconia DeVir

Viconia DeVir is a devout cleric of Shar, the goddess of darkness and loss. But don't mistake her cleric powers as a sign of her working for good. She may not approve of how the Champions operate, but if the quest and the payout are worthwhile, she's here and ready to assist.

Viconia is an evil alignment buffer who can reanimate dead enemies and turn them against their former friends. She also heals, but only if you get damaged enough to make it worth her time. Once unlocked, you can find this displaced drow in Slot 5 (Calliope)

Ia. Heroes of Baldur's Gate Update

When Viconia launches on December 22nd, 2021, we will also be expanding the Champions with the Heroes of Baldur's Gate affiliation to include all Champions from the Baldur's Gate Video Game Series e.g. Viconia, Baeloth, and Jahiera. They will join the Champions from the Heroes of Baldur's Gate Comic: Shandie, Minsc, Nerys, Krydle, and Delina who are already listed as members.

II. Viconia's Stats

Race: Elf (Drow)	Alignment: Neutral Evil
Gender: Female	Pronouns: She/Her
Class: Cleric	Age: 270
Affiliation: Heroes of Baldur's Gate

STR: 10	DEX: 19	CON: 8
INT: 16	WIS: 18	CHA: 14

Role: Support, Healing

Eligible for Patrons: Mirt, Strahd, Zariel

Slot: 5, (Calliope)

III. Viconia's Design

Viconia DeVir is a character from the original Baldur's Gate video game, as well as Baldur's Gate II and Baldur's Gate: Siege of Dragonspear. Many of her powers, abilities, and personality were drawn from those games. We're excited to have another evil Champion joining the roster, as well as another member of the Heroes of Baldur's Gate! She may begrudgingly call Baeloth and Minsc 'friends', but the rest of the Champions are just allies that can help her accomplish her goals and earn some coin. She'll offer the other Heroes of Baldur's Gate buffs with her Cleric of Shar ability, and heal those Champions who are in dire need with Cure Medium Wounds. But her main focus during battle is seizing control of the lifeless bodies of their enemies and using Animate Dead to send them back against their former allies!

IV. Viconia's Abilities

Basic Attack

• Sling — Viconia slings a stone at a random enemy.

Formation Abilities

• Cleric of Shar — Increase the damage of Evil Champions and Heroes of Baldur's Gate Champions by 100%.

• Animate Dead — When a non-boss enemy is killed there is a 20% chance that Viconia will seize control of its lifeless body and turn it against its former allies for 10 seconds, stopping their movement. While it is re-animated, it deals 20% of your BUD to nearby enemies each second. Multiple enemies can be animated at once, each of which will do its own damage, but despawn during area transitions.

• Cure Medium Wounds — Heals allies that are under 50% health for 20 health per second for 5 seconds.

Specializations

• Holy Power — Increase the effect of Cleric of Shar by 100% for each column away from the back-most column she is, stacking multiplicatively.

• Begrudging Respect — Cleric of Shar now affects Neutral champions instead of Evil ones. Heroes of Baldur's Gate are still covered under this new plan.

• Turn Undead — Increase the chance for Animate Dead to trigger by 100%.

Ultimate Ability

• Unholy Blight — Viconia summons a cloying miasma of cold and greasy darkness that damages all enemies and increases the odds of any enemies killed by it triggering Animate Dead by 50%.

V. Viconia's Epic Equipment

Slot 1: Global DPS	Slot 2: Cleric of Shar	Slot 3: Animate Dead
Slot 4: Cure Medium Wounds	Slot 5: Ultimate Attack Damage	Slot 6: Ultimate Cooldown

VI. Conclusion

Bring another Hero of Baldur's Gate to your formation this Wintershield, and enjoy Viconia turning your enemies against each other! If you have feedback, let us know in a Community Q&A or Champion feedback post on the Idle Champions Subreddit, on the Steam forums, or on the Official Idle Champions Discord!

O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree -- how angry are thy branches...!
O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree -- how much you embody the rage of nature and bring the wrath of the elements down upon us all!

Once again The Nate Before Christmas blesses our doors, and this year we are visited by a bouncy bundle of joy: Springy, the Patchwork Plush.

The Nate Before Christmas Tier 7 introduces Springy, the Patchwork Plush and brings back Odile, Snowflake Defender, Frosty the Snowman, RoboSanta, The Dark Helper, RoboRudolph, Xander the Xmas Dragon, Wrena the Fair and Kris, the Enraged Elemental!

New Tier 7 Crusader: Springy, the Patchwork Plush

Tags: Event, Support, Gold, Animal, Male, Supernatural

A new day, a new planet. You've been trekking through the tangled weeds, grasses and trees from the portal opening when you almost trip on a hard flat object in the ground. Glancing around, you see the foliage isn't as dense and you can make out a structure in the distance. As you approach, you note a sign that says " G M L" on it mounted on the side of the structure.

You see a door and step inside, smelling an oddly familiar cinnamon and popcorn scent on the stale air. It's an alien mall! And some franchises are just that powerful. You walk in further, eyes adjusting to the gloom of dirty skylights.

A rustling noise draws your attention. Something seems to be approaching you. As it gets closer you hear a rhythmic thumping and the tinkle of something metal hitting the tile floor. It thumps into a brighter patch of light and you see a kangaroo plushie made of assorted fabrics just before it jumps on you and you thud to the floor.

"Friend?" the creature asks.

"If I say yes, will you get off me?"

The kangaroo ducks their head and carefully steps off you. "Sorry. It's been ages since someone visited."

"You're here all alone?"

The kangaroo hops. "There's the occasional mouse that I stomp on, but they don't talk, so they don't count."

You scratch your head. "My friends and I are travellers, and we're a pretty large band. In the spirit of the season, would you like to join us?"

"Would I still get to stomp things?" they ask.

You smile. "Definitely."

Springy, the Patchwork Plush has joined your party.

New Tier 7 Objectives

Recruit Springy | Springy takes up a slot in the formation. RoboSanta and Frosty the Snowman start in the formation, and can't be removed. For every cast of Storm Rider, up to 500 casts, Frosty gets a 15% DPS boost, stacking multiplicatively. Note: This will require having cleared the objective Bullet Hell on Ready Player Two to complete. Beat area 650.

Island of Misfit Presents | RoboRudolph and The Dark Helper start in the formation and can't be removed. The formation has been changed. Note: This will require having cleared the objective Washed Up on World's Wake to complete. Beat area 750.

Krampus is Watching | Xander the Xmas Dragon and Wrena the Fair start in the formation and can't be removed. Krampus spawns randomly on non-boss areas and marks 3 random Crusaders with coal, disabling their DPS for 6 seconds. Note: This will require having cleared the objective Washed Up on World's Wake to complete. Beat area 800.

Carpet of Pine Needles | Kris, the Enraged Elemental starts in the formation and can't be removed. Pine spirits randomly spawn. For every spirit exorcised, Kris provides a 10% gold buff, stacking additively. Note: This will require having purchased the max level of the Arithmagician Talent to complete. Beat area 850.

My Snowman and Me | Odile, Snowflake Defender starts in the formation and can't be removed. Monsters drop less gold. A snowman occupies a slot in the formation. The snowman freezes every Crusader except for Odile. Frozen Crusaders don't contribute upgrades. A hot chocolate monster spawns on every non-boss area, the first time you enter the area. For every 88 hot chocolate monsters killed, the snowman freezes one less Crusader. Note: This will require having purchased the max level of the Arithmagician Talent to complete. Beat area 900.

More info

You'll have until Wednesday, Dec 29th, 2021 at 12:00 PM Pacific Time to complete The Nate Before Christmas 7!

For more info on previous The Nate Before Christmas Crusaders and objectives check out the The Nate Before Christmas 6 blog post.

Equipment for event Crusaders can be found in Silver and Jeweled Christmas Chests, which you can earn from objectives and the free play or buy in the shop. Each non-recruitment objective will drop a chest for its given tier of Crusaders, and free play will drop All Tier chests. Gear for Tier 2, Tier 3, Tier 4, Tier 5, Tier 6, and Tier 7 Crusaders will only appear in All Tier chests once you've unlocked the respective Crusaders. You can select the tier of chest you buy in the shop when you go to purchase chests with real money or event currency.

There are many stories of people disappearing into the Feywild, only to reappear later vastly changed by the experience. But even creatures native to the fey realm can become lost, and must embrace less colorful skills to survive.

Yorven Springpaw disappeared from the Feywild as a child after an encounter with a malicious coven of hags. He ended up lost in the Shadowfell, where he embraced his innate primal spirit to survive. The power of this ancient feral beast helped Yorven do more than survive the dangers of the Shadowfell -- he thrived. He brings those new powers to the Champion roster this Simril!

I. Yorven Springpaw

When Yorven came across the Witchlight Carnival he managed to convince the owners to bring him on board. When the Witchlight Carnival returned to the Feywild years later, Yorven moved on, seeking his childhood home - and the hags who banished him.

As a barbarian druid, Yorven has plenty of muscle and power to bring to the Champion roster, and he uses his massive harengon legs to leap into battle with speed and ferocity! He's a DPS and Support Champion covered in magical tattoos and scars and is ready to scrap when you swap him with Tyril (Slot 10) to add him to your formation!

II. Yorven's Stats

Race: Harengon	Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Gender: Male	Pronouns: He/Him
Class: Barbarian/Druid	Age: 39

STR: 20	DEX: 14	CON: 14
INT: 8	WIS: 13	CHA: 12

Role: DPS, Support

Eligible for Patrons: Vajra, can become eligible for Zariel with a feat

Slot: 10, (Tyril)

III. Yorven's Design

When the Harengon became a playable race in Dungeons & Dragons, our Stream Executive Producer Dylan Wilks was inspired by the powerful bonus action jump ability to find out how dangerous he could make a hopping tank. Drawing on some of the newest character building options available, he crafted a beastial barbarian who could cross entire battlefields in one giant leap! With a physical description and a loose bio, he handed the character over to the rest of the team, who ran with the idea and built a Champion who quickly gained the infamous title 'murder bunny'.

Once the Champion stats and basic backstory were created, our Content Designer Erin M. Evans began crafting the voice of Yorven. This dark and dramatic seeker of vengeance has an endless flurry of epic monologues at the ready, but he is earnest in his desire to use the darkness inside him as the power to protect those who cannot take care of themselves.

IV. Yorven's Abilities

Basic Attack

• Ferocious Maul — Yorven leaps out at the nearest enemy, pinning it in place and attacking it once a second for 5 seconds for 5 total attacks. If the enemy dies this attack ends immediately, and for the duration of the attack, Yorven is invulnerable.

Formation Abilities

• Blood Fury Tattoo — Each time Yorven Springpaw attacks during Ferocious Maul the enemy gains a stack of Blood Fury. Each stack causes them to take 100% more damage from all sources, stacking multiplicatively. The debuff lasts for 2 seconds but the timer refreshes when it is reapplied. This ability is buffed by upgrades, feats, and equipment.

• Infectious Fury — Enemies that Yorven Springpaw has attacked take 100% more damage from all Champions when they are attacking the formation.

• Danger Sense — Champions adjacent to Yorven Springpaw take 5 less damage from all attacks, and Yorven gains a 100% damage boost for 10 seconds when this ability effectively lowers the damage of an enemy attack.

Specializations

• Hunger For Blood — If an enemy dies while Yorven Springpaw is attacking it with Ferocious Maul, Yorven immediately leaps to another enemy and begins attacking it. This also adds one additional attack to Ferocious Maul each time it triggers.

• Eldritch Claw Tattoo — Each time Yorven Springpaw attacks during Ferocious Maul, an inky tendril of Eldritch energy shoots out and zaps a different random enemy, dealing damage based on the amount of health Yorven's target currently has, with a maximum value equal to your current BUD. If no other enemies are on screen, this ability does nothing.

Ultimate Ability

• Fey Wild Shape — Yorven Springpaw shape shifts into a shadow mastiff-like creature for 30 seconds. During this time their attack cooldown is reduced by 50% and their damage is increased by 400%.

V. Yorven's Epic Equipment

Slot 1: Global DPS	Slot 2: Global DPS	Slot 3: Blood Fury Tattoo
Slot 4: Infectious Fury	Slot 5: Danger Sense	Slot 6: Ultimate Cooldown

VI. Conclusion

It's always a special joy to craft a homegrown character for Idle Champions, and we can't wait to see Yorven hopping into your formations this Simril! If you have feedback, let us know in a Community Q&A or Champion feedback post on the Idle Champions Subreddit, on the Steam forums, or on the Official Idle Champions Discord!

Ready for some new challenges that will test your formation building skills all over again? Craving some more power? Then read on to learn more about the latest Tier 5 11th objectives!

The Stars of the Show: New Tier 5 11th Objectives

• Watery Demise - On the World's Wake campaign.
  
  Complete all Tier 5 World's Wake objectives. Requires having purchased the max level of the Arithmagician Talent to complete. Human tagged Crusaders cannot be used. Only Crusaders with 600 or more personal EP can be used. Evie occupies a slot in the formation. If you don't clear the area within 20 seconds, she wipes the formation back an area. Areas become difficult much quicker. Beat area 1100.
  
  Rewards: Adds 5 more slots for EP missions.



• The Memory Remains - On the Descent Into Darkness campaign.
  
  Complete all Tier 5 Descent Into Darkness objectives. Requires having completed the Watery Demise objective from the World's Wake campaign. Evil tagged Crusaders cannot be used. Only Crusaders with 650 or more personal EP can be used. When killed, monsters come back to life as ghosts. Ghosts live at least 3 seconds and don't drop quest items when killed. Areas become difficult much quicker. Beat area 1150.
  
  Rewards: Bigger Numbers: Increase maximum number cap by e300.



• The Wellerman - On the Ghostbeard's Greed campaign.
  
  Complete all Tier 5 Ghostbeard's Greed objectives. Requires having completed the The Memory Remains objective from the Descent Into Darkness campaign. Animal tagged Crusaders cannot be used. Alivebeard randomly spawns, living at least 1.5 seconds. Alivebeard has a projectile attack. Only Crusaders with 700 or more personal EP can be used. Crusaders' level and upgrade costs are increased. Every non-boss area is now either: collect 75 tea crates, collect 75 sugar crates or collect 1 rum cask. Areas become difficult much quicker. Beat area 1275.
  
  Rewards: Add 1 more slot for ruby missions and 5 more missions for Rubies.



• The Writing Desk - On the Grimm's Idle Tales campaign.
  
  Complete all Tier 5 Grimm's Idle Tales objectives. Requires having completed the The Wellerman objective from the Ghostbeard's Greed campaign. Supernatural tagged Crusaders cannot be used. Only Crusaders with 750 or more personal EP can be used. A raven occupies a random slot in the formation and rotates every 100 areas. Writing desk monsters randomly spawn. For every desk killed, the raven buffs adjacent Crusaders by 100%, stacking additively. Areas become difficult much quicker. Beat area 1250.
  
  Rewards: Bigger Numbers: Increase maximum number cap by e300.



• Crest of Manci - On the Mischief at Mugwarts campaign.
  
  Complete all Tier 5 Mischief at Mugwarts objectives. Requires having completed the The Writing Desk objective from the Grimm's Idle Tales campaign. Magical tagged Crusaders cannot be used. Bog Mother randomly spawns, living for at least 1.5 seconds. Can only be killed by projectile damage. Only Crusaders with 800 or more personal EP can be used. All bosses are now the famed wizard Manci, who has nine lives and a projectile attack. All boss areas require killing the boss 9 times. Areas become difficult much quicker. Beat area 1275.
  
  Rewards: Receive a permanent 1e20 gold find buff.



• For Whom the Bell Tolls - On the Ready Player Two! campaign.
  
  Complete all Tier 5 Ready Player Two objectives. Requires having completed the Crest of Manci objective from the Mischief at Mugwarts campaign. Superhero tagged Crusaders cannot be used. Only Crusaders with 850 or more personal EP can be used. Every Crusader is an island actually. Crusaders only provide DPS and upgrades if not adjacent to any other Crusaders. A bell occupies a spot in the formation. It tolls every 10 seconds and kills a random Crusader. Areas become difficult much quicker. Beat area 1300.
  
  Rewards: Free Play Sprint: Double the amount you can sprint for free plays (permanent and event) only.



• The One - On the Idols Through Time campaign.
  
  Complete all Tier 5 Idols Through Time objectives. Requires having completed the For Whom the Bell Tolls objective from the Ready Player Two campaign. Flora tagged Crusaders cannot be used. Only Crusaders with 900 or more personal EP can be used. Eon occupies a space in the formation. Drone monsters spawn randomly and live for at least 15 seconds. Every 100 areas completed, deja vu empowers Eon in the fight against the machines and the drone monsters live 1 second less. Areas become difficult much quicker. Beat area 1325.
  
  Rewards: Receive a permanent base 1 e50 DPS boost.



• Boulders of Space Hill - On the Amusement Park of Doom campaign.
  
  Complete all Tier 5 Amusement Park of Doom objectives. Requires having completed the The One objective from the Idols Through Time campaign. Good or Evil tagged Crusaders cannot be used. Sluggo monsters spawn randomly and live at least 5 seconds. Can be killed faster if targeted by Imani or Garnet. Only Crusaders with 950 or more personal EP can be used. Asteroids spawn with each wave of monsters and require 3 projectile hits to be killed. Areas become difficult much quicker. Beat area 1350.
  
  Rewards: Bigger Numbers: Increase maximum number cap by e500



• Taken - On the Mme. Finklebottom's Revenge campaign.
  
  Complete all Tier 5 Mme. Finklebottom's Revenge objectives. Requires having completed the Boulders of Space Hill objective from the Amusement Park of Doom campaign. Robot tagged Crusaders cannot be used. The formation has been changed. Invisible Mollug monsters randomly spawn and can't be hurt until clicked to be made visible. Mollugs can only be killed by projectile damage. Only Crusaders with 1000 or more personal EP can be used. Thugs with annoying abilities spawn. Neel Leeson occupies a spot in the formation and buffs the DPS by 10% for each thug killed, stacking additively. Areas become difficult much quicker. Beat area 1400.
  
  Rewards: Unlocks a new Arcane Geode mission and a new Runic Chest mission.

You can check out the change log in the game for additional information about this update.

We've defeated the Chardalyn Dragon. We've defeated the mortal form of the god of winter. And now, we must face a Demilich. With the fate of Icewind Dale in our hands, we must gain control of and destroy the Mythallar, but our ally Vellynne Harpell may have other plans.

Before we can destroy the Mythallar, our old friend the Professor Orb shows up with his new drow allies and wants to try a spell to see what happens. What could go wrong?

The Champions will have to face their greatest foe yet and concoct a new plan to save Icewind Dale from the terrors of the Tarrasque!

Note: you will need to have completed the previous two Icewind Dale Adventures, Cold As Ice and Friends & Foes, in order to access these new Adventures.

The Spire of Iriolarthas

Gain the final clue to enter the Spire of Iriolarthas and face the Demilich of Ythryn.
Reach Area 600

• Adventure Variant: Always Watching — Always there, even when you thought you had defeated him.
  • In each boss area, Iriolarthas the Demilich appears. He must be defeated in order to progress.
  • Only Champions with WIS of 14 or higher can be used.
  • Complete Area 650

The Fall of Ythryn

Destroy the Ythryn Mythalar, using whatever means necessary.
Complete Area 625

• Adventure Variant: Icequake — Destroy the Ythryn Mythalar, while the glacier crumbles around you.
  • From area 30 onward, an earthquake occurs every 20-120 seconds. Earthquakes cause a screen shake and cause falling pieces of ice to hit the Champions, dealing damage equal to 75% of their max health and stunning them for 15 seconds (subject to a DEX save).
  • The earthquake also triggers the following effects for 15 seconds if one or more Champions fail the save.
    • Champion damage is reduced by 99.9%.
    • Enemies move 200% faster.
  • DEX Save: For each point their Dexterity score is above 10, a Champion has a 10% chance to save against the damage/effect, completely nullifying it. For example, a Champion with 14 DEX has a 40% chance to save against the damage, while a Champion with 20 DEX or higher has a 100% chance to save against the effect.
  • Complete area 675

• Adventure Variant: A Lesson in Classes — Destroy the Ythryn Mythalar, with only one of each class at a time.
  • Xerophon joins the formation for this adventure to see what it's like to fight alongside the Champions. They don't attack, they're just here to observe.
  • Only one Champion of each class can be included in the formation at any time. Multiclass Champions count for all of their classes. Xerophon does not have a class for this adventure variant.
  • In an attempt to distract and confuse the enemies, Xerophon transforms into the first enemy who spawns in each area, increasing damage against that type of enemy by 100% for the rest of the area.
  • Complete area 725
  • Rewards Xerophon, the Doppelganger Rogue

See the in-game Change Log for more information!