Nexon has released The First Descendant Patch 1.3.37, bringing a substantial gameplay update focused on improving player progression, reducing difficulty spikes, and expanding limited-time content. Available now on Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, the update introduces new cosmetic bundles, several time-limited events, significant balance changes for Onslaught Mode, and numerous bug fixes across the game.
While the patch includes fresh shop items and event rewards, the biggest changes target combat balance. Following community feedback and gameplay data, the development team has adjusted enemy difficulty, improved Arche Parameter progression, and reworked several mechanics to create a smoother experience. According to the official patch notes, these changes are intended to encourage more varied builds while making high-level content less frustrating.
New events and Night of the New Moon cosmetics now live
Patch 1.3.37 introduces several limited-time events running from August 6 through August 19, 2026.
The new Descendant Rapid Advancement Mission rewards players for completing event missions with progression materials, while the Assemble Event II world co-op event challenges the entire community to complete shared objectives. Players can also earn personal rewards through daily contribution goals before claiming additional bonuses once global milestones are reached.
Another highlight is the Weekend Ancestors Module Readjustment Discount, reducing the Gold, Kuiper Shards, and Superconductive Cooling Unit costs for Ancestors Module Readjustment by 50% every weekend between August 7 and August 16.
The update also introduces the Fragment Exchange Event Shop, allowing players to dismantle Ancestors Modules to earn Ancestors Module Fragments, which can be exchanged for new modules through BB-On in Albion. In addition, players can now enjoy one free Ancestors Module Readjustment every day during the event period.
On the cosmetic side, the in-game shop now offers the Night of the New Moon Bundle, Night of the New Moon Set, and the Witch’s Staff back attachment. Nexon notes that while the Night of the New Moon skin is classified as a common cosmetic, each Descendant has a unique design, encouraging players to preview appearances before purchasing.
Onslaught Mode receives major gameplay overhaul
The centerpiece of Patch 1.3.37 is a large-scale rework of Onslaught Mode.
Higher-tier Arche Parameters now appear more frequently, with the probability increasing as players advance through the selection phases. The developers have also removed several unpopular early-game Arche Parameters to make initial choices more meaningful.
Explaining the changes, the developers said,
“We noticed a trend where some players were abandoning their runs early on, assuming that the rest of the content would be too punishing if they didn’t roll their desired Arche Parameters right away.”
Enemy balance has also been adjusted across all four stages. Monster HP and shields have been lowered throughout the mode, while Stage 4 receives the largest redesign. Tyrant spawn numbers have been reduced from six to three, but defeating them now grants significantly more objective progress and increased Amorphous Dimension Fragments, rising from 300 to 450. Additional cover has also been added, new Commanders can appear during the second combat wave, and several frustrating combat mechanics have been removed.
The development team explained that the goal is to
“shift the gameplay away from mindlessly hacking through endless swarms, and toward the strategic satisfaction of hunting down and prioritizing high-value targets.”
Balance updates extend beyond Onslaught
Patch 1.3.37 also improves Void Intercept Battle: Extreme by reducing the HP and shields of Risk Level 0 Colossi while adjusting scaling to preserve balance across later sections.
Several Bounty Operations have likewise been made less demanding through reductions to enemy health in missions including Resurrected Immortality Obliviant, Seudo Engulfed by Madness, Soul Reaper Gruncah, Plaudia the Gnawing Calamity, and Hungry Abyss Scarab.
Another important system-wide change removes the additional Weak Point Damage Adjustment previously applied to monsters in Onslaught Mode and Bounty Operations. According to the developers, the adjustment is designed to reduce overreliance on specific Weak Point-focused weapons without altering the inherent performance of firearm builds. The team added that player data will continue to be monitored ahead of broader balance changes planned for Season 4.
The update also fixes multiple issues affecting Descendant skills, module tooltips, mission restarts, UI icons, party information, presets, and other quality-of-life features.
| Release Date | June 14, 2023 |
|---|---|
| Platforms | PC, Xbox Series X/S |
| Developer | P1x3L Studios |
