Spring Update: Castle Decorating

Posted on April 26, 2020April 26, 2020 by Sarai Willowbreeze

Now that Test Realm has gone live, there are exciting things afoot with Castle Decorating. You can move items where you couldn’t before without rugs, platforms and crates! Definately a game changer for all of us Castle glitching/decorating nuts. Join me as we take a look at the new Spring Update: Castle Decorating.

Advanced Move Function

A new element has been added that allows us to move any item within our castle in multiple ways. We can move objects side to side, forward and backward, or up and down. This will make decorating our castles a whole lot easier!

When you open the button to move items within your castle, you’ll notice a new button. There is now an arrow button. This opens up expanded choices for movement.

There are 2 ways to utilize the new feature. For folks like me, the basic one gets the job done. There is also an advanced menu that can be found for even more detail in placement.

There are many exciting new options available. You can move an item left and right, forward and backward, or up and down. By adjusting the sensitivity you can change the distance that the object moves. This opens up some amazing possibilities.

In this picture, I adjusted the sensitivity to the highest setting and moved the log all the way to the left. That moved it over the water. Previously, if you wanted an item on the water you would have to glitch it. Not only is this easier to do, but it also saves time and gold.

In this picture, I have adjusted it all the way forward. You can see the differences between this picture and the last one. Look carefully at where the slider bar is on each of the options.

In the first two pictures, I show how an item can be raised or lowered to suit your needs. The last pictures show you a few ways you may not have thought of to use these new features to the fullest.

Last, but not least

One final very important piece of information. Once you have the item exactly where you want it, don’t forget to click on the green check mark button. If you fail to do this, the item will revert to it’s previous position, and you’ll have to start over.

So, there you have it! Personally, I think this is one of the greatest housing updates they have ever added. Castle glitching has forever changed and is easier than ever before. I hope this update will get more of you playing around in your castles, creating amazing effects. Combine these effects with some castle magic and you’ll be in the top of castle tours before you know it!

I’ve made a short video showing the how-tos of this wonderful new addition to Wizard101 castle decorating.

Let us know what what your new decorating plans are, and what you think of this amazing new update in the comments below or at Ravenwood Community. See you there!

Spring 2020 Test Realm Updates!

Posted on April 3, 2020April 3, 2020 by Kyle Sword

As we enter April, the first Wizard101 update for 2020 is here!!! Past Spring Updates have brought popular quality of life changes, as well as new features and systems. Two updates you may remember included Monstrology and Hatchmaking. The 2020 update lives up to those expectations without a doubt. So, let’s explore what Spring is going to bring to the Spiral this year!

Beastmoon maps and changes

The first thing KI revealed early told us a lot about the future of the Beastmoon Hunt. We get two new maps in the hunting grounds! A beautiful, underwater Celestian building and an industrial Aquilan quarry. These new maps add swimming and new adventure to Beastmoon Hunt, potentially changing strategy and game-play.

In the same teaser we learned that changes would be made that will allow us to group-up and hunt together with our friends!

pets!

Pets are receiving lots of attention in this update! The first change we’ll look at is an update to pet training. The new system works in tiers. Upon completing any pet mini-game 25 times, the option to skip the game unlocks. This new system allows you to feed your pet snacks and level them up faster than ever before. I feel that this update will help make pet training more accessible to Wizards of all levels. Below you can also see the new Pet UI and the new pet-based event, the Pet Promenade.

The addition of an exciting new pet talent, called “Will-cast” is the next fantastic update. Unlike May-cast talents, Will-casts aren’t cast by random chance. Instead, the talent appears in your Wizards’ hand to be cast at your direction. While currently restricted from PvP, it could be interesting to see this come to the Arena if it could be balanced. The new stat called Happiness determines these talents. To cast a Will-cast spell, you need a high enough level of Happiness.

You can control your pets if your Happiness is high enough. This depletes at a rate of 5 Happiness per second, but you can feed your pets snacks to increase their Happiness as you go.

Set Bonuses!

New set bonuses could redefine the “best” gear sets entirely. Now, equipping multiples pieces from a gear set will give you bonus statistics. This update allows for gear adjustments and stat maximizing that were never possible before, potentially unlocking exciting new gear setup strategies. We also get a brand new interface for inspecting gear! Now you can use Ctrl + Right-click to see where another Wizard got their gear!

New gold key boss

This update also brings an exciting new boss to challenge us! Meet Fellspawn, a new Gold Key boss that was locked away inside the Wizard City catacombs by the ancient Druids. Although the challenge is nice, Fellspawn is not too difficult and is expected to drop Dragoon’s gear!

Fishing in Khrysalis!

Fish have slowly spread through the Spiral over the years. Now, fishing has finally come to the end of the second arc in Khrysalis. There are eight new fishies for you find, so go out there and catch them all!

Housing!

This update also brings a much-awaited quality of life change to housing. The new Advanced Move system makes the old rug-glitching system practically irrelevant. Items can now be moved or placed wherever you see fit!

Shadow Magic

Impactful changes are coming to Shadow Magic. Now, Shadow enhanced spells like Shrike will backlash every single time. Backlash starting values have changed, and final backlash caps out at +70%. For example: at the start of a round when you cast Shrike, you will get +40 Backlash. When you blade or hit, you receive -10. So, even if you flawlessly execute your Shadow’s preferred moves, you will still be hit with at least ten backlash at the end. This change will be impactful in PvE and the Arena. Further changes in the Arena include PvP becoming turn-based as the standard mode, and tournaments free to enter. However, tournament rewards have been temporarily removed.

All of this is subject to change, as that is the fun of Test Realm. Make sure to log on and check it out yourself. Don’t forget to let us know what you think at the Ravenwood Community, or on Twitter. We would love to see pictures of your adventures in Test Realm, like this one of me as my pet little Boomer!

Ice School Guide to 99% Resist

Posted on March 11, 2020March 11, 2020 by Sarai Willowbreeze

Have you ever wondered how you could increase the resistance on your level 110 Ice Wizard? Well, Ravenwood Academy is here to help. Let us guide you on the right gear and pet to achieve 99% universal resist in Wizard101.

Now, I know what you’re thinking, can this be true? Imagine having ninety-nine percent universal resist… Sounds amazing right? Well, like all good things it won’t be easy. So, lets begin.

An Ice Wizard with that kind of resist isn’t dying any time soon, unless the opposing party has a LOT of pierce. Even then, it will take some time to defeat an Ice Wizard with almost complete immunity. Now, if that doesn’t sound like a worthy challenge for any Ice Wizard, I don’t know what is.

Its pretty fun to show other Wizards how amazing Ice school can be with all that resist. Spamming shields, Boss battles, leveling with friends, farming. Your team will be become unstoppable as you take the “damage” for them.

Now on to the fun part…. Where and how do we get the items we need to achieve all that resist?

Hat

The first thing you will need is the Jade Hood of Mystery. At level 110, it gives 22 Universal Resist, 6 % Power Pip chance, +340 Health, 6% Incoming and 5% Outgoing Healing. This Hat Comes from the “Keeper’s Lore Pack” and sells for 399 Crowns per pack.

**Note for newer players if you are not level 110 or higher it will not give you these stats!!**

Robes

Next, the Jade Robe of Mystery. It gives 23 Universal Resist, 4 % Power Pip chance, +480 Health, 5% Outgoing Heal, and +40 Critical Block at level 110. You can get this robe from the “Keeper’s Lore Pack.”

Boots

Then, the “Rockstar Kicks.” Patt Minotaur, in the once shot Gauntlet, “Battle of the Bands”, drops this rare item. These boots give +224 Health, 6 % Power Pip chance, +85 Critical Block, +6 % Damage, 18% Universal Resist at level 100.

Amulet

Now for the Amulet, the “Arcanum Exile Snowflake Torc”. Many bosses in Polaris including Boris the Boarder, Colonel Orlov, Marshal Gill, and the Rat, all drop it. The Amulet itself gives +326 Health, +88 Critical Block, +6 Universal Resist. It also gives one card, the Bolstered Ward.

Athame

The Heartsteel is an Athame you can get at Level 5 from the Crowns Shop. It gives +45 Health, and +5 Resist. You can buy it for 260 crowns. Or, you if you would rather, you can farm it from Prince Gobblestone. He is a rank 3 boss located in Colossus Boulevard, in Wizard City.

Ring

The ring you need is “Elissa’s Chill band”, which is for level 66+. It gives +415 Health, +165 Mana, 8% Power Pip chance, +3 Universal Resist, +54 Ice Critical Block, +2% Ice Damage, and 4% Incoming Healing. Now, how do you get this ring? Well, let me tell you, there are 11 bosses and mobs that drop it in Zafaria!! They are, Amedras Lightstep, Blackback Soldier, Custos Decimus, Ghuerruld, Goliath Bruiser, Gorilla Spider Witch, Oya Bloodstorm, Shadow- Web Haunt, Shaka Zebu, The Hoarder, and Tse-tse Snaketail. If you don’t have luck with one, try another!

Wand

Next, we have the wand, “Katana of Takanobu’s Wrath.” It gives +1 Universal Resist, and +1 Power Pip, as well as 5 wand hit cards. It also has a “Shift Ninja Pig” May-Cast. Takanobu the Masterless in the Cave of Solitude Wooden Key Room, in Mooshu, drops this rarely seen wand.

Pet Stats

Finally, this set-up wouldn’t be complete without a resist pet. Strive for Relentless, Mighty, Unshakeable, and Durable even though they are usually considered selfish talents. In this pet, they boost the standard Proof + Defy to provide extra universal defense. In a pet with base stats of 255 strength and 260 agility, these talents will increase that to 360 strength and 400 agility which determine the pet’s final resistance.

Well, there you have it! This is currently the best resist available. 99% Resist for Ice School is the highest that we can currently go. I’ll definitely be keeping my eyes open for gear that will take us to a full 100%. Until then, so long wonderful Wizards, cya when 100% resist is possible.

~Ravenwood Community Guest Writers, Tsunami and vKoor

The Spring Scroll of Fortune

Posted on March 1, 2020March 1, 2020 by Kyle Sword

It’s been a thrilling Winter here in the Spiral. Updates to the Spiral Showcase, Beastmoon Hunt, and Deckathalon have brought more Wizards to these exciting events. Many Scrolls throughout the Spiral were completed, and paintings hung. So, as we transition into Spring, lets look at the awesome rewards we can earn for ourselves this season!

The cosmetics!

Thankfully, this Scroll of Fortune has decided to continue one of my favorite parts of the Winter Scroll, the cosmetics! A new hat and wand are available, as well as an awesome new teleport effect and a unique new emote. So, lets take a look!

This season there is an unbelievably charming new emote. Instead of summoning a snowball to pelt your enemies, you create a beautiful flower using your hands and a little bit of magic!

The teleport effect is also very seasonal. A ray of sunshine leads to tall blades of grass that surround you, before exploding in a burst of leaves and flower petals.

The first wearable unlock is the Wild Hair, which I will be using as my new Life Wizard stitch! It’s unique and I love the way the tree roots form horns.

The Sprig of Spring is a cute and lively wand. A variety of flowers grow from a vine covered stem, and could be used on a variety of stitches. I’ll be using it for my energy gear. It seems so appropriate for gardening!

Event Items!

This season we’re definitely going to receive our fair share of event based rewards! These will provide an edge in your Beastmoon Hunts and School Deckathalons. A humongous total of 975 Lunari is available in the Scroll!

Packs filled with runes, various moonstone based rewards, over a dozen Beastmoon Idols, as well as copious amount of Lunari will all aid you on your way through the upcoming events.

Reagents, Spellements and elixirs!

Once again, the Scroll spoils us with a litany of rare reagents. These will undoubtedly make your life easier, as Shining Scales can be hard to fish for and Participation Trophies do force you into PvP! The clay variants in particular may come in very handy for anyone who still needs to farm Sinbad.

However what may be the most helpful is the grand total of 35 Daybreaker or Nightbringer Spellements!

The elixirs are an impressive reward, they’re quite literally member benefits on demand! This Scroll comes with various helpful elixirs, including Double Pet and Gardening rewards!

A fun and unique reward features, the Random Elixir reward makes a return this season. We wish you the best of luck !

The Best of the rest!

As always, there are some really sweet rewards that don’t fit into a category. These rewards are super useful and will be graciously accepted by all of us that unlock them.

This season we are given a lot of gold. Like, a lot. A maximum reward of 20,000 is a fantastic mid tier prize.

A massive total of 45,000 is really appreciated by anyone. I mean, who doesn’t like free gold?

There’s also a single mount early on in this Scroll. An adorable Warthog with a comedic, over-sized head will give you the speed you need this season!

A great 40% boost and a 7 day period will allow you to travel in style for a full week!

The Spring Globe is an awesome housing decoration, that can allows you to bring the spring theme of the Scroll to any of your houses. The Spring fish tank is also a nice novelty reward that is becoming a seasonal collectible.

We also get treated to a free few packs, like a Druid’s Hoard pack. Hopefully, you get exactly what you want! There is also a Fairy Friend Pet Jewel, which gives your ancient pet may-cast fairy!

And of course, never forget the best item on the entire Scroll! An awesome collectible that I will strive towards achieving! This of course, is the Spring Scroll of Fortune painting!

So, go out there over the next few months and enjoy Spring! You haven’t got long before these rewards are gone forever! Make sure to let us know your favorite parts of the scroll below!

Wizard101 Friendship Festival

Posted on February 12, 2020February 29, 2020 by Sarai Willowbreeze

Happy Friendship Festival!

Here we are, it’s February in the Spiral and that means it’s time for the Wizard101 Friendship Festival! Lots of goodies, from bubble emojis you can hang on your wall to an adorable stuffed sloth. Wizard101 has some wonderful new things for us this year! We also have our favorite items from years past making a reappearance. I simply couldn’t resist a shopping spree, so I’ll share with you here all my Wizard101 Friendship Festival Finds.

Friendship Pack

The first thing I’m going to share with you is the new Friendship Pack. It’s 99 crowns and has 3 items in it. What you will find are adorable Bubble Emojis that hang on a wall.

There are 14 different emoji heart wall hangings. You’ll find all your favorites, including Laughing, Happy, Silly, and Quirky!

And, in addition, there are also 11 different school heart wall hangings. There are the basic 7 schools and the Shadow and Astral schools!

Best Friends Seat

I can barely contain my excitement over one of the new items introduced in the Crown Shop. Therefore, I’m showing this one first.

More furniture we can sit on!

For the Friendship Festival, they have brought us an adorable garden bench. Quite a suitable name too, “The Best Friends Bench”. Wooden, with what appears to be a metal framework. In addition you’ll see it has a lovely carved design on the seat back. A must-have for decorators gardens! Make sure to get them while you can!

Vases of Roses and Plush Hug Sloth

I love these next 3 items!

Another great addition are the Vases of Yellow or Red Roses and the most adorable stuffed Sloth you’ll ever see. I have to admit, the Sloth was one of my first purchases, lol!

Vase of Yellow Roses-250 crowns or 5000 gold
Vase of Red Roses-250 crowns
Plush Hug Sloth-1000 crowns

Look at that sweet little face, awwwwww!

New Plushie Housing

Last, but certainly not least, we have a bunch of new plushie housing items! 3 new teddy bears and 2 manders. They would certainly look adorable in any Wizards bedroom.

Velvet Friendship Bear-1500 crowns
Brown Friendship Bear-1000 crowns
Black Friendship Bear-1000 crowns
Orange Friendship Mander-1000 crowns
Blue Friendship Mander-500 crowns

Oldies, but goodies

Of course, all of our old favorites are back for a limited time. Including the first ever furniture we could sit on. I was excited to see The Friendship Table again, originally introduced in February 2019. The 2019 Sweet Heart mount was also brought back for this event. If you missed out on them last year, here’s your chance again!

Friendship Teddy Bear-1000 crowns/15,000 gold
Friendship Table-2200 Crowns
Friendship Keeper Multi-tank-1500 Crowns
Friendship Balloons-100 Crowns (currently on sale for 70 crowns)
Care Hare-3750 Crowns
Sweet Heart-4500 Crowns
Soaring Heart Wings-3375 Crowns
Friendship Oni-4500 Crowns
Lovely Ladybug-3750 Crowns
Lovely Leopard-4750 Crowns

Don’t forget to drop by and visit Valentina Heartsong for the perfect wand for that special Valentines party! In addition, she has 2 of the cutest Piggles you’ve ever seen. You’ll find her in the shopping district near the fountain.

I am very excited about the new items KI has released. You can bet, decorator/glitcher that I am, that I will be working on some creative uses of these items. Especially the Emote wall hangings! What are you excited about? Do you plan on indulging in any of the new releases? Is your creative mind thinking of ways to use the new wall hangings? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Wizard101: New Druids Hoard Pack

Posted on January 3, 2020February 29, 2020 by Sarai Willowbreeze

Wizard101 is starting a magical new year with the mystical New Druids Hoard Pack. Inspired by the Catacombs, there are many exciting new items! The gear is graceful, the pets are inspired and the mounts are fierce. After all, they are badgers! Being a castle decorator, I was especially excited to see what new housing items these packs would bring.

Since gear is the first thing on everyones mind when we get a new pack, we’ll start with that. There are three different sets available. We have The Ancient Druidic Gear, The Spellwrights Druidic Gear and The Treeminders Druidic Gear. Similar to the gear in other recent packs, they boost the stats for at least two schools each.

Druidic Gear

The first set we’ll look at is the Ancient Druidic Gear.

The Druidic Gear gives damage, pierce and critical boosts to the Ice and Storm schools. At level 130 it also gives you a hefty 11% shadow pip boost. Three cards come with the complete set. The cowl has a -55 Black Mantle. The robes have a zero pip Bestow, which allows you to give a pip to a player on your team, and the boots have Freeze, which Stuns your target for one round.

The Druidic Robes are stunning, with golden scrollwork accenting the shoulders and front seam. The colors are muted but complement each other well.

Next, we have The Spellwrights Druidic Gear.

This gear set boosts damage, critical and pierce for Life, Balance and Myth schools. As with the Ancient Gear, this set gives an 11% shadow pip boost at level 130. The spells that come with this gear are a +30 Balanceblade, Bestow, and Stun.

This set boasts brighter shades of green and white, making the scroll work really pop!

Finally, we have The Treeminders Druidic Gear.

This set boosts the final two schools, Fire and Death. As with the other sets, it gives damage, critical and pierce. Once again, we get an 11% shadow pip boost at level 130. The spells that come with this set are -30 Weakness, Bestow, and Choke. All handy utility spells that can assist any Wizard.

These robes are more somber with darker colors, but quite elegant in appearance.

Unfortunately, none of the gear is dye-able. In my opinion that’s a shame. I can imagine some stunning color combinations that could be used. In my opinion, the gear is decent stat-wise. All three sets are perfect for an elegant, mystical stitch.

Sickle and Shield

The wands that come in these packs are called Sickle and Shield. We have Ancient Druid, Spellwright and Treeminders wands. They all come with exciting new may-cast spells! Shift Ancient is a drain that damages your enemy while healing you. Shift Spellwright heals all, and Shift Treeminder hits all enemies. These wands give pierce, critical, critical block, damage, and pip conversion. The wand attack is a shadow spell with 165 damage.

Mounts and pets

You’ll find three new mounts and three adorable pets in the new pack. The badger mounts all give a +40 speed boost. We have the Attack Badger, the Battle Badger and the Combat Badger. The only difference between them is the color of the saddle and horns. Yes, badgers in the Spiral have horns!

The pets are inspired by the seasons spring, summer and winter. The Spring Sproutling is a Life pet that comes with the Hamadryad spell. This is an 800 heal-all that also removes a damage-over-time from your team. The Summer Sproutling is a Fire pet that comes with the Rain of Fire spell. The Winter Sproutling is an Ice pet that comes with a Lord of Winter card.

Housing

Ok, now, my favorite part of any new pack! It was all I could do to keep from putting these first, lol. I’m definitely a housing hoarder! Sometimes, I feel like a kid in a candy store when it comes to new housing items in Wizard101, and this pack did not disapoint.

The Druids Hoard pack has brought more awesome housing guests and items for us to enjoy. From broken furniture and ruined paintings to amber orbs and a spectacular new fountain, there is something for everyone. I’m looking forward to seeing the ways y’all are going to utilize them!

Well, there you have it! The New Druid Hoard Pack is full of exciting new must-haves that can enhance any Wizard. What are your favorite things in this pack? Will you be trying to get the mount? The pet? The gear? Lets us know what your favorite item is in the comments below!

Wizard101 2019: A Spiral Review

Posted on January 1, 2020January 1, 2020 by Sarai Willowbreeze

2019 was a groundbreaking year in Wizard101. There were so many amazing additions to the game, from interactive housing to exciting new in-game events. Wizard101 turned 11 this year, and oh how we grew. Sit back and join me as we relive it with 2019: A Spiral Review.

January

2019 started strong with new social media and adventures at Pax South. The first new pack of the year was added!

Wizard101 announced that you can now find them on Instagram! How cool is that ?!
A new pack was added to the Crown Shop. The Nimbari Hoard Pack is full of exciting must-have items from Empyrea.
Renee Wooten and Matthew Anderson shared their adventure at Pax South, a gaming event in San Antonio, TX.

February

In February, big changes came to in-game housing! Castle decorators and their friends were excited about a new table!

The new Friendship Table made its debut! We were finally able to sit down and interact with the furniture in our castles. Be still my heart! This allowed us to sit a spell with our friends, like we would in real life.
Another adorable addition in February was the Bubbler Music Player! It is such a fun item! Bubbles float around the castle while music plays, and I mean, who doesn’t love bubbles?

March

March is always a fun month in Wizard101! Pat O’ Gold made her yearly appearance, bringing all things green to the Spiral.

March started out with the announcement of KI’s very first Spring Decorating contest. Castle decorators were excited to show their amazing creations to the world. You can revisit the winning entries here: 2019 Spring Decorating Winners
Exciting new Elixirs were added to the game. There were Mega Elixirs and the Hyper Elixir as well.

April

In April we had an amazing Spring update that brought many new features.

Expand Friends List and Backpack Elixirs came to the Crowns Shop!
The Pandamonium Hoard Pack arrived.
Wizard City revamp unveiled!!!
Monstrology additions: Spiders and Colossus.
The Deckathalon was introduced!
Chocosteins Monster Pet

Skeleton Key bosses were added to Crab Alley and Empyrea.
Treasure Card Display was added
Additional Teleport Emotes added
Free housing was added to Polaris, Mirage and Empyrea
Release of the 7th character slot!

May

May was a little quieter, but that’s not to say that there weren’t any fun additions. After the success of the first ever Deckathalon, they brought another one to the Spiral. May brought us Ice! Wizards from all around the world and every part of the Spiral tried to get the rare Deckathalon Hamster and the Hands of Fate.

Ice Deckathalon

The new Gallop Emote was added.
Khans Dance Game premiered. Fun, fun, fun!
Grandmother Raven visited the KI offices. What a wonderful interview! Watch it here: Grandmother Raven interview

June

The new additions in June were absolutely fabulous! Now we can now dance the night away!

*Turns on some Disco Music*

The Fantastic Fairytale Bundle gave us an inspired new Castle full of hidden potential. With beautiful gear for stitching, and grounds ripe for fishing and farming this amazing Castle was a summer sensation.
We could finally get our groove on with up to 6 friends on the new Dance Floor housing item!
An Empyrean beast became a new mount, the Fangle!
The Deckathalon returned, with a Death school theme. Death Deckathalon

July

July brought many wonderful new things to the Spiral. One of the most exciting for Wizards everywhere was the Wizard City Free Weekend! This special event allowed all players to experience all of Wizard City for free for a limited time.

The Wizard City revamp was completed with Crab Alley.
Advanced Quick Sell was introduced.
New Treasure Cards became available in the Wizard City Library: Balance Blade, Nature’s Wrath, Sandstorm, Blizzard, Stormzilla, Hex, and each school’s Traps
The First time user experience was updated, becoming more engaging for new Wizards.
The Deckathalon returned with a Fire Deckathalon

August

This month was really hot with the Sizzling Summer Update, officially released on August 1st. New events, mounts, bundles, packs, and emotes made 2019 a summer to remember.

The Grizzleheim Lore Pack came to the Crown Shop giving Wizards a chance at fabulous new spells!
A quirky new mount was added, the Bumbershoot!
The Spiral Showcase arrived, allowing us to gain special rewards for daily activities.
The Twister Dance emote was added, taking us old timers back to the good old days.
The Ray of Sunshine teleport effect was added to Crowns Shop. Sarai starts singing “Blinded by the Light”
11 Days of Birthday Magic began, celebrating Wizard101’s 11th year!!!
The Beastmoon Hunt was introduced.
The Summer Scroll of Fortune brought exciting rewards.
The Deckathalon returned with the Myth Deckathalon

September

It was party time in September. Wizard101 celebrated eleven years of magic! Wizards were showered with special gifts during the 11 days of Birthday Magic.

The Beastmoon Hunt was brought back for the second time.
Four new Crowns Shop bundles appeared. The Phoenix Bundle, The Cloud Wyvern Bundle, The Skyvern Bundle, and The Jade Wyvern Bundle. These new bundles all included a rare pack mount!
The new Strut Dance emote had Wizards “Strutting their Stuff” all over the Spiral.
A Birthday Teleport effect was added for a limited time.
The Sinbad Hoard Pack arrived with many wonderful items such as the Gryphon Pet, two-rider Roc Mount, and special reagents to craft the Sinbad and the Iron Sultan housing gauntlet.
The Life Deckathalon made its first appearance
The Sinbad and the Iron Sultan Gauntlet was made available for purchase on the Wizard101 website

October

As the weather turned cool, the Spiral turned spooky! Halloween in the Spiral is always a favorite, with scary fun for every Wizard. Some exciting new things we saw in October included:

The Spooky Sounds Music Scroll.
The Megabat Mount.
The Spider Rider Mount.
A new Halloween Multi-Tank.
A New Rhythm Mortis Dance Emote.
A New Pirate Nightmare Pack.
The Prepaid Time Elixir.
The first Balance Deckathalon Event.
The new Creepier Carnival Bundle.

November

After months of suspense and wild speculation, we finally found out what happened to “Doug!” The poor guy has been stuck in the drains underneath Wizard City for all this time! There were many updates that fell to us with the September leaves, including a new bundle!

The Wizard City Underground was unveiled!
- Olde Town Drains Instance
- Golem Court Drains Gauntlet
The new Spellwrighting System unleashed new potential for Wizards everywhere.
- New Utility Spells
The Backpack Butler made finding that missing pet or robe easier than ever before.
There were Hatchmaking Kiosk Improvements
An exciting Castle Magic Update brought a new level of fun to decorators throughout the Spiral.
The Beastmoon Hunt returned with updated forms and a new map!
The Deckathalons were updated to include the opportunity to battle a Professor!
The Storm Deckathalon blew in.
The Undersea Enchantment Bundle allowed us to place fish in our houses like pets!

December

The final month of the year brought the 12 Days of the Spiral. KingsIsle generously gifted us packs, Crowns, a Mystery Discount, and other holiday items. Exciting housing items were added with new holiday packs. We found Stuffed Reindeer, Baked Ham, holiday plates and glasses. There were many wonderful holiday items that helped set the scene, even lobster!

The Winter Scroll of Fortune begins!
The 12 Days of the Spiral comes back again.
The New Santa Jaws Charity Mount brought hope to Creative Action and The Ronald McDonald House of Dallas.
The New Yule Logger Pack brought fun new style and better energy gear!
The New Festive Fox Mount trotted onto the scene.
The Winter Wonderland Artwork Contest gave us all a reason to share our holiday creations!
The New Holiday Frostbitedome landed.
The Cozy Fireplace let us warm ourselves by the fire with a good friend.
The Festive Table gave us a way to gather around the table with our Wizard101 family.
The Formal Dance Floor let us jingle all the way!
The Winter Wonder Pack was updated for 2019 with Krampus Spellements!
The rare Charity Fa-La-La-La Llama returned.

Well, there you have it! What a fabulous year it has been in the Spiral. I have enjoyed the ways they have enhanced our game experience and can’t wait to see what 2020 brings. What were some of your favorite things in the Spiral in 2019? What is on your wish list already for 2020? Let us know in the comments below!

Christmas in the Spiral

Posted on December 24, 2019December 27, 2019 by Sarai Willowbreeze

Happy Holidays Wizards! Here we are at one of the most wonderful times of the year. That means decorators all around the Spiral get into the experience of creating magical winter wonderlands in Wizard101.

It is my honor to present you with some excellent examples of Christmas in the Spiral. The Wizards showcased here have come up with adorable, funny, and breathtaking creations that showcase the spirit of the season. You’ll notice that there are a variety of castles here. Which goes to show that it isn’t the castle, but what you do with it that matters.

With some clever use of Monstrology, Castle Magic, and a basic float glitch, these Wizards have created stunning effects. Sometimes, a dazzling aesthetic can be made by merely placing carefully selected items and paying attention to the way they interact with the area. Other castle owners use glitching to help create a breathtaking display. Balance, consistency, and color are the secrets to a spectacular castle at any time of the year.

I hope that you find inspiration from these castles!

Robert Legendheart

Saffron Moonhand

Wolf Titanbreeze

Ashley Moondust

Tabitha Iceheart

Brecken Battleblossom

Forgotten Lore of Dragonspyre

Posted on December 18, 2019November 18, 2020 by Morgan_Shade

Warning! Spoilers Lie Ahead!

“Dragonspyre is an ancient, haunted world in which renegade professor Malistaire has recently been spotted!

Once an advanced militant society, Dragonspyre had an esteemed Academy rivaling that of the Ravenwood School of Magical Arts in Wizard City. The inhabitants once held a special interest in Fire Magic.

Legend has it that in the summoning of a great Dragon, the world was destroyed and changed forever. Its great buildings and stone columns crumbled before the coming of the Dragon Titan.

Now, it has become a land of fire, lava, and ghosts.“

-KingsIsle Entertainment

Welcome!

Greetings and Salutations Wizards and Pirates of the Spiral! I am Shade, allow me to welcome you to the first installment of “Forgotten Lore.” In this new series, we will explore the lore of the Spiral, and uncover secrets you might have missed. Let’s begin!

Dragonspyre was the first new world added to Wizard101. Unveiled in early 2009, it came only four months after the game’s initial release. Looking at Dragonspyre through a real-world lens, its inspiration seems to come from ancient Rome. Its architecture has distinct Roman elements, such as columns and archways. Many of Dragonspyres areas use Roman words like Basilica, Forum, Athenaeum, and Necropolis. Meanwhile, its NPC’s take influence from the Russian Military.

It seems clear that the developers meant for Dragonspyre to be very different from the worlds that came before it. So, they opted for a fiery and foreboding dark fantasy theme. The destroyed state of the world might make one think of Pompeii. Which, as we know, was buried beneath volcanic ash when Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 C.E.

Dragonspyre’s civilization is ancient, predating both Wizard City and Merle Ambrose. It was also home to Dragonspyre Academy. A rival of the Ravenwood School of Magical Arts during its time. This world is also the home-world of some key players. Cyrus, Malistaire, and Sylvia Drake (born Sylvia Spitfire) are all from Dragonspyre. It is also the home of the infamous Loremaster and houses the grand finale of Wizard101’s first story arc.

But how did Dragonspyre become what it is today? Why did these things happen?

Given Dragonspyre’s current state of disarray, its lore has required some effort to reassemble. After investigating countless sources, I have re-constructed the most probable sequence of events.

So, without further ado, sit back, relax, and let me tell you the story….

Dragonspyre and Century War

In the beginning, Dragons and Humans lived side by side, but humanity lived in constant fear. One-night, King Mene met in secret with the Queen of the Drakes, Gavarena. They allied Man and Drake. Together they would overcome the Dragons and drive them out. A new kingdom would be born. In light of their victory, they named this Kingdom Dragonspyre.

The Kingdom continued to grow after Mene’s passing. Later, King Jurgen expanded Dragonspyre’s borders. Man and Drake worked together to protect the realm. It was an age of peace but it was not to last. King Jurgen passed away suddenly, with no children. Without an heir to the throne, Dragonspyre fell into a civil war that lasted 100 years. This would be forever known as the Century War.

Kylgore and the Golden Age

The war came to an end by the efforts of Kylgore the Magnificent and a Drake, named Leneth the Great. They worked together to defeat a mighty black dragon in Dragonspyre’s outer ring. Exactly how Kylgore achieved this victory remains a mystery. After his triumph, Kylgore claimed the throne and put an end to the war. An age of peace finally descended on Dragonspyre.

Kylgore’s rule brought many changes to Dragonspyre. Significant advancements in culture were made, and explorations of the sciences began. New magical advancements, including the creation of Knowledge Crystals, began in Kylgores reign.

Kylgore and His Descendants

King Kylgore forged a friendship with Aurelius Ambrosius, leader of the Druidic Treeminders. As a gift, Aurelius gave Kylgore seven saplings from Ravenwood. The King planted the magical trees throughout Dragonspyre. They would later become the trees of Dragonspyre Academy. To commemorate their friendship, Kylgore ordered the construction of a statue of Aurelius.

The Beginning of the Academy

Generations passed, and the Kingdoms’ knowledge remained locked away, seen only by royalty. King Kylgore descendants, King Betrin and Prince Viggor, clung to that tradition. They hoped to keep their secrets from falling into unworthy hands. But then, Rydall the Conqueror infected his people with an alchemical plague. Mobs of the afflicted revolted in the city streets. Something had to change if Dragonspyre was to survive.

Duke Sebastian came forward and fought with the monarchy for the right to search the knowledge crystals for a cure. He sent a champion, Iona Pyrelance, to do battle against King Betrin. Iona won the battle! Duke Sebastian’s bravery caused the laws to be overturned. Knowledge would become accessible to the masses, and Dragonspyre Academy was born. All who qualified were welcome within its walls. The people, armed with this new knowledge, overcame Rydall’s Plague, and the rebellion finally ceased.

The Tragedy of Viggor's Legion

Some embrace change, while others fear it. While Rydall’s Plague ravaged his homeland, Prince Viggor set out in the hopes of building Dragonspyre’s Empire anew. With his Drake and General Greyflame at his side, they would lead an army of soldiers on a perilous journey. Their plan? To conquer the magical realms of the Ravenwood and the Treeminders who lived there. Viggor’s mission would start a war with the Treeminders. Turning a once peaceful people into a society as evil as the invaders they sought to drive out.

There were massive casualties in the conflict between the Dragonspyrians and the Treeminders. Destroyed were the Ravenwood, its magical trees (except for Bartelby), and Viggor’s army. A man named Gregor would be the final soldier to fall. The remains of the deceased forces would never return to Dragonspyre.

The Aftermath

The few surviving Treeminders remained to plant new magic trees. They buried their dead in catacombs deep beneath Wizard City. When it was over, the survivors fled to the worlds of Albion and Avalon. The lost Knowledge Crystals buried within the catacombs contain a record of those events.

Soon after, Dragonspyre Academy became the center for knowledge in the Kingdom. Much of their curriculum devoted to the study of war, combat, and pyromancy. Dragonspyre’s dislike of Wizard City could have come from the anger over Viggor’s tragic failure.

Aldared the Usurper

Like fire, knowledge can be dangerous when placed in the wrong hands. A graduate of Dragonspyre Academy by the name of Aldared proved this. He used his advanced knowledge to unseat the King of Dragonspyre and became known as Aldared the Usurper. His rule was as cruel as it was brutal, and the people despised him.

Founding of the Great Council

The people of Dragonspyre suffered under Aldared’s tyranny until a group of Wizards and Warriors laid siege to the Usurper’s palace. Katia Firewinter, Eliena (the legendary Drake), and Drannik the Shrouded Wizard were among them. Aldared was, at long last, cast down and his soul safely trapped within a Knowledge Crystal. Drannik attempted to seize control of the throne but was cut down by Katia. With the threat gone, she began working with her fellow mages and warriors to create a new government. The Great Council, also known as the Council of Wizards, Warriors, and King, would come from her efforts.

The Council of Wizards and Warriors

While Aldared may have died, his influence remained. Kildare, a Wizard of the Great Council, became corrupted by Aldared’s crystal. Valerik Brightsword discovered this treachery and defeated Kildare swiftly. While Kildare’s defeat came before he could do much harm, the damage was done. Fear and paranoia began to settle in among the members of the Great Council.

As time passed, the power of the King diminished, and members of the Council began to bicker for control. People were fearful of the Wizards, their magic, and their crystals. They spurred a great Warrior named Lyon to action. He led a group of fellow Warriors to demand control of all the spells in Dragonspyre.

Whether the reasons for Lyon’s actions were justifiable or out of a desire for power, no one knows. Regardless, the matter came to the attention of the Council. When the Council denied Lyon, he betrayed them in broad daylight.

Lyon challenged the leader of the Wizards, Rurik Flamesoul, to a fight. After a vicious battle, Rurik proved victorious. He would become the only Wizard to best a Warrior in open combat. His victory would secure the Wizard’s control over the magic of Dragonspyre.

The Fall of Dragonspyre

Time went on, and the Wizards began to fear those who challenged their power. Vladimir Darkflame, Dean of Admissions at Dragonspyre Academy, decided to take matters into his own hands. He gathered a group of conspirators, Andor Bristleback, Devora Shadowcrown, and Zora Steelwielder. Together, they orchestrated the coup of the century. They kidnapped the Academy’s Professors, and summoned the Dragon Titan. The traitors were apprehended and detained within the Labyrinth. But, the summoning of the ancient Fire Titan could not be undone.

The Titan rose from its slumber, and the razing of Dragonspyre began. The Dragon Titan summoned its army within the city walls, taking the defenders by surprise. Boris Blackrock, the Obsidian Golem, did battle against the Dragon Titan. Using the knowledge his mage creators left him, Boris faced the Titan in single combat. But, the Obsidian Golem fell, as would many others in the wake of the Titan’s chaos. To commemorate his sacrifice, Boris became the last great hero to be buried within the Necropolis.

The Final Assault

Dragonspyre’s defenders retreated to the Academy as the Titan’s army advanced. When the Fire Titan led its final assault upon the Academy, everything was laid to waste. All that survived was the Fire Tree, Ashley, and the Fire School, whether this was out of mercy or respect no one knows.

When and how the Titan’s onslaught came to an end is a mystery. What is certain is that the Dragon Titan has become a colossal stone statue coiled around the volcano. Its armies remain, waiting in vain for someone or something worthy of leading them. Dragonspyre is forever changed, and whether it will ever recover from its fate remains to be seen.

Endgame Arc One

Spoiler Warning!

It would be many years before Malistaire Drake returned to Dragonspyre. When he did he held in his hands the stolen Krokonomicon, and in his heart the vain hope of waking the Titan and restoring his beloved wife, Sylvia to life. Pulled toward the Crown of Fire, at the volcano’s summit, Malistaire began his ritual.

His twin brother Cyrus traveled alongside the Savior of Wizard City, to Dragonspyre. Cyrus attempted to reason with his brother, summoning the spirit of Sylvia to assist him. Unfortunately, this only angered Malistaire further and the necromancer banished his brother. The Savior of Wizard City would be forced to duel him for the fate of the Spiral.

After a perilous battle, the young Wizard triumphed (as predicted). Malistaire ultimately perished and was finally reunited with his lost love! Hand in hand, Malistaire, and Sylvia departed together for the Other Side. At least until Morganthe woke him up, and the whole Darkmoor incident, but that’s a story for another time.

Thanks for reading!

Well, that’s all on the world of Dragonspyre. For now, at least.

I’d like to give a special thanks to the team here at Ravenwood Academy who helped make this possible (as ghosts can be tricky things to photomance)!

Since this is the first article in this series, I’d like to know: would you like to hear more about the lore of the Spiral? If so, what would you like to see next? I would love to hear your thoughts and opinions in the comments below.

In the meantime, please feel free to explore the wealth of information Ravenwood Academy has to offer! If you want to stay up to date on our latest content, follow us on Facebook and Twitter. You can also join our Ravenwood Community Discord to meet fellow Wizard101 fans and enthusiasts!

See you in the Spiral!

-Morgan Shade

The New Olde Town Apartment!

Posted on December 6, 2019December 6, 2019 by Sarai Willowbreeze

With the popularity of apartments in Wizard101, from the Arcanum to Mirage, we are starting to see more of them. Now, KI has added a cute little townhouse to the Spiral! You can buy the New Olde Town Apartment from Derrick Blaze, next to the Bazaar. I’m sure you’ve seen him hanging around out there right near the Team-Up Kiosk.

Being able to buy this cute little flat will be a challenge for almost any Wizard. To get the recipe, you have to earn the Team Champion Badge. When you help other Wizards complete their battles at the Team-Up Kiosk, you earn points towards badges. Well, to get this one, you’re going to have to be very helpful. You receive the Team Champion Badge after you have earned 2000 points. Sarai listens to the sudden silence. Yes, somewhat intimidating. But you know what? You can do it! Do a couple of runs a day, and you will have that badge before you know it. It’s a no-trade item, so sharing it through the Bank will not be possible. Each Wizard will have to earn their own. At 12,500 Crowns, it’s an investment. But, it’s a rare gem that you will be proud to show off to your friends. Still, I hope they will have a gold price for it eventually.

Now on to the good stuff!

The Olde Town Apartment is a simply charming castle. From its townhouse feel to its enclosed yard, this new addition has a world of possibilities! The interior layout is reminiscent of the Wooded Cottage. There are a few differences, such as no alcove on the first floor, and you will find a curtained window seat downstairs. You will also notice that the second floor is larger. The wallpaper is the same pattern and color as the Wooded Cottage, purple with a decorative block pattern. Two leaded glass windows add a charming touch.

More good stuff!

Now, let’s head out the back door. Yes, we have an actual back door! Wizard101’s Olde Town Apartment has a secluded yard, surrounded by stone walls. A thoughtful touch, shrubbery peeks over the top of the walls bringing them a splash of color. The yard itself is an open area, surrounded by trees that tower over the stone walls. There is plenty of room to have a wonderful little tea garden. On the other side of the wall, you can see the towers and walls of Olde Town in the distance.

Well, there you have it. The newest apartment available in Wizard101. Do you plan on getting one? Can you already get one? Let us know in the comments below

~ Sarai Willowbreeze