# 5.3 Update **URL:** \ **Category:** Official News\ **Created:** [December 16, 2020, 1:06am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/5-3-update/67657 "2020-12-16T01:06:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Saltypatra](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/saltypatra/32/59750_2.png) [@Saltypatra](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Saltypatra)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2020, 1:06am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/5-3-update/67657/1 "2020-12-16T01:06:06Z")
#### 5.3 UPDATE ![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/uploads/gemsofwar/optimized/3X/5/3/53f0b469b313b842b0bf14d8e765ab77ee898850_2_690x34.jpeg) Warbands are a pre-designed team that players can use straight away in battles (similar to a Starter Deck in TCGs). Warbands are primarily aimed at newer players or players who wish to start dabbling with team building but want an existing team to build off. They also contain extra banners and team slots, so there is something there for experienced players too! - Players can view Warbands in the new Warband tab in the Shop Menu - Warband bundles cost 50 War Coins and contain the following: - Players will be able to earn the Ultra-Rare Weapon from Warbands from Gem Mastery, though they will need a high level to do so (100+ Gem Mastery in a Color). - Once a player purchases a Warband team, the team’s bundle in the shop will change to a “Booster Pack” for that team - Booster Packs cost 15 War Coins, and will contain 3 different rewards, all of which are meant to help improve the Warband team. These rewards include - Players can earn War Coins in a few ways: - Warbands are set up so that we can add or change Warbands in the Shop with game updates, allowing us to rotate Warbands around from time to time. _Because it is a Guild Wars week, we will delay the release of Warbands and War Coins available until the update is out everywhere and we can prompt players to update to the 5.3 update. (We expect this to be only for 24-48 hrs)._ ![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/uploads/gemsofwar/optimized/3X/a/d/adfcf31d6b4b8d45ea7c312b3b0248bcdce34ef9_2_690x34.jpeg) - Shrines are a new system that gives players extra means to gain resources while playing the game. - The Shrine menu contains Shrines, each Shrine will be tied to a different Resource or Collectible in the game. - With this first Shrine, for each Gold coin won in battle, the Shrine of Cunning will also receive 1 Gold Coin - Once the Shrine reaches 50% of the maximum amount it will trigger a timed offer allowing players to purchase the Gold. Players can continue playing the game to fully fill the Shrine before purchasing. - Once the Shrine is full, the Shrine Offer will only run for 48hrs after which the Shrine will reset and players will have to begin again. - The maximum amount of a resource in a Shrine varies based on a Player’s level. These different level ranges not only affect the max amount of the Shrine, but also the cost and the bonus rewards given in the offer. - If a player levels up into a new level range while filling up a Shrine, they will continue with the Shrine’s existing max amount. Once the Shrine resets, it will then use the new level range. - We will add new Shrines in the future, though these Shrines may only be available for a limited time. ![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/uploads/gemsofwar/optimized/3X/a/0/a035677d494ccd8d3f5c099c8d0b4890244c4a7b_2_690x34.jpeg) We have made some changes to early tutorials to help new players. - When starting the game for the first time, players are asked if they have some experience with Match-3 RPGs. This will adjust some of the tutorials during the introductory battles - We have improved the tutorial text for Leveling Up Troops so it’s shorter and easier for new players to understand - We have improved the tutorial text for Unlocking Traits on Troops so it’s shorter and easier for new players to understand. ![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/uploads/gemsofwar/optimized/3X/d/3/d3311f81610dff3bea372256c8cf20ed010bbe5b_2_690x34.jpeg) We have made a change to VIP Chests to remove Traitstones from their core drop pool. This means that VIP Chests will always give either 2 Epic Troops, 1 Legendary Troop or 1 Mythic Troop. Players will still have a chance to earn Traitstones, as VIP Chests will have a 30% chance per key to earn 2 bonus Arcane or Celestial Traitstones (Traitstone rewards are the same as what was available in VIP Chests in the previous version). ![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/uploads/gemsofwar/optimized/3X/1/8/189658788ddcc8827e6b5ef1d7b3247f17238e55_2_690x34.jpeg) We have made some quality of life improvements to the Arena. - We have changed the Troop Draft Order in Arena so players will pick the Epic Troop first then Ultra-Rare, etc. - After players have chosen all their Troops, they will be given the option of a free reroll. The reroll will start the Arena draft back at the first Troop, with a new set of Troops to choose from. - We’ve added a confirmation popup to Arena Offers to prevent players accidentally purchasing an Offer while trying to navigate through menus quickly. ![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/uploads/gemsofwar/optimized/3X/a/d/ad1e185095df61205bf0e8114da5af6767a77087_2_690x34.jpeg) We have a few Troop changes for this update related to helping out new players. _Warhound_ The Warhound is a troop players earned very early in the game, but once the first enemy ran out of Attack, he wasn’t able to help his team out further. We’ve given him a little mana generation just so he can continue to help his team even after there is no more Attack to remove. - Changed Attack Debuff from 0 + Magic to 1 + ½ Magic - Spell now also explodes 2 random Gems when cast - Mana cost increased from 7 to 8 _Salamander_ Salamander was one of the early burning troops to be released. At the time burning was considered more dangerous due to the continuous damage. With its addition to the Fire and Fury Warband, we felt it was time to give this burning lizard a little reptilian love. - Mana cost reduced from 13 to 11 ![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/uploads/gemsofwar/optimized/3X/0/6/06f0e29463f2c079b5fbf1d82774428f19e4349c_2_690x34.jpeg) - _ **One Time at Warband Camp…** _ – Unlock a Warband - _ **My Time to Shrine** _ – Fill a Shrine completely - _ **Well, I’m very happy for you** _ – Reach 40,000 Total Underworld Renown ![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/uploads/gemsofwar/optimized/3X/4/c/4c460495051fdbda4582bae14b73b5323a0254f8_2_690x34.jpeg) - We have added new Holiday themed art for the season. - We have increased some of the rewards or adjusted some rewards for Rewarded Ads - We have added recipes to the Soulforge that consume Orbs of Growth and Greater Orbs of Growth. These recipes will give a treasure troop that can be used on Faction Treasure Hoards: ![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/uploads/gemsofwar/optimized/3X/3/8/38b17d1521cb162399b25096479ef8ac7699c80d_2_690x34.jpeg) - We have fixed an issue in Tower of Doom where the game could crash if trying to use a scroll to defeat a Doom Room or on the room that held the Unlock scroll. ---
**Author:** ![ChunkyMono](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/chunkymono/32/69308_2.png) [@ChunkyMono](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/ChunkyMono)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2020, 1:25am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/5-3-update/67657/2 "2020-12-16T01:25:51Z")
I am thankful for the streams, but is there a reason why this info couldn’t have been posted at the same time? At a minimum, it would have kept the discussions here and not cluttering the stream thread. Just a thought. ---
**Author:** ![awryan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/awryan/32/74650_2.png) [@awryan](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/awryan)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2020, 1:26am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/5-3-update/67657/3 "2020-12-16T01:26:23Z")
> [@Saltypatra](#): > > As Warbands are aimed at newer players, we will not be giving any War Coins to players who have completed Kingdom Questlines previously Are your achievements now only designed for new players now too? 🤦 ---
**Author:** ![igniteice](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/igniteice/32/67904_2.png) [@igniteice](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/igniteice)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2020, 1:27am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/5-3-update/67657/4 "2020-12-16T01:27:01Z")
Ah, yes, this will come in handy, thank you. ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/uploads/gemsofwar/original/3X/3/7/37d8214dcd70430dbeadb4305e49b41e45f2749f.jpeg) ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/uploads/gemsofwar/original/3X/6/3/632c96aca834f9bab227b234d16be7d4aeb43b23.jpeg) ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/uploads/gemsofwar/original/3X/7/b/7b7a74ef564d870ad9bacef869b00f013326a4ba.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![MattDB87](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/mattdb87/32/67274_2.png) [@MattDB87](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/MattDB87)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2020, 1:31am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/5-3-update/67657/5 "2020-12-16T01:31:21Z")
The game keeps crashing on xbox after the update. 4 times within 10 minutes. Also happening for my guildmates. ---
**Author:** ![covertmuffin123](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5daacb/32.png) [@covertmuffin123](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/covertmuffin123)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2020, 1:32am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/5-3-update/67657/6 "2020-12-16T01:32:22Z")
Game immediately crashed on PS4 when collecting PVP rewards. Edit: It also says that the Shrine is unavailable in my region (US/NA). ---
**Author:** ![awryan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/awryan/32/74650_2.png) [@awryan](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/awryan)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2020, 1:33am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/5-3-update/67657/7 "2020-12-16T01:33:10Z")
> [@Saltypatra](#): > > Completing Questlines for each Kingdoms (e.g. for Broken Spire) > > - As Warbands are aimed at newer players, we will not be giving any War Coins to players who have completed Kingdom Questlines previously > [@Saltypatra](#): > > Because it is a Guild Wars week, we will delay the release of Warbands and War Coins available until the update is out everywhere and we can prompt players to update to the 5.3 update. (We expect this to be only for 24-48 hrs). Just quoting to make this a more user friendly link. ---
**Author:** ![TheIdleOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@TheIdleOne](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/TheIdleOne)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2020, 1:34am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/5-3-update/67657/8 "2020-12-16T01:34:37Z")
Xbox Series X: Game crashed once starting up a battle in Explore. Game always crashes leaving the Shop. (eight for eight) Game crashed claiming a mail in the mail box. Game crashed twice leaving the mail box, even when empty (two for two) Game crashed twice entering PvP and leaving the screen. (two for two) Game crashed leaving the Troops Menu. Not to be confused with when an event (like Delves) lets you create a team from the Troop Menu (two for two). Game crashed after claiming the Pet Reward in a Pet Rescue. Game continues to crash leaving a Pet Rescue after claiming the Pet Reward (two for two) Game crashed after buying tiers in the Delve event. Its fine afterwards… for now… The game crashes seemed to go away after the Shrine tutorial shows up. Filled the Shrine to full and the Achievement didn’t unlock. I find it really annoying that there’s a green exclamation mark telling me my Shrine is Full on the left side of my screen and it won’t go away. ---
**Author:** ![Chris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/958977/32.png) [@Chris](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Chris)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2020, 1:45am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/5-3-update/67657/9 "2020-12-16T01:45:36Z")
This pretty much does nothing for new player experience, it is still terrible. There’s a huge chasm between existing players and new players that realistically takes well over a year to even start catching up. The solution shouldn’t just be to add more ways to buy resources, that’s not going to happen at the prices you set (which tbh are laughable for value), it’s an issue with the current state off the game. ---
**Author:** ![Raistlin](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/raistlin/32/61294_2.png) [@Raistlin](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Raistlin)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2020, 1:48am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/5-3-update/67657/10 "2020-12-16T01:48:46Z")
I can’t even finish a battle. I have tried three times and it crashes in the middle of the battle. So glad they did this during guild wars because wars is soooo enjoyable already. ---
**Author:** ![Sibelios](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@Sibelios](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Sibelios)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2020, 1:50am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/5-3-update/67657/11 "2020-12-16T01:50:09Z")
Same as @TheIdleOne, started a bug thread ---
**Author:** ![TheFarmer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc29f/32.png) [@TheFarmer](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/TheFarmer)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2020, 1:51am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/5-3-update/67657/12 "2020-12-16T01:51:49Z")
Game is totally broken, 5 crashes already in less than 10 minutes. Playing on PS5. ---
**Author:** ![awryan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/awryan/32/74650_2.png) [@awryan](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/awryan)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2020, 1:52am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/5-3-update/67657/13 "2020-12-16T01:52:12Z")
So much for the Christmas Miracle of the patch coming out crash free during the first ever GW/ToD week. (I mean my non developer ass could for see asset issues, but what do I know.) But hey, on the bright side at least you have a stable way-ish to play Cyberpunk. (Literally the only reason I bought the Series X.) ---
**Author:** ![Arg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5daacb/32.png) [@Arg](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Arg)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2020, 2:01am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/5-3-update/67657/14 "2020-12-16T02:01:42Z")
Why do you update during Guild Wars weeks, with it crashing on console after updating, there will be many losses attributed to those that won’t be able to finish their games. ---
**Author:** ![rojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5f9b8f/32.png) [@rojo](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/rojo)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2020, 2:26am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/5-3-update/67657/15 "2020-12-16T02:26:25Z")
Is everyone enjoying new update? ---
**Author:** ![mitamata](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/mitamata/32/10313_2.png) [@mitamata](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/mitamata)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2020, 2:51am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/5-3-update/67657/16 "2020-12-16T02:51:26Z")
Before I go and update, does it work on mobile (Android)? 😅 ---
**Author:** ![Fleg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5e9695/32.png) [@Fleg](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Fleg)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2020, 2:53am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/5-3-update/67657/17 "2020-12-16T02:53:47Z")
> [@TheIdleOne](#): > > I find it really annoying that there’s a green exclamation mark telling me my Shrine is Full on the left side of my screen and it won’t go away. +1000 to this. @Saltypatra please pass along we want the exclamation point to go away after we click on in just like every other tab currently does. ---
**Author:** ![NowayJoe2Go](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/nowayjoe2go/32/14045_2.png) [@NowayJoe2Go](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/NowayJoe2Go)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2020, 3:02am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/5-3-update/67657/18 "2020-12-16T03:02:57Z")
More and more veteran players will quit! What is the highlight of this update? Devs actually played their first game of Arena? Boo… Gems is dying… ---
**Author:** ![Noctis](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/noctis/32/68105_2.png) [@Noctis](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Noctis)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2020, 3:03am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/5-3-update/67657/19 "2020-12-16T03:03:25Z")
The ad rewards are, well, no longer terrible. 15k gold for a 30 second ad that played while I poured myself a drink wasn’t too shabby. ---
**Author:** ![sxesic](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/sxesic/32/30287_2.png) [@sxesic](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/sxesic)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2020, 3:04am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/5-3-update/67657/20 "2020-12-16T03:04:52Z")
Shrine: No Item Avaiable This item currently unavaiable in your region. (PS4 EU) [Next page](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/5-3-update/67657.md?page=2)