HAWKED News

GRAIL’s down, but they definitely ain’t out. Having uncovered the perpetrator behind the sudden attacks in the finale event of Issue #1, it’s time to take the fight to Issue #2: Dark Arrival and push back against the encroaching forces of VEKTR. Whether you’re a veteran Renegade or a new recruit, this is the perfect jumping-on point to play HAWKED!

Loot your way through the next chapter of HAWKED with a menacing wave of VEKTR enemies to thwart, the highly requested PvP Ranked Mode, playstyle-boosting Class Cards, more GRAIL Legend tiers, new Artifacts, Gear, Weapons, and much more!

And we’re not just jumping over to a new Issue, but traversing new platforms too. New Renegades can now join the hunt and play HAWKED for free via Epic Games Launcher and Xbox One, with full crossplay available on all platforms.*

Read on to discover Issue #2: Dark Arrival, and for more information about this major update, check out the 2.0 Update Notes.

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[h3]Flip the Page on Issue #2: Dark Arrival![/h3]
VEKTR’s bombardments have left GRAIL’s finest scrambling to pick up the pieces. Embark on a new Questline in Venture 1 of Issue #2: Dark Arrival, and discover more about GRAIL’s leadership as you aid Cynthia in winning over its board. Partner up with Nellie and her do-or-die plans to take the fight to VEKTR, and help Bjorn repair the Riftwake with his list of requests more suited to a Renegade’s toolkit.

Issue #2: Dark Arrival arrives with:

• An All-New Questline: Help Cynthia, Nellie, and Bjorn bring the Renegade mission back on track, receiving the Ballistic Bag as a reward for completing the Questline.
• Fearsome New Enemies: Fight the forces of VEKTR, including the GAMMA vanguard, the ranged BETA units, the tanky DELTA, the parasitic EPSILON, the sturdy THETA, and the self-destructing OMICRON. Be wary, intel also suggests a deadly killer lurks in the wilderness, waiting for opportune moments to dispatch entire Renegade squads with worrying ease. It’s uncanny, really…
• New & Altered Locations: Many locations across X-Isle are now under VEKTR control. Defeat Champion DELTAs and collect data keys to unlock Depots, and break through the defenses of the VEKTR Outpost to permanently secure the Extraction Point for yourself.

It'll be a tough hunt. As VEKTR’s forces continue to sink their metallic claws into X-Isle, they’ve set up Outposts and fortified their way to the Heart of the Island. But there’s plenty of treasure still out there, and quitting ain’t in the Renegade handbook!

Be prepared — read up on what you can about this new tech-clad menace in The Definitive VEKTR Design and Destruction Manual.

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[h3]Ranked Mode: Test your Treasure Hunting Talent in PvP![/h3]
Looking for an all-out PvP extravaganza? Renegades Player Level 10 and above now have access to Ranked Mode. Squad up and rise from Rookie to Legend across six Ranks, each consisting of five Divisions.

You won’t drop ranks until you reach Iconic, but it is possible to lower your division within your rank — so stay sharp.

Of course, what’s a risk without reward? Earn exclusive animated Weapon Patterns and Player Banners reflecting your prowess, proving your skill on sight before even firing a shot!


[h3]Channel Heroic Power with Class Cards![/h3]
Inspired by legendary and infamous Renegades from GRAIL history, we’ve analyzed the best Loadouts to create Class Cards – collectibles that grant boons to whoever follows in their footsteps. Unlock them by using the right combination of Gear and Artifacts, and use them to enjoy new abilities on your hunts. There’s a Class Card and playstyle to suit every Renegade!

From The Hardened Guardian to The Mad Dash Dynamo, pick a card, any card – there are over 10 to choose from! They’re a great way of trying out or switching between new or different playstyles. Complete objectives to raise their Mastery and upgrade your favorites!


[h3]Unleash New Gear & Weaponry![/h3]
Take the fight to VEKTR with new tools at your disposal:

• Unleash the Power of New Exo & Ward Gear: Lock and load with impressive abilities, some even improvised from VEKTR tech! Deploy gravitational anomalies to pull in enemies with the DEVOIDER (Exo), or secure unlimited ammunition and stable weapons with the Bang-O-Matic (Ward). You can also deploy an impenetrable shield called the Blockade Ram (Exo), or roll for initiative with the Loaded D20 (Ward) and let the dice decide your luck.
• Wield 6 New Weapons: Amp up your loadout with the latest firearms, including three new Assault Rifles—the FARpoint 15, BTAR 33, and Satyr—and VEKTR’s energy-based Twin Eclipse Sniper Rifle, Solar Flare Shotgun, and Pulsar Grenade Launcher. Also, you’ll never sacrifice firepower for an Ultra Hammer again thanks to a new weapon slot for Armaments only.

[h3]Find New Ways to Hunt & Obtain Even More Shiny Artifacts![/h3]
You’ve got competition, but you’ve still got a job to do:

• Complete New Encounters: As VEKTR encroaches on the wilds of X-Isle, they’ve seized a few Glyphs for their own, setting up laser locks, ambushes, and other puzzles to keep them secure. Just makes looting the Glyphs from right under their olfactory drives that much more fun!
• Loot 6 New Artifacts: X-Isle may be buzzing with action, but let’s not forget what we’re here for! Word has it six new Artifacts have been discovered across the island, see if you can’t get your hands on the shiny new discoveries and find a use for them in your Loadout. You’ll find one rewarded at the end of the story questline, while the rest can be looted from Caravan Cargo or
• Find Air Drops: GRAIL’s devised a way to ‘boost Renegade productivity for minimum risk’. You may find Air Drops of supplies dropping from the skies throughout matches. Catch ‘em and loot ‘em to find a mix of weaponry, armaments, mods, or consumables.
• Obtain a New Glyph: Embrace the Haste Shroom with the Fungi Glyph, prolonging the consumable’s effect by an extra 5 seconds. We’ve also reworked a bunch of Glyphs from Issue #1 and adjusted their bonuses.
• Obtain Issue #1 Artifacts: GE-0’s kept a carbon copy of every Artifact found through Issue #1: Renegades. Visit the Riftwake's resident robot to buy them for Hawks, even if you haven’t extracted them yourself before!

[h3]Unlock 50+ Exclusive Rewards from the New Renegade Pass![/h3]
Brave new challenges with the Renegade Pass #2! The Free Track is available to all players, with an upgrade to the Premium Track available in-game for 150 GE-0 Cash. Complete Quests and loot X-Isle to unlock over 50 rewards, including the Samaran Avatar salvaged from leftover VEKTR tech and enough GE-0 Cash to fully cover your purchase of the next Premium Renegade Pass!

To discover everything on the Renegade Pass #2, take a look at our dedicated article.

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[h3]Twitch Drops: Watch & Earn![/h3]
Celebrate the release of Issue #2: Dark Arrival with Twitch Drops! Tune in, tally up time, and earn the Neon Ninja Outfit, a VEKTR Heart Souvenir, GRAIL+ subscription, and more.

• GAMES Content Creators: May 23, 16:00 CEST/07:00 PDT to June 1, 16:00 CEST/07:00 PDT
• Content Creators + All Drop-Enabled HAWKED Streams: June 1, 16:00 CEST/07:00 PDT to June 10, 09:00 CEST/12:00 PDT.

For more details and to find out how to link your account, check out our dedicated article.


[h3]Become a GRAIL Legend![/h3]
If you’ve already climbed to the highest reaches of Renegade infamy, you can become a GRAIL Legend! Once you reach Player Level 100, you can forfeit your Artifacts, Gear, and Boosters, and empty your coffers of Wonderium and Hawks to raise your GRAIL Legend level and pursue new challenges. Each Legend level comes with an animated player banner and unique account level icon!
[h3]Still Reading? X-Isle Awaits![/h3]
This is just the start for Issue #2: Dark Arrival. With each Issue consisting of four Ventures, starting with Venture 1 as of May 23, there’s a bunch more exciting updates, Quests, and features in the works and coming soon. So, whether you’re a veteran Renegade or a new recruit, now’s the time to join in on the ultimate treasure hunt!

Want intel like this sent to your inbox? Sign up for the official newsletter and get the edge on other Renegades with news about updates, events, special offers, and more, not to mention the occasional free goodie like the Ace Archaeologist Hat!

In the wake of VEKTR’s attacks, GE-0 has deployed a little helper bot to assist in communications on Facebook. This chatty little thing has a knack for paper folding and is giving out an Origami Omicron Souvenir to every Renegade who says hello. Comment on our Facebook posts and you might be lucky enough to receive one of your own!

Or, if you’d like to meet the wider Renegade crowd and find fellow hunters to squad up with, Discord is the pulse of our growing community. You can also follow HAWKED on TikTok, Reddit, Twitch, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and subscribe to our YouTube channel for the latest videos.

Time to show VEKTR how we do things here on X-Isle. Play HAWKED Issue #2: Dark Arrival for free today on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Windows PC via MY.GAMES Launcher, Steam, and Epic Games Launcher!

*Cross-progression between different platforms is not currently available (except PS5 to PS4, or Xbox Series X|S to Xbox One). Renegades playing on Epic Games Launcher will be starting their treasure-hunting career from scratch.

Delve into the dangers of Issue #2: Dark Arrival with the Renegade Pass #2, loaded with new gear to show VEKTR who’s really got the style to loot X-Isle – check it out in-game now!

Complete Quests to progress the Free track throughout Issue #2 for limited rewards, or purchase the Premium track to loot ‘em all. Collect the salvaged VEKTR-tech Samaran Avatar, plus a brimming bunch of exclusive cosmetics, from Outfits to Weapon Patterns, Hoverboards, Traversers, and more.

There’s also enough GE-0 Cash across 50 levels of the Premium track to fully cover your purchase of the next Premium Renegade Pass. Or you can spend it at the Shop!

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[h2]Complete the Samaran Avatar![/h2]
Salvaged from the tech left over from VEKTR shoot-outs, this deadly warrior is ready to amplify GRAIL’s fight. Unlock the Samaran Avatar at Lvl. 1 of the Renegade Pass #2 Premium track and push to Lvl. 50 to unlock a deadly set of alternative variants, including the Samaran Radio (Lvl. 12), Samaran Prime (Lvl. 23), Samaran Echo (Lvl. 33), and Samaran Relay (Lvl. 50)!



Loot up on over 50 rewards through the Renegade Pass #2:

• Color Schemes: Paint your Outfits with a new batch of colors, including Blueshift, Dark Forest, Orchid Spring, Gioiello, Key Lime, Veil Nebula.
• Decorations: Tie your Quarters together with the VEKTR Vault Locker and Faraday Locker, and the cybernetic Gearhead Souvenir.
• Traverser & Hoverboards: Add VEKTR vibes to your GRAIL toolkit with the Moonwrecker Traverser, and a selection of Vectorwave Hoverboards.
• Weapon Patterns: Switch up the style of your armory with eight new Weapon Patterns, including Dead Channel, Tritium Edge, Circuitbreak, and XO.
• Outfits: Suit up with the Sure Shot, Spymaster, Agent X, Heist, and Cosmic Voyager Outfits.
• Weapon Skins: Give your favorite weapons a personal touch with the Automata (GARR 21), Arc Flash (Mazzikin), Motherboard (Neo Riot), Shadow Ops (Peller SR17), and Balloon Burst (Trident MAX).
• Backpack: Keep your loot safe with the VEKTR Field and Strange Science Backpacks.

Play for fun with the Free track, or purchase the Premium track in-game for 150 GE-0 Cash to loot the full list of rewards throughout Issue #2: Dark Arrival!

Look alive, Renegades! The following changes are available in HAWKED as of the latest update on Thursday, May 23, 2024. Update your game to play the latest version of HAWKED for free on your platform of choice.

This major content update will introduce the next exciting chapter of HAWKED — Issue #2: Dark Arrival.

2.0 UPDATE NOTES

There are so many changes and new additions in HAWKED Update 2.0, we can't fit them all here! Head on over to the official HAWKED website to read up on everything new in Issue #2: Dark Arrival, Renegades!

When all the Artifacts are looted, all the Gear claimed, and all the Boosters read, what’s left for a Renegade to do? If you did it once, do it again by becoming a GRAIL Legend. Just to prove it wasn’t all wit but skill too, you’ll earn an animated Player Banner to show for it!



Available from Player Level 100, GRAIL Legend ranks are for X-Isle’s top looters to show it’s not their first rodeo. Resetting your progress (including your Player Level) and raising your GRAIL Legend rank also means forfeiting your Artifacts (except for Quest rewards) and Gear (including upgrades), your Boosters, and all your Wonderium and Hawks.

However, in return, you’ll receive a unique animated Player Banner and Account level icon. Not to mention the thrill of using everything you’ve learned to do it all again and rise back to Level 100!

More GRAIL Legend ranks are added with every Issue!
[h3]Issue #1 GRAIL Legend Ranks[/h3]

• Promising Legend
• Renowned Legend
• Idolized Legend

[h3]Issue #2 GRAIL Legend Ranks[/h3]

• Acclaimed Legend
• Fabled Legend
• Mythic Legend+

Talk to GE-0 on the upper deck of the Riftwake to raise your rank, and take your place as a GRAIL Legend!

If you’re a Renegade looking for new playstyles and have a knack for collecting cool things (and of course you are, you’re a treasure hunter), you’re in for a great time with Class Cards, coming to HAWKED in Issue #2. 

Collect unique Class Cards based on legendary Renegades to tailor your treasure-hunting experience in new and exciting ways. Class Cards come with unique effects that alter your playstyle.

Though Renegades are always urged to customize their loadouts to their exact liking, the Class Cards offer pre-made skillsets that incentivize experimentation, and trying out different Gear and Artifacts to what you’d normally use.

Not only that, but Cards can also be upgraded. Complete Mastery Quests to unlock rewards, and strive to hit Legendary Mastery!

Class Cards are loaded with all kinds of secrets, so collect ‘em all to see which suits your treasure-hunting preferences.
[h2]What Are Class Cards?[/h2]
Class Cards are unique customization options that can be equipped for additional buffs and modifications. They can be unlocked by owning the right Artifacts and Gear. Each Class Card requires a unique pairing, so you’ll have to mix and match your loadout if you want to unlock them all.

For example: To unlock Diego Da Luz, you’ll need to have the Infernat Lantern, Hit Flask, Nimble Newt, Collector Coil, and Collar of Scorn.



There are currently 11 Class Cards, each with its distinct base effects and personality attached to it, as well as unique Mastery objectives.

With all the Gear, Artifacts, and other customization options in HAWKED, it’s natural that creating a loadout can feel daunting at times. In fact, there are over 10,000 different loadout combinations possible once you consider all the weapons, Gear, Artifacts, and other tools at your disposal. That’s a pretty big number!

Class Cards alleviate the difficulty of picking the right Gear and Artifact combinations by automatically equipping preset items to your loadout. This way, Renegades can try out different loadouts that significantly vary in their playstyles, and get a better idea of what to equip for future treasure hunts. Adaptability is the name of the game.



Renegades should always be experimenting with different playstyles since you never know what treasure-hunting talents you’ll discover. And that’s what the Class Cards are here for. Think of them as convenient “cheat sheets” into which Gear and Artifact combinations synergize and offer a more focused gameplay experience.

Also, if you play without a Class Card equipped, you’ll get a damage bonus from using your Traverser. Be your own hero!
[h2]How to Unlock Class Cards[/h2]


To unlock Class Cards, you must first speak with Nellie to get the lowdown on how they work. After speaking with her:

• Visit the Loadout screen to see which Class Cards you already have unlocked (if you have the necessary Artifact and Gear).
• If you don’t have the necessary items, you can purchase them from GRAIL or unlock them via regular gameplay and treasure hunts.
  • Some Issue #1 Artifacts are available for purchase from GE-0 upstairs in the Riftwake as of Issue #2.
• Each Class Card requires owning the right Gear and Artifacts to unlock it. If you own both of the required items, the Class Card will be automatically unlocked and can be equipped via the Loadout screen.
• When a Class Card is selected, the related Gear and Artifact will also be automatically equipped to your Loadout.

Every Class Card comes with its own unique buff, so you’ll have to unlock them all to see what they do.
[h2]Class Cards Mastery[/h2]
Class Cards have four Mastery levels. Mastery 1 is essentially Common, Mastery 2 is Rare, Mastery 3 is Epic, and Mastery 4 is Legendary. 

The triangle on the top left of the Class Card indicates its Mastery level. 

• Mastery 1 - Green (Common)
• Mastery 2 - Blue (Rare)
• Mastery 3 - Purple (Epic)
• Mastery 4 - Orange (Legendary)

[h2]Upgrading Your Class Card’s Mastery[/h2]
Much like collecting coins or stamps, collected Class Cards in HAWKED can also be upgraded (clearly, we’ve never collected coins or stamps). 

Rewards granted by a Class Card scale with its Mastery. In other words: the higher its Mastery level, the more loot you get. 



To upgrade Class Cards, Renegades must complete the following tasks for each Mastery level:

• Mastery I: Upgrade by extracting 5 Trinkets with this Class Card equipped.
• Mastery II: Upgrade by extracting 3 Artifacts with this Class Card equipped.
• Mastery III: Upgrade by extracting 5 Rare Artifacts with this Class Card equipped. 
• Mastery IV: Upgrade by reaching the necessary conditions specified by the Class Card itself.

To reach Mastery IV for a Class Card, you must complete a Mastery Quest unique to that Class Card. For example, one card may ask you to eliminate rival Renegades from an elevated vantage point, while another may require you to consume a certain number of Strange Fruits.

Start unlocking Class Cards when Issue #2 launches on May 23!