Sword Art Online: Integral Factor News

[h2]February 23 is Koharu's birthday![/h2]
[h3]We're holding various events and Orders to celebrate Koharu's birthday in SWORD ART ONLINE: Integral Factor!
We're holding the "Koharu Birthday Festival"![/h3]

Koharu is a central figure in the progression through Aincrad, as well as an incredible partner to the player.
Let's all celebrate her birthday together!
We'll be decorating Aincrad all over with Koharu, through 23 stamps, 23 panels, and more!
Don't miss the free Order with a guaranteed ★4 Koharu starting at February 23 (Sun), 4:00 (JST/UTC+9)!

[h2]Koharu Birthday Festival Defense Battle[/h2]

Koharu takes the Winter Sky Stage without even meaning to.
Defend Koharu as she dances on the stage to the music!
Her current appearance will be applied here, so try enjoying lots of different outfits together with Koharu!

Period
February 23, 2025 (Sun) 0:00 - Before the March 12, 2025 (Wed) maintenance (JST/UTC+9).

[h2]Koharu Masterpiece Showcase[/h2]

It sounds like illustration panels featuring Koharu have been placed all around Aincrad.
Use hints to find their related panel and get rewards at your final destination!

Period
February 23, 2025 (Sun) 0:00 - Before the March 12, 2025 (Wed) maintenance (JST/UTC+9).

[h2]Flower Fest[/h2]

It may not be spring quite yet, but strange monsters with flowers on their heads have appeared!
Defeat them to get Flower Bracelets, so gather them and exchange them for rewards!

Period
February 23, 2025 (Sun) 0:00 - Before the March 12, 2025 (Wed) maintenance (JST/UTC+9).

[h2]Happy Dungeon with Koharu[/h2]

A special Koharu Birthday Festival Happy Dungeon is here!
It will be open for longer than normal Happy Dungeons, and you can get up to 500 Arcana Gems and 350,000 Col from it!

Period
February 23, 2025 (Sun) 4:00 - Before the March 12, 2025 (Wed) maintenance (JST/UTC+9).

[h2]Koharu's Birthday Order[/h2]

All ★4 Skill Records are Koharu!
Featuring new ★4 Skill Records on Step 2 and Step 3!
Koharu's Birthday Order is here!

Duration
February 23, 2025 (Sun) 0:00 - March 4, 2025 (Tue) 23:59 (JST/UTC+9).

[h2]Free Once Daily 100% ★4 Koharu Order[/h2]

It's a ★4 Koharu only free Order to celebrate Koharu's birthday!
Don't miss the Koharu-filled "★4 Koharu Guaranteed Free Once Daily Order"!

Period
February 23, 2025 (Sun) 4:00 - March 1, 2025 (Sat) 3:59 (JST/UTC+9).

[h2]Koharu Character Panel Placement[/h2]
Koharu character panels have been placed all around Aincrad!
There are almost too many to count, 23 in total!
Try taking a screenshot together with them if you come across one!


Placement Period
February 23, 2025 (Sun) 0:00 - Before the March 12, 2025 (Wed) maintenance (JST/UTC+9).

[h2]Koharu's Hairstyle Added[/h2]
As of midnight on February 23, 2025 (Sun) (JST/UTC+9), Koharu's hairstyle has been added to player hairstyle choices!
You can now select Koharu's hairstyle from Makeup or when creating a new character.
* If this hairstyle does not appear on the list, please try rebooting the app.


This hairstyle is only for female characters.

[h2]Arcana Gem Gift[/h2]
Log in on the day of Sachi's birthday to get a gift of 250 Arcana Gems!
Use them for yourself, or use them for Koharu!

Time Limit
Available until February 23, 2025 23:59 (JST/UTC+9).

[h2]Koharu Stamp[/h2]
We're adding 23 Koharu stamps to go with Koharu's birthday!
All of them are adorable, so make sure to use them if you get a hold of them!

Here is a list of stamps you can get during the Koharu Birthday Festival.

Koharu Stamp 22 will be distributed as a present.
It can be accepted until March 12, 2025 (Wed) maintenance (JST/UTC+9), so don't forget to pick it up!

[h2]What Are Chain Skills?[/h2]
When using a Chain Skill by switching, you will temporarily enter a Chain state.
While in a Chain state, you can use all of your skills, not just the one in your first Skill Slot, as switches.
* However, non-Chain Skill skills must be Limit Break +10 to be used as switches while in a Chain state.

Using a Chain Skill while in a Chain state will also provide special effects to skills used as switches while in a Chain state.
Using multiple Chain Skills can cause their special effects to overlap, allowing you to unleash powerful attacks.

Also, special additional damage will be applied beyond the regular chain effects depending on the number of times you switch while in a Chain state.
This is known as a Super Chain.

To see these special effects, go to a skill's details screen and check the tab marked with the blue "CS" icon.


While in a Chain state, special effects will apply to other skills that are Limit Break +10, such as Connect Skills, Accele Skills, and Full Burst Skills.
For example, using Connect Skills while in a Chain state will give each skill the Chain state's effects so long as the linked skills are Limit Break +10.
Also, the Chain Skill's special effects will be applied to those linked skills if a Chain Skill is a linked skill.
Full Burst Skills act similarly, with the Chain state's effects applying to Full Burst or Burst Skills while the Full Burst state is also active.
This can result in powerful effects depending on how you combine them, so try it out in battle!

[h2]Activating a Chain State[/h2]
There are two ways to activate a Chain state by using a Chain Skill.
1: Use a Chain Skill placed in your first Skill Slot during a switch.
2: Use a Chain Skill at the right moment during certain attacks. (Detailed later under "Counter Switch")

The remaining effect time will be displayed on the Switch Gauge when in a Chain state.



You can also extend a Chain state's activation time depending on the amount of Switch Gauge you have.

There will be a set amount of cooldown time after a Chain state ends.
You cannot enter a Chain state by using a Chain Skill during this cooldown time.
You can check on this cooldown time by referencing the color of the Switch Gauge's border.
When the border's gray area is entirely gone and the "CS" area is lit, the cooldown time has ended.



[h2]Chain Skill Abilities[/h2]
Equipping these allow you to raise the maximum damage of your Super Chains and increase the activation time of your Chain states.
Please note that equipping something to an EX Ability slot will not provide any of these effects.

[h2]Counter Switch[/h2]
Use a Chain Skill at the right moment during specific attacks to both nullify that attack's damage and deal damage to your opponent with that Chain Skill.



If you meet the conditions to enter a Chain state as this happens, you will then enter one.
A debuff will be applied to the enemy for a period of time, allowing you to deal increased damage.


Attacks that can be Counter Switched have different visual effects from regular attacks.
The color of the visual effect displayed on the ground will be a deep orange that switches to blue.
In order to successfully Counter Switch, you will need to land a Chain Skill during the moment that this effect is blue.


Not all enemies have these kinds of attacks.
Also, you cannot enter a Chain state by using a Chain Skill during its cooldown time even if you activate a Counter Switch.

[h2]Monster with a Counter Switch Targeted Attacks[/h2]
With the introduction of Counter Switch, not only newly added monsters but also the following existing monsters will now use Counter Switch Targeted Attacks.

• Floor bosses and dungeon bosses of each floor
  
• Each boss of the Chaos Showdown
  

* "Teo the Teaser Tentacles", "The Last Number" and "Last Number Chaos" are not included.

Additional Counter Switch Targeted Attacks may be added to existing monsters in the future.

[h2]Exiting the Chain state[/h2]
The Chain state is primarily exited in the following ways.

• The remaining time in the Chain state runs out.
  
• The area changes.
  
• A Quick Change is performed.
  
• The Menu Screen is displayed.
  
• Your character is defeated.
  

[h3]Major Updates[/h3]

• "Aincrad 19F" and a new quest has been implemented.
  
• Added 19F boss avatars.
  
• The super rare Gale Integral Series weapon transformation has been unlocked.
  
• Relaxed requirements on Integral Series production and transformation, as well as Chaos Showdown.
  

[h3]Avatar Images[/h3]


[h3]Boss Monster[/h3]
[expand]

[/expand]


[h3]"Gale Integral Series" Transformations[/h3]
Rare "Gale Integral Series" transformation and production materials are now available!
Transform "Gale Integral Series" to make it even stronger!

[h3]▼Gale Integral Series[/h3]

* Values are based on maximum enhancement at ★4 rarity, Lv. 80.

Random Bonus
Three types of one of the following will be randomly selected when producing the Gale Integral Series.

Example: If three types of attacks are given to "Gale El Nino", attack will increase by 900 total.
* A random bonus will be given.
* Succession cannot be used.

[h3]In the original story of Sword Art Online, November 7, 2024 is the very special day when Kirito and friends free those trapped inside Aincrad![/h3]
We're holding various events focused on what took place on this day, such as the battle against The Skull Reaper on the 75th floor and the final showdown against Heathcliff after it!
We'll also be firing celebratory fireworks on the 100th floor!
We're also holding a login bonus where you can get 250 Arcana Gems a day for a total of up to 1,750 Arcana Gems!

[h2]Event Period[/h2]
November 7, 2024 (Thu) 4:00 - November 13, 2024 (Wed) 3:59 (JST/UTC+9)
* The Aincrad Conquest Anniversary Login Bonus will be held from November 7, 2024 (Thu) 4:00 - November 29, 2024 (Fri) 3:59 (JST/UTC+9)

[h2]Event[/h2]


[h2]Chat Stamp[/h2]
We have also sent out a special chat stamp to celebrate this day.
Don't forget to receive it by Wednesday, November 13, 2024 by 13:59 (JST/UTC+9).


[h2]Aincrad Conquest Anniversary: Final Battle Order[/h2]

Kirito and Heathcliff, who faced off in a final battle on the 75th floor, are here as new ★4 Skill Records!

★4 [Battle of Life and Death] Kirito's skill is Starburst Stream!
The skill also has an animation modeled after Starburst Stream!

by Transforming "★4[Pride of the Creator] Heathcliff" to ★5, not only will you get the usual Memoria Niter L from Achievements, you can also get the "Heathcliff Armor" costume Avatar!

[h3]Duration[/h3]
November 7, 2024 (Thu) 14:55 - December 3, 2024 (STue) 16:59 (JST/UTC+9)

[h3]A team battle consisting of up to 4 teams!
Announcing the first Squad Jumble![/h3]

[h2]Basic Rules[/h2]

• Players will be split into Up to 4 teams, Red, Blue, Yellow, and Green, and fight monsters.
  
• The team with members surviving until the end or the team that successfully defends the Winning Star will win.
  
• The basic strategy is to defeat monsters and send monsters to opposing teams in order to devastate them.
  

[h2]About the Battle[/h2]

After a preparation time of up to 3 minutes, a ten-second countdown will begin before the battle starts.
Enemy and ally monsters will appear on the field.
A colored marker will appear above the heads of monsters to indicate their team.
* Ally monsters are those meant for enemy teams to defeat. Your team cannot attack them.

Defeat an enemy team's monsters in order to send even stronger ally monsters back to the team corresponding to its colored marker.
Some monsters are also able to inflict disadvantageous effects on enemy teams.
Monsters with instant-death attacks that belong to no team will also appear.

Various events will occur as time passes.

• Debuffs to all participants
  
• The appearance of treasure boxes that provide buffs when opened
  
• The appearance of "Damage Areas" that deal damage when inside them
  
• The appearance of Winning Rabbits
  

[h2]Ranks and Rewards[/h2]

You will be given Rank Points after a battle ends based on your performance.
Your rank will rise if you acquire enough held Rank Points.

You can earn tiered rewards by repeatedly taking part in battles.
You'll also rank up by earning Rank Points depending on the results of your battles, allowing you to earn even better rewards!

[h2]How to Participate[/h2]

You can participate through the Squad Jumble Reception NPC who appears in Teleport Gate Plaza.
A team consists of two to six people.
You can enter alone and wait to be matched with other members through Quick Party or you can participate after forming a party.

[h2]Event Period for This Tournament[/h2]
Starts after the October 9, 2024 (Wed) maintenance and ends before the October 30, 2024 (Wed) maintenance.

[h2]Major Updates[/h2]

• "Aincrad 23F" and a new quest has been implemented.
• Added 23F boss avatars.
• The player level cap has been raised (Lv.250).
• The Super rare "Gale Integral Series" of weapons has been added.

[h2]Boss Monster[/h2]
[expand]
* Break: Filling the entire Break Gauge will temporarily immobilize the boss and remove all of its buff effects.
* Skill Break: By completely lowering the Skill Break Gauge, the boss will be temporarily immobilized and all of its buff effects will be removed.
[/expand]



The Gale Integral Series are special weapons added from 23F.
These are weapons that can be equipped from player level 241 with more attack powerful than any weapons before! (* At max enhancement)
The player level cap has also been raised from level 240 to level 250.

[h2]Gale Integral Series[/h2]
* Values are based on maximum enhancement at ★3 rarity, Lv. 60.
The Gale Integral Series is planned to be evolvable in future updates and able to become even stronger.
After production, go ahead and enhance them!

[h2]Materials required for production[/h2]
You will need the "Bloody Eyes Armament Stone" and the "Bloody Eyes Horn" production materials that have an extremely rare chance of dropping from the 23F boss.

[h2]Random Bonus[/h2]
Three types of one of the following will be randomly selected when producing the Gale Integral Series.
Example: If three types of attacks are given to "Gale El Nino", attack will increase by 900 total.
* A random bonus will be given.
* Succession cannot be used.