Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms News

[p]You've unlocked Anson, recruited the rebalanced Binwin, and pushed your limits across multiple Wintershield variants. Now it's time to put your skills to the test with WINTERSHIELD MASTERY!

Welcome to the second run of this exciting Event augment! You can learn more about how Mastery Challenges work in last month's Introduction blog. Today, however, we're here to talk about the specifics for this month's challenging restrictions as we all push to get Dragonsoul Card Sleeves for Artemis the Wintershield Event Champions!

[/p][h2]Wintershield Mastery Challenges[/h2][p]
Base Restriction: Fellowship of the Fallbacks[/p]

• [p]You may only use Humans, Elves, Dwarves, Halflings, and members of The Fallbacks affiliation.
  [/p]

[p] Restriction A: Slow Going[/p]

• [p]Enemies gain 5% more health in each area, stacking multiplicatively. [/p]

• [p]You may only use Champions with a base attack cooldown of 5 seconds or higher.[/p]

[p] [/p][p]Restriction B: Shadow VIPs[/p]

• [p]Enemies gain 5% more health in each area, stacking multiplicatively.[/p]

• [p]Two Formation Slots in the formation are taken up by Shadow Imp Escorts.[/p]

[p] [/p][p]Restriction C: Attack Pattern[/p]

• [p]Enemies gain 5% more health in each area, stacking multiplicatively. [/p]

• [p]If a Champion is adjacent to another Champion with the same base attack type (ie. melee, ranged, magic), all Champions have their damage set to 0.[/p]

[p] [/p][p]Restriction D: Building Shadow[/p]

• [p]Enemies gain 5% more health in each area, stacking multiplicatively. [/p]
• [p]In non-boss areas after area 10, an invulnerable Shadow enemy has a 100% chance to spawn alongside each enemy. This chance is reduced by 10% for each unique alignment in your formation. Subsequent enemies spawn with 100% more health for each Shadow enemy in the current area, stacking multiplicatively.[/p]

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[p][h2]Champion Shop Improvements[/h2]
With today's update, we also began implementing quality-of-life improvements to the Champions section of the Shop. These updates will roll out gradually over the coming months.[/p]

[p]We also noticed during Chest Vaults last year that players enjoyed having access to every Champion's chest. We decided to make that a feature moving forward, accessible through the updated Champions section of the Shop.[/p]


[h2]Mastery Challenges & Card Sleeve Feedback[/h2][p]Are you excited to test your Wintershield Mastery and collect Card Sleeves for your Wintershield Event Champions? Which Champion are you looking forward to decking out first? Your feedback is important to us, and we would love to have you join our community on one of our official platforms to share your thoughts:

[/p]

• [p]The Official Idle Champions Discord.[/p]
• [p]The Official Idle Champions Subreddit.[/p]
• [p]Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Bluesky, or Instagram.[/p]

Binwin Bronzebottom was a member of a rather infamous adventuring group/company, until he left to spend more time with his family. A grumpy and headstrong dwarf with a penchant for springing traps rather than disarming them, if he's not the first into battle then he's disappointed. There's nary a door, tankard, or acid pit that hasn't felt the wrath of Binwin Bronzebottom at one time or another. These days, when he's not adventuring with the likes of Drizzt and Minsc, Binwin leads a small group of incompetent and eminently replaceable minions through perilous adventures.

It has been a long time since Binwin Bronzebottom received a major update, but we hope you'll find these changes worth the wait!

Binwin has been diligently reworked to fit better into the modern Idle Champions sandbox, and he is now ready to take the lead in a full Dwarf formation... any day now.

To learn more, read on!

[h2] Binwin[/h2]
Patron Eligibility: Mirt, Vajra, Zariel, Elminster (until January 14th, 2029)

[h2]Abilities[/h2]
[h3]Basic Attack[/h3]

• Twin Axes(melee) -Binwin attacks the front-most enemy with his twin axes, Rook and Ruin.

[h3]Passive Abilities[/h3]

• I've Got the Crits - Binwin's base chance to Critical Hit is 20%.
  

[h3]Formation Abilities[/h3]

• Extra Attacks - Binwin gains a Bonus Hit when an adjacent Champion attacks. The next time he attacks, he consumes his Bonus Hits to deal additional hits to the enemy he attacks. If his target dies and Binwin still has Bonus Hits, he'll jump to a new enemy if possible. Unused Bonus Hits are lost when his attack ends. Caps at 10 stacks.
  
• Extra Damage - Each subsequent hit Binwin does during the same attack deals 100% more damage, stacking multiplicatively.
  
• Lingering Damage - While Binwin is your BUD-setting Champion and he attacks but does not kill an enemy, the enemy takes 100% of the damage it took over the next 5 seconds.
  
• Critical Combo - When Binwin scores a critical hit, he gains an additional Bonus Hit for his current attack. This can occur up to 5 times per attack.
  
• Crash and Smash - Binwin deals double hits against enemies or objects with hits-based or armored hits-based health. If Binwin attacks an armored enemy and doesn't break any armor, he gains a Resolve stack. Binwin deals 100% additional damage for each Resolve stack, stacking multiplicatively up to 10 times, resetting when changing areas.
  

[h3]Specializations[/h3]

• Overkill - When Binwin defeats an enemy, he gains stacks of Overkill based on how many orders of magnitude more damage he did compared to the enemy's remaining health. Binwin's damage is increased by 1% for each Overkill stack, stacking additively. Overkill stacks persist until the adventure resets.
  
• Tallest in Faerûn - Binwin's damage is increased by 200% for each Dwarf, Kobold, Halfling, Gnome, or Goblin in the formation, stacking multiplicatively.
  
• Dwarven Encouragement - Binwin encourages the Champions adjacent to him to attack more frequently, reducing their base attack cooldowns by 2 seconds and increasing his own damage by 100%.
  

[h3]Ultimate Ability[/h3]

• Barrel Roll(melee) -Binwin hops onto a sturdy wooden barrel and rides toward a single enemy, dealing damage along the way. When he reaches the targeted enemy, the barrel explodes, dealing ultimate area damage and slowing all affected enemies.

[h3]Equipment[/h3]


[h2]Feats[/h2]

[h3]Uncommon[/h3]

• Tavern Brawler
  Increases the damage of Binwin by 30%
  
• Tactical Prowess
  Additively increases the Crit Chance of Binwin by 5%
  
• Extra Assistance
  Increases the effect of Binwin's specializations by 20%
  
• Small Allegiance
  Increases the effect of Binwin's Lingering Damage ability by 20%
  

[h3]Rare[/h3]

• Battle Expertise
  Additively increases the Crit Chance of Binwin by 10%
  
• Cataclysmic Strike
  Increases the Crit Damage of Binwin by 60%
  
• Actor
  Increases the Charisma score of Binwin by 1
  
• Cleaver Fever
  Increases the effect of Binwin's Extra Damage ability by 40%
  
• Extra Effort
  Increases the effect of Binwin's specializations by 40%
  
• Dwarven Alliance
  Increases the effect of Binwin's Lingering Damage ability by 40%
  

[h3]Epic[/h3]

• Catchphrase
  Increases the effect of Binwin's Extra Damage ability by 80%
  Available in the Cold Brew Binwin Theme Pack
• Company of Kobolds
  Increases the effect of Binwin's Lingering Damage ability by 80%
  

[h2]Bronzebottom Feedback[/h2]
What do you think of Binwin's update?

The best way for us to hear your feedback would be for you to join our community on an officially-supported platform:

• The Official Idle Champions Discord.
• The Official Idle Champions Subreddit.
  
• Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Bluesky, or Instagram.

[p]We invite you to try the latest game from Codename Entertainment!
[/p][p]

The WITHOUT A HITCH playtest is now live and FREE to players (with Crossplay available) until January 15th at 11:00 AM Pacific Time!

Assemble your convoy of up to four players, pick up the package, head out into a chaotic landscape, and survive the apocalypse to deliver it. Please fill out the player survey after you play to let us know what you think of our latest game!
[/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p]

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[p]In preparation for Wintershield, our heroes have bought an old map from a street vendor in Waterdeep. Then it started talking. I guess we'd better see where it leads.Wintershield 9 is here with Featured Champions Anson Iro, the human fighter from The Fallbacks, and a much-needed update for Binwin Bronzebottom, whom you may recognize from Binwin's Minions!

Learn all about the first event of 2026 as you read on!

[/p][h2]Featured Champions[/h2][h3]Anson[/h3][p] Anson has known his share of hardship in his life. Orphaned at a young age, he and his younger brother were forced to live on the streets, doing what they had to do to keep from starving. But while that experience taught his brother to fear and mistrust the world, it had the opposite effect on Anson...

Learn more about Anson in his Champion Spotlight.

[/p][h3]Binwin[/h3][p] Binwin Bronzebottom was a member of a rather infamous adventuring group/company, until he left to spend more time with his family. A grumpy and headstrong dwarf with a penchant for springing traps rather than disarming them, if he's not the first into battle then he's disappointed. There's nary a door, tankard, or acid pit that hasn't felt the wrath of Binwin Bronzebottom at one time or another...

Learn more about Binwin in his Champion Spotlight when it launches this Friday, January 9th!

[/p][h2]Flex Champions[/h2][p]Flex Slots allow players to unlock additional Champions and earn chests during
events, choosing from a pool of retired Champions associated with the event.
This collection of retired Champions includes the Champions from previous years of the
event as well as some Champions whose events have been retired.
This event's Flex Slot pool includes:

[/p][h2]Event Augments[/h2]

• [p]Augment 1: Golden Weekly Offers (Returning Augment)
  
  Description: One of your weekly offers will be Golden during this event. Golden offers provide an additional 10% discount! The Golden tag persists when an offer is rerolled.[/p]

• [p]Augment 2: Auto-Blacksmith (Returning Augment)
  
  Description: Event Champions whose recruitment adventure or variants you complete gain common rarity equipment in all slots if they don't already have better. Every tier two or higher event variant completed automatically applies 100 Tiny Blacksmithing Contracts to the variant's Champion's equipment for free![/p]

• [p]Augment 3: Challenge Week (Returning Augment) Description: A Mastery Challenge will start on the third week of the event, providing opportunities to prove your formation-building skills and earn unique rewards.[/p]

• [p]Augment 4: Boon Enhancements (Returning Augment)
  
  Description: An additional boon buff at each level increases global damage based on the number Humans, Elves, Dwarves, and Halflings in your formation, stacking additively![/p]

[h2]Wintershield Feedback Wanted[/h2][p]
It's our first event of 2026! What do you think?
The best way for us to hear your feedback would be for you to join our community on an officially-supported platform:

[/p]

• [p]The Official Idle Champions Discord.[/p]
• [p]The Official Idle Champions Subreddit.
  [/p]
• [p]Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Bluesky, or Instagram.[/p]

[p]

[/p]

Anson has known his share of hardship in his life. Orphaned at a young age, he and his younger brother were forced to live on the streets, doing what they had to do to keep from starving. But while that experience taught his brother to fear and mistrust the world, it had the opposite effect on Anson. Beaten, battered, or bruised, the fighter refuses to stay down, and he doesn’t believe in giving up, on anyone or anything. No person is too broken, no cause too lost. It’s a philosophy that makes him fiercely loyal to his companions, but sometimes it also results in him charging in recklessly when he should stop and think.

Anson is a Support, Control, and Tanking Champion whose unshakable resolve bolsters the allies behind him. With him is Uggie, the Fallbacks’ slobbering otyugh companion who drives enemies berserk. When the battle grows dire, Anson unleashes the storm within his blade, unleashing devastating power at great personal cost.

To learn everything there is to know about the final Fallbacks Champion, read on...


[h2]Anson[/h2]


Patron Eligibility: Mirt, Vajra, Elminster (until January 7th, 2029)

[h2]Abilities[/h2]
[h3]Basic Attack[/h3]

• Broken Blade(melee) -Anson attacks the closest enemy and deals one hit.
  

[h2]Passive Abilities[/h2]

• Uggie! - Uggie joins the party, starting next to Anson unless she's already in the formation next to another Fallbacks Champion. Uggie increases the damage of all non-adjacent Champions by 100%.

[h2]Formation Abilities[/h2]

• Unshakable - Anson increases the damage of all Champions in the columns behind him by 100%.
  
• Unbreakable Uggie - Uggie's buff is increased by 400% when Anson is in the formation.
  
• Biting Style - When Uggie is with Anson, Uggie attacks the closest enemy whenever Anson attacks. Uggie's damage deals 1 second of BUD-based damage and drives the enemy berserk. Berserk enemies move 50% faster and attack twice as often, but deal 90% less damage.
  
• Combat Trance - Each time Anson is attacked or takes damage in an area, he gains a Meditation stack. Each Meditation stack increases the effect of Unshakable by 50%, stacking multiplicatively. Anson can have a maximum of 75 Meditation stacks, and they reset when changing areas.
  
• Erratic Energy - When Anson uses his Storm Crash ultimate ability, Anson's sword ignites in lightning for 45 seconds. For the duration, Anson's attacks deal an additional 5 seconds of BUD-based damage, damage him for damage equal to 1% of his Maximum Health, and increase the maximum stacks of Combat Trance's Meditation by 1, up to a maximum of 25 additional maximum stacks. The increase to the maximum stacks resets when changing areas.
  
• Got Your Back - Anson increases the health of all other Champions by 25% of his max health, and healing effects on all Champions are increased by 25%.

[h2]Specializations[/h2]

• Pure of Heart - Anson increases the effect of Unshakable by 100% for each Good Champion or Fallbacks Champion in the formation, stacking multiplicatively.
  
• Found Family - Anson increases the effect of Unshakable by 125% for each unaffiliated Champion or Fallbacks Champion in the formation, stacking multiplicatively.
  
• Never Surrender - Anson increases the effect of Unshakable by 200% for each formation slot blocked by an escort or Fallbacks Champion in the formation, stacking multiplicatively.

[h2]Ultimate Ability[/h2]

• Storm Crash(magic) -Anson attacks the toughest enemy with his sword, while blasting all nearby foes with deadly lightning.

[h2]Equipment[/h2]



[h2]Feats[/h2]
[h3]Uncommon[/h3]

• Selflessness
  Increases the damage of all Champions by 10%
  
• Tough
  Increases the health of Anson by 15%
  
• Defensive Duelist
  Anson takes 5 more Enemies attacking to get overwhelmed
  
• Unflappable
  Increases the effect of Anson's Unshakable ability by 20%
  

[h3]Rare[/h3]

• Inspiring Leader
  Increases the damage of all Champions by 25%
  
• Resilient
  Increases the health of Anson by 30%
  
• Calm Under Pressure
  Anson takes 10 more Enemies attacking to get overwhelmed
  
• Unmovable
  Increases the effect of Anson's Unshakable ability by 40%
  
• Anson Friend
  Increases the effect of Anson's Unbreakable Uggie ability by 40%
  
• Battle Meditation
  Increases the effect of Anson's Combat Trance ability by 40%
  
• Team Player
  Increases the effect of Anson's specializations by 20%
  
• Actor
  Increases the Charisma score of Anson by 1
  Unlockable as an Event Reward

[h3]Epic[/h3]

• Right Hand
  Increases the effect of Anson's specializations by 40%
  Available in the Wintershield Knight Anson Theme Pack
• Scholar
  Increases the Intelligence score of Anson by 2
  Unlockable as an Event Reward
• Get Behind Me!
  Anson's attacks have a 50% chance to taunt enemies. When he successfully taunts an enemy, he increases his max Meditation stacks by 1 until changing areas, up to a max of 25.
  Unlockable as an Event Reward

[h2]Final Fallbacks Feedback[/h2]
What do you think about Anson? Are you excited to bring the frontline tank of the Fallbacks into your formations? We want to know!

The best way for us to hear your feedback would be for you to join our community on an officially-supported platform:

• The Official Idle Champions Discord.
• The Official Idle Champions Subreddit.
  
• Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Bluesky, or Instagram.