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Charging into combat with a weapon that truly expresses your personal battle style is key to any discerning Warlord’s kit. Therefore, we'd like to give you a behind-the-scenes peek at how the Conqueror’s Blade weapon skins for Season X: Highlanders came together, from concept to final product. Lovingly crafted by our development and art team, we hope the weapon skins immerse you in the Highlands culture, conflict, and world.

We spoke to Anton Mamihonov, Creative Director at Booming Tech about the journey to bring Scotland to life in Conqueror’s Blade through our weapon skins.

How did you begin conceptualising the Weapon Skins for Season X: Highlanders?

We usually begin with historical research of corresponding historical periods – events, museums, mythology, symbolism - gathering possible visual references. After that, we select the most vivid points and try to use those in the weapons’ designs.



 How much inspiration did you take from real-world history?

One of the challenges we have is that we sometimes must mix styles. For example – how do you make a Japanese Nodachi look Scottish-inspired? We always seek inspiration in history and add a portion of fiction and mythology. For example – the round shield has a blade, then a dirk (dagger) attached to it to represent how it was used historically. It also features a native protection symbol painted in blue. For the Glaive attire we used the historical shape of the Scottish Lochaber axe.



 How do you want players to feel when they wield these weapons?

We think that every season has a different mood, and it projects on the weapons and the way players would feel while carrying those. For Highlanders, we wanted to highlight key points of bravery, love for freedom, and cultural heritage. We hope that players will feel like heroes who fight for the sake of their people.

What materials do you imagine the weapons to be made of this Season?

We focused on wood and iron for this season but some minor elements had more exotic materials such as deer’s horns (Short Bow).

When you run design playtests, what are you looking out for when it comes to how the Weapon Skins look?

Each weapon must have a visual key point that may be adjusted or improved during the creation process and revisions. Ideally, a weapon would have a background story, connection to historical events, or local mythology. If we’re able to create a design that tells a story – that means that we did something right.



Which is your favourite Weapon Skin of this season and why?

I don’t play Maul myself, but I like the Maul skin the most. It has good size proportions and an interesting idea using the Scottish national animal symbol of a unicorn’s head as the key visual element.

The Season X: Highlanders Battle Pass includes Blades which can be exchanged in the Seasonal Store to get your hands on your favourite Scottish-themed weapon skin!

Broch Eastray is the site of the first Highlanders settlement, now threatened by a Loegrian invasion. This sacred village and its hilltop castle provide the main stage for PvP Siege Battles in Season X: Highlanders. Broch Eastray can be defended or attacked, and invites two teams of 12 players to battle for dominion over it.

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[h2]HISTORY[/h2]
The Loegrians are at the gate, and what bigger prize to secure than that of the Highlanders’ precious Broch Eastray? Their homeland must be reclaimed by the united power of all Aelba’s clans and their new warriors, even if deadly traps may work against them. Much of the landscape has been destroyed, making cover scarce in the battered surroundings. However, new tactics can be deployed to reach the castle and regain control.



[h2]SCOUTING REPORT[/h2]
Broch Eastray’s village stretches up to a cliffside castle where the Loegrians have set up camp within the ruins and used its resources to erect defences, artillery, and traps. But the invaders neglected to realise that the Highlanders would have expert knowledge of this sacred site and find other routes to attack.

Attackers can gain an unexpected advantage by using the various routes and footpaths around the map to flank defenders’ formations. The supply point to the west can be seized early by attackers to gain an early foothold, who can leverage that to take Point B as soon as it's available.

Defenders can hold out at the base flag, fortifying units and artilleries behind the castle walls. The natural and invented defences can protect units from artillery fire and ranged attacks, and the narrow paths offer brace units the chance to hold firm against cavalry advances.

An incendiary catapult is the icing on the cake of this fighting fiesta, a devastating weapon to be turned against both attackers and defenders.



[h2]PLAN OF ATTACK[/h2]

• Tread carefully as you advance. The paths may seem straightforward, but slowing tar traps litter the walkways, which can be lethal if set ablaze and could result in heavy losses.
• Point A is located within the village, with some cover to avoid being attacked from above. It can be reached via a narrow eastern passage.
• The incendiary catapult can be used by attackers (if it can be reached) through a slim entrance, which can then be used to pelt the defenders with flames.
• Point B should be the first major goal of attacking Broch Eastray and can be assaulted via narrow mountain pathways.
• Reaching the castle ruins and claiming the base point is the final goal, which can be reached via the main arch or other sneakier routes. Make sure you have your best units at hand and enough resources left over to take on this fight.

[h2]DEFENSIVE MEASURES[/h2]

• Let the tar traps do the work by luring attackers into them and setting them on fire. Be careful not to get caught in them yourself, though.
• Defenders should man the small entrances to the village and the points, as there are multiple attack routes.
• Defenders can use the defences of the incendiary catapult to hold attackers at bay and use the artillery to attack themselves.
• Point B sits between the village and the castle ruins, meaning it is vital for defenders to keep this point safe and remain vigilant for all ambushes.
• Within the ruins lies the final and focal point of the battle, and defensive measures should be taken to make sure the attackers do not reclaim it.

Need some advice on which fearless warriors to take to Broch Eastray? Check out these brave kinsmen who have joined the fight for freedom—Bagpipers and Claymores.

While you may have explored Season X’s new Siege Map—the Highlanders’ ancestral home of Broch Eastray—you may not have had the opportunity to visit the inspiration behind the iconic landscapes and fortifications of Scotland itself! Never fear, as we’re here to transport you to the land of deep-fried Mars bars, tartan, and bagpipes as we discover some of Scotland's choicest castles and loveliest landmarks that inspired Season X: Highlanders.
[h2]Edinburgh Castle[/h2]
Standing proud and strong on the volcanic Castle Rock, Edinburgh Castle has loomed, quiet and domineering, over Scotland’s capital since the 11th century and has been the home of many monarchs, from James IV to Mary Queen of Scots. Edinburgh Castle is also the most besieged site in Europe, having been attacked no less than 23 times in its lifetime, resulting in much rebuilding.

It’s now a popular tourist attraction where visitors can marvel at its architecture and immerse themselves in its rich and dramatic past.

The castle is also home to the National War Museum. Housed within its storied battlements, it includes exhibits of over 400 years of conflicts.

As well as numerous buildings which once operated as munitions storage, chapels, and more, the sprawling forecourt provides the backdrop for the annual Edinburgh Military Tattoo, a fantastic exhibition of drills, displays, and bands.

Edinburgh Castle

[h2]Loch Ness[/h2]
Does a mythical sea creature lie within the depths of this world-famous natural landmark? That is the question many visitors to the freshwater loch have wondered, and some purport to have even captured the Loch Ness Monster (or Nessie) on camera. Containing more water than all the lakes in England and Wales combined, it’s no wonder that wishful thinkers claim there is a cryptid living in its depths.

First brought to wider public attention in 1933 (but allegedly spotted as far back as 565 AD) by George Spicer, whose story of witnessing “the nearest approach to a dragon or pre-historic animal that I have ever seen in my life” in the Courier sparked a greater interest in what could be out there. Since then, several photographs and videos have been taken of ‘Nessie’, and sonar experiments have been carried out to see whether Nessie is lurking deep within the loch. With any pure-hearted seeking of the truth also come hoaxes, including that of a deceased bull elephant seal placed in the water by a zoologist from Yorkshire's Flamingo Park Zoo.

Whether Nessie is real or not, the legend of her existence continues to spark wonder and curiosity in tourists and travellers worldwide.

Loch Ness

[h2]Stirling Castle[/h2]
Atop Castle Hill sits Stirling Castle, one of Scotland’s most important historical sites. Dating back to the 12th century, the stronghold and its buildings have endured many sackings and attacks, most notably by Robert the Bruce. He seized the castle and destroyed its defences during his armies campaign for freedom.

While its past is fascinating, and its sweeping views of the Scottish countryside breathtaking, Stirling Castle has seen its fair share of ghoulish events. Here, James II ordered a brutal assassination of William, 8th Earl of Douglas, resulting in the Earl being stabbed 26 times, then thrown from a window into the grounds below. This was not the only violent killing to take place within the castle grounds, with five skeletons discovered within the last decade with traumatic and blunt injuries to the skulls leading scientists to suggest these poor souls fell to a war hammer.

Don’t let these less than family-friendly occurrences put you off, though, as Stirling Castle has many incredible sights to see, including the exquisite Great Hall, the sprawling and peaceful Queen Anne Gardens, and the Palace Vaults.

Stirling Castle

[h2]Calanais Standing Stones[/h2]
At over 5,000 years old, the Calanais Standing Stones (also known as the Callanish Stones) pre-date even the world-renowned Stonehenge. Erected in the Neolithic era and used for ritual ceremonies, the stones stand in a cruciform formation near the village of Callanish, on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides. The thirteen stones have an average height of three metres and are thought to have been used for religious rituals and mapping the sky.


Standing Stones on Lewis, Outer Hebrides (Credit)
[h2]Ben Nevis[/h2]
The highest mountain in the whole of the United Kingdom with a summit height of 1,345 metres, Ben Nevis entices over 100,000 climbers every year who wish to conquer its peak. The first to do so was James Robertson, a botanist, who conquered the mountain in 1771.

Due to its immense altitude and polar climate, snow covers the mountaintop almost all year round, and because of this, avalanches frequently happen, making the notoriously tricky climb even more dangerous.

If you don’t fancy a four-hour trip to the top of Ben Nevis, you can always simply look upon its stunning topography from the safe vantage point of the ground.

Ben Nevis taken from Banavie

Whether you want to climb a mountain, gaze out from a historic castle’s walls, or spot a cryptid, there’s something for everyone in the mystical and magnificent lands of Scotland.

In 1270 AD, in a town named Paisley in the North of Scotland, a boy was born whose first cries would later become cries of freedom for his people. Sir William Wallace, as he would soon be known, is an icon of Scottish history and has been immortalised in history and popular culture (Braveheart, anyone?).

Just as the clans of the Highlands in Conqueror’s Blade fight for liberation from Loegrian rule, so too did the Scottish against the English, who viewed the Northern lands as a feudal state and not a sovereign country in its own right. During the early 1200s, Scotland enjoyed a time of peace and prosperity. The untimely death of King Alexander III led to turmoil, undoing the previous stability, and almost ushering in a civil war.

King Edward I of England, looking for a way to undermine potential heirs to the throne, ordered his armies to storm Berwick-Upon-Tweed (the Battle of Halidon Hill), where the Scots fell in a devastating defeat. This marked the beginning of the First War of Scottish Independence (1296 AD).



Statue of William Wallace of Scotland in Druid Hill Park, Baltimore

Although William Wallace’s military experience is largely unknown, it must have been extensive (and successful) for the role he took in leading Scotland’s armies during this war. He seemed to make the impossible possible through rousing leadership. One such instance is the Battle of Stirling Bridge (September 11, 1297), where even though his men were vastly outnumbered by English forces, they won the day, leading to Wallace’s decoration as Guardian of the Kingdom of Scotland, and a knighthood for his valiant efforts and keen leadership skills.

Many more military operations and raids were carried out under Wallace’s determined leadership, who managed to evade being captured by King Edward and the English until 1305, when he was betrayed by John de Menteith. The Scottish knight handed him over to English soldiers, resulting in Wallace’s brutal execution for treason.

“I could not be a traitor to Edward, for I was never his subject."

• Sir William Wallace on his treason charge

While William Wallace may have left the brunt of the freedom-fighting (and eventual triumph) to his successor Robert the Bruce, he remains a symbol of Scotland’s spirit and unerring resilience, and an icon of liberty for the ages. For Freedom!

Ranked Battles return on January 7! Accessible throughout Season X: Highlanders, check out the Event Schedule to plan your rise through the ranks.

Unlike regular matchmaking battles, where you earn Bronze and XP, Ranked Battles are all about creating a continuous record of where you sit beside other heroes. Your efforts will still reward you with experience and go towards fulfilling quest objectives (although you won’t receive any Bronze), but Ranked Matchmaking is predominantly about establishing an evolving order of dominance. 

As well as ranks to ascend by earning points, there are Weekly and Season rewards to unlock - including a choice of Unit Attires to show off in front of your adversaries.

You can always check out your current rank by pressing ‘J’ and selecting the Ranked Battle tab.
[h2]Matchmaking Ranks[/h2] The Maps [h2]Ranked Rewards[/h2][h2]Ranked Battle Information[/h2]

• Cross-server battles will be enabled, meaning players from NA/EU will be matched together. Matchmaking for NA will first search for players on their own server before moving them into the cross-server queue (EU will automatically go into the cross-server queue).
• Ranked Battles will occur all weekend during the Season, and with cross-server enabled, we anticipate shorter queue times.
• Ranked Battles are scheduled to run throughout Season X.
• Characters must be level 100 or above to take part in Ranked Battles.
• Player groups are limited to 3 members.
• Above Gladiator, players within a group must all be within one rank of one another. (Eg: If one player is ranked Arena Hero, the others must either be Arena Hero or Gladiator, or Arena Hero and Imperial Hero)
• Deployable artillery per player is limited to one piece for defenders and two for attackers.
• Units do not endure permanent losses.
• In-game currency is not given out as a reward for participation.
• Rewards will be distributed weekly and after the conclusion of a season, as appropriate.
• The rules, schedule and rewards for Ranked Battles are subject to change, although we will strive to keep you updated prior to any changes.