"Hello, fine bartender, we... I mean... I would like one cup of your finest beverage, please. Yes, yes, thank you ...the ...uh, ...normal human beverage, please." The patron's trench coat shuffled in an unusual way, but the bemused bartender poured a flagon of ale and left three smaller cups, just in case. "It's working," the knees muttered. "The human beverage is ale! I should've done the talking." "How tall we are..." the torso whispered, "So tall..." "SHHHH!!!"

MORE KOBOLDS IS MORE BETTER. Introducing our latest champion, arriving with Grand Revel, Hew Maan, a definitely human champion and not at all three kobolds in a trench coat.

I. Hew Maan

Zrang, his twin brother Kleeb, and their brood-sister Yassa began their Icewind Dale existence stealing gems and dreaming of being respected by the locals. Inspired by their mentor, Jarlaxle, they stand tall to form Hew Maan - who is totally a human and not on a nefarious mission to steal all the Champions' stuff.

Hew Maan's origin story is ongoing in our Icewind Dale, Rime of the Frostmaiden campaign, and cameoed in two of our Idle Champions Comics. They hold a special place in our hearts, and we were excited and inspired by the community reaction to bring them to Idle Champions as a champion, for deep down, aren't we all just three kobolds in a trench coat?

Zrang, Kleeb, and Yassa team up and stack up to form Hew Maan, providing different buffs based on who's on top of the stack. Hew Maan is a Support champion, when you want to add them to your formation, you can swap them with Delina (Slot 8).

II. Hew Maan's Stats

Race: Kobold & "Human"	Alignment: Lawful Evil
Class: Rogue/Bard	Gender: Male & Female
Age: 67	Affiliation: none

STR: 11	DEX: 12	CON: 16
INT: 12	WIS: 8	CHA: 16

Role: Support
Eligible for Patrons: Mirt the Moneylender, Vajra Safahr
Slot: 8, (Delina)

III. Hew Maan's Design

Hew Maan is a multifaceted and dynamic individual. Well actually, they aren't an individual at all, but three kobolds, Zrang, his twin brother Kleeb, and their brood sister Yassa, each with their own distinct personalities!

Zrang is surprisingly insightful, but definitely still a kobold, and is working on the difference between kobold and human vocabularies.

Rough and tumble and ready to tussle; Kleeb is the kobold you want in control when you're gearing to fight.

Yassa was charmed by Trex's complimentary nature. She cheers on her fellow kobolds & Champions. She's a glass-half-full sort of kobold, and a bit of a fast talker.

Zrang and his siblings hide inside a trench coat and masquerade as a human, and their teamwork makes their dream work! Their buffs change based on where they are located in the formation. With Teamwork, they provide three different buffs that are useful in different situations. Place them near the front of the formation and they increase your rate of progression, place them in the center of the formation and they assist with killing bosses. Place them near the back of the formation and they greatly increase your damage against non-boss monsters. Hello, Fellow Humans, allows them to buff their fellow human Champions, but they can masquerade and buff another race through their specialization ability Did We Say Humans? We Meant....

IV. Hew Maan's Abilities

Basic Attack

• Crossbow — The middle kobold shoots a random enemy with a small crossbow.

Formation Abilities

• Teamwork — Depending on where they are placed in the formation, a different kobold takes the top slot in the trench coat and provides a different buff:
  • Zrang: Front X columns — Enemies have a 25% chance to drop double quest items or count for double quest progress.
    
  • Kleeb: Middle columns — Increase the damage of Champions against boss enemies by 400%; if the boss has hits-based or armor-based health, successful attacks destroy twice as many segments as they normally would
    
  • Yassa: Back X columns — Increase the damage of Champions in the two columns in front of Hew Maan by 100%.
    
  Note: in formations with four or less columns, X is always 1. In columns with five or more columns, X is always 2.

• Hello, Fellow Humans — Increase the effect of Kleeb and Yassa's Teamwork abilities based on the number of human Champions in the formation:
  • 1-3 "other" humans: +100%
  • 4-5 "other" humans: +700%
  • 6-7 "other" humans: +3100%
  • 8-9 "other" humans: +12700%

• Carefully Balanced — Increase the effect of Zrang's Teamwork ability by 10% for each Champion adjacent to the kobolds (stacks additively and then applied to Teamwork multiplicatively).

• Please Stand By — The two kobolds that are not on top provide lesser buffs passively. These abilities are not buffed by Hello, Fellow Humans.
  • Zrang: Boss enemies move 25% slower.
    
  • Kleeb: Hits-based and armor-based enemies and blockers have a 50% chance of spawning with 25% of their hits already gone.
    
  • Yassa: Reduce the base attack cooldown of Champions adjacent to the kobolds by 0.5s.

Specializations

• Did We Say Humans? We Meant... — The Hello, Fellow Humans ability now uses the most populous race in your formation instead of Human. Ties do not matter as only the count is important.

• Impressive Coatwork — The effect of all Teamwork abilities are increased by 100%.

Ultimate Ability

Each kobold in the stack attacks repeatedly with their own crossbow, peppering a random target with 12 bolts in total. An additional effect then occurs based on whichever kobold is on the top of the stack. Moving the kobolds while the effect is active does not update it.

• Zrang: Roll Out! — The effect of Zrang's Teamwork is doubled for 30 seconds.
  
• Kleeb: Stop! — Non-boss enemies are stunned and no additional enemies will spawn for 15 seconds.
  
• Yassa: Faster! — Reduce any active ultimate cooldowns of all Champions in the formation by 25%.

V. Hew Maan's Legendary Equipment

Slot 1: Global DPS	Slot 2: Global DPS	Slot 3: Hello, Fellow Humans
Slot 4: Carefully Balanced	Slot 5: Ultimate Damage	Slot 6: Ultimate Cooldown

VI. Conclusion

What do you think about Hew Mann? If you have feedback, let us know in a Community Q&A or Champion feedback post on the Idle Champions Subreddit, on the Steam forums, or on the Official Idle Champions Discord!

The Sword of Zariel is within reach, but we need a history lesson to understand how it came to this awful place. Is there a way to save the Elturel? Who will take up Zariel's sword? What in the name of Faerûn is Yeenoghu doing in this nightmare? AND WHY IS HE HEADED OUR WAY?! Read on to see what the penultimate adventure of Descent into Avernus will hold!

Note: you will need to have completed the previous two Descent into Avernus Adventures, The Sibriex and Wrecked Flying Fortress, in order to access these new Adventures.

The Bleeding Citadel

The Champions enter the Bleeding Citadel and advance towards the Sword of Zariel.

• Variant: Don't Pick at the Scab — Climb the stinking scab while trying not to disturb the architecture.
  • Only Champions with WIS and INT of 12 or higher can be used.
  Reach area 550.

Idyllglen

We relive the battle of Idyllglen through Lulu's recently returned memories. We'll face untold horrors on our way back to the Bleeding Citadel, the Sword of Zariel, and the fate that awaits us in Avernus.

• Variant: Madness of Yeenoghu — Relive history as you experience the madness caused by a demon lord! Enemies deal 200% additional damage and move 200% faster. Whenever a Champion destroys an enemy, the Champion is stunned for a duration equal to their base attack cooldown.
  Reach area 575.

See the in-game Change Log for more information, including a full list of changes and fixes included in this update.

Deadwinter Day has arrived once again in Longsaddle. While most citizens keep warm in their homes and exchange gifts to celebrate the midpoint of winter with friends and family, the Champions have been hired by the infamous Harpells to patrol the outskirts of town...

Midwinter 4 introduces Talin Uran, a Combat Wheelchair-using Tiefling Rogue. The event also brings back Môrgæn, the High Elf Ranger (Hunter) played by Morgan Webb on Acquisitions Incorporated, and K'thriss Drow'b, the Drow Warlock played by Kris Straub on Acquisitions Incorporated: The "C" Team. Players have until Monday, January 25th at 12PM Pacific to complete their Midwinter 4 unlocks and objectives.

For more information about Year 4 Events and how they work, please check out our Year 4 Events Dev Blog.

New Champion: Talin Uran

Like many in the D&D community, we were inspired when Sara Thompson introduced us to the Combat Wheelchair last summer. We reached out to Sara last year to get their help in bringing a Combat Wheelchair Champion to Idle Champions, and it just so happened that their D&D character, Talin Uran, was a perfect fit!

Talin Uran is a rogue of great renown within Waterdeep. While on an assignment with the Grambar's Blades a few years ago, he was caught in a building collapse that left him paralyzed from the waist down. Now equipped with his combat wheelchair, Talin is back to doing what he does best: Saving the day and looking awesome doing it.

Talin is a charismatic rogue who specializes in analyzing and exploiting enemy weaknesses, increasing the damage of allies, and slowing enemies with his Scatter Tacks. Talin is a Support champion, when you want to add him to your formation, you can swap him with Celeste (Slot 2).

II. Talin's Stats

Race: Tielfling	Alignment: Chaotic Good
Class: Rogue	Gender: Male
Age: 26	Affiliation: none

STR: 10	DEX: 18	CON: 12
INT: 13	WIS: 13	CHA: 18

Role: Support
Eligible for Patrons: Mirt the Moneylender, Strahd von Zarovich
Slot: 2, (Celeste)

Talin's Abilities

Talin does everything you would expect a rogue to get up to, including no shortage of mischief. He attacks using both his rapier with Quiet Ambush and his chair with Razor Edged Chakram. Talin zips around in his chair, dropping caltrops behind when attacking with his Scatter Tacks slowing and damaging enemies that enter them. Ever observant, Talin susses out his enemies' weaknesses and passes this information along to his allies to support the team with Spot Weakness.

For more information on Talin and his abilities, check out his Champion Spotlight!

Year Four Variants

• Fiendish Friends — A collection of fiends spawn in each area. While they are alive, the fiends bestow the following buffs to other enemies.
  • Imp — Enemies drop 99% less gold.
  • Dretch — Enemies deal 100% additional damage.
  • Abyssal Chicken — Enemies move 100% faster. Charge!
    
Reach Area 75.


• Once Upon a Gazer — Only Champions with WIS 13 or higher can be used. Gazers spawn in each area. They do not drop gold, nor do they count towards quest progress. Champions hit by a gazer are stunned for 3 seconds.
  
Reach Area 125.


• Deadwinter Dodge — Only Champions with DEX 14 or higher AND INT 12 or higher can be used. Talin starts in the formation and can't be moved or removed.
  Reach Area 175.

For information on previous years' variants, check out the Midwinter 3 blog.

A dashing rogue zips by on his chair, now that's an entrance!

This Midwinter we are thrilled to introduce Talin Uran, making his debut on the Idle Champions roster. We were delighted to work with Mark Thompson, creator of the Combat Wheelchair, and bring their character to Idle Champions.

I. Talin Uran

Talin Uran is a rogue of great renown within Waterdeep. While on an assignment with the Grambar's Blades a few years ago, he was caught in a building collapse that left him paralyzed from the waist down. Now equipped with his combat wheelchair, Talin is back to doing what he does best: Saving the day and looking awesome doing it.

Talin is a charismatic rogue who specializes in analyzing and exploiting enemy weaknesses, increasing the damage of allies, and slowing enemies with his Scatter Tacks. Talin is a Support champion, when you want to add him to your formation, you can swap him with Celeste (Slot 2).

II. Talin's Stats

Race: Tielfling	Alignment: Chaotic Good
Class: Rogue	Gender: Male
Age: 26	Affiliation: none

STR: 10	DEX: 18	CON: 12
INT: 13	WIS: 13	CHA: 18

Role: Support
Eligible for Patrons: Mirt the Moneylender, Strahd von Zarovich
Slot: 2, (Celeste)

III. Talin's Design

Like many in the D&D community, we were inspired when Mark Thompson introduced us to the Combat Wheelchair last summer. We reached out last year to get his help in bringing a Combat Wheelchair Champion to Idle Champions, and it just so happened that their D&D character, Talin Uran, was a perfect fit!

Representing characters with disabilities is something we take very seriously. In a world where monster attacks are routine, disabilities and accessibility would be much more prominent. We are proud to be in a position to introduce a Champion using the Combat Wheelchair this Midwinter.

Talin does everything you would expect a rogue to get up to, including no shortage of mischief. He attacks using both his rapier with Quiet Ambush and his chair with Razor Edged Chakram. Talin zips around in his chair, dropping caltrops behind when attacking with his Scatter Tacks slowing and damaging enemies that enter them. Ever observant, Talin susses out his enemies' weaknesses and passes this information along to his allies to support the team with Spot Weakness. Talin prefers a unified team and mischief to be lighthearted and buffs Good-aligned Champions with Antagonist. This ability can be reversed to buff Evil Champions with Reversal of Fortunes.

IV. Talin's Abilities

Basic Attack

• Quiet Ambush — Talin disappears into the shadows and reappears behind a random enemy, stabbing them with his rapier. He then shadow steps back into the formation.

Formation Abilities

• Spot Weakness — Talin carefully observes the enemies as they spawn and whispers weak spot suggestions to nearby Champions, increasing their damage by 100%. This ability is increased by 10% for each enemy killed in the current area, stacking multiplicatively and capping at 25 kills. Applies to all Champions in the formation, but the effect is reduced by 25% for each slot away from Talin they are past one (stacking multiplicatively). Buffs apply to the post-stack value (damage only).

• Scatter Tacks — When Talin attacks with Quiet Ambush he leaves behind a set of Scatter Tacks which cause enemies standing on them to be slowed by 50% and take 100% more damage from attacks. Each set of tacks lasts for 10 seconds before disappearing. Tacks are spread in a medium radius. Buffs increase the damage bonus but not the slow amount.

• Antagonist — Talin decreases the DPS of Evil Champions in the formation by 50%, but increases the damage of Good Champions by 50% for each Evil Champion, stacking multiplicatively. Buffs apply to the post-stack value.

Specializations

• Path Finder — Increases the stack cap and damage buff of Spot Weakness by 100%.

• Additional Scatter Tacks — Increase the slow effect, radius, and damage of Scatter Tacks by 50% (multiplicatively).

• Reversal of Fortunes — Reverse the effect of Antagonist, decreasing the damage of Good Champions and increasing the damage of Evil Champions based on the number of Good Champions.

Ultimate Ability

• Razor Edged Chakram — Talin detaches a secondary hoop-shaped blade from his wheelchair's rear wheel and flings it at the furthest enemy. It travels in a large looping arc, damaging all enemies it encounters before returning to Talin.

V. Talin's Legendary Equipment

Slot 1: Global DPS	Slot 2: Global DPS	Slot 3: Spot Weakness
Slot 4: Scatter Tacks	Slot 5: Antagonist	Slot 6: Ultimate Cooldown

VI. Conclusion

What do you think about Talin? If you have feedback, let us know in a Community Q&A or Champion feedback post on the Idle Champions Subreddit, on the Steam forums, or on the Official Idle Champions Discord!

Congratulations to the winners of the WizKids D&D Icons of the Realms Figure Pack: Descent into Avernus: Arkhan the Cruel and The Dark Order Giveaway!

• Christopher H, Elk Grove, CA, USA
• Christopher L, Berwick, VIC, Australia

All is not lost if you didn't win. You can buy the Arkhan the Cruel and The Dark Order set at any reliable retailer. Check out all the minis at WizKids.com.

"Where to next? So many options! Better check the map..."

Variants for everybody! You get a variant, you get a variant, and you get a variant!

Our latest Idle Champions update introduces ten new variants for the Grand Tour of the Sword Coast, Waterdeep: Dragon Heist, Tomb of Annihilation, Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus, and Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden campaigns. You will need to have completed the original adventures in order to unlock these variants.

Grand Tour of the Sword Coast Variants

• The Sunless Citadel: Social Grace
Split the party with your most charming members!
• Only Evergreen Champions can be used on this adventure.
• Only Champions with CHA of 14 or higher can be used.
• Reach area 350.


• Meepo's Quest: The Tallest of Kobolds
Split the party with a tall 'human' coming along for the ride.
• 3 Kobolds in a trench coat join the party.
• Only Event Champions can be used on this adventure.
• Enemies deal 200% additional damage.
• Kobold and Goblin Champions deal 400% additional damage.
• Reach area 350.

Tomb of Annihilation Variants

• A Grand Puzzle: Snakes on our Plane
Find the remaining puzzle cubes while trying not to hiss too much.
• Additional Yuan-ti Malisons spawn in each area and move 200% faster.
• Whenever a champion is damaged by a Yuan-ti, they are transformed into a flying snake for 30 seconds, disabling their attacks and formation abilities for the duration. Every time they are hit, the timer resets.
• Additional Yuan-ti Malisons spawn in each area and move 200% faster.
• Reach area 350.


• The Tomb of the Nine Gods: Acererak's Puzzle
  
Destroy the Soulmonger and save the world using a select few Champions!
• Only Champions with STR of 13 or higher, DEX of 14 or higher, and CON of 15 or higher can be used.
• Reach area 350.

Waterdeep: Dragon Heist Variants

• Once More Into the Breach: Thrice More Into The Breach
Head into Undermountain while grappling with even more bosses!
• Each boss needs to be defeated three times to advance.
• Only Champions with WIS of 10 or lower can be used.
• Reach area 325.


• Wyllowwood: Ettercap Swarm
Convince the lady of Wyllowwood to guide you while a swarm of ettercaps attack!
• Ettercaps arrive in each area intent on slowing your progress through Wyllowwood. They drop no gold, nor do they count towards quest progress.
• An ettercap attacks at range with its webbing, targeting a random champion in the formation. Champions hit by an ettercap are stunned. Each time the same Champion is stunned in the same area, the stun lasts longer.
• Reach area 325.

Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus

• Elturel Has Fallen: Earthquake!
Discover the secrets of Elturel, before you are killed by earthquakes tearing the city apart!
• Only Champions with DEX 14 or higher can be used.
• An earthquake occurs every 20-120 seconds. Earthquakes cause falling pieces of the city hit the Champions, dealing damage equal to 75% of their max health (subject to a DEX save).
• The earthquake also triggers the following effects for 15 seconds:
  • All Champion damage is disabled.
  • Enemies move 200% faster.
  • Enemies deal 400% additional damage.
• DEX Save: For each point their Dexterity score is above 10, a Champion has a 10% chance to save against the damage/effect, completely nullifying it. For example, a Champion with 14 DEX has a 40% chance to save against the damage, while a Champion with 20 DEX or higher has a 100% chance to save against the effect.
• Reach area 300.


• Resolve Amongst Chaos: Shadow Stalkers
Search for Ulder Ravengard while Lemures attack the party!
• Only Champions with CHA of 12 or lower can be used.
• Lemures appear in each area. They do not drop gold, nor do they count toward quest progress.
• Enemies deal 300% additional damage.
• Reach area 325.

Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden

• The Giant's Bane Tavern: Giant-Size Adventure
Enter Icewind Dale with Volo on your side!
• The great writer Volothamp Geddarm accompanies the Champions, taking up a slot in the formation and debuffing the damage of everyone adjacent.
• Non-giant creatures are scaled up, creating the sort of harrowing tale that Volo is famous for.
• Enemies move 100% faster and deal 200% more damage.
• Reach area 250.


• The Everlasting Rime: Mirage Arcane
Continue to Ten-Towns while Chadwick offers to help with the environmental control.
• In an effort to help the Champions weather the cold, Chadwick joins them and attempts to practice with some new spell scrolls.
• The terrain around the Champions changes, and not always to the Champions' advantage. Each 5 section area is changed to a different environment:
  • While in a dungeon illusion, Champions base attack cooldown is increased by .5 seconds.
  • While in a Chult illusion, Champions deal 200% additional damage.
  • While in a Ravenloft illusion, Enemies deal 200% additional damage.
  • While in an Avernus illusion, Enemies drop 99% less gold.
  • While in a farm illusion, additional enemies appear, these additional enemies do not drop gold, nor do they count towards quest progress.
• Reach area 275.

See the in-game Change Log for more information!