Battle of the Eclipse

> *"The past months have led to this! Will you join the Chimera Alliance? Or battle alongside the Order of Horkos?"*
>
>

> *"Take the Scythe to put an end to the tyranny... or to start a new world order! The choice is yours!"*
>
>

## Information

### **Rating(s)**

Mature

With the Tales of Rebellion storyline coming to an end, the fight between the Order of Horkos and the Chimera Alliance has reached its assumed finale in the fated Battle of the Eclipse. It is up to you whether you want to join the Alliance that wants to end the tyranny under Astrea, or stay with her and the Warmongers to continue the chaos in the world. In the end, take the Draconite Scythe into your hands and determine what fate you wish upon the world as you partake in this event to get access to exclusive rewards for all of your heroes.

Take note that the Eclipse will not last for an eternity, and will wane by February 18th, so claim your rewards of the grand battlefield before then.

## Overview

Warriors, it’s time to choose a side in the Battle of the Eclipse!

Starting today, January 28th, until February 18th, For Honor’s limited-time event Battle of the Eclipse is live with a special game mode.

In addition to the new mode, Battle of the Eclipse adds new weapons for all Heroes to loot from now until February 18th. A free Event Pass enables players to also earn 35 tiers of gear and loot including a new Battle Outfit, Emblem Outline, Ornament, character Symbol and a Mood Effect. Players can also purchase a new Illustrious Outfit – Ecliptic Duality – from the in-game store, as well as a new Execution and two Signatures.

## Event Game Mode - Eclipse

> *"Capture the Powered Forge to get the Draconite Scythe and defeat the enemy's boss!"*
>
>

Fight in a battle where the goal is to defeat the enemy’s Commander, Astrea or Gryphon, who will be encased in Draconite until the Forge has been seized. The Forge is the only capturable zone in this game mode. Both teams will fight for it in order to get the Scythe: the only weapon that allows you and your team to defeat the Commander. Take note though, the Scythe is as fragile as it has ever been, breaking after a given amount of time, where thereafter your team has to once again compete for the Forge.

**Eclipse** is a unique 4v4 game mode where your team is pitted against the enemy in two phases that repeats until the either team's commander (Astrea or Gryphon) is defeated, separated between capturing the Draconite Forge and the assault on one of the Commanders. Played on the Citadel Gate map, the Defending team will spawn at the Armory (Zone A) with Gryphon resting at Battlefield Defender near the drawbridge, while Attackers will spawn in the Blue Dome (Zone C) as Astrea rests at Battlefield Attacker near the exit from Attacker Forest. Both of these Commanders will be inside of a Draconite containment that keeps them safe. The Forge will be located in the middle of Battlefield Mid, against the raised structure that is on the ridge of the Ruins.

As noted before, the goal of the first phase is capturing the Draconite Forge. Capturing the Forge unhindered by one Hero takes 10 seconds, while more Heroes being on point will hasten this time; enemy Heroes should prevent this by contesting the point, resetting the capture progress.

Once the zone is captured, the second phase will start as the Forge deposits the Draconite Scythe and the Commander of the team who did not get the Forge gets released from their Draconite containment. The Draconite Scythe can only be taken by the team who captured the Forge, preventing the enemy team from snatching it. The Commander will be wearing Draconite Armor, which functions similarly to how it did in Tales of Rebellion, being removed for 5 second every time it is hit by the Draconite Weapon. However, the Draconite Scythe will only last 80 seconds (with a 30 second audible warning given) before it breaks apart. After this, there will be a ten second long "rest phase" (the Forge won't be available for capture and the Commander will be in their Draconite containment) before the mode returns to the first phase where the teams fight for the Forge again.

Take note that there are other changes to the Scythe since Tales of Rebellion:

* Health Pool for the user is now 200.
* Damage dealt by the Scythe has been changed. Light Attacks, Sprint Light Attacks and each hit of the Zone Attack now deal 40 damage. Heavy Attack now deals 65 to all enemies. The Commander will only receive half as much damage from these attacks. Draconite Blast still deals the same damage of 20 to all enemies struck, including the Commander.
* The Tier 1 Feat, Draconite Aura, is now a passive instead of an active, granting its damage reduction and Uninterruptible stance to all nearby allies constantly. There is also now a clear indicator when someone is buffed by the Aura with floating Shield signs.
* The Tier 2 Feat, Draconite Blast, will now only encase enemies in Draconite until they are hit with damage. This means that upon receiving damage, enemies will be free from the Draconite cage and be able to resume the fight.

Aside from these aspects, there are Ballistas that can be used on either side of the field, which can be used in both phases.

### Map Changes

The event takes place on the Citadel Gate map set under the great Eclipse. While the Defender's spawn has been closed off, the Attacker's side hasn't. A Ballista has been perched on each side of the map, one near the blue dome with proper fencing, while the Armory has a new wooden walkway made in front of it where the Ballista there is placed. A Draconite forge is placed right at the midlane, which is where the event game mode's capture point is located.

## Other Changes

### Ecliptic Aesthetic

On the main menu, your own playable Hero is removed, instead having Gryphon and Astrea fight off in the background's iconic Eclipse battle. The War Map now shows the effects of the Eclipse, casting a great round shadow on the field. Unfortunately, the effects of the Eclipse is not seen in any of the maps except the Event Gamemode map.

### Event Rewards

Outside the Event Order, players who participate in the event can loot exclusive in-game rewards, including new Ecliptic themed outfits, ornaments, and Ecliptic Advent Mood effects. However, unlike Events before, cosmetic loot is attained by a free Event Pass. The free Event Pass enables players to earn the outfits, ornaments and effects over the span of 35 tiers, removing the randomness players faced previously when trying to attain these cosmetic items. New weapon visuals represent a the nature of duality between the two side, mixing the shades of corrupted orange and solemn blue. Weapon visuals are the only event exclusive reward that needs to attained through loot drops as it won't be present in the Pass.

Players can also opt to purchase the special items that have become available at the start of the event. There is a new Illustrious Outfit, called Ecliptic Duality, that features a head with two faces: a demon face and a repenting face that switch places each instance the effect is shown. There are also two new Signatures, Homage to Astrea & Homage to Gryphon. You can either dedicate a rose to the Horkos Leader or pound your chest in pride to the Alliance Leader. Lastly, there is also a new execution titled "Ilma's Scythe" as you summon forth the Draconite Scythe to draw in your foe before slamming the Scythe through their chest, creating the ever famous shockwave of Draconite. During the last week, one more exclusive Execution became available, named "Blades of the Vanguards," as the Hero is offered the four primary Vanguard weapons to execute their foe with one strike from each weapon.

While the Illustrious Outfit is here to stay, the Signatures together with the Executions will become unavailable at the end of the event.

## Unique Orders

During the Battle of the Eclipse event, the daily orders and Event Orders will be tailored with unique names that references the special game at hand.

### Daily Orders

* ***Daily Guaranteed Order:***
	+ Warrior:
		- **Erzebet's Defeat** - "When Erzebet was defeated, Astrea knew that it was time for her to jump into the fray. This was exactly what Gryphon expected from her."
		- **Rumors about Gryphon** - "More than hatred, Gryphon pitied Astrea. He could see in her the same rage he had felt after years and years fighting an injust war. The same feeling that led him to join the Blackstones when he was younger."
		- **Stolen Technology** - "The Makers Guild stole some of Ilma's discoveries to create a Draconite forge with unknown capabilities. Both Chimera and Horkos coveted the forge for their own needs."
		- **Rumors about Astrea** - "Astrea did not hate Gryphon and the Alliance. She saw them as tools to test and strengthen her ranks. The last obstacle before the coming of a new era for the most deserving warriors in Heathmoor."
		- **Secret Journey** - "Ilma wanted to join the Battle of the Eclipse, but Gryphon tasked her with a secret mission. No one in the Chimera Alliance knew what it was, but Ilma ventured for a while on her own."
		- **Fragmented Stories** - "With battles fought everywhere and buildings destroyed daily, who could protect knowledge and memory in a vastly unstable world? Only campfire stories could stand the test of time."
		- **Draconite Scythes** - "Even if the Draconite Scythes remained a very unstable weapons to use in battle, both Horkos and Chimera needed them to break the enemy's defenses."
		- **Knights Beliefs** - "Many believed that an eclipse was a message from the gods, a dire warning of the many catastrophes and destruction that will be wrought upon humanity."
		- **Gryphon and Astrea** - "Did these two ever meet before the Battle of Eclipse? Some believed they did eons ago."
		- **Harbingers of Immortality** - "Various legions in Heathmoor had joined the Order of Horkos, for very different reasons. Yet they all longed for a world without weaklings and cowards. A new world where they could all become... immortal."
		- **Pros and Antis** - "Some longed for the times when Draconite was not part of their lives. When fighting the war felt somewhat simpler. Yet others believed that the world would not have been able to survive without this new resource."
		- **Wu Lin Beliefs** - "It was told that eclipses were caused by giant beings - dragons or gigantic dogs - swallowing the sun in Wu Lin mythology. People would make loud noises during an eclipse to frighten the beasts away."
		- **Fear of the Unknown** - "Many people were suspicious of the Draconite and its true powers. Some thought they put the entire world at risk."
		- **Heroes of the Rebellion** - "Goemon, Fjorgvin, Labeo, Lin Yao. All fought in the Battle of the Eclipse alongside Gryphon."
		- **Historical Battle** - "The Battle of the Eclipse was the first great battle between the Order of Horkos and the Chimera Alliance. It was the turning point in Heathmoor's history."
		- **Unsung Heroes** - "Sen was an herbalist. Her vast knowledge had helped her survive the worst wounds in the past. Yet the Corruption took her life before she could find a cure against it."
		- **Even Grounds** - "It was extremely hard to predict who would win the Battle of the Eclipse. The newly formed Chimera Alliance seemed to be on par with the Order of Horkos."
		- **The Toll of War** - "Both the Chimera Alliance and the Order of Horkos faced grave casualties. With their improved gear and usage of Draconite, they fought relentlessly. None of them wanted to conceded victory."
		- **Unsung Heroes** - "Einar was just a young archer in the Viking army who had dreamed of becoming a Warlord, just like his great grandfather was."
		- **Unsung Heroes** - "People had often called him Bacchus, because he was more often seen drinking than battling. He still joined the Battle of the Eclipse and died an honorable death."
	+ *Complete 2 matches of any game mode.*
* Attacker:
	+ **Unsung Heroes** - "Edgard was a pikeman for his entire life and never aspired to be more. He always knew hot to bring laughter to his comrades, even in the darkest times."
	+ **Survival Instinct** - "Cotterill fell on her back. A sharp pain pierced her ribcage as she tried to move. When a menacing kanabo appeared before her weary eyes though, she grabbed her blades and rolled away to avoid the strike."
	+ **Unsung Heroes** - "She was known as the Acrobat. A skilled performer who would perform fire breathing and other tricks to warm people's hearts across Heathmoor."
	+ **Unsung Heroes** - "Yasu was a blind farmer. He tended the wounds of a Viking Warlord and did not ask for anything in return."
	+ **Samurai Beliefs** - "Amaterasu, goddess of the sun, shut herself away in a cavern and darkened the entire world. She could be lured out of the cave if someone presented a sacred mirror to her."
		- *Capture 5 zones in any game mode.*
* Executioner:
	+ **Dance of Blades** - "Chiyome swipped the blood off her blade. Metallic footsteps came closer. Chiyome smiled to herself, then did a swift about-turn and swung her katana to parry the Warmonger's attack."
	+ **Unsung Heroes** - "Yun was an expert craftsman in Fons Perennis. He was born in the Wu Lin empire and travelled a lot with his parents throughout Heathmoor to sell their renown ceramics."
	+ **Unsung Heroes** - "Oakley was an expert cook, who had fed the many armies of Ashfeld with heartwarming food."
	+ **Unsung Heroes** - "Asami was a physician in the Myre who had saved countless warriors from death. She provided for her family as long as she could breathe."
	+ **Unsung Heroes** - "Pujing was just a poor monk who shared some of his meager food with a lost orphan. Years later, the orphan became one of the greatest warriors in Ashfeld."
	+ **Unsung Heroes** - "Akai was a miko and a fierce warrior who had protected a sacred temple in Josei from many attacks. She died at the hands of a Black Prior."
		- *Perform 3 executions in any game mode.*
* Slayer:
	+ **Viking Beliefs** - "Sol, goddess of the sun, traveled the heavens, carrying the embers of Muspelheim on her chariot. An eclipse would mean that Skoll, the treacherous wolf, was about to devour her."
	+ **Unsung Heroes** - "Sonya was the hotheaded owner of the Screaming Willow, a famous tavern in Waterstop. She had met many of the best warriors in Heathmoor."
	+ **Unsung Heroes** - "Hong was just a wandering bard. Yet his crystalline voice gave courage to many warriors as they fought the most difficult battles."
	+ **Unsung Heroes** - "Lena was a skilled woodworker. She built countless houses to help people survive the harshest winters in Valkenheim."
	+ **Unsung Heroes** - "Becca was one of the best tailors in Valkenheim. They could make almost anything with just some thread and needles. From the most robust jackets to the finest draperies."
	+ **Unsung Heroes** - "Hiro's paintings were Okina Shikiri's pride. He died defending a Shinobi who was trying to escape from the Order of Horkos."
		- *Perform 10 takedowns in any game mode.*
* Adaptable Warrior:
	+ **Swift Savior** - "Teruko ran swiftly toward the menacing Jormungandr who was about to end Gamelyn. She thrusted her naginata into the Viking's thigh. The Jormungandr let out a loud growl of pain."
	+ **Unsung Heroes** - "Qian was a scribe who crossed paths with two Knights having an endless quarrel over territories. Qian's guidance helped them settle their argument, and a war was avoided."
	+ **Unsung Heroes** - "Manzo was a traveling merchant. He delivered the best goods to everyone in Heathmoor with his faithful donkey."
		- *Complete 2 matches of any game mode with 2 different Heroes.*

### Event Orders

Each week, there will be a unique Weekly Order.

* **Message from the Future - January 29 - February 1**
	+ ""Qiajtv jrc: Eslslzv"
		- *Be the Faction with the most Eclipse matches won.*
* **A Key in Hand (5) - February 5 - 8**
	+ "DJFWKNAJ"
		- *Be the Faction that captured the Forge the most in Eclipse.*
* **The Future is Key - February 12 - 15**
	+ "With an indecipherable message."
		- *Be the Faction with the most Executions performed in Eclipse.*

## Trivia

* The "Homage to Astrea" Signature released at the start of this event was first seen during the Tales of Rebellion Part 3's Overthrow 3 event, as it was the Signature assumed by Horkos warriors if the Horkos had won. Meanwhile, "Homage to Gryphon" is similar to Gryphon's own signature, "Sign of Respect."
	+ For the "Homage to Astrea" Signature, a red rose is held by the Hero before it wilts into a black rose. In plant symbolism (also known as "flower language"), the red rose symbolizes "true love" while a black rose symbolizes a number of dark traits, including "death" and "obsession."
* In the trailer for the event, the teams are seemingly switched up with the members of the Chimera Alliance (Nuxia, Centurion, Aramusha, Shaman) playing on Astrea's side while members of the Horkos (Hitokiri, Black Prior, Jormundangr, Zhanhu) are siding with Gryphon. This is likely either an error or a show that in fact any hero can choose which side they wish to be on.
* All the faction belief quotes for Order (all titled "XXX Beliefs") are references to mythology from each culture that is related to an eclipse.
	+ Knight: While there is no one mythology to reference in Roman or European Medieval history, it had been believed during the Medieval period that misfortune occurs during an eclipse. This was because unfortunate events, such as the death of a king's heir or the invasion by an outside force, would happen to coincide with an eclipse, cementing the superstitious link between the two.
	+ Samurai: The Goddess of the sun mentioned in this order is Amaterasu (天照大御神; *amaterasu-oomikami*). Due to an incident related to Susanoo (スサノオ), her younger brother, Amaterasu hid away in "the Heavenly Rock Cave" (天岩戸; *ama-no-iwato*; lit. "heavenly rock-door"), plunging both heaven and earth into complete darkness. The mirror mentioned in the order is the "Yata-no-Kagami" (八咫鏡; lit. "eight *ta* mirror", with *ta* being an archaic Japanese unit of measurement), which was used to bring Amaterasu out, restoring light to the world; how the mirror brought her out depends on the interpretation.
	+ Viking: The mythical figures Sól and Sköll are mentioned in this order, both accurately stated to being the Goddess of the Sun and a wolf that chases the sun respectively. It is said that an eclipse occurs when Sköll is about to devour Sól, with Sköll successfully devouring her being a sign of Ragnarök's approach.
	+ Wu Lin: As mentioned in the orders, there are Chinese mythology related to eclipses. For solar eclipses, it is explained that hungry dragons devour the sun, while for lunar eclipses, it is the heavenly dog Tiangou that slowly eats away the moon (reflecting the phases of the moon). The Chinese people of ancient times would make loud noises with pots and pans to scare the dragon away, while the Chinese god who protects children would fight off Tiangou with a bow an arrow.
		- In Chinese culture, the heavens also dictate the power of a leader, and these eclipses were seen as heavenly signs that could help predict an emperor's future. For example, if an emperor were to be caught off guard when an eclipse occured, they would be seen as out of favor with the heavens.
* The Event Orders, as seen in many other Events, provide a riddle that needs to be solved.
	+ The first week features "Qiajtv jrc: Eslslzv" which is titled "Message from the Future," implying this riddle cannot be solved until a cipher key of some kind is revealed at a later date.
		- Using the answer found in the second week's order below, the first week's quote can be decoded by using a Vigenère cipher which reveals its answer to be "Season one: Asunder" which would later be the name for Year 5, Season 1.
	+ The second week features "DJFWKNAJ" which is titled "A Key in Hand (5)." When the number in the title is used to decode the order's quote with a Caesar cipher, the answer is revealed to be "YEARFIVE." In turn, this can be used to decode the previous week's quote, as seen above.
	+ The third week features a quote that supports the connection between the above two order quotes.

* When asked who won the Battle of The Eclipse, the devs answered that "The Order of Horkos did win the battle, however it was more a Pyrrhic victory than a true victory as they lost the same amount as The Chimera Alliance did."

## Gallery

For Honor- Battle of the Eclipse Event - Trailer - Ubisoft -NA-