Hello, adventurers!The Lost Archives, the second DLC forHalls of Torment, is available now on XBOX! There’s also a large and free update for all players.From the swamps of our first DLC, the Boglands, we are marching into The Lost Archives, where cultists and forgotten knowledge await us.You’re a new tormented Soul? Here’s a quick overview.Halls of Torment is a horde survival game with roguelite elements, made in the style of the late-90s action RPGs: pre-rendered graphics, dark dungeons and lots of loot.Set 30 minutes aside, pick a hero and try to survive as wave after wave of monsters closes in. You can take full control of your hero or use automatic attacks. What’s truly important are your choices: abilities, traits and items that can turn a good build into an unstoppable one. In the depths the Tormented Lords are awaiting, unique bosses that dominate their halls.Between runs, quests unlock new heroes, abilities, items and blessings that make you permanently stronger, so every attempt takes you a bit further, even when you don’t make it out alive.The Lost Archives adds a new hall and two new heroes: the Inquisitor, who maintains an iron defense with a harsh focus on retribution and judgement, and the Blood Apostle, who sacrifices her own health for immense gains. Each comes with new abilities, upgrades for existing ones and three full sets of equipment, opening up entirely new combinations.Both heroes take existing mechanics and push them further. The Inquisitor heralds Block, Defense and Retribution, with several new Retribution items. It introduces two new mechanics: Judgement and Execution. Whenever the Inquisitor takes damage, he puts Judgement on all enemies around him, while his mace triggers Executions. Judgement stacks spread between enemies until they are triggered, then deal unblockable damage, a great way to get rid of strong enemies hiding in a swarm.The Blood Apostle brings back Sacrifices, a mechanic that has barely featured in the game until now. She trades health for power. The higher her maximum health, the stronger her sacrifices, her health recovery and Affliction. This returning status effect now also jumps to the next enemy when a foe is slain. She regains health by slaying enemies with Fragile or Affliction, and both effects are now uncapped, increasing damage from elemental effects or direct attacks.Looking for a new test? Once you’ve mastered the new hall, put your skills to the test in the Weekly Challenge. It’s free for everyone, rotates through the five base halls and sets a fixed challenge each week.Short on time? The free update also adds a new mode to every hall. Until now, the Lords appeared after a set time or a fixed number of kills, now you set the kill goal yourself at the Shrine of Torment. It’s perfect for quicker runs, especially paired with artifacts that increase the number of enemies. The Weekly Challenge also rewards extra Torment Shards to help you push even further.Finally, the Scriptor now keeps records of your marvelous accomplishments, showing your peak results and accumulated stats since release. This is for all of you who want to know who is the real lord, lady or sovereign over all the halls.Stay HoT! – Chasing CarrotsHalls of Torment – The Lost ArchivesChasing Carrots☆☆☆☆☆4★★★★★$3.99Get it nowDescend into The Lost Archives, a haunted library sealed away beneath the Halls of Torment. Towering bookshelves, flickering chandeliers, and a slumbering orrery hide secrets that were never meant to be discovered—and the shelves themselves are not done fighting back.What Awaits in the Lost Archives:A New Stage: Hidden deep in the Halls lies the Library of Forbidden Texts, full of books that describe past and current evil forces. Holy powers try to burn out evil and pass judgment on all those who defy the holy will and are in on the dark rituals performed at this dark place.Two New Heroes:Inquisitor – Judgment and Execution in one. A hammer-wielding tank who marks enemies with Judgment.Blood Apostle – Manifests attacks from her own blood, sacrificing her life force to strike harder.Judgment & Execution – Stack Judgment, then execute enemies outright once they fall below the threshold.Retaliation – Anything that hurts you will be punished by the will of… God, demons, or something else entirely?Sacrifices – Expansion on sacrificing your own life to strengthen and unleash attacks. Will you dig your own grave?66 new quests that all unlock additional rewards3 new abilities and a dozen-plus Archives-reworked variants of classic abilities6 new Artifacts20+ new items (armor, boots, gloves, headgear, necklaces, rings)The post How The Challenge Shrine Will Change How you Play Halls of Torment appeared first on XBOX Wire.