A substantial new patch for Nexon’s free-to-play looter shooter, The First Descendant, has gone live across all platforms, delivering a suite of content extensions, character refinements, and crucial fixes. Update 1.116, also identified as version 1.3.23, extends ongoing events, introduces fresh cosmetic bundles, and directly addresses several player-reported issues regarding reward tracking and user interface clarity. This update follows closely on the heels of previous stability patches, signaling the developers’ ongoing commitment to refining the live-service experience.
Key Enhancements for Sharen and Ultimate Sharen
The update brings targeted improvements to two specific Descendants, sharpening their combat effectiveness. Both Sharen and her Ultimate variant have received a meaningful boost to one of their core abilities. The range of the “Cutoff Beam” skill has been increased from 10 meters to 12 meters, allowing players to engage threats from a safer distance or catch fleeing enemies. This change can significantly alter positioning strategies and improve the character’s viability in both crowd control and single-target scenarios.
Furthermore, the “Shock Nuts” ability has been updated for improved usability during high-mobility play. Previously, the ability’s behavior while sprinting could be unpredictable or restrictive. The patch now ensures that “Shock Nuts” will fire directly toward the player’s crosshair even while sprinting, enabling more fluid hit-and-run tactics and reducing the need to halt movement to aim effectively. These adjustments demonstrate a focused approach to balancing, tweaking specific tools rather than overhauling entire kits.
Stabilized Reward Tracking and Module Loot
One of the more impactful fixes in this update resolves a frustrating issue related to progression tracking. Players working toward specific Target Rewards, particularly those involving “Ancestors Module Loot,” encountered a problem where their progress would unexpectedly reset upon earning the loot through Daily or Weekly mission bonuses. This bug undermined the sense of consistent progression and could lead to wasted effort.
Update 1.116 permanently corrects this issue. Progress toward these Target Rewards will now be maintained correctly regardless of how the Ancestors Module Loot is obtained. Additionally, the developers have updated certain Daily and Weekly bonus rewards to grant “Ancestors Module Loot III,” while confirming that its reward pools and drop chances remain identical to the standard version. This ensures parity and prevents any unintended advantage or disadvantage based on the source of the loot.
New Cosmetic Bundles and Companion Gear
The in-game shop receives a substantial refresh with this patch, headlined by the arrival of the 2025 Skin Contest Bundle in the Limited Bundle category. This bundle likely represents the winning or featured designs from a previous community contest, offering players a chance to acquire unique, player-inspired visuals. Alongside this, three new themed skin sets have been introduced: Project: Ballerina, Project: Specter, and Project: Snow Rabbit, each offering a distinct aesthetic for various Descendants.
Companion customization is also expanded with new options. Players can now acquire the U-07 Headgear and U-07 Armor sets for their robotic allies, as well as the Cerberus Unit cosmetic item. These additions allow for further personalization of a player’s entire combat suite, extending the game’s fashion-endgame possibilities beyond the main characters.
Extended Events and Expanded Event Shop
Ongoing live events have been given more breathing room. The “[Attendance] Premium Cleaning Service Request” login event, which rewards players for consistent daily logins, has had its deadline extended by one week. Originally set to conclude on April 15, 2026, the event will now run until April 22, 2026 (PDT), giving more players an opportunity to claim all milestone rewards.
Complementing this extension is a significant expansion of the Event Shop managed by the NPC BB-On. New items have been added to the Module Master Shop, providing alternative avenues for resource expenditure. The update also introduces several new cosmetic and flair items available for purchase with event currency, including the Tactical Sonic Generator chest attachment, Spring Blossom makeup for the Descendant Dia, a Rabbit and Spring UI theme, a Symbol of Spring spray, and an April Fools’ Prank photo sticker. These additions keep the event economy fresh and offer new goals for engaged players.
Comprehensive Bug Fixes and Interface Corrections
Beyond content, the patch addresses a lengthy list of bugs and interface problems, contributing to a smoother overall experience. A notable gameplay fix resolves a stuttering issue that affected the spin attack of the Ultimate Weapon “Crime and Punishment” when the player’s attack speed was increased. This fix ensures the weapon’s performance remains consistent and visually fluid under various stat conditions.
The user interface receives multiple corrections. Issues such as overlapping tooltip icons on the Infiltration Operation: Hard (400%) screen, incorrect difficulty indicators on the Zone Map, and the occasional failure of the Party Member List HUD to appear have all been resolved. The update also corrects display errors that wrongly showed restricted missions on the Descendant Mission Board and fixes inaccurate text in several Ultimate Weapon and Trigger Module descriptions, ensuring players have reliable information for build planning.
Refinements to Systems and Visual Polish
Several miscellaneous but important issues have been tackled. A problem where module readjustment devices could, in rare cases, grant options below the guaranteed minimum tier has been fixed. The developers note that investigations into related readjustment systems across other applicable items are ongoing, suggesting further refinements may come in future updates.
Visual polish has been applied in various areas. Errors affecting the appearance of certain chest and back attachments in the social Lounge space have been corrected. The patch also fixes incorrect research item names that appeared in Companion App notifications, ensures melee weapons are properly hidden during emote animations, and resolves a specific display issue affecting the appearance of male Descendants during the Shower Lounge pose. These fixes, while sometimes minor in isolation, collectively enhance the game’s polish and immersion.
Update 1.116 for The First Descendant represents a balanced deployment focused on sustaining player engagement through extended events and new cosmetics while methodically ironing out technical wrinkles. By strengthening specific character abilities, solidifying progression systems, and cleaning up interface inconsistencies, the patch works to reinforce the core gameplay loop. As the game continues its live-service journey, such updates are critical for maintaining community trust and providing a stable, evolving platform for the cooperative looter-shooter experience, ensuring that both new agents and veteran Descendants have reasons to continue the fight against the Vulgus.
