The First Descendant Adds Ultimate Hailey, Cradle of Evolution Dungeon

Ultimate Hailey is now available in The First Descendant as part of the game’s September 17 update, which also adds the Cradle of Evolution dungeon and introduces Transcendent Weapon trading for the first time. The update also includes balance changes for Luna and Lepic, weapon adjustments, cosmetics, and several limited-time events. The First Descendant is available on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series, Xbox One, and PC via Steam.

Ultimate Hailey comes with a new storyline focused on her past and pursuit of perfection, along with additional progression rewards. Her new modules support different playstyles, including close-range Chill damage, long-range attacks, and Critical Point bonuses tied to Skill Weapons and Unique Weapon skills.

Dangerous Distance increases Chill Skill Power and Critical Hit Rate within 15 meters, while changing Reactive Cryo Round into a toggle skill that automatically attacks and applies Cryogenic. Extreme Strike focuses on longer-range combat, with a passive that grows stronger as Hailey moves farther from her target and a piercing single-shot attack. Freezing Breakthrough lets players build Supercooling stacks before triggering Critical Point for additional Chill Skill Power and Skill Critical Hit Damage.

The update also adds Cradle of Evolution, a new dungeon set inside an Order of Truth experimental facility. Albion Headquarters is sent to stop an experiment involving Vulgus being sacrificed to concentrate their Essence into a higher-order being. Runs can play out differently between attempts, and NEXON says the dungeon is harder than Axion Infiltration Operations.

Cradle of Evolution serves as the primary farming location for Ultimate Hailey and gives an advantage to Descendants using Unique Weapons. NEXON specifically highlighted Raven, Valby, Blair, and the newly rebalanced Lepic as strong options for the dungeon.

Transcendent Weapons can now be traded between players through direct 1:1 exchanges or the new Lounge Storage Trade system. Minimum listing prices depend on Quality tier, while the maximum price has been raised to 25,000 Caliber.

Weapons cannot be traded until 24 hours after they are obtained and become bound after a trade. Reselling one requires a Trade Permit purchased from the shop. Lounge Storage Trade also allows players to list Trigger Modules, Ancestors Modules, and Transcendent Weapons through Item Sales at the Guide NPC in the Lounge.

Luna and Lepic have both received balance changes. Luna gains higher damage, reduced MP loss after failed Notes, longer buff durations, and improved Inspiration Gauge generation. Lepic gets stronger grenade damage, a reworked Traction Grenade, and increased duration and damage for Overkill.

Several Transcendent Weapons have also been buffed, including Armis, Storm Cage, Raging Light, Malicious Dominator, and Emperor’s Guard Lance. Eleven Ultimate Modules have been revised as well, with easier activation requirements, fewer penalties, and higher effect values in some cases.

The cosmetic lineup includes Hailey’s Tactical Aero Suit, the Polar Night Sentinel skin for Frost Flower, Diamond Dust and Soft Pink Snowfield makeup, and the Art on Ice spawn animation for Chill Descendants. Bunny, Ines, Dia, Raven, and Hailey also receive Eastern Garments outfits, while Gley’s Eastern Mystic Garments can be earned through an attendance event.

The First Descendant is available as a free-to-play third-person looter shooter featuring solo and cooperative missions, character-specific abilities, and boss encounters supporting teams of up to eight players.

What do you think of Ultimate Hailey and the addition of Transcendent Weapon trading to The First Descendant? Let us know your thoughts, and stay tuned to Noisy Pixel for more gaming news.