The latest beta update for Empires & Puzzles, version 80.3, introduces some major changes that could reshape both event progression and team compositions. This guide breaks down the three core components of the update: the revamped Monster Island event, the introduction of two new legendary dragons and a new legendary hero, and a set of improvements and bug fixes aimed at streamlining core gameplay systems.
Empires & Puzzles v80.3 Beta Update Guide (September 2025)
Monster Island: New “Very Hard” Difficulty Mode
Monster Island is getting a significant overhaul with the addition of a brand-new difficulty setting called Very Hard. This new level is clearly designed for experienced and high-power players looking for more intense battles and better rewards.
In this mode, both starting energy and energy consumption rates have been adjusted. While the exact numbers are still being finalized, expect longer runs to cost more but yield better returns. The event’s Apex Monsters have been scaled up significantly in strength, making them far more punishing than in previous difficulties.
Furthermore, heroes tagged as “Monster Island units” will now receive additional stat boosts when deployed in this mode. These buffs make it more worthwhile to build specialized teams tailored for this event. Although the Very Hard mode is not yet fully live for all players, the foundation laid in this beta confirms that Monster Island will soon become a more tactical and rewarding challenge. A follow-up video or guide will likely be needed once the mode officially releases.
New Legendary Dragons and Hero
This update introduces three new high-impact characters: two legendary dragons and one legendary hero, each offering distinct strategic value.
The first dragon is Ashenheart, referred to in-game as the Ancient Battlemaster. He belongs to the ice element and is built as a powerful hybrid of a direct damage dealer and an elemental debuffer. His skills allow him to reduce enemy resistances while maintaining high offensive pressure, making him ideal for raid-based teams or Dragon Spire runs.
The second dragon, Harmonies, also known as the Ancient Serenator, is aligned with the holy element. His ability kit positions him as both a reaper and a turn delayer. This combination makes him particularly useful in extended battles where stalling tactics and cumulative damage are preferred.
Both dragons perform well in dragon raid modes and can also serve as cis dragons within your base for various passive bonuses. Testing indicates they have competitive attack power and can dismantle enemy compositions swiftly if deployed correctly.
Alongside these dragons, the game introduces Emily, a new legendary hero from the Institute family. Emily is aligned with the ice element and is classified as a Liinal Realm Explorer. Her skillset is quite diverse, blending direct damage, damage-over-time (DoT), turn delay, and debuffing abilities. She excels at disrupting enemy rotations while maintaining steady DPS output.
When tested in raid scenarios, Emily demonstrated strong tactical value. Her cooldowns allow her to cast twice within a short window, enabling her to completely shift the tide of battle. However, Emily also carries a risk. As a member of the Insanity-based family, her abilities can backfire if not handled with care. Poor timing or misplacement may result in negative effects on your own team, making her a double-edged sword that requires strategic finesse.
Skill Clarifications and Booster System Improvements
Version 80.3 also introduces a batch of refinements designed to improve player experience, particularly around skill descriptions and booster usage.
First, certain hero skills have been reworked for clarity and consistency. Notably, the minion corruption skill used by heroes like Professor Morester and Dimmhiller now has a revised description and behavior. The corrupted ailment effect is now tied directly to whether the target has the insanity condition. While the ailment remains uncleanable during this time, the update removes previous ambiguities in how the skill functioned in practice.
The booster system also received a significant quality-of-life upgrade. Previously, players could only activate one booster at a time. Activating a second required canceling the first manually. This limitation has been removed. Players can now stack multiple boosters simultaneously, allowing for layered benefits and better tactical control over farming and crafting sessions.
Moreover, boosters can now be activated directly from the player’s base, removing the need to open the inventory bag menu. This new functionality extends to high-value boosters such as the Quartermaster’s Booster and the Alchemist Booster. These specific boosters have also been enhanced, providing increased drop rates for top-tier ascension and crafting materials. These changes not only reduce the friction of resource management but also make booster usage more appealing and efficient.
To summarize, the beta version 80.3 update brings meaningful upgrades to the Empires & Puzzles experience across several fronts.
The Monster Island event has evolved with the introduction of the Very Hard difficulty, designed to test the limits of veteran players while offering new stat-based team-building options. The addition of two unique legendary dragons, Ashenheart and Harmonies, expands team diversity, while the new hero Emily offers flexible yet risky tactics for PvP encounters.
Additionally, the game’s user interface and system management are now more streamlined thanks to multiple improvements to boosters and skill tooltips. If these changes roll out to the live server, players can expect more challenge, more flexibility, and significantly better ease of use across the board.
