Items that acquire heat will no longer automatically level up when enough heat is required at the end of a level. Instead, a new type of item called ‘Fire Crystals’ must be used within a new interface called ‘The Forge’ in order to level up your items.

The Forge can be accessed in town or at any arsenal station. When an item is ready to level up, open the Forge and select the item. The item will require a certain number of a specific fire crystal to level up. However, in some cases there is a chance the forge will not succeed and the fire crystals will be lost. No heat is ever lost due a failed forging.

Additionally, players have the option to add more than the requisite fire crystals in order to improve the odds of a successful forge as well as the chance to gain a special bonus.

Fire crystals may be purchased in stacks in the Supply Depot, acquired via missions or found as loot in treasure blocks.

Battle Sprites, loyal combat companions to the Spiral Knights, will be available later this month! Sprites will level up, evolve, and gain unique capabilities.

The battle sprites update will introduce a host of new features, including powerful combat skills that all sprites can execute on your command. The three starter sprites; the drakon, seraphynx and maskeraith, each represent a different playstyle.

Here are the details regarding how a sprite plays, what their skills do in combat and the augments available on each skill that enhance them. Augments can be increased via skill points that are gained while leveling a sprite.

Click 'Learn More' for details!

To celebrate the release of the combat update introducing the lightning quick evasive dash and the thunderous shield bash, the Haven treasury is giving away unique prizes!

From now through June 2nd, 2013, we're giving away free Stormy Prize Boxes with select energy purchases!

Each Stormy Prize Box has special prizes inside. Possible prizes include unique Storm Helmets and radiant Eyes of Fury. Not only that, but a lucky few players may find the rare Wings of Fury!

Remember: Prize Boxes require no key to open, and all items found inside a Stormy Prize Box are unbound, so share with your friends!

Check out the announcement for more details and a complete prize list.

In order to help combat the ever-growing threat within the Clockworks, all Knights can now use two powerful abilities: the evasive dash and the stunning shield bash!

Dash allows you to dodge enemy attacks with a burst of speed and limited invulnerability. It can even be used in Lockdown for a whole new level of strategy!

Charge into battle using shield bash to damage, knock back, and stun your enemies!

Learn about these new abilities and more in the patch notes!

A new fiend has been summoned from the Underworld to swell the ranks of the devilite workforce: the gluttonous gorgo! Gorgos are bulbous fiends who are constantly on the lookout for their next meal and have an appetite for mayhem that knows no bounds.

Gorgos will now appear alongside their devilite coworkers in any fiendish encounter within the Clockworks.