May 23, 2025The Hacker NewsWeb Security / Threat Detection From zero-day exploits to large-scale bot attacks — the demand for a powerful, self-hosted, and user-friendly web application security solution has never been greater. SafeLine is currently the most starred open-source Web Application Firewall (WAF) on GitHub, with over 16.4K stars and a rapidly growing global user base. This walkthrough covers what SafeLine is, how it works, and why it's becoming the go-to solution over cloud-based WAFs. What is SafeLine WAF? SafeLine is a self-hosted web application firewall that acts as a reverse proxy, filtering and monitoring HTTP/HTTPS traffic to block malicious requests before they reach your backend web applications. Unlike cloud-based WAFs, SafeLine runs entirely on your own servers—giving you unmatched visibility and data sovereignty. Key Features of SafeLine WAFComprehensive Attack Prevention SafeLine effectively blocks a wide range of common and advanced web attacks, including SQL injection(SQLi), cross-site scripting (XSS), OS command injection, CRLF injection, XML External Entity (XXE) attacks, Server Side Request Forgery (SSRF), and directory traversal, etc. Zero-Day Detection via Semantic Analysis Unlike traditional signature-based WAFs, SafeLine uses a patented semantic analysis engine that deeply parses HTTP traffic semantics. This approach enables it to detect complex and zero-day attacks with high accuracy, resulting in an industry-leading detection rate of 99.45% and an ultra-low false positive rate of 0.07%. (The chart below compares SafeLine with the two versions of a globally recognized open-source WAF.) Robust Bot Protection SafeLine delivers comprehensive, multi-layered defenses against automated bot attacks, a growing threat vector responsible for credential stuffing, malicious scraping, inventory hoarding, and vulnerability scanning. It combines several out-of-box powerful mechanisms: CAPTCHA Challenges: Dynamically issued to distinguish human users from automated clients, especially in suspicious or high-risk traffic scenarios. Dynamic Protection: Randomly encrypts and obfuscates frontend code, such as HTML and JavaScript, before delivering it to the client. This prevents bots from reliably parsing page structures or interacting with DOM elements, rendering automated scripts ineffective. Anti-Replay Mechanisms: Detect and block reuse of tokens, headers, or payloads often leveraged in scripted attacks or credential stuffing campaigns. HTTP Flood DDoS Mitigation HTTP flood DDoS attacks attempt to overwhelm servers by sending massive volumes of HTTP requests in a short period of time. These attacks can exhaust server resources, degrade performance, or take applications offline entirely. To counter this, SafeLine implements rate limiting to cap request frequency and mitigate abuse. These measures are highly configurable, allowing defenders to tailor thresholds based on real-world traffic patterns. For sudden traffic spikes—whether legitimate or malicious—SafeLine provides a virtual waiting room mechanism. This ensures service availability by queuing excess users and releasing them gradually, preventing backend overload while maintaining a fair and orderly access experience. Authentication Challenges SafeLine is also designed with Zero Trust principles in mind—never trust, always verify. It offers configurable visitor authentication to secure access to protected applications, enhancing security through enforced identity checks. As a built-in identity gateway, it supports modern authentication protocols such as OIDC and integrates seamlessly with identity providers like GitHub and others. SafeLine also supports Single Sign-On (SSO) to streamline user authentication and simplify login experience in the meantime. Best of all, these enterprise-grade identity features are included for free. Simple Deployment in Minutes SafeLine is designed for quick setup and easy management. It requires the following environment to be installed and run: Operating System: Linux (x86_64 or arm64) Dependencies: Docker (version 20.10.14 or higher) and Docker Compose (version 2.0.0 or higher) Minimum System Requirements: 1 CPU core, 1 GB of RAM, and 5 GB of available disk space Once the environment is ready, installation takes just a few minutes with a single command. bash -c "$(curl -fsSLk https://waf.chaitin.com/release/latest/manager.sh)" -- --en A user-friendly, wizard-based interface guides you through configuration. Full documentation is available here. Why Choose SafeLine Over Cloud-Based WAFs? Unlike traditional cloud-based WAFs that route your traffic through third-party infrastructure, SafeLine offers complete deployment autonomy. Here are the advantages: Full Data Control: Sensitive traffic and logs remain on-premises, reducing exposure to third-party cloud risks. Cost Efficiency: Avoids recurring subscription fees common with cloud WAFs, especially beneficial for high-traffic environments. Free and Out-of-Box Enterprise Features: Advanced threat detection, bot protection, identity authentication, and more—typically gated behind "premium" tiers elsewhere—are out-of-box and included for free. Get SafeLine — free forever for personal use, with optional 7-day Pro trial. Use Cases Ideal for SafeLine SafeLine is a versatile solution built for a wide range of web application security needs. It's particularly well-suited for: Organizations with strict data privacy or regulatory compliance requirements Teams Targeted by Sophisticated Bots and Automated Threats Small and medium-sized businesses seeking affordable, enterprise-grade protection DevOps and Security Teams Requiring Full Deployment Control and Customization Projects requiring rapid deployment and easy maintenance Final Words SafeLine stands out as a powerful, open-source alternative to traditional cloud-based WAFs. With cutting-edge zero-day detection, robust bot mitigation, and zero trust–aligned identity features—all bundled into a self-hosted, easy-to-deploy package—SafeLine empowers developers, security teams, and organizations of all sizes to take control of their web security. Get SafeLine — free forever for personal use, with optional 7-day Pro trial. Found this article interesting? This article is a contributed piece from one of our valued partners. 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With so many AAA big-budget games and countless indie games across genres, it’s increasingly rare to see a AA game with a modest budget and scope break through and make waves in the industry. It’s even less common for that game to confidently and consistently emulate a series with the caliber of The Elder Scrolls. With Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon, though, developer Questlinehas built a tight, satisfying “Scrolls-like” that effectively captures so much of what makes its influences so great in the context of the dark fantasy Arthurian world of Tainted Grail. While it doesn’t always stray from its influences and is littered with technical issues big and small that frequently took me out of the experience, The Fall of Avalon brings its perilous world to life beautifully, with an impactful story and an expansive open world that show incredible potential for this world and genre. "The main campaign consists of a dozen or so missions, but it encourages you to explore and get stronger on your own between missions, both explicitly and by the fact that you will likely get pummeled by the first enemy you see in the next mission." But while the franchise is new to games, its systems are heavily inspired by existing, successful games, and it wears its influences squarely on its sleeve. The most notable is The Elder Scrolls, as the opening sequence could have been picked directly from a Scrolls game. You awaken as an unnamed prisoner in a jail cell you meet a mysterious figure who helps you escape and find out that you are a chosen one. In this case, you happen to house part of the soul of the long-dead King Arthur, and it’s your quest to collect the remainder of his soul from across the world of Avalon. It’s from here that you’re sent out into the open world to continue along that quest while finding tons of side quests, bounties, and errands to complete in the meantime. Narratively, The Fall of Avalon’s biggest strength is its characters, all of whom are well-written and well-acted. Your ability to talk to King Arthur and hear his perspectives gives a unique spin on a relatively familiar story, and most other characters, from Merlin to a generic shopkeep, will leave you with a memorable one-liner or story. The cast brings you deeper into the world and makes you want to learn more about what’s familiar in this version of the story and what’s changed, and even with the traditional deadpan stares these NPCs can have, they bring key moments to life. The visuals are less enticing and look somewhat dated, although cutscenes are "From a gameplay perspective, The Fall of Avalon is an unbridled western RPG that’s most similar to The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. " There are a few shocking moments that were direct results of my decisions, and it’s clear where you can have a major impact on the outcome of the world and its characters, such as a moment where I had to decide whether or not to carry about an assassination. By the end, the campaign isn’t revolutionary, especially for a game in this genre, but there are some exciting moments and a lot of potential replayability that I’m excited to explore. From a gameplay perspective, The Fall of Avalon is an unbridled western RPG that’s most similar to The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. You allocate points to various attributes, such as Strength, Endurance, and Dexterity, and your playstyle determines progress for the underlying stats, such as one-handed and two-handed weapons, light and heavy armor, and agility. There’s a ton to explore and find across the maps, particularly with caves and other dungeons scattered around the world, which give you better weapons, stronger magic, and new quests. You have a full suite of swords, bows, armor, magic, and other equipment, as well as your special abilities from King Arthur, and the game offers decent flexibility in making each different weapon feel satisfying and throwing different types of enemies at you that test your skills in different ways. both in the story and in the game. It features a full day-night cycle, and some nights become what’s called the Wyrdnight, meaning that a dangerous fog known as the Wyrd comes over the town and summons strong demons that you can either fight or avoid. Combat feels mostly satisfying, though it’s not always intuitive how to defeat certain enemies, and there are definitely moments where the game’s inherent wonkiness makes it more difficult to tell when an enemy is attacking. I always felt rewarded for exploring or going off the beaten path, though, and the game’s more forgiving encumbrance system and economy made it so that I always felt able to find new and improved gear. With all of this, this game often feels like a tighter version of a western RPG, but it takes influences elsewhere as well. Primarily, The Fall of Avalon may isn’t impossibly long at 25 hours or so to finish, but its structure gives you much more freedom in your progression. The main campaign consists of a dozen or so missions, but it encourages you to explore and get stronger on your own between missions, both explicitly and by the fact that you will likely get pummeled by the first enemy you see in the next mission. The difficulty spikes can be sudden, but the fact that there aren’t too many main quests means that they encourage you to explore and see the world at your own pace in order to level up through side quests or dungeons. The overall difficulty ramps up as you approach the end as well, and particular fights can be frustrating, but I never felt like any part of gameplay was unfair. "Unfortunately, what did mar my experience, and what matched the Elder Scrolls tradition, was the slew of technical issues I encountered playing on PS5." A day-one patch reportedly has smoothed out some of these issues, but it’s disappointing to see a game in Early Access for so long come out with these types of issues. Technical issues aside, Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon puts the AA spin on the classic formula of The Elder Scrolls, with its own twists and unique aspects. There is so much to do across the world of Avalon to learn about the dark history of King Arthur and everyone that surrounded him, and the overall narrative is surprisingly engaging for this setting. The freedom offered in gameplay is a refreshing touch that allows you freedom to see and explore the world and fight some terrifying enemies. While technical issues plague the experience, what’s underneath is an incredibly ambitious and generally well-executed transition into games for the Tainted Grail franchise, and it’s an exciting vision for what this franchise and genre can be.  This game was reviewed on the PlayStation 5.

With so many AAA big-budget games and countless indie games across genres, it’s increasingly rare to see a AA game with a modest budget and scope break through and make waves in the industry. It’s even less common for that game to confidently and consistently emulate a series with the caliber of The Elder Scrolls. With Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon, though, developer Questlinehas built a tight, satisfying “Scrolls-like” that effectively captures so much of what makes its influences so great in the context of the dark fantasy Arthurian world of Tainted Grail. While it doesn’t always stray from its influences and is littered with technical issues big and small that frequently took me out of the experience, The Fall of Avalon brings its perilous world to life beautifully, with an impactful story and an expansive open world that show incredible potential for this world and genre. "The main campaign consists of a dozen or so missions, but it encourages you to explore and get stronger on your own between missions, both explicitly and by the fact that you will likely get pummeled by the first enemy you see in the next mission." But while the franchise is new to games, its systems are heavily inspired by existing, successful games, and it wears its influences squarely on its sleeve. The most notable is The Elder Scrolls, as the opening sequence could have been picked directly from a Scrolls game. You awaken as an unnamed prisoner in a jail cell you meet a mysterious figure who helps you escape and find out that you are a chosen one. In this case, you happen to house part of the soul of the long-dead King Arthur, and it’s your quest to collect the remainder of his soul from across the world of Avalon. It’s from here that you’re sent out into the open world to continue along that quest while finding tons of side quests, bounties, and errands to complete in the meantime. Narratively, The Fall of Avalon’s biggest strength is its characters, all of whom are well-written and well-acted. Your ability to talk to King Arthur and hear his perspectives gives a unique spin on a relatively familiar story, and most other characters, from Merlin to a generic shopkeep, will leave you with a memorable one-liner or story. The cast brings you deeper into the world and makes you want to learn more about what’s familiar in this version of the story and what’s changed, and even with the traditional deadpan stares these NPCs can have, they bring key moments to life. The visuals are less enticing and look somewhat dated, although cutscenes are "From a gameplay perspective, The Fall of Avalon is an unbridled western RPG that’s most similar to The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. " There are a few shocking moments that were direct results of my decisions, and it’s clear where you can have a major impact on the outcome of the world and its characters, such as a moment where I had to decide whether or not to carry about an assassination. By the end, the campaign isn’t revolutionary, especially for a game in this genre, but there are some exciting moments and a lot of potential replayability that I’m excited to explore. From a gameplay perspective, The Fall of Avalon is an unbridled western RPG that’s most similar to The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. You allocate points to various attributes, such as Strength, Endurance, and Dexterity, and your playstyle determines progress for the underlying stats, such as one-handed and two-handed weapons, light and heavy armor, and agility. There’s a ton to explore and find across the maps, particularly with caves and other dungeons scattered around the world, which give you better weapons, stronger magic, and new quests. You have a full suite of swords, bows, armor, magic, and other equipment, as well as your special abilities from King Arthur, and the game offers decent flexibility in making each different weapon feel satisfying and throwing different types of enemies at you that test your skills in different ways. both in the story and in the game. It features a full day-night cycle, and some nights become what’s called the Wyrdnight, meaning that a dangerous fog known as the Wyrd comes over the town and summons strong demons that you can either fight or avoid. Combat feels mostly satisfying, though it’s not always intuitive how to defeat certain enemies, and there are definitely moments where the game’s inherent wonkiness makes it more difficult to tell when an enemy is attacking. I always felt rewarded for exploring or going off the beaten path, though, and the game’s more forgiving encumbrance system and economy made it so that I always felt able to find new and improved gear. With all of this, this game often feels like a tighter version of a western RPG, but it takes influences elsewhere as well. Primarily, The Fall of Avalon may isn’t impossibly long at 25 hours or so to finish, but its structure gives you much more freedom in your progression. The main campaign consists of a dozen or so missions, but it encourages you to explore and get stronger on your own between missions, both explicitly and by the fact that you will likely get pummeled by the first enemy you see in the next mission. The difficulty spikes can be sudden, but the fact that there aren’t too many main quests means that they encourage you to explore and see the world at your own pace in order to level up through side quests or dungeons. The overall difficulty ramps up as you approach the end as well, and particular fights can be frustrating, but I never felt like any part of gameplay was unfair. "Unfortunately, what did mar my experience, and what matched the Elder Scrolls tradition, was the slew of technical issues I encountered playing on PS5." A day-one patch reportedly has smoothed out some of these issues, but it’s disappointing to see a game in Early Access for so long come out with these types of issues. Technical issues aside, Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon puts the AA spin on the classic formula of The Elder Scrolls, with its own twists and unique aspects. There is so much to do across the world of Avalon to learn about the dark history of King Arthur and everyone that surrounded him, and the overall narrative is surprisingly engaging for this setting. The freedom offered in gameplay is a refreshing touch that allows you freedom to see and explore the world and fight some terrifying enemies. While technical issues plague the experience, what’s underneath is an incredibly ambitious and generally well-executed transition into games for the Tainted Grail franchise, and it’s an exciting vision for what this franchise and genre can be.  This game was reviewed on the PlayStation 5.

7 free games we’re playing this long weekend to keep our brain sharp Tamar Hela for Arkadium Tamar Hela for Arkadium Published May 23, 2025 8:00am These games are the perfect way to spend the long weekend (Picture: Getty Images) Ah, the long weekend – that blissful stretch of time when the pace of life slows down just enough for us to breathe, relax, and recharge. Whether it’s a bank holiday or you’ve simply taken a well-earned day off, weekends are the perfect opportunity to take a break from the chaos of daily life. For some people, that break means heading outdoors for an adventure. Others may catch up with friends over drinks or dance the night away. But what if your idea of relaxation leans toward a quiet but cosy solitude? No problem! There’s absolutely nothing wrong with staying in and unwinding with a few rounds of online games. Online games offer you an easy, enjoyable escape without needing to spend a single penny. They come in a massive variety of genres – from soothing puzzles to mind-bending brain teasers and fast-paced timed challenges – so there’s always something to suit every mood. They help pass the time and offer the benefits of keeping your brain sharp and engaged while still feeling relaxed. We’re spotlighting some of the most entertainingArkadium games you can play for free. So grab a cuppa, put your feet up, and let’s explore some brilliant ways to unwind this weekend, all from the comfort of your favourite device. Easy Crossword A classic for a reason, thiseasy crossword is just challenging enough to get your brain ticking without leaving you stumped. It’s ideal for a slow morning with a coffee in hand, giving you that satisfying ‘a-ha!’ moment when the clues click into place. With a fresh puzzle every day, it’s a great way to keep your mind sharp over the weekend. Mahjong Candy Sweet, colourful, and endlessly replayable,Mahjong Candy is a sugary twist on the traditional tile-matching game that’s visually delightful and mentally engaging. Its fast pace makes it perfect for quick bursts of fun, and the satisfying animations add a playful charm. It’s a solo game that’s easy to get into and hard to put down. Cooking Live Channel your inner chef and keep your reflexes sharp with thisfast-paced cooking game. You’ll need to juggle multiple tasks at once by prepping, cooking, and serving hungry customers under time pressure. It’s a vibrant, high-energy option that’s as entertaining as it is addictive. Although it’s great fun for solo play, you can’t help but compare scores with your mates. Deal or No Deal Deal or No Deal is an entertaining way to test your luck and decision-making skills. You’ll feel the tension build with each briefcase as you try to outwit the banker and walk away with the highest virtual prize. While it’s a single-player game, it’s also a crowd-pleaser that’s fun to play alongside friends or family for a bit of friendly competition. Word Scramble Word lovers, rejoice!Word Scramble is a great brain workout that challenges your vocabulary in a rapid format. Each round gives you a fresh set of letters and a ticking clock, pushing you to think creatively under pressure. While you play solo, racing against friends to beat each other’s word counts adds a competitive edge. And if that’s not enough words, more word games are available around the corner from Arkadium. Texas Holdem Fancy a bit of strategy and competition? A weekend poker classic,Texas Holdem is the perfect mix of luck, bluffing, and brains. You can play against real opponents, which adds excitement and unpredictability to every hand. It’s a brilliant pick for weekend game nights when you want something a bit more tactical. Ballistic Fast, colourful, and satisfying to play, this game is the kind ofarcade-style challenge that hooks you instantly. Your goal is to break through layers of blocks with precision and planning, all while the balls bounce and ricochet in chaotic, satisfying patterns. It’s perfect for winding down after a long day or squeezing in a few energetic rounds between weekend plans. More Trending Discover other addictive games atFreegames at Metro. GameCentral Sign up for exclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy

Sega and Games Workshop announced that the original Space Marine game, first released on PS3, Xbox 360, and PC over a decade ago, is getting a fancy remaster with improved visuals and controls. And you won’t have to wait long as it launches on June 10 on Xbox Series X/S, and PC. You might notice a platform is missing. Suggested ReadingGTA 6 Beers Look Tasty As Hell Share SubtitlesOffEnglishview videoSuggested ReadingGTA 6 Beers Look Tasty As Hell Share SubtitlesOffEnglishThe original Warhammer 40k: Space Marine was released back in 2011. It was very good, and over a decade later in 2024, it finally got a big sequel that was even better. That sequel was such a big success that the people behind it have already announced they are making Space Marine 3. That’s pretty cool. But perhaps you want to return to the OG game or play it for the first time before the third game arrives in the future. Until now, the best way to do that was to play the solid but dated PC port of Space Marine. However, there’s soon to be a (hopefully) better option to replay this cult classic third-person sci-fi shooter. Unless you only own a PS5, that is. Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine Master Crafted Edition Official TrailerOn May 22, as part of the Warhammer Skulls event, Sega announced that it was remastering the OG Space Marine. According to the publisher, the new remaster is being handled by SneakyBox and will feature a 4K resolution option, modernized controls, a complete UI overhaul, improved character models, and remastered audio. I can’t wait to hear Orks yell out “Space Marine!” in a cockney accent in the highest fidelity possible. “[This] isn’t just a technical upgrade — it’s a thoughtful restoration,” producer Vaidas Mikelskas from SneakyBox told IGN. “We aimed to preserve the spirit of the original while modernizing the experience for today’s players.”Strangely, this surprise remaster seems to be skipping PlayStation 5 if the game’s first trailer is any indication. Instead, it will arrive on day one on Game Pass. Not sure what’s going on here. I assume eventually the remaster will get a PS5 port, but for now it seems to be an Xbox console exclusive. Warhammer 40k: Space Marine Master Crafted Edition .

While Lies of P is set to receive a big update this year when the prequel DLC Overture arrives, another update will be just as noteworthy: Lies of P is going to receive difficulty options. Meaning, the notoriously difficult soulslike is going to become easier — and more accessible.“We wanted to make sure a wider audience of players could play the game,” game director Jiwon Choi told VGC. Lies of P has already found an audience — it sold 1 million copies in its first month on market and has been played by at least 7 million people — and an easier gameplay experience can open it up to more players who were put off by its difficult and unforgiving nature.Choi noted this decision stemmed from player feedback as well as “from our developers” at Neowiz and Round8 Studio. “So by making development adjustments and introducing these difficulty options, we can offer the experience to different types of players. This broadens the base.” The default difficulty will be named “Legendary Stalker” while the two new options will be called “Butterfly’s Guidance” and “Awakened Puppet.” Polygon has reached out to Neowiz for further comment on the details of these difficulty options, and will update this story when we hear back.New difficulty options will also be a welcome addition for longtime Lies of P players and soulslike vets; anyone who’s been absolutely bodied by the Mad Clown Puppet before the Opera House knows what I’m talking about. And while Lies of P has plenty of bosses worthy of a challenging and engaging fight, some, like the Green Monster of the Swamp and the Walker of Illusions, are more frustrating than fun. The ability to lower the difficulty on future playthroughs for bosses like those will certainly circumvent some of the frustration stemming from those encounters.Alongside the DLC and difficulty options will also be a new boss rush mode, Death March. You’ll also be able to replay boss fights via the new Battle Memories mode, which is really something that every soulslike game needs.Lies of P, your other favorite Belle Époque game next to Clair Obscur, launched in 2023. It was a Game Pass hit and a critical darling, with our review saying it, “breath[ed] new life into an overcrowded genre by allowing you to fabricate your own truth with the characters you meet, shaping the world with your choices.” Overture is expected to launch this summer and will include 15-20 hours worth of content.See More:

While Lies of P is set to receive a big update this year when the prequel DLC Overture arrives, another update will be just as noteworthy: Lies of P is going to receive difficulty options. Meaning, the notoriously difficult soulslike is going to become easier — and more accessible. “We wanted to make sure a wider audience of players could play the game,” game director Jiwon Choi told VGC. Lies of P has already found an audience — it sold 1 million copies in its first month on market and has been played by at least 7 million people — and an easier gameplay experience can open it up to more players who were put off by its difficult and unforgiving nature. Choi noted this decision stemmed from player feedback as well as “from our developers” at Neowiz and Round8 Studio. “So by making development adjustments and introducing these difficulty options, we can offer the experience to different types of players. This broadens the base.” The default difficulty will be named “Legendary Stalker” while the two new options will be called “Butterfly’s Guidance” and “Awakened Puppet.” Polygon has reached out to Neowiz for further comment on the details of these difficulty options, and will update this story when we hear back. New difficulty options will also be a welcome addition for longtime Lies of P players and soulslike vets; anyone who’s been absolutely bodied by the Mad Clown Puppet before the Opera House knows what I’m talking about. And while Lies of P has plenty of bosses worthy of a challenging and engaging fight, some, like the Green Monster of the Swamp and the Walker of Illusions, are more frustrating than fun. The ability to lower the difficulty on future playthroughs for bosses like those will certainly circumvent some of the frustration stemming from those encounters. Alongside the DLC and difficulty options will also be a new boss rush mode, Death March. You’ll also be able to replay boss fights via the new Battle Memories mode, which is really something that every soulslike game needs. Lies of P, your other favorite Belle Époque game next to Clair Obscur, launched in 2023. It was a Game Pass hit and a critical darling, with our review saying it, “breath[ed] new life into an overcrowded genre by allowing you to fabricate your own truth with the characters you meet, shaping the world with your choices.” Overture is expected to launch this summer and will include 15-20 hours worth of content.

Jump ToThe general gameplay loop of Monster Hunter Wilds is using cool weapons to fight strong monsters—and then using their parts to make even cooler weapons to fight even stronger monsters. That cycle likely doesn’t have many hitches until you have to wrestle with Zoh Shia. While their debut hunt can be a strong wall, the High-Rank version is an absolute gauntlet. Whether it’s your first time or your tenth time, here’s how to farm and beat Zoh Shia.Suggested ReadingThe 3 Best And 3 Worst Korok Challenges In Tears Of The Kingdom Share SubtitlesOffEnglishview videoSuggested ReadingThe 3 Best And 3 Worst Korok Challenges In Tears Of The Kingdom Share SubtitlesOffEnglishScreenshot: Capcom / Samuel Moreno / KotakuYour first fight against this constructed creature takes place at the end of chapter three, effectively acting as your last Low Rank hunt. The opportunity to fight Zoh Shia a second time comes once you’ve reached Hunter Rank 50. Talking to Werner will start a new story quest called “An Unexpected Summons” that revolves around it returning. However, unlike other monsters, there isn’t any related optional quest added afterward for you to easily replay.That doesn’t mean you can’t farm the monster and gather more of its parts to make cool-looking armor and weapons. Here are your options for how to hunt Zoh Shia again:Wait until it randomly appears in Wyveria during an Inclemency season. You can keep resting to increase the chances of it appearingSave it as an investigation to fight it up to three times. This will require it to show up in Wyveria firstFilter for it through SOS Quests and help other hunters take one downI do want to point out that Zoh Shia won’t physically appear in Wyveria like other monsters. Just like Jin Dahaad, you’ll have to wait until a notification pops up in the Environment Overview to challenge them. The ensuing hunt takes place on a separate map, which is the Dragontorch Shrine in this case.Screenshot: Zoh Shia’s suggested strategy screen, showing which body parts are breakable.You’re always in for a challenging endeavor with Zoh Shia. It uses multiple elements and has some of the biggest attacks in the game. Thankfully, you can give yourself an edge by exploiting the following weaknesses:Elemental Weaknesses – DragonWeapon Type Weaknesses – Cut, BluntBreakable Parts – Head, Foreleg x2, Tail (can also be severed), Wings x2Susceptible Status Ailments – Blastblight, Paralysis, Poison, Sleep, Stun (less effective rate)Screenshot: Capcom / Samuel Moreno / KotakuThis hunt has a distinct mechanic that you might recognize from a few spots on the Wyveria map. Some of Zoh Shia’s attacks will create crystals, which it can then charge with Fire or Thunder attacks. They explode soon after, dealing the associated elemental damage to any nearby hunters and possibly causing a chain reaction with nearby crystals.The good news is that you can make them work in your favor. Using your slinger to shoot the crystals with Dragon and Thunder pods will cause them to explode and inflict the corresponding elemental damage to Zoh Shia. Considering how often its attacks generate crystals, you can quickly create your own elemental chain reaction and dish out some big hits to the monster. Fortunately, both of these slinger ammo types are easily crafted with the Wyrmsbane and Thundercryst that spawn in the arena.Screenshot: Capcom / Samuel Moreno / KotakuBring gear with high resistance to Fire and Thunder. Blight Resistance is an especially helpful skill if you have pieces of the Guardian Arkveld armor set or the Blight Charm talisman. Staying underneath this behemoth and near its back legs is one of the safest spots for the entire hunt, although your damage output will be limited. Their evolving set of attacks will eventually start flushing you out from that position as well, so don’t rely on it too often.Zoh Shia cycles through multiple phases as it takes more damage. The monster is completely covered in white crystal armor during its first phase. Your attacks will be more effective if you manage to break the armor, but it will eventually regenerate. Time your dodges well and try mounting if you can. I’ve always been able to open four wounds along its back with plenty of time to spare.The second phase begins with the armor on its head breaking off to reveal a black head that can now use fire attacks. You’ll need to watch out for deceptively quick fireballs and an attack that sets everything underneath it ablaze. From this point on, it can trigger crystals to create some large explosions. Trigger them first to destroy the armor quicker!You’ll know the third phase starts when Zoh Shia flies to the front of the arena and lands with a huge tremor. Gigantic crystals will rise out of the ground as it sheds its wing armor. Your experiences against Jin Dahaad might convince you to hide behind one of them, but these won’t offer you protection. The heated creature will set them all on fire, which then spreads out to nearly the whole arena. You can easily avoid this attack by making them prematurely explode with your slinger. Each destroyed crystal leaves behind an area safe from the fire.Not only are there more burning attacks in the third phase, but fiery pieces of debris will also begin falling. Don’t be surprised if you’re dodging more exploding crystals than triggering them. You might have to contend with a slightly smaller version of the attack that started this phase as well. The best ways to avoid that are to move as far away as possible, or to get right behind the monster.All of this leads to the final phase, with Zoh Shia’s entire black body being revealed. On top of the relentless fire attacks and fiery debris, you’ll also have to deal with a sideways lightning blast and random lightning bolts. Any one of these can set off crystals and potentially ruin the hunt. Do your best to trigger them first and avoid every intended or random attack that comes your way. This is a particularly great time to bring down the two hanging shrine fragment pieces on the sides of the arena. Since this is the last and most dangerous phase, you want to end it as quickly as possible.Tackling this with a coordinated link party of friends will make the hunt far less difficult. I’ve been able to win plenty of times with random hunters, although I’ve typically felt like the only person aware of the crystal mechanic.Screenshot: Capcom / Samuel Moreno / KotakuBeating this tough monster is plenty worth it for the awesome armor and weapons you can make from its parts. I highly recommend leafing through Zoh Shia’s monster information tabs to determine how to best earn any needed parts. If you want a simplified list of each Zoh Shia drop, I’ve included one below that’s sorted by most to least frequent.Zoh Shia Stakeclaw (100% chance for breaking either Foreleg)Blackember Mass (100% chance for breaking either Wingarm)Zoh Shia Crystalhorn (100% chance for breaking the Head)Zoh Shia CrystaltailGuardian Blood +Zoh Shia CrystalscaleZoh Shia LayershellZoh Shia Certificate SFaux Whitegleam OrbDefeating Zoh Shia is a huge accomplishment that you should be proud of. The Tempered Mizutsune fight can admittedly be just as intense, but nothing so far feels as epic as a Zoh Shia hunt. .

This week, for the respective editions of their newsletters, Kids Today and User Friendly, senior correspondents Anna North and Adam Clark Estes have a chat about something that’s occupying both of them as journalists and as parents of young kids: How AI will shape the lives of the next generation?Anna North: Hi Adam! Excited to chat about AI and kids! In addition to reporting on kids for work, I also have a 7-year-old (who is home sick today and watching Amphibia right now, so might interrupt), and a 2-year-old (who is not currently home sick, yay!).Adam Clark Estes: Hey Anna! My kid is not yet 2, but as they say, the days are long, but the years are short. I feel like I’ll be meeting her AI friends in no time. Anna: Ha! So speaking of which, should we kick this off by talking a little bit about our hopes and fears for our kids growing up in the age of AI? I do feel like there’s a lot to be hopeful about: I’m excited that my kids will grow up in a time when we can use AI to develop new drugs and decode elephant language (although maybe some of those AI tools are more properly called machine learning?). My biggest fear is that my kids won’t see the point of learning certain skills, like writing and math, because AI can do those tasks for them. I certainly worry about AI taking jobs, too, but that’s a ways away for my kids.RelatedShould schools lock up kids’ phones?Adam: I’m actually not that worried about my kid having AI friends. She probably will! I just hope that she doesn’t spend too much time with them or too much time with AI-powered technology in general. I hope we enter this new AI era together and learn how these tools can make our lives better, richer, and more interesting. It reminds me of how the internet came of age around the same time I did, but my parents seemed too afraid to figure it out at the time. I hope I can be brave. Anna: My dad was actually an internet early adopter, and so we did enter that era together, which was sweet. We used to go to Doctor Who chatrooms — I remember once listing “our” age as “43 and 12.” That was nice for me because 1) I learned to use a computer and 2) I learned to be curious and not fearful around new technologies. Except I am a little fearful around AI! Maybe I have to channel that spirit of curiosity a little more when I’m with my kids.A friend of mine was telling me her district is rolling out AI tools potentially in kindergarten, so it starts young.Adam: And I keep seeing ads for AI-equipped stuffed animals. AI is still such a buzzword, but I do think we’re starting to see how it really will take over technology as we know it. I always say that it’s just the next iteration of the software that’s already in everything. So, of course, it’s going to be in classrooms — not just for cheating purposes, either.Anna: Cheating using AI is less of an issue for little kids because they’re not doing much of their work on computers yet. The AI tools I’ve seen proposed for K-6 are like this AI-powered reading coach, which seems less vulnerable to cheating than, say, ChatGPT. I’ve definitely heard people say that AI could potentially offer more personalized tutoring one day, which could be positive since individual instruction is really beneficial, but public school classes are often too large to offer much of it. That idea doesn’t freak me out too much, although, of course, there are questions around how reliable and accurate AI tools are.My older kid is in first grade, and at his school, there’s a lot of talk about the role of AI in math. The argument I’ve heard is very similar to what we were taught about calculators, honestly: that these tools will be able to do a lot of simple operations for us, so kids should be able to think intuitively about numbers.I don’t really think we’ll return to oral exams, but we will have to reconsider what education looks like in a world that runs on AI.Adam: I’m also curious about how AI simply changes how schools work. Like, if AI makes it too easy to cheat when essay-writing, what will teachers assign instead? And what will they grade? I don’t really think we’ll return to oral exams, but we will have to reconsider what education looks like in a world that runs on AI.Anna: I do think there’s a shift to more in-class tests and assignments, which can cause its own stress. I also wonder if there’s just going to be a shift toward developing a different set of skills, if writing just becomes less important. We already see kids and young people consuming less text — I wouldn’t be shocked if there was more emphasis in the coming years on oral presentation or audio and visual production skills. That bums me out as a writer, but maybe it’s what Plato would’ve wanted? I do try to remember that people have always been skeptical of new technology (even written language), and some of the anxieties we’re experiencing now are thousands of years old.I wouldn’t be shocked if there was more emphasis in the coming years on oral presentation or audio and visual production skills.Adam: And some look like instant replays of anxieties from just a decade or two ago. Every time a new technology or medium comes along, there’s a collective freakout that it’s destroying the youth. This is just as true for social media as it was for TV, video games, comic books, and even radio. I think this will be true of AI in social settings, too. It’s already possible to have an AI friend through apps like Replika or Kindroid. I wasn’t kidding about the AI stuffed animals, either. There’s one called Grok that’s designed — by Grimes of all people — for ages 3 and up. Kids can ask it questions, and the AI will tell them things, like a futuristic Teddy Ruxpin, except Teddy Ruxpin had a cassette tape in his belly that parents could listen to and know what the stuffed bear would say. I have no idea what AI will be telling our kids!I’ve seen people call this the end of the imaginary friend. I actually think it’s just the beginning of something new. What that is, I can’t imagine. At least not yet. Anna: It’s funny to me because Teddy Ruxpin was famously creepy! The social/play aspect of AI is super-interesting. I’m not worried about AI killing imaginary friends — kids will make friends with a can of tomato paste, and I don’t think you can destroy their social creativity that easily.My biggest concern around AI friends right now is safety — there are already lawsuits alleging that chatbots nudged kids toward violence or self-harm. Do you know what guardrails there are in place? Adam: My general feeling about guardrails is that, no matter how many there are, technology finds a way to leap over them. YouTube, for instance, has long struggled with how to make sure parents can steer their children to safe, age-appropriate content, but kids inevitably find themselves sucked down a rabbit hole of uncanny algorithmically generated videos. Throwing an infinite supply of AI-generated content into the mix won’t help, so I think parents will have to be vigilant about triple-checking what their kids are watching or playing with.There was a Pew study earlier this year that said about a quarter of all teens had tried ChatGPT for schoolwork. That number had doubled in a year.So if you assume that guardrails aren’t there or won’t work and that kids are going to try some kind of AI tool eventually, where does that leave parents? To be honest, I think we should all do what your dad did with you: Hang out in the proverbial chatrooms together. Talk to the chatbots together. Play with the AI toys together. Learn about this new technology along with your kids and help them learn when to put them away.I think we should all do what your dad did with you: Hang out in the proverbial chatrooms together. Talk to the chatbots together. Play with the AI toys together.Anna: I’m sure my dad will appreciate this endorsement of his parenting! You’re not alone, though. Andrew Przybylski, an Oxford professor I think we’ve talked about who studies phones and kids, talks about introducing his children to smartphones the way you would teach a kid to ride a bike: It’s a tool. It has hazards but also uses. It can be fun, and it’s a basic part of life. Maybe the same is true of AI?This conversation is sort of making me think I need to use AI more with my kids, which is not where I expected to end up. Adam: It’s important to point out that we’re mostly talking about generative AI here, and chatbots. There are also image and video generators. These all have obvious applications for kids in schools, for cheating and learning. But we haven’t even gotten into what the next generation of AI will impact our kids’ lives — things like AI agents that can use computers themselves or the much feared artificial general intelligence that can theoretically do anything. That future is a lot harder for me to comprehend right now.Anna: Yeah, I think there’s a lot about the next 10 or 15 years, both in AI and just in our kids’ lives generally, that’s hard to wrap one’s head around. My husband and I always joke about our children going to college on the moon, but I think it’s just a way of expressing the uncertainty that’s always there when you try to project too far out.See More:

In context: Noctua is mostly known for its fans, CPU heatsinks, and other cooling products for computing devices. The Austrian company also cooperates with third-party peripheral and GPU manufacturers, though its latest partnership is likely the most unusual so far. Noctua is putting a 4x4 cm (1.57 x 1.57 inches) fan inside a competitive gaming mouse made by Pulsar Gaming Gears. The Korean peripheral manufacturer announced the oddity ahead of Computex, promising that the new mouse would be demoed during the computer hardware show held in Taipei, Taiwan. Noctua is well-known for the "exceptional" cooling performance of its fans, Pulsar stated, while gamers – and competitive gamers in particular – are prone to sweating during esports events. The Asian manufacturer is therefore equipping its pre-existing Feinmann gaming mouse with a tiny Noctua fan, so that gamers can be comfortable even in the heat of the most ferocious (e)battles. Pulsar didn't have to reinvent the wheel, as the Feinmann already includes a very light shell riddled with holes. The Feinmann F01 is an ultra-lightweight gaming mouse weighing just 46g, providing all the features a competitive player would expect, including an 8,000Hz polling rate, a 32,000 DPI sensor, a "fast" 8K docking charger, and more. Thanks to the newly embedded Noctua fan, gamers buying the new Feinmann model can expect their hands to be constantly cool. Even users with particularly sweaty grips should enjoy a more comfortable gaming experience. We would very much like to test Pulsar's statements while replaying Doom Eternal's DLC 1 during summer months, just to be absolutely sure it really works the way the manufacturer says. // Related Stories Some Computex attendees say the Noctua-powered Feinmann mouse is indeed comfortable and the additional air flow keeps palms cool. Pulsar's product doesn't appear to be just a gimmick, though the specs are clearly being affected by the new fan. The mouse weight is now a bit higher (65g), while battery life should be around 10-11 hours. Pulsar said the mouse is still a prototype, so battery life and other specs are "preliminary." Modern wireless mice can go on for hundreds of hours on a single charge, so we're curious to know how the final product will turn out. The standard version of the Feinmann F01 Gaming Mouse is currently on sale at $180, so we expect the new model will cost more than that.