Raid: Shadow Legends plans to wrap up 2025 with a brand new content update: Grim Forest. However, this isn’t just any update; it’s a significant release that could transform the entire game. Grim Forest is designed as an endgame feature and introduces significant changes to the game’s core mechanics. Here, we’ll take a closer look at both this new area and the new features that come with it. While the information we’ll provide is semi-official and based mostly on what Plarium shares on its social media accounts, it’s worth noting that this is all subject to change – we’ll update this article if this happens.

Grim Forest – An Endgame Ecosystem

Grim Forest is primarily designed as an endgame ecosystem and is being added to the game as a level 55+ exploration mode. We call it an “ecosystem” because it features different mechanics than the game’s other modes. The most notable of these are:

Roguelite Design

This is a mist-shrouded area, and you unlock the map by clearing stages. You can choose the direction, but what you’ll get in return will be random. This area will use a monthly rotation system, meaning you’ll experience a different adventure each time. Your stage-clearing choices will sometimes result in combat, sometimes in treasure, and you won’t know which one you’ll get.

We saw a similar system in Doom Tower, but Grim Forest is different: the monthly rotation changes the entire map. This area will reset every month, offering new things each time. Even the difficulty level of the mode will change what you’ll encounter. For example, there will be stages accessible only when playing on Hard mode.

Temporary expedition buffs have also been added to this area to encourage players to explore. These will strengthen your team, making each run in Grim Forest a little easier. And you’ll need them, because Grim Forest will feature more than just the classic combat/treasure routes. Some will require completing a gauntlet, while others will feature special encounters. The important thing is to know that you can’t just “push” here. You need to carefully weigh the risk and think twice before taking a side path.

Limited Roster – Team Mechanics

Unlike other game modes, you can’t bring your entire team to Grim Forest. This update adds a new feature called “Team Deck.” This means you can use a limited number of heroes throughout the expedition, and you’re only allowed to create two decks. The number of heroes in each deck depends on your chosen mode. In Normal mode, you can only place 10 heroes in each deck. In Hard mode, this limit increases to 20 heroes per deck.

This means you need to make strategic choices. You should build each deck with different scenarios in mind; you can’t simply choose the “best heroes.” Some will benefit more effectively from the expedition buffs mentioned above, while others will need to offer flexibility suitable for use in different stage types. For example, even a hero you haven’t used much before and haven’t caught your attention could become the best option for Grim Forest.

New Relics & Artifact Sets

As you might expect, a new region also means new relics and artifact sets. Plarium recently shared some of these on its official account.

• Artifact Set: This set will grant you the Total Guard buff. This buff can completely block damage and status effects from enemy skills. However, it doesn’t make you invincible: Total Guard is a stack-based buff, and each skill damage you take removes one of these stacks. Furthermore, the Total Guard buff is ineffective against bosses.
• Steel Eyed Cutter (Rare): The hero who uses this has a 20% chance to ignore 5% of the enemy’s DEF when attacking.
• Hoarder’s Cauldron (Rare): The hero who uses this has a 20% chance to ignore 10% of the enemy’s RES when applying a debuff.
• Compass of Anaxia (Epic): If the hero who uses this falls under crowd control, their Turn Meter will fill by an additional 20%.
• Revolting Seedling (Epic): If the hero using this takes damage, they gain a 20% chance to convert 20% of the damage taken to HP.

• Soulmar Crystal (Legendary): If one of their allies dies, the hero using this has a 50% chance to activate an instant turn effect.
• Sporeburst Rod (Legendary): If the hero using this inflicts a poison/bomb debuff on an enemy, they gain a 10% chance to inflict a second debuff.

Grim Forest will be the most significant update added to the game after patch 10.60, and its ecosystem will provide endless entertainment for end-game content. Its release date is currently unknown, but we do know it will be released before the end of the year, around December 2025: by the time you read this, Grim Forest could be out. As always, BlueStacks remains the best option for playing Raid: Shadow Legends on PC: with BlueStacks, you get improved controls, higher-quality graphics, and much smoother gameplay. See you in Grim Forest!