The August update for Ragnarok: The New World is rolling out now, and it is the biggest since the SEA launch on July 16. Crusader and Monk landed with the August 6 maintenance. Siege War opens August 16. War of Kings and the Shadow Gear system follow through the month. This guide covers what each feature does, the dates that matter, and what the TW/HK server already shows us about how these systems play.
The four pillars of the Prelude to the Peak update
| Feature | What it adds | When it arrives |
|---|---|---|
| Siege War | Guild vs guild castle battles across 13 castles in Prontera | First match Sunday, August 16 |
| Crusader & Monk | Two new 2nd job branches with 14 skills each | Live since August 6 |
| War of Kings | Team PvP that moves from server battles to a cross-server stage | Server stage first, cross-server later |
| Shadow Gear & Final Mirage | Lv. 75 Shadow Gear plus a timed dungeon, Final Mirage, against Shadow Osiris | Rolling out in August |
Crusader and Monk: the two new 2nd job branches
Crusader is the Swordsman branch’s second job. It plays as the team’s front line: holy damage skills, protective abilities, and the toughness to take hits meant for allies. On the TW/HK server its kit centers on Grand Cross, a wide holy blast, plus sacrifice-type skills that absorb damage for teammates. If your guild is building for Siege War, a Crusader is the anchor you want holding a castle corridor.
Monk comes from the Acolyte branch. It chains combo attacks and saves its best hit, Asura Strike, for one massive burst. TW/HK players describe it as a one-punch class: nothing survives Asura Strike, and if it does, you hit again. For PvP and War of Kings, the Monk is the finisher.
Both classes sit in the jobs database with full skill lists: Crusader and Monk. TW/HK received both classes on March 26 with free job change, which lets players swap between branches without creating new characters (official press release).
Siege War: schedule, castles, and how to prepare
Siege War is the guild mode. Every Sunday from 21:00 to 22:00 (UTC+7), guilds fight over 13 castles around Prontera. The first Siege War runs August 16 for servers that have been open at least 21 days, so most launch servers qualify.
| Region | Sunday local time |
|---|---|
| Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia (WIB) | 21:00 |
| Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia | 22:00 |
| Japan, South Korea | 23:00 |
The window is one hour, so preparation happens before the gate opens. Sort your roster into defense and offense squads, confirm who is on for Sunday, and make sure your front line has the gear to hold. The guild that wins the first week sets the tone for the rest of the month.
War of Kings: from server battles to the cross-server stage
War of Kings is the competitive team mode. You form your strongest team and fight through a server bracket first, then move to the cross-server stage. The TW/HK server ran the same sequence: the mode launched March 26 (press release), and the first cross-server edition opened April 25 at 18:00 (maintenance notice) after a month of server-level qualifiers. Expect a similar phased rollout here rather than one big launch day.
TW/HK also shipped a practice arena alongside it, with 1v1, 3v3, and 5v5 matches. It is the best place to test a new Monk build before you bring it into a bracket. Whether SEA gets the same practice mode with this update has not been confirmed.
Shadow Gear and Final Mirage
Shadow Gear is a second equipment track that sits on top of your normal gear. The SEA version launches at Lv. 75 and covers six slots: armor, gloves, shield, boots, earrings, and necklace. On TW/HK, pieces drop from dungeons and matching a set unlocks set bonuses, so the plan is simple: farm the six pieces, then chase the set.
Final Mirage is the limited-time party challenge tied to the system. You enter, fight Shadow Osiris, and leave with upgrade materials for your Shadow Gear. The announcement calls it a challenge for a party, so bring a full group the first time and expect the boss to test your protection skills. Because the dungeon is limited-time, farm it while it is up and bank the materials for later upgrades.
What the TW/HK server tells SEA players
The TW/HK version, RO仙境傳說：世界之旅 (Ragnarok: World Journey), received most of this content on March 26, 2026 (update announcement). The rollout is a useful preview of what to expect. Every claim below links to its source.
| System | TW/HK (World Journey) | SEA (The New World) |
|---|---|---|
| Crusader & Monk | Live March 26 | Live August 6 |
| Free job change | Included with the patch | Not announced |
| War of Kings | Server battles March 26, cross-server April 25 | Server stage expected first |
| Shadow Gear | Six slots, dungeon drops, set bonuses | Lv. 75 version with Final Mirage |
| Glast Heim (Ancient City) map | Live March 26 | Not in the August announcement |
Two things came with the TW/HK patch that the SEA announcement does not list: the Glast Heim map and the Collection system. Glast Heim brought new MVPs and cards, and the Collection system gives stat bonuses for collecting permanent fashion, headgear, pets, and cards. They may arrive in later SEA updates, so treat them as a roadmap rather than a promise.
Checklist before the first Siege War
- Make sure your guild qualifies: servers open at least 21 days are eligible for the August 16 start.
- Lock your Sunday roster before 21:00 UTC+7.
- Level a Crusader or Monk if you plan to play one; both are live now.
- Start Shadow Gear farming in Final Mirage while it runs.
- Convert the Siege War time to your local zone and set the alarm (see the table above).
FAQ
When does the Ragnarok: The New World August update go live?
The August 6 maintenance delivered Crusader and Monk and opened the new Valhalla server. Siege War starts August 16, and the other systems roll out through the month.
What time is Siege War?
Every Sunday, 21:00 to 22:00 UTC+7. That is 22:00 in the Philippines, Singapore, and Malaysia.
How do I unlock Crusader or Monk?
Both are 2nd job branches: Crusader from Swordsman, Monk from Acolyte. See the full skill lists on the Crusader and Monk job pages.
What is Final Mirage?
A limited-time party dungeon against Shadow Osiris that drops Shadow Gear upgrade materials. It runs alongside the Lv. 75 Shadow Gear release.
Is War of Kings cross-server?
It starts as server-level battles, then qualified teams move to a cross-server stage.
Can I change my class for free?
TW/HK players got free job change with this content. SEA has not confirmed it yet.
The August update is the first real test of the SEA server’s guild scene. If you want the other side of the competitive calendar, the Legend Cup is running with a US$1.01 million prize pool, and the details are in our guide. Bookmark the official SEA site for patch notes, and keep an eye on the TW/HK official site if you want to see what the next phase looks like before it reaches this server.
Sources and references
Every TW/HK claim in this guide points back to the official Gravity Game Vision channels. The March 26 update details come from the vendor press release and the ROWorld.Gravity Facebook announcements; the SEA details come from the official Ragnarok: The New World Facebook page and official site.
| Claim | Reference |
|---|---|
| Crusader & Monk launch, free job change, Glast Heim map, War of Kings, practice arena, Shadow Gear (six slots), Collection system (TW/HK, March 26) | GNN press release: 二轉新分支「十字軍」「武僧」登場 |
| TW/HK March 26 maintenance notice | ROWorld.Gravity Facebook post |
| First cross-server War of Kings, April 25 18:00 | ROWorld.Gravity maintenance post |
| TW/HK official site | gwww.gnjoy.hk/rotwgw |
| SEA August update announcement (Prelude to the Peak) | Ragnarok: The New World Facebook post |
| Siege War: 13 castles, Sundays 21:00–22:00 UTC+7, first match August 16 | Siege War Preview Vol. 1 |
| Shadow Gear Lv. 75 + Final Mirage vs Shadow Osiris | Preview Vol. 4 (official Instagram) |
| SEA official site | gwww.gnjoy.hk/sea_official |