So every year for some time now, CS opponents are being released every month, with an ongoing annual theme. This year, even though it wasn't explicitly announced, the theme was Subetan Lands, and with each release, we got a piece of lore explaining the opponents' backstories, which I really liked! So, here you go, a compilation of every month's challenger info:

January - Centropolis - Sewer Beast

From the murky sewers beneath Centropolis a rumbling of woeful timbre can be detected if you listen closely, but you would usually be foolish to attempt to satisfy your curiosity for this sound belongs to the dreaded SEWER BEAST.

Long rumored and dismissed as a fantastical myth, the sewer beast has crawled from the shadows with surprising audacity. It may be something to do with a certain experiment pet...the beast may feel a closeness to the like that of a mother to its children. And like an angry mother, you would be wise to not underestimate this beast's protective nature!

Centropolis is in danger as long as this beast remains active! The only way to stop it from destroying the city's pipes and sewer system completely is to defeat it in battle. Purchase a Diseased Croc Claw from the Cash Shop now and keep our water clean and sewage far from the surface!

February - Underground - Wrole

Legend has it that the Underground was not dug out by the unliving, but by a large fearsome creature known as the Wretched Wrole, with the unliving simply moving into the series of large caves that seemed quite abandoned. On occasion, an unliving soul would come across a strange chipped tooth-like object stuck into a wall, and some would keep them in tins for good luck. There was speculation on where these supposed teeth chips came from - the great Wretched Wrole was surely not real? After years of finding no trace of their owner, the speculation dwindled.

But a rumbling has been felt in the Underground tunnels. The Wretched Wrole is not legend after all! It's sharp teeth have grown back after a period of hibernation, and it's ready to cause some serious structural damage to the Underground!

Save the Underground! Grab a Rusted Tin of Wrole Fangs from the Cash Shop and ready your weapons! The Underground is counting on you.

March - Atebus - C.A.P.S. Droid

The Coda Caves are rather a mystery to most Atebus residents, stretching deep into the Subetan moon and proving a little too treacherous for most. It's believed that the Galactic Nomads only keep the caves open for 2 days of the month to prevent explorers from finding out a little too much.

Legend has it that the materials of the cave have a power that does more than turn your pet galactic, if harnessed correctly. Incorrectly harnessed, however, this power has the potential to cause great destruction.

It seems that somebody in the past has tried to hide the evidence of some sort of war machine being developed, and it has succumbed to the power within the cave. Atebus is unprepared to fight this Crystallised Animated Prototype Soldier Droid, and needs your help! Grab a Discarded Droid Face Plate from the Cash Shop now and prepare for battle! Save Atebus!

April - Peka - Volitus Ventri

The Volitus Ventri has very little recorded history, instead being more of a plant of legend. Said to lay dormant beneath the soil for around 250 years at a time, the little information that exists on it has been passed down through word of mouth. It's said that to write about the Volitus Ventri is to ask for trouble. Some say that the plant itself will track you down and make both you and your research simply disappear. I'm getting a little nervous myself writing this, as signs of the Volitus Ventri have been spotted in the forests surrounding Peka Glade!

Although believed to share a common ancestor with the aeanoid, the Volitus Ventri is a lot scarier. You may find yourself attracted to going near it, but the spores it gives out are tricking your mind. When you get close enough you may find that the plant-beast sends you into paralysis, where it then tries to consume you...to become you.

May - Darkside - Menecuda

The Darkside terrain has always been tough to traverse, with many keeping far away from any area that isn't well populated. Demeanors are tepid at best, which is how the inhabitants like it. People go to the Darkside to escape emotion.

Unfortunately for the residents, the love in the air this weekend has carried far over Subeta and has reached even such places as the Darkside. The great legendary beast, Menecuda, said to have laid dormant for hundreds of thousands of years, has arisen to quell the happiness that has arisen.

You must defeat the beast and send it to sleep again before it poisons us all with its toxic hatred! Buy a Decayed Waste Barrel from the Cash Shop now to summon Menecuda.

June - Sacred Lands - Starved Saheric Spirit

Legend tells that Saheric citizens of old used to have a much greater connection with spirits than they do today. If a family didn't make offerings to the many sand and rain spirits, they would find their land buried and their water dried up. After many years, most of the people that believed in these tales had either migrated to places with a greater spiritual connection or simply died without passing on the stories.

The odd traveler has spoken of seeing the spirits of old in the deep emptiness of Saherimos. The dying faith and lack of offerings have led to the withered and starving spirits searching for the great banquets of food they once remembered, while attempting to sustain themselves on the Saheric beetles and sand. With Subeta celebrating the delights of food this month, the spirits have dragged themselves into greater view and begun to attack out of anger and fear. Get the Carved Stone Saheric Beetle from the Cash Shop in order to defeat these spirits before they turn their hunger on you! And worry not about the harm you do, for when their anger fades other spirits will be able to lead them to a better place.

July - Delphi - Jollyjaw

Did you ever visit the carnival and play the kind of game where you won a live fish as a prize? Did you ever wonder where those fish came from, or even where the unwon fish went at the end of the day? I don’t imagine many did, as a child.

Many years ago, there was one such fish that did not get won. He did not even get taken home by the stall owner, for his little bag fell to the floor and smashed, with his little fish body falling through the cracks in the pier. The ocean swallowed him up, and it was a cruel beast to a little funfair fish.

Plagued by the carnival music in his mind and a desire to be won, the little fish grew up fighting for survival in the open ocean, luck being his only companion as no other fish would come close. He longed to belong, and would try to approach people in the ocean but there was something about his appearance that seemed to scare them off - maybe the result of his injuries obtained in his fall. His quiet approaches turned into desperate chases, which often resulted in collisions with sharp objects that only further created his visage of horror. He disappeared one day, and people began to forget about him, talking only of legend.

Until today.

Jollyjaw is back, and is both enormous and frightening to behold with his appearance of a damaged carnival clown. Gone are his memories of any kind of happy life, replaced only by a desire to hunt and destroy any sense of belonging a person may have to the world. Grab the Bloody Shark Jaw from the Cash Shop today to challenge Jollyjaw and subdue him once more!

August - Omen Islands - Atzoatlchu

With so many years under the threat of Merana, the Islanders had all but forgotten the legendary beast Atzoatlchu. Used to living in and around the water, Atzoatlchu had retreated when Merana was imprisoned in the surrounding ocean. The Islanders grew old and had many children, relatively safe and happy and without the knowledge of the beast-that-drowns. With the sea witch gone, however, Atzoatlchu has returned to his old hunting grounds.

Atzoatlchu must be defeated. He uses a fifth paw at the end of his tail to snatch and drag victims into the deep, and has a particular taste for fingernails and teeth. Save yourself and those around you from a watery grave! Grab the Dredged Up Stone Idol from the Cash Shop today and help protect the Islanders and bring them to peace once again!

September - Shengui Guo - Paper Spirit

In a land abound with legendary spirits, most Shengui Guo residents have learned to go with the flow of local disturbances, and devise ways to keep many of the less benevolent visitors from causing too much trouble and chaos.

But if the Paper Spirit is said to be in their vicinity, all Shengui Guo Ren would pack up their homes and flee to a safer location. For each of the paper manikins the Paper Spirit sends is said to be the trapped soul of a past victim. If the Paper Spirit is not defeated in combat, she will cut the very life force from every body she can find and expand her doll collection. What is left of her victims will be nothing but a hollow shell, walking around without joy or sorrow, without passion or feeling, withering away slowly and painfully in front of everyone they hold dear. What happens to their souls, no-one knows or dares to think about.

We must defeat the Paper Spirit now, before more people have their souls cut away from them! Grab the Antique Paper Cutting Shears from the Cash Shop to summon the legendary spirit beast, and help save the people of Shengui Guo from their ongoing torment!

October - Shadowglen - Warlgthroth

Long ago, it has been surmised, a warador of no obvious consequence died a natural death and was buried along with its staff. This would usually be the end of a rather dull story, except for the residual magic that clung to the orb of the warador's staff. Festering in the body of the pet and soon becoming sentient, it began eating away at any goodness it came across and turning it into darkness to resemble itself.

The Mage learned of this horror, but failed to quell the beast. He was only able to restrain it in the original gravesite where its warador host had been buried. Today, the beast remains deep in the forest of Shadowglen, calling to those who hike too close and promising great rewards if free. Recently, its calls have become stronger, and the Mage is calling upon you to help defeat it forever, lest it escape and cause untold destruction!

If you’re brave enough to defeat it, grab a Binding Tombstone from the Cash Shop!

November - Veta - Rottgeist

While many are enjoying the Fireside bonfire in Veta, local farmers and gardeners are frantically trying to harvest their crops before the legendary Rottgeist appears. While the Rottgeist may not be malevolent, as she cannot help but rot the crops and kill the land under each step she takes, her hunger grows with each passing year.

Farmers will leave any rotted fruits or vegetables they find around the edges of their fields to stave off the Rottgeist and prevent her from venturing further, but it seem this year her hunger will not be abated. Can you act now to defeat Rottgeist and keep the local crops safe for another harvest season? Pick up the Horn Of Famine from the Cash Shop now and hold her back while you still can!

December - Arctic Frost - Frystgaard

Past the frozen tundra of the Polar Ice Fields there is said to be the most fearsome beasts with one that leads them all - Frystgaard. It's said that the Frystgaard controls the blizzards in that area, with the added ability to confuse and disorient a person with the intent to have them become his next frozen popsicle of a meal. The beast has been kept from crossing into Ytiva by many powerful magics, but its strength has grown too great and out of the wintery mist it has appeared! Grab a Shaggy Beast Pelt from the Cash Shop today and help Subeta defeat this tyrant of the wintery mist!

The art has also been wonderful. My only complaint is that I'd loved more weapons. I wonder why they stopped making the CS challengers drop them?

[edit] [spoiler=Luminaire Bonus - Melody's Cottage Dec 22 - Papa Frystgaard]

Hm.. where did Melody go, you ask? I don’t have a clue! Really! I’m serious! Would this sweet and compassionate face ever lie to you? So, greedybones, are you ready to get a Super Special Item for today? Of course you are, because you’re greedy, thus the name. I wonder if Melody can brea- is enjoying her day. Oh well, doesn't really matter, I'm much better at this than her.

Darkheart: Papa, it’s just one day of the year! Nobody cares, nobody comes to look for her - and she’s happy to give gifts to the family. I want you to have gifts that aren’t stolen. All I’m good for is stealing, and this felt like the only way...

Frystgaard: Ever since I found you in the frozen wastes, broken and alone, I knew you had never been shown the love of a true family. I raised you as my son, for you were but a child in the eyes of the Fryst. Just as you changed my life forever, you, too have been changed. I have seen Melody’s magic warm you over the years. You have learned that not all good deeds are done with a selfish heart. Melody has taught you that. Your new family has taught you that.

Darkheart: But what if they try to come to our lands, hurt our people? Knowing Melody was in danger because of me?

Melody: We both know I was never in any true danger- I’ve been around for longer than the Fryst, or even the ice floes that they call home. Truthfully, I’ve actually quite enjoyed these little impromptu vacations, spending time with your family, but don’t you think we’ve played out this silly fake abduction for long enough?

Your father is right; you have learned how to give, not just take. I know what coal means to your people, who share it with honor, and so I also know that your coal gifts are not the cruel prank that you pretend them to be. It’s time to finally let the people of Subeta know that there is a truly kind heart behind the one they call Darkheart.

Frystgaard: My boy, the Subetan people will not destroy our clan as you fear. In my recent skirmishes I have learned they are small and weak. I have pretended to lose to them just so I can have some peace and quiet. Our people are in no danger.

Darkheart: ... Maybe you’re right, as always, papa. I will take your advice, I will give gifts instead of pretending that I am stealing joy. Though… I will miss the life of banditry, I think. There’s something exciting and romantic about it-

[b]Fryst

I'm curious about the lack of CS weapons and scrolls, too. Maybe they've released too many of them in the past? Either way, I would love to see more in 2018.

The opponents this year were very interesting - I enjoyed the stories and art :D They had a great distribution of stats and difficulties, too.

This was such a fun theme, I looked forward to seeing the new challenger every month and trying to guess what land it would be from (a lot of them lined up with whichever land was hosting an event during the month of release). It was cool to get some more lore for each land as well, with the challengers being like creatures from their myths and legends.

Great job and thank you to all the artists and lore creators and other staff who put them together!

The theme was wonderful and there have been so many great challengers! I loved the lore with each of them as well! Thank you staff and artists! ❤

thank you for compiling the challengers and the news post lore all into one post! It's so nice to be able to see it all in one place, and I love the lore.

Do you know if similar forum topics exist for the challengers of past years? I've tried to find all the news posts for them but sometimes it's hard to google haha.

Hmm, not that I know of. I mean, there's the challenger guide in the Battle forums, but regarding cs challengers, I haven't seen any. I made this one mostly for the stories. Glad you liked the idea of the thread!

I liked that it wasn't just Subetan lands, but urban legends from each of those lands. I thought that was really clever.

Though it must have been a pretty terrifying year for Subetans. Finding out all the myths and legends were true and these monsters actually existed... I guess that's what happens when you release an evil sea witch into the world. o/

Thank you for making this list, I never made the connection. ❤

Hope the opponents get immortalised in the (eventual) SubetaPedia page. :)

bless you for doing this thread.

I love so many of these. It's been fun to see what the creative department would come up with the battle admins for these.

(Hopefully that'll be soon, !)

Ok just when I thought "Huh, Frystgaard didn't get much of a story" bam, today's Melody's Cottage conversation appears. I love this site

RIGHT

(I wanted to be like 'o just u guys wait' but didn't want to spoil)

Thank you for this collation!

i loved all of these so much (rottgeist is my absolute favorite!), and i'm hoping that the replacement for throwback challengers has similar lore stuff going on ;w;

oh there will be lore don't u worry

!!! yaaas, that's the best news, thank you w

I have looved these. So much amazing art, and I love how a few pets are thrown in the mix. Can't wait to see what's to come !

I'm actually fine with them not releasing new weapons or scrolls even because the issue obviously had to do with opponent resets; that issue being the concern of resets causing 5th loot drops to become deflated to hell and back.

That may change next year now that weapons/scrolls can be tied to achievements to prevent flooding the next time there's a reset.

As for this year's theme, really liked it a lot! It's nice to see some Subetan cryptids and creatures running about. I'm a bit sad Riverside got nothing, but I guess Recycle Beast naturally takes up that slot? Dunno. curious about next year, though I hope we will see more permanent normal and secret opponents be released as well. Gotta get those higher tier crystals after all!

Thanks for pointing that out! It never even occurred to me that there was a theme to all the opponents! Good observation! I am seriously amazed with all the awesome artwork for all these CS opponents!

I think maybe we had one or two new weapons from CS opponents this year! But I agree it would be nice to have some new weapons released through challenger loot in 2018! I love it we get new weapons for defeating opponents!

I think Rottgeist was maybe supposed to be kind of both from Riverside and Veta. Mostly Veta, but I think both areas have some farmland surrounding them, it could be a legend from that general area as a whole.

I'd love to see some new weapons that cover certain icons like Ice, since Sandreaver (the only godly Ice blocker), and by extension the two weapons needed to combine to make it, are pretty much rare as magic dust at this point now; then there's the affordable Glacial Ring, but with lack of heal and gimmicky stats, it's only just okay.

Yeah, I could see that being a reasonable tradeoff. I'd forgive lack of Riverside since nothing dangerous would dare set up shop with RB around.