Welcome to Elderfield Professions Update

Quick answer: The Welcome to Elderfield Professions update will turn activity levels into perk choices and add a Combat profession, including a chance to gain an extra AP at the start of a turn. These are upcoming changes, not live v1.0.2 mechanics. Keep progressing with your current equipment, recipes and tools; use the preview below to understand which problems the update is intended to address.

Is the Professions update available yet?

As of October 19, 2026, the latest named release in the official announcements is v1.0.2, followed by the September 23 hotfix. The three October developer diaries outline the next content update. They do not announce its release or an exact launch date.

The developer explains that content updates need localization and QA after their additions are assembled. The development-cycle estimates in that post are not a promised release date.

How the new profession choices will work

The October 15 preview describes more than 130 profession perks. At a profession level, the proposed system usually offers a choice between two passive benefits. Some levels instead give a single major unlock or recipe.

For a player, the useful question becomes which part of this activity is slowing me down? A perk that reduces an unwanted chore can be more useful than a perk that improves the sale value of an activity you already enjoy. Keep that distinction in mind when the actual choices arrive; the preview is not a complete build planner or a published respec rule.

Combat: what the extra AP chance means

Combat is planned as a new profession. Its preview includes several +10 percentage point unlocks for bonus AP, reaching a 30% chance per turn at Combat level 10. The check happens at the start of the turn, so you can see whether the AP is available before deciding how to spend it.

This is a chance of a bonus action, not a guaranteed third AP every turn. A route that needs three actions to heal and finish an enemy would still need a backup when the bonus does not appear. The developer also previews choices supporting escape, tougher defensive builds and different fighting styles.

If Catacombs battles are already draining your food, improve the equipment and material route you can use now. The Elder Gem guide explains the Lapidary Table unlock, and the Catacombs materials guide covers the kiln and power gates. Neither route requires a future Combat perk.

Fishing, mining and production: choose for your goal

The October 17 preview offers examples rather than a final level-by-level tree. Here is how those examples relate to common player goals:

The preview also mentions options for crab pots and rare out-of-season fish. It does not make those options available in the current fishing tutorial.

What to prepare now

1. Finish a concrete unlock. If a door blocks progress, follow the Catacombs hammer route; if a machine blocks you, use the separate materials and power guide.
2. Keep a note of the problem you want a perk to solve. Running out of bait, spending turns healing and waiting on production are different needs. That note will make the eventual perk choices easier to assess.
3. Check the release announcement before rebuilding your routine. The October 10 plans include a tool inventory tab, processing from Primary Storage, more Catacombs ore, faster multi-crafting and an achievement retry system. Until those changes are released, continue carrying and supplying items according to the current game.

Sources and preview scope

Reviewed October 19, 2026, against Chris Cote's official Steam announcements: A Word With the Developer, October 10 (development process and QoL), October 15 (Professions: Combat), and October 17 (Professions: The Other Skills). The player-goal comparisons above are this guide's interpretation of those plans, not additional announced features.