The First Descendant Malicious Dominator retirement is scheduled for the November 2026 update. Nexon is introducing a rotation that keeps the active Transcendent Weapon drop pool at 12, and Malicious Dominator is the first weapon named for retirement when the new Transcendent EXCAVA is added.
If you’ve been putting off farming Malicious Dominator, the announcement gives you a reason to revisit that plan before November. Retirement affects new drops, not the copies already in your inventory, and Nexon says there will be irregular reruns in the future.
When does The First Descendant Malicious Dominator retirement happen?
The The First Descendant Malicious Dominator retirement takes effect with the November update, according to Nexon’s October 13 developer notes. The exact November patch date hasn’t been specified in that announcement, so there isn’t a confirmed final day or clock time for farming it yet.
Nexon plans to announce future retiring weapons one month ahead of their removal. Malicious Dominator is the first named example, which means players get advance warning while the weapon is still available from its current acquisition sources.
The First Descendant Malicious Dominator retirement: existing copies
You keep them. The The First Descendant Malicious Dominator retirement removes new drops from the normal pool but does not delete existing weapons or prevent you from using them. Nexon explicitly states that already-obtained retired weapons remain usable and tradeable.
That distinction matters if you’ve invested in the weapon or were considering trading one. There is no reason to dismantle or abandon a built copy just because it leaves the regular pool. Its retirement changes availability, not whether it works in your loadout.
| Question | Confirmed answer |
|---|---|
| Will existing copies disappear? | No. Previously obtained weapons remain in player inventories. |
| Can you still equip and use one? | Yes. |
| Can retired copies be traded? | Yes. |
| Will new copies keep dropping normally? | No, normal new drops stop when retirement takes effect. |
| Can it return? | Yes, irregular reruns are planned, though dates have not been announced. |
The First Descendant Malicious Dominator retirement and the 12-weapon rotation
The The First Descendant Malicious Dominator retirement is part of a wider system: the active Transcendent Weapon drop pool will stay at 12. Nexon plans to add one new Transcendent Weapon each month. When the next one would push the total to 13, an older weapon leaves the current pool.
The developer also plans a replacement weapon serving the same role as the one being retired. That doesn’t make the new item an identical copy with the same options, so it’s worth keeping an existing favourite even if you plan to try its successor.
This is a rotating availability system, not a deletion system. The point is to manage which Transcendent Weapons are currently dropping, while keeping old acquisitions usable and allowing the retired pool to come back in future events.
What replaces Malicious Dominator?
The replacement joining November’s active rotation is a new Transcendent version of EXCAVA. Nexon has named the weapon but hasn’t published a complete breakdown of its acquisition requirements, options or final damage effects in the October 13 developer notes.
The The First Descendant Malicious Dominator retirement and the addition of Transcendent EXCAVA happen as part of that November rotation. Don’t confuse it with the Monster Hunter assault rifle, which is scheduled for October 15 and has three separately described yellow, purple and green effects.
Can you get Malicious Dominator after The First Descendant Malicious Dominator retirement?
Nexon says retired Transcendent Weapons can return through irregular reruns using a separate new system. There is no published calendar or guaranteed next availability window for Malicious Dominator yet. That means you shouldn’t count on getting another copy immediately after it retires.
The The First Descendant Malicious Dominator retirement doesn’t make an existing copy impossible to acquire from another player because trading remains available. However, the notes don’t establish how frequently reruns will happen, whether every retired weapon will appear at once or which future event currencies might be involved.
Should you farm Malicious Dominator before it retires?
If you want a copy for your collection or a future build, farming before the November change removes the uncertainty of waiting for a rerun. If you already own it, you can continue using and trading that copy after retirement, so there’s no need to panic over the one you’ve got.
For players who would rather spend time improving their current gear, the decision is simpler: prioritise Malicious Dominator only if you actually want it. The 12-weapon system is designed to bring replacements and reruns, not make all retired gear vanish forever.
The The First Descendant Malicious Dominator retirement was announced on October 13, 2026 for the November update. Keep an eye on the official November update notes for the final date and EXCAVA details, but the central answer is already confirmed: drops end, existing copies stay usable and tradeable, and future reruns are planned.
Official source: October 15 Developer Notes
