Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate just got a big shake‑up with the paid Alopex Character DLC and a free arcade‑focused update that adds Pepper Runs, a Ninja Ranks prestige system, and new combat rooms across the main campaign. Alopex is a fast, melee‑focused mutant arctic fox who joins the roster on consoles and PC, bringing a new playstyle plus five extra artifacts for your roguelike runs. All players, even without the DLC, get access to the new four‑Pepper Arcade challenges, Ninja Ranks progression, and extra combat rooms in Sewers, Docks, Streets, and Rooftops.
| Feature | Type | What it adds |
|---|---|---|
| Alopex playable character | Paid DLC | Fast melee assassin with kunai, invulnerability Special, shuriken synergy.news. |
| 5 new artifacts | Paid DLC | Polar Bear Netsuke, Maltese Hamster, Channel Six Mini Camera, Hot Cocoa, Buddy the Wraith.news. |
| Pepper Runs (4‑Pepper) | Free | High‑difficulty Arcade challenges with hexes active from the start.news. |
| Ninja Ranks | Free | Prestige‑style rank that increases from full campaign runs and level‑4 Arcade clears.news. |
| New combat rooms | Free | Extra encounter layouts in Sewers, Docks, Streets, and Rooftops. |
If you just want the essentials: buy the Alopex DLC from your platform’s store to unlock her and her artifacts, then jump into Arcade Mode to try the new Pepper Runs and start leveling your Ninja Rank by completing full campaign runs and level‑4 challenges. The update is designed for returning players who already know the basics and want more challenge, more build variety, and one more character to master.
Quick steps: how to access Alopex and the new update
-
Update TMNT: Splintered Fate to the latest version on your platform (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, or PC via Steam/Epic).
-
Purchase and download the Alopex Character DLC or relevant bundle from your platform store if you want the new character.
-
Launch the game and select Alopex from the character select screen once the DLC is installed.
-
Enter Campaign mode to experience Alopex’s story beats and encounter the new combat rooms in existing locales.
-
Enter Arcade Mode to find the new four‑Pepper challenge runs, marked as high‑difficulty options.
-
Keep completing full campaign runs and clearing level‑4 Arcade challenges to increase your Ninja Rank.
Who is Alopex and how does she play?
Alopex is a mutant arctic fox assassin and the first female playable character in TMNT: Splintered Fate, joining the Turtles, Casey, and Metalhead as a paid DLC fighter. She’s positioned as the fastest character in the roster, leaning hard into mobility and close‑range burst damage.
Her core tools are:
-
Kama swings: She spins a sickle‑like kama around herself, hitting enemies in a tight radius.
-
Kunai throws: She tosses kunai at close range for explosive, high‑impact hits.
-
Special invulnerability: Her Special briefly makes her invulnerable while she targets multiple enemies in rapid succession.
-
Elemental synergy: Any ninja power that modifies shuriken will also affect her kunai, making Flame, Water, and Ninja powers especially potent.
In practice, you dart in, shred a cluster with her Special, then dash or kunai‑kite around while cooldowns reset. This suits players who are comfortable staying close to danger and using invulnerability windows instead of purely dodging.
Alopex DLC artifacts: what they do
The Alopex DLC adds five new artifacts that drop into your runs and can be used by any character once you own the DLC. Each one pushes a specific risk‑reward style.
Alopex DLC artifacts (quick reference)
| Artifact name | Core effect (summary) |
|---|---|
| Polar Bear Netsuke | Every 10 seconds, Final Strike sends out a line of flames; cooldown halves under half HP. |
| The Maltese Hamster | Tool charges slower, but its damage is increased. |
| Channel Six Mini Camera | Special charges slower, but hits harder when used. |
| Hot Cocoa (with Marshmallows) | You lose one dash, but each dash gives a burst of movement speed. |
| Buddy the Wraith | Grants an allied Utrom Wraith companion that levels up and evolves across the run. |
These artifacts are available across modes, adding more build permutations whether you’re in campaign or Arcade. Buddy the Wraith is especially notable as the first companion‑style option in the game, giving you a scaling ally that grows more dangerous as you approach late‑run bosses.
From a player’s perspective, the artifacts mostly ask you to trade uptime for power: your Special or Tool gets stronger but comes up less often, or you lose a dash but gain more speed on each use. That pairs well with Alopex’s high mobility and invulnerability windows, since you can afford to lean into fewer, harder‑hitting abilities if you position well.
What’s in the free Pepper Runs and Ninja Ranks update?
Even if you don’t buy the Alopex DLC, you still get the new free content drop on all platforms. This focuses on high‑end challenge and long‑term progression.
Pepper Runs in Arcade Mode
-
Four‑Pepper challenges: The update adds new four‑Pepper Arcade runs aimed at players who have already mastered standard arcade difficulty.
-
Hexes from the start: These runs begin with hex modifiers already applied, so you’re dealing with penalties from the very first room.
-
Difficulty focus: They’re explicitly designed as “extra spicy” challenge content, not beginner‑friendly entry points.
If you enjoy pushing builds until they break, Pepper Runs are where you’ll test your artifact combos, hero choice, and comfort with hectic rooms.
Ninja Ranks prestige system
-
New prestige layer: Ninja Ranks is a badge‑style prestige system that reflects your long‑term performance.
-
How it levels: Your rank increases when you complete full campaign runs and beat level‑4 Arcade challenges.
-
What it does: It’s a way to showcase your experience and give you another meter to fill as you keep playing, rather than a one‑and‑done progression bar.
An expert insight from actual play: Ninja Ranks feel like a quiet nudge to keep jumping between modes. If you’re stuck on a Pepper Run, finishing a campaign run still moves your rank, so there’s always something productive to do.
New combat rooms and campaign changes
Alongside Alopex and the arcade additions, thehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C05ifTr54wkpatch drops more combat rooms across several core campaign locations. New encounter layouts have been added to Sewers, Docks, Streets, and Rooftops, mixing up room shapes and enemy compositions during your normal portal dives.
You’ll notice the differences most if you’ve already put dozens of runs into the game and could previously “read” a room as soon as you entered. With the new layouts, familiar biomes feel less predictable and reward players who adapt mid‑run instead of memorizing patterns. The update also includes general balancing and quality‑of‑life tweaks, though most official summaries only describe them broadly rather than listing every number change.
Is the Alopex DLC worth it and who is it for?
If you mainly play casually or are still clearing the campaign for the first time, the free update alone already gives you more variety and a longer tail on your existing heroes. The Alopex DLC becomes more appealing once you’re comfortable with the game’s core loop and want a faster, higher‑risk melee character plus a handful of artifacts that change how your runs feel.
You’ll probably enjoy Alopex if:
-
You like staying in close and weaving through attacks instead of hanging back.
-
You enjoy characters with strong synergy around a single mechanic (here, kunai and shuriken‑modifying powers).
-
You want more build toys such as Buddy the Wraith or extreme trade‑off artifacts like Channel Six Mini Camera.
