The First Descendant
Got a phone and WiFi? That's two connections. PingAim routes The First Descendant through whichever has the lowest ping. Boss fights, void intercepts, and co-op missions — all on your best connection. Server map, ping check guide, and network tips included.
Does PingAim Help in The First Descendant?
More about Easy Anti-Cheathow it works · what it blocks · known conflicts
The First Descendant uses Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC) as its primary anti-cheat system, running at kernel level. The game also previously bundled Nexon Game Security (NGS / BlackCipher), Nexon's own kernel-level anti-cheat, during the tech test and beta phases. At global launch, EAC is the listed anti-cheat on Steam. Community reports indicate NGS/BlackCipher files (BlackCipher64.aes) remain present on disk, though whether it remains active at launch is disputed. NGS is a product of INCA Internet, a Korean security firm, and has been criticized by the community for extensive data collection behavior.
VPN and network optimizers
Nexon has not banned VPN or network optimization tools in The First Descendant. Network optimizers such as ExitLag, LagoFast, and GearUP Booster actively market their services for this game, indicating no known enforcement against routing tools.
Known software conflicts
- NGS/BlackCipher files flagged as credential-stealing malware by some AV solutions
- EAC initialization errors on first launch — resolved by running as administrator or reinstalling EAC via the repair tool at /The_First_Descendant/EasyAntiCheat/
- Anti-cheatEAC
- ProtocolUDP
- ConnectionDedicated
- HostingNexon infrastructure
- EngineUnreal Engine 5
- NATModerate
- LauncherSteam (PC) / Nexon launcher
- Install size40 GB
Why ping matters in The First Descendant
Latency sensitivity HighPing noticeably shapes the experience.
The First Descendant is a third-person action shooter where skill abilities, dodge timing, and boss mechanics all depend on responsive network feedback. High ping causes visible desync during group boss fights — hit registration feels delayed, enemy positions lag behind server state, and ability timing becomes unreliable. While the co-op PvE focus is more forgiving than competitive PvP, encounters like void intercept boss fights demand frame-accurate ability chains where 80–120ms ping creates noticeable disadvantage compared to 20–40ms.
About The First Descendantbackground, studio, esports scene
The First Descendant is a free-to-play third-person looter shooter developed by Nexon Games and published by Nexon, released on July 2, 2024 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. Players control characters called Descendants — each with unique abilities and playstyles — who fight against an alien invasion across a variety of PvE missions, dungeons, and open-world zones. The core gameplay loop involves cooperative missions with up to four players, boss hunting for loot, and min-maxing character builds through modular upgrade systems. The game supports full cross-play between all platforms.
Built on Unreal Engine 5 with Nanite and Lumen rendering, The First Descendant delivers high-fidelity visuals combined with third-person action combat. The game features over 20 playable Descendants at launch, each with three active skills and one ultimate skill, alongside a deep weapon modding system. Endgame content includes hard-mode boss fights and void intercept battles requiring coordinated squad play. The monetization model relies on cosmetics and Ultimate variants of Descendants available via in-game premium currency.
The game launched to nearly 265,000 peak concurrent players on Steam, making it one of the largest free-to-play launches of 2024. Player numbers declined significantly after the launch window due to community criticism of the monetization model and content pacing, though the game maintains an active playerbase and continues to receive seasonal updates. Nexon runs an official creator support program (Nexon Creators) offering a 2% revenue share to eligible content creators.
- Developer
- Nexon Games
- Publisher
- Nexon
- Released
- 2024
- Platforms
- Windows, playstation5, xbox_series
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
Explore the The First Descendant Guide
PingAim detects The First Descendant automatically
No manual config. PingAim identifies The First Descendant by process name and routes it through your fastest connection using a kernel-level WFP driver.
When does PingAim help — and when doesn't it?
PingAim helps when...
- You have a phone with 5G/LTE — tether via USB to get a dedicated, uncongested gaming connection
- You have both WiFi and Ethernet available — PingAim routes the game through whichever is faster
- You share your connection with others streaming or downloading — game gets its own interface
- You're being placed on a distant regional server (e.g., Korean servers from Europe) — lower ping makes the forced region more playable
- You stream gameplay on OBS while playing — keeps stream and game on separate connections to avoid bandwidth competition
- Windows is picking the wrong network adapter for the game and you want explicit per-app control
Won't help when...
- You only have one network connection with no second interface available
- Your existing connection is already fast, stable, and under 30ms to the nearest server
- The lag is on Nexon's server infrastructure side — PingAim cannot fix server-side performance
- FPS drops or stuttering caused by hardware (CPU/GPU) — not a network issue
- You're placed on a geographically appropriate server and ping is already optimal
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Community & Official Resources
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