In the new build, there were new Achievements that could shed some more light on the event and what it might look like going forward.
What is the Abyss Angler Event
The Abyss Angler Event could possibly be a new world event that revolves around catching a variety of fish, diving for treasure, and exploring the ocean depths. Along the way, Depthdiver Jeju will help players with upgrades that allow for longer dives with the Nalorakk's Breath Tank, or even unlock new weapons such as the Heavy Harpoon Cannon.
During the event, players' skills are disabled and replaced with a vehicle interface which features, in order, a dash skill, the harpoon skill, a melee attack, using consumables found during the dive, and exiting the event.
There is also a simple meter to show the remaining oxygen. Oxygen is consumed slowly over time, but is also used for some skills. When oxygen reaches zero, the event immediately ends.
Exploring the Abyss
Currently, casting the Harpoon skill immediately disconnects the player, and there are various issues surrounding the dive suit that make progressing through the event impossible. Through some of the associated achievements on the beta, we might be able to get an idea of what the event is intended to look like.
Abyss Anglers: Placeholder 2
Abyss Anglers: Placeholder 2Amazardhide Catch Case
Complete a successful Abyss Anglers dive with a full Catch Capacity, a Catch Rating of 3 or higher, and only having caught 3 or less fish.
New reward: Reward: Unlock Amazardhide Catch Case for purchase
New criteria:Abyss Anglers: Amazardhide Catch Case
Abyss Anglers: Placeholder 1
Abyss Anglers: Placeholder 1Boarhide Catch Sack
Complete 3 successful Abyss Anglers dives with a full Catch Capacity.
New reward: Reward: Unlock Boarhide Catch Sack for purchase
New criteria:Abyss Anglers: Boarhide Catch Sack
NEW Complete 30 Abyss Anglers dives with a full Catch Capacity.
Reward: Unlock Depth Grease for purchase
NEW Survive an Abyss Anglers dive for 10 minutes with a full Catch Capacity.
Reward: Unlock Depthdiver's Used Tank for purchase
NEW Run out of breath during an Abyss Anglers dive.
NEW Survive a Hammerhead Shark attack 3 times in a single Abyss Anglers dive.
Reward: Unlock Fathom-Tested Tank for purchase
NEW Use a Consumable during an Abyss Anglers dive.
NEW Catch each of the Shallows creatures listed below throughout your Abyss Anglers dives.
Reward: Unlock Heavy Harpoon Cannon for purchase
NEW Catch each of the Trench creatures listed below throughout your Abyss Anglers dives.
Reward: Unlock Hollowcore Harpoon Turret for purchase
NEW Complete each of the Abyss Anglers Achievements listed.
Reward: Unlock Idol of the Depths for purchase
Abyss Anglers: Placeholder 3
Abyss Anglers: Placeholder 3Loaknit-Woven Catch Satchel
Complete an Abyss Anglers dive with a Catch Rating of 5.
New reward: Reward: Unlock Loaknit-Woven Catch Satchel for purchase
New criteria:Abyss Anglers: Loaknit-Woven Catch Satchel
NEW Complete an Abyss Angler's dive in 3 minutes or less with a full Catch Capactiy and a Catch Rating of 4 or higher.
Reward: Unlock Nalorakk's Breath Tank for purchase
NEW Attempt to swim beyond during an Abyss Anglers dive.
NEW Complete 50 Abyss Anglers dives with a full Catch Capacity.
Reward: Unlock Pahk Trench Fins for purchase
NEW Exit an Abyss Anglers dive by swimming to the surface.
NEW Complete 10 Abyss Anglers dives with a full Catch Capacity.
Reward: Unlock Reinforced Joints for purchase
NEW Discover 50 Forgotten Treasures throughout your Abyss Anglers dives.
Reward: Unlock Shallows Net for purchase
NEW Discover 50 Ancient Treasures throughout your Abyss Anglers dives.
Reward: Unlock Triple-Thread Net for purchase
Some of the achievements make the system sound similar to Withered Army Training from Legion, where players will need to upgrade the dive-suit procedurally and improve their strategies to master the event. The achievements, such as Abyss Anglers: Depthdiver's Used Tank, are pointing towards "surviving" for a specified amount of time for an oxygen tank upgrade, or Abyss Anglers: Fathom-Tested Tank mentions surviving a Hammerhead Shark Attack. These are encounters and challenges that won't be easy to complete.
For further speculation, the treasure-hunting achievements and Abyss Anglers: No Sea Can Hold Me might indicate that there are multiple areas to explore in the ocean, such as blocked-off caves or trenches, which could hold higher-rarity loot to collect.
