Chinese New Year: Design Contest for the Year of the Fire Horse!

[Areya]

🔥 Ignite the Legend: WoM2 2026 Anniversary Costume Contest 🔥​

The spirits of the East are stirring! To celebrate the 2026 WoM2 Anniversary, we are looking for a design that captures the untamed energy of this year’s Chinese Zodiac: The Year of the Fire Horse.

We want a costume that radiates heat, speed, and elegance—something that turns your character into a blazing force of nature on the battlefield. Whether you're a professional illustrator or just have a killer idea for a palette swap, we want to see your vision!

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🎨 Your Creative Challenge​

Your mission is to re-imagine the textures of an existing costume through the lens of the Fire Horse. Think flickering embers, molten silks, and the fierce spirit of the gallop.

• How to start: Browse the current wardrobe in-game (press "K") to find a base model you love.
• The Goal: You aren't building a new 3D model; you are "re-skinning" an old favorite. Focus on colors, patterns, and details that scream "Fire Horse."
• Skill Level: Don't worry if you aren't a master painter. If your concept is strong, our team will handle the heavy lifting to bring it to life in-game.

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📜 The Rules of the Forge​

• Stick to the Template: Your design must fit an existing costume model. If the design is unrecognizable or for a different model entirely, it will be disqualified.
• Gender matching: You can submit an entry for the same costume catering to both genders or just one of them. Don't worry, we'll make them match!
• Tools: Use any software you like.
• Human Touch: While AI tools are technically allowed, we strongly advise you to use them wisely. We are looking for a "tailor’s eye" and authentic creativity, not generic AI output.
• Deadline: All entries must be submitted in this thread by March 3rd.

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🎁 The Rewards of the Flame​

The stakes have never been higher. Not only are there Dragon Coins on the line, but you could become a permanent part of WoM2 history.

Rank	Prize
🏆 1st Place	Your design brought to life! You get the costume for free, and you will get to name it!
🥈 2nd Place	100 DC
🥉 3rd Place	50 DC

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🗳️ The Selection Process​

1. March 4th: The Staff will select the Top 5 designs.
2. March 4th – 8th: The community takes over! Players will vote for the grand winner on the forum (Poll closes at 19:00 CET).
3. March 8th (Evening): The Winner is announced!
4. The Reveal: The winning design will be crafted and added to the Item Shop the following month for a limited 30-day run.

Show us the fire in your soul. Happy Designing!​

 

[Zephyra]

Since I'm not good with photoshop or into creator tools at all, I just tried something still with AI. Not bad with my prompts I must say, it's an ode to the wonderfull QX Frozen Abbys! Please weclome the " QX Anniversary Fire Horse " ! 🤙

 

[Elindor]

The Sunbreaker
WoM2 2026 - Anniversary Costume Contest

First of all, I want to say that I had an absolute blast creating this costume concept. I haven’t had this much fun working on something in a long time. I learned a lot throughout the process, and honestly, I would gladly do it all over again.

This is my reimagining of the “Frozen Abyss Costume” through the theme of 'The Year of the Fire Horse'.

The Fire Horse represents noon - the peak of the sun and the strongest expression of yang fire. With that symbolism in mind, the colour palette transitions from deep crimson to molten gold, evoking metal forged under extreme temperatures. Rather than overwhelming the design with literal fire effects, I focused on controlled flame accents integrated into the original model’s geometry, preserving its structure while transforming its identity.

Key Design Choices:
• Solar core representing peak sun energy
• Refined flame motifs integrated into the armor’s existing shapes
• The Chinese characters 丙午 (bǐngwǔ), symbolising the Year of the Fire Horse, subtly placed on the sleeves
• The character 火 (huǒ) (“Fire”) embedded into the back skirt design
• Balanced male and female adaptations while fully respecting the original 3D costume model

This concept respects the original model while reshaping its visual identity around fire and peak solar intensity.

If selected, I would name this costume:
The Sunbreaker

Tools Used
• Adobe Photoshop (texture refinement, compositing, lighting, and shadow adjustments)
• Wacom Intuos Pro (manual detailing and brush refinement)
• ChatGPT (symbolic research, background and border development, and presentation drafting)
Estimated development time: ~30 hours

Created by (IGN): Elindor

 

[1stBam]

Hello, these are the costumes I made and my vision at the same time, I have the dds for them, I hope they fit the requirements

 

[y2snakee]

WOM2-DRAGON ASCEND ^ ^

 

[GreeenFriend]

Hey everyone
I haven't worked much with design yet and got some ideas and help from AI. I hope you like my suggestion. I used the "Imperial Costume" as a basis.

 

[Blasphem]

Proposed Name: Samurai of Fire Horse
Base Model from current wardrobe in-game: Samurai of Sakura costume
Concept and Execution: To celebrate the WoM2 2026 Anniversary and the Year of the Fire Horse, I have re-imagined the textures of the existing Samurai of Sakura model. The objective was to transform the original armor's elegant aesthetic into a manifestation of untamed, elemental energy. The primary transformation involved shifting the color palette from light, decorative materials to a rugged, blackened iron finish, symbolizing metal tempered by intense heat. Against this dark base, all trim, lacing, and fabric elements were recolored to resemble molten magma, flickering embers, and superheated metal. Specific symbols were integrated to directly represent this year's zodiac. The chest cuirass prominently features the glowing Chinese character for horse, "馬". Furthermore, the flowing cape on the back has been textured with a dynamic illustration of a galloping fire horse, embodying speed and power. To finalize the look, the entire costume is designed to emit an incandescent glow, accompanied by rising smoke particles, giving the impression that the armor itself is burning with internal energy on the battlefield.
I hope you like it!

 

[RawLy]

This image is a concept design for the Desert Warrior skin in WoM2, created to celebrate the 2026 Anniversary and the Year of the Fire Horse. The design embodies the untamed energy and fierce elegance of this year’s Chinese Zodiac. Every element — from the flowing fiery scarf to the molten-gold armor details — evokes speed, heat, and unstoppable power.

The textures reimagine the classic Desert Warrior outfit through the lens of fire: flickering embers, molten silks, and blazing accents transform the character into a living flame, ready to gallop into battle. This concept is a visual exploration and interpretation; I dont have photo editing skills.. so ChatGPT helped bring the idea to life.

Thanks

RawLy

 

[Tasky]

Base Model: Long Night's Costume

The primary transformation focused on creating a stark contrast to highlight the heat. The character's skin was rendered pale white, serving as a canvas for the intense elemental energy. Against this pale base, the original bandages and torn lower garments were recolored from simple cloth to resemble charred volcanic rock and cracking magma. The tattered fabric now appears to be actively burning, with deep crimson and bright orange embers glowing through the fissures. Specific symbols were integrated to directly represent this year's zodiac. To channel the spirit of the Fire Horse, incandescent tattoos of the Chinese character "馬" were branded onto both the bare chest and the center of the back, glowing with fierce intensity. Furthermore, the hair was changed to jet black, radiating with fiery sparks and embers. To finalize the look, the entire character is enveloped in a powerful aura of rising smoke and flickering heat haze, appearing as an unstoppable, searing force on the battlefield.

 

[Drewno]

Drewno has arrived with a new costume design made from the emperor costume
No AI included
Only my sexy designer skills in Procreate
Love and light < 3


ps. thx and ReginaZmeu for being my top model kisskiss

 

[Areya]

Dear all,

The team vote is officially closed, and the results are in!🗳️🔥
Here are the points awarded:

• Zephyra — 1 point
• Elindor — 2 points
• 1stBam — 1 point
• y2snakee — 1 point
• Zgnilec — 1 point
• GreeenFriend — 1 point
• Blasphem — 4 points
• RawLy — 5 points
• Tasky — 1 point
• Drewno — 6 points

Because several entries ended in a one-vote draw, we’re giving every tied post a fair shot to stay in the race for the next WoM2 Anniversary Costume!

And now… the real battle begins: THE COMMUNITY VOTE!
To make sure every finalist gets equal visibility, the posts that didn’t qualify for this round have been temporarily hidden.

🕒 Voting is open from now until March 8th at 19:00 CET.
✅ Cast your vote by liking the contestant’s original post.

Contestants: this is your moment. Rally your allies, call in favors, and campaign hard! 📣😄Hit up your friends, your guildmates, your farm partners (even that random warrior you met in Map 1), and bring in those likes. Map 1 diplomacy, charm, and pure grind are all allowed 😈💬🌟

Let’s see who becomes a permanent part of WoM2 history! 🏆🔥Each community vote grants an entry one point! At the end of the voting period, the team and community votes will be combined in order to determine our podium!
We can’t wait to crown the winners! 👑

 

[Tasky]

Hello,

I would like to make a suggestion regarding this year’s costume contest. As we can see, many participants have put significant effort into their entries.

However, the current system, where the winner is determined by the number of likes on a comment can feel somewhat one-sided and may favor popularity rather than the creativity or effort invested in the costume itself.

For this reason, I would like to propose having two winners this year:

• One winner based on popularity, determined by the number of likes.
• One winner based on creativity, judged by the originality and effort put into the costume.

This approach would better recognize both community engagement and the creativity shown by participants, especially considering that some individuals took the time to edit and enhance their costumes using design or editing software ( @Drewno )

Thank you for considering this suggestion.

 

[Elindor]

Hello,

I would like to make a suggestion regarding this year’s costume contest. As we can see, many participants have put significant effort into their entries.

However, the current system, where the winner is determined by the number of likes on a comment can feel somewhat one-sided and may favor popularity rather than the creativity or effort invested in the costume itself.

For this reason, I would like to propose having two winners this year:

• One winner based on popularity, determined by the number of likes.
• One winner based on creativity, judged by the originality and effort put into the costume.

This approach would better recognize both community engagement and the creativity shown by participants, especially considering that some individuals took the time to edit and enhance their costumes using design or editing software ( @Drewno )

Thank you for considering this suggestion.

It’s very mature of you to make this proposal. I appreciate it, considering the popularity of your guild and the ratings you’ve gathered. I truly appreciate your offer.

 

[Basim]

+1 Drewno always puts great effort in the design, i wish their costume would make it to the server too

 

[Exeragon105]

Drewno King!!!, î wanna see that male version Reminds me of Dragon Lore AWP from CSGO

 

[Zephyra]

Hello,

I would like to make a suggestion regarding this year’s costume contest. As we can see, many participants have put significant effort into their entries.

However, the current system, where the winner is determined by the number of likes on a comment can feel somewhat one-sided and may favor popularity rather than the creativity or effort invested in the costume itself.

For this reason, I would like to propose having two winners this year:

• One winner based on popularity, determined by the number of likes.
• One winner based on creativity, judged by the originality and effort put into the costume.

This approach would better recognize both community engagement and the creativity shown by participants, especially considering that some individuals took the time to edit and enhance their costumes using design or editing software ( @Drewno )

Thank you for considering this suggestion.

+1!!! , The world needs more people like you man, kindness and respect +1! You are awesome Tasky, god bless you! 🤙

 

[Drewno]

Omgh im very very grateful to each of u for appreciating my work < 3
I feel honored to hear such cute words
love u all muaaahhh

 

[Areya]

Dear all,

Thank you for the great sportsmanship and camaraderie shown in the messages above. It means a great deal to us to see such mutual support and to witness everyone contributing to the spirit of WoM2. We hear your feedback and agree that, in future editions, additional voting criteria could help make the event even fairer. However, for this edition, we are unfortunately unable to change the rules after the event has already taken place, so we must proceed according to the format previously established.

Here are the results of the team vote and the first edition of community votes:

• Zephyra — 13 points
• Elindor — 22 points
• 1stBam — 27 points
• y2snakee — 11 points
• Zgnilec — 15 points
• GreeenFriend — 22 points
• Blasphem — 57 points
• RawLy — 31 points
• Tasky — 81 points
• Drewno — 60 points

As the WoM2 Anniversary celebrates each year of our journey with one special and unique costume, we can ultimately have only one winner. To determine the community’s favorite, we will therefore hold a final round of voting featuring the top two entries so far, based on both the team and community votes.

With that in mind, I will be posting the two leading submissions in the thread below for a fresh round of community voting, which will remain open until Wednesday, March 11, 2026.

The voting process will remain the same this time around: simply cast your vote by liking the message of the costume you prefer.

Thank you for your understanding.
Areya

 

[Areya]

 

[Areya]