Battlerite: Update 0.8 Arrives Today

Yesterday evening (or this morning - depending on where you are in the world) brought version 0.8's patch notes to Battlerite. As the largest update so far, it brings two new Champions, a new version of an existing arena, a host of balance changes and much more. The update should go live in several hours. 

The servers will have a scheduled downtime on Friday, October 21st at 14:00 CEST (8 AM EST / 5 AM PST) for patching. 

Features & Content

NEW Champion: 

Jumong - The Beast Hunter

Jumong, The Beast Hunter, is a trophy collector who wandered the wildlands in pursuit of a worthy challenge. No longer content with hunting the great beasts of this world, Jumong looks to the arena for a new type of prey. He traps his foes and brings them to their death with the accuracy of his mighty bow.

NEW Champion: 

Ruh Kaan - The Crypt Warden

Ruh Kaan, The Crypt Warden, was awoken from his deep slumber when a grave robber disturbed the sacred crypts of Ark’dun. Pursuing the trespasser led him to the Arenas, where he still tracks his quarry. A wielder of dark powers, Ruh Kaan consumes the souls of those who stand in his way.

New Legendary Weapons & New Mounts are now available

New Map: Blackstone Arena - Night 

Ultimate Fan Pack Update 

 

The Ultimate Fan Pack will now include the exclusive Battle Wolf mount. (Everyone who has already purchased the UFP will automatically receive the new mount).

 

Halloween Season Event (October 21st to November 4th) - Limited Halloween Content 

 

A plethora of items exclusive to the Halloween season, obtainable through the: New Chest - Halloween Chest Contains one guaranteed Epic Halloween item. In addition, everyone who has joined the Official Battlerite Steam Group will receive a free Halloween Chest and a rare weapon for Ruh Kaan.  If you have not yet joined the group, you may do so here:http://steamcommunity.com/games/504370  Upon joining, you will receive both the Halloween and regular rewards. Matchmaking Standard (Unranked) & Ranked queues added. More information, including how this change should NOT split the playerbase, can be found here:http://steamcommunity.com/app/504370/discussions/10/341537671992579467/ You can now queue for 2v2 and 3v3 simultaneously. You no longer gain grade in VS AI matches. Party size of 3 now allowed in Standard/Ranked/VS AI. The party will not be disbanded when switching between modes. A rating exploit bug has been fixed (fixed last week).

 

Champion Updates

Rook 
 
Rook has been performing well at low and mid-tier but has been struggling at high tier. His lack of outs and slow escapes makes him an easy target for organized teams. To increase his viability we've made some alterations to his abilities and tweaked them to increase his ability to dodge attacks while keeping his playstyle fairly intact. 

Rook no longer uses Weapon Charges. Pummel (M1) reduces the cooldown of Crushing Blow (M2) by 0.5s per hit. Crushing Blow (M2) now causes Rook to leap into the air and strike down with his hammer to deal 16 damage and inflicts Armor Break. Meat Bolt (EX M2) now allows Rook to move while casting it.

Rook New Battlerite Tree 

Round 1 Raging Bull Landing Rush allows you to recast it for 2.5s. Giant Berserk duration is increased by 1s and damage taken during Berserk is reduced by 50%. Squash Crushing Blow stuns all enemies hit for 0.7s. Round 2 Frenzy Landing Rush causes you to enter a 1.5s Berserk. Crag Boulder Toss cooldown is reduced by 2s and knockback distance is increased by 40%. Tenderizer Landing Smack automatically triggers Eat, healing you for 16 health plus 24 over 4s. Round 3 Crumble Boulder Toss deals 4 bonus damage and inflicts Armor Break. Weapon Break Enemies affected by Armor Break deal 20% less damage. Madness Berserk movement speed bonus is increased by 25%. Round 4 Pummel Rush Pummel hits reduces the cooldown of Rush by 0.5s. War Cry Casting Berserk reduces nearby enemies movement speed by 50% for 3s. Recuperate Healing received is increased by 15%. Round 5 Seething Rage Gain Berserk when Tremor ends. Earthquake Tremor inflicts Armor Break.

Champion Battlerite Updates 

We're constantly working on increasing the viability and options for all champion battlerites. We want to make sure every champion has diverse, creative and attractive battlerites. These changes are not meant to be balance changes but rather changes to increase the number of choices and viable strategies. As such we’ve looked more at trying to create battlerites that are fun to use and/or allow for different playstyles, rather than to specifically find battlerites to perfectly balance the game. Due to this there can be some imbalances, which we of course will address when we can, but it’s a secondary goal compared to diversifying the battlerites. We will continue to use the Early Access period to experiment with the gameplay a bit and try out some wilder changes. 

In this patch we've taken a deeper look at Jade, Bakko, Sirius, Varesh and Poloma. 

Jade 
 
Core Changes 

Explosive Shells (F) - Impact damage reduced from 30 to 28 and area damage reduced from 20 to 16 Stealth now only removes movement impairing effects and not all negative effects

Jade New Battlerite Tree 

Round 1 Ambush Stealth resets the cooldown of Snipe. Outlaw Blast Vault causes you to enter a 2s Stealth. Cheap Shot Disabling Shot inflicts a 1.2s Root. Round 2 Desperado Successfully landing Disabling Shot reloads your guns with 10 Ammo. Through the Shadows Stealth haste bonus increases by 25%. Concussion Bomb Blast Vault stun duration increases by 1s. Round 3 Deadly Focus Snipe deals 6 bonus damage. Delight Interrupting an attack with Disabling Shot heals you for 16 health. Black Powder Junk Shot knockback distance is increased by 25%. Knocking an enemy into a wall Stuns it for 1.2s. Round 4 Gunslinger Whenever you hit a Revolver Shot the cooldown of Stealth is reduced by 0.25s. Agility Increases movement speed by 10%. Slayer Damage done to targets below 30% health increases by 20%. Round 5 Sovereign While channeling Explosive Shells you take 75% less damage. Shrapnel Each projectile of Explosive Shells inflicts a 50% Snare on enemies for 1.5s.

Sirius 
 
Core Changes 

Sunrise (Q) now also heals Sirius per default. Battlerite - Lunatic - Area of lesser lunar strike is increased by 25% Celestial Split / Celestial Rift (Space / EX Space) - Cast time reduced from 0.3s to 0.2s and Airtime reduced from 0.7s to 0.65s Bugfix: Fixed cooldown reduction for Celestial Split working even without the Sunwell Battlerite.

Sirius New Battlerite Tree 

Round 1 Sunbath Charged Crescent Strike empowers your next Sunlight causing two additional beams to strike the same area healing nearest ally for 12 / 6 health. Illumination Sunrise illuminates self and allies hit increasing damage output by 20% and healing received by 20% for 4s. Lunatic Lunar Strike can be recasted to spawn a lesser lunar strike at target location. Round 2 Sunwell Celestial Split heals 8 more health. Healing an ally reduces the cooldown ofCelestial Split by 4s. Orbit Lunar Strike hits restores all Sunlight Charges. Celestial Cycle Prismatic Strike hits recharges your weapon. Round 3 Crippling Slash Charged Crescent Strike inflicts a 1.2s Root. Debilitating Slash Charged Crescent Strike weaken duration is increased from 2.5s to 3.5s Lethal Slash Charged Crescent Strike damage is increased by 6. Round 4 Radiance You are healed for 6 health when an ally is healed by Sunlight. Moon Stone Successful Sunlights reduces the cooldown of Lunar Strike by 1s. Saros Cycle Your weapon recharges 30% faster. Round 5 Gravity Astral Beam snares targets by 30%. Sun Strike A sunbeam strikes down on your position dealing 12 damage and knocking all nearby enemies back when Astral Beam is activated.

Poloma 
 
Core Changes 

Ghost Wolf (E) no longer deals Soul Bind damage but still applies the Soul Bind effect. Fixed typo in Equilibrium tooltip (Soul Link -> Soul Bind)

Poloma New Battlerite Tree 

Round 1 Specter Other Side turns the target invisible for the duration. Affection Ghost Wolf returns to you after the final attack healing you for 12 health and reducing the cooldown by 2s Vengeful Sprit Teleporting to Spirit Guide resets the cooldown of Spirit Rift. Round 2 Dire Wolf Ghost Wolf inflicts a 1.2s Root Spiritual Wind Spirit Rift increases your movement speed by 40% for 3s. Phantasm Ally affected by Spirit Guide takes 50% less damage and enemy affected bySpirit Guide takes 25% more damage. Round 3 Ghostly Strike Spirit Guide Damage is increased from 12 to 16 and Knockback force is increased by 60% Into the Realm Other Side movement speed bonus increased from 40% to 60% and cooldown is reduced by 1s. Pixie Dust Pixie deals full damage and healing on mimicked Soul Bolts Round 4 Shimmering Bond Spirit Link healing increases from 50% to 65% Joyful Spirits Returning from the Other Side heals self and nearby allies for 12 health. Dark Souls Soul Bind damage increases from 30% to 50% Round 5 Equilibrium The first impact applies Spirit Link on allies and Soul Bind on enemies Condemn The second impact stuns all enemies for 1.2s.

Bakko 
 
Core Changes 

War Axe (M1) Now reduces cooldown of Blood Axe by 0.5s per hit Blood Axe (M2) Damage reduced from 16 to 14 No longer inflicts Fading Snare on max charges Cooldown increased from 2s to 3.5s War Stomp (EX Space) Rework - Leaps to target location dealing 8 damage and incapacitating all enemies for 2.5s.

Bakko New Battlerite Tree 

Round 1 Warlord’s Axe Blood Axe inflicts a 1.5s Fading Snare. Shield bash Bulwark can be recasted when the effect ends to bash the enemy with your shield dealing 6 damage and inflicting a 50% Weaken that lasts 2.5s. Raging Ram Increases max range range of Shield Dash by 30% and reduces cooldown by 2s. Round 2 The Red Axe Blood Axe heals for 4 health plus 2 bonus health per Weapon Charge. Wall Slam Shield Dash inflicts a 1s Stun when slamming an enemy into a wall. Adrenaline Rush Valiant Leap causes your next War Axe attack to deal 10 bonus damage. Round 3 Axe and Shield War Axe hits reduces the cooldown of Bulwark by 1s. Bravery Valiant Leap grants 33% damage reduction to self and nearby allies upon landing. Rampage War Shout increases your movement and attack speed (M1 & M2) by 33% for 4s. Round 4 Mobile Defence Bulwark increases movement speed by 30%. Howling Axes Blood Axe hits reduces the cooldown by 0.5s Inspiration Increases maximum energy by 25% and you gain 10% more energy from abilities Round 5 Mammoth Stomp Heroic Charge area Stun duration is increased from 0.25s to 1s Reinforcement Heroic Charge grants a shield that absorbs 30 damage lasting up to 3s.

Varesh 
 
Varesh New Battlerite Tree 

Round 1 Zeal Applying Inhibitors Guard causes a shockwave that stuns all nearby enemies for 0.5s and inflicts Corruption. Devastation Hand of Judgement bounces towards a second target dealing 8 damage and inflicting Judgement. Return If Wuju is triggered you can recast it within 1.5s. Round 2 Silence Silence duration increases from 0.5s to 1.2s when consuming Judgement. Celerity Inhibitors Guard increases movement speed by 25% and damage output by 15%. Unlimited Power Shatter no longer consumes Corruption but still grants the full effect. Round 3 Ruin Wuju inflicts Judgement on enemies hit. Fracture Shatter gains 1 additional charge Wonder Inhibitors Guard absorbs 14 more damage. Round 4 Agility Increases movement speed by 10%. Law Bender Consuming Corruption/Judgement reduces the cooldown of Inhibitors Guard by 1s. Synergy When Judgement and Corruption are active on the same target, their effects increase from 15% to 20% and Hand of Judgement and Hand of Corruption renew both effects. Round 5 Accord Powers Combined can hit allies, healing them for 14 health. Eternal You gain Inhibitors Guard when Powers Combined ends.

Champion Balance and Fixes 

Ashka 
Battlerites Wild Fire Moved to Tier 1 Time between firestorm bolts has been slightly reduced. Char Moved to Tier 2. Blaze Movement speed bonus reduced from 50% to 30%. Fixed a bug that caused the fireball casted during Blaze to have the same range and speed as a Firestorm Bolt. Now has the same range and speed as a normal Fireball. Lava Punch Static cooldown reduction increased from 1s to 1.5s. Croak 
Deceit (EX Q) If the attack is negated/countered Croak no longer enters Camouflage. Incapacitate duration reduced from 3.5s to 3s. Battlerites Cut to the Chase Movement speed increased from 25% to 30%. Momentum Haste increased from 30% to 40%. Freya 
Shock Vault (EX Space) Reworked No longer inflicts Incapacitate/Knockback. Your next Bash deals 8 bonus damage, inflicts a 2s Fading Snare and inflicts Static. Battlerites Overcharge Can now only trigger once. Charged Lightning Reworked When landing after Spring you deal 12 damage to enemies in an area, enemies affected by Static are stunned for 0.5s. Iva 
Battlerites Rocket Boosters Haste increased from 50% to 65%. Heavy Rocket Snare duration increased from 1s to 1.5s. Lucie 
Petrify Dart (EX E) Petrify duration reduced from 3.4s to 3s. No longer petrifies nearby enemies unless the projectile hits an enemy. Oldur 
Battlerites Sealed Fate Effect increased from 20% to 25%. Pearl 
Fixed a bug that allowed Pearl to start the round with her staff charged by using Dive with Power of the Deep just before the countdown started. Shifu 
Spear Slash (M1) Damage increased from 8 to 9 Impale (M2) Base damage reduced from 10 to 9 and damage per charge reduced from 6 to 5. Tendon Swing (R) Incapacitate duration reduced from 3s to 2.5s Battlerites Mantra Healing reduced from 16 to 14 Taya 
Battlerites On the Move Cooldown reduction increased from 0.25s to 0.3s. Tracking Duration increased from 0.4s to 0.5s.

Private Match

Non-host players can now invite other players. You should no longer be able to get into a bugged menu state after playing a Private match.

General Updates & Fixes

Ability Related All Ultimate Trigger-Casts have been reworked and now function similar to regular casts. The correct cast time is now displayed in all Ulimate Tooltips. Fixed a bug causing projectile range to be affected by spawn offsets causing some projectiles to have longer range than intended. Some projectiles will now have a shorter range and the cast-preview will be more accurate. A cancel cast ability exploit fixed. HUD / Visual effects Champions that charge their weapon over time (Sirius and Ruh Kaan) now make use of a new HUD element that visualizes this timer. Allied AOE markers color changed from green to blue in order to make it easier for people with red/green color blindness. The health and energy pickups now have a different shape within them to make them more distinguishable. Recasting abilities will now be highlighted in the hud when available. Fixed a bug where some trails weren't visible after playing for some time (Pearl M1 and Oldur M1 for example). Audio Stuttering/lagging/slow-motion issues are hopefully fixed for most users. Champion voices should now stop correctly when the speaker is dead. Modified the fall-off range for all voice overs. Lobby Friends list optimized to better handle a large amount of friends Selected Champion will now be remembered between sessions. Fixed the recurring level 10 visual bug. Memory The game now uses less memory. Biggest memory leaks have been fixed. Miscellaneous Fixed an issue with the D6 and D20 avatars. Numerous bug fixes.

Other Information

As of the launch of the new patch (2016-10-21, 14:00 CEST (8:00 AM EST / 5:00 AM PST), all Odeum replays made BEFORE this date will become unusable, as backwards compatibility for the Odeum is not supported at the moment. If you wish to record specific replays separately, BE SURE TO DO IT BEFORE THE PATCH GOES LIVE Matchmaking and ranking systems are still being worked on. There will be no reset right now, but a soft reset can be expected when more improvements have been done. The Standard / Ranked queues are the first step on the reworks. In the future, we will attempt to make more frequent, smaller updates to the game, both in regards to balancing and content, in-between larger patches containing for example new champions.