Patch 030

**Early Access Patch 030 - October 15, 2019**

This patch makes additional improvements and fixes to last week's Superstar Update based on what we've been seeing. Expect one more smaller patch before we switch to working on our next Major Update.

## Weapons, Aspects, & Powers

* Shield of Chaos: improved Bull Rush input buffering after the Throw special
* Heart-Seeking Bow (Zagreus): now adds chance of critical attack (instead of power-shot window)
* Heart-Seeking Bow (Hera): reduced disable duration while loading Bloodstone ammo
* Eternal Spear (Achilles): you now can retrieve the thrown spear normally, or with Raging Rush
* Adamant Rail (Hestia): increased damage for empowered shot

## Boons & Blessings

* Double Strike (Zeus): reduced bonus chance of effect after using Poms
* Tempest Flourish (Poseidon): reduced knock-away effect from the Bow's Volley special
* Exit Wounds (Artemis): now requires one additional related Artemis Boon before it is offered
* Lightning Rod (Zeus x Artemis): no longer upgradeable using Poms
* Heart Rend (Aphrodite x Artemis): no longer upgradeable using Poms

## Daedalus Hammer Upgrades

* Super Nova (Blade): reduced damage
* Cruel Thrust (Blade): increased damage and critical chance
* Flurry Blade (Blade): you now can hold the attack command to strike repeatedly
* Relentless Barrage (Bow): reduced number of bonus projectiles
* Explosive Return (Shield): no longer applies Flourish Boon or similar effects during the blast
* Extending Jab (Spear): increased damage
* Inescapable Blast (Rail): increased slowing effect on foes

## Foes & Encounters

* Slightly increased frequency of Thanatos encounters in Asphodel
* Voidstone: no longer appears in Erebus challenge chambers
* The Minotaur: fixed some instances where he was dealing more damage than expected

## Keepsakes & Items

* Bone Hourglass (Charon): increased Well of Charon effect durations for each rank
* Shattered Shackle (Sisyphus): increased bonus damage from rubble at ranks 2 and 3
* Evergreen Acorn (Eurydice): reduced instances of damage absorption for each rank; no longer loses charges to attacks that would have caused no damage

## Level Design & Environments

* Minor fixes and improvements to some chambers

## Art & Visual FX

* Further visual improvements to some Asphodel chambers
* Further presentation improvements when leaving or entering Asphodel chambers
* Updated visual FX for Zagreus run-stop animations for the Blade, Bow, Shield, and Spear
* Updated animation for Chthonic Keys
* Updated visual FX for Exit Wounds (Artemis)
* Updated art for Pact Exit in the Courtyard
* Other minor visual fixes and improvements

## Menus & UI

* Game screen now is dimmed while the game is paused
* When unlocking Weapon Aspects, always auto-equip the new Aspect
* Music track names for the Music Stand can now appear hidden before the track is unlocked
* Improved legibility of repeated 'Backstab!' combat notifications
* Slightly reduced size of standard damage numbers
* Several text clarifications and other minor changes

## Voice & Narrative

* Additional scripting fixes to Eurydice & Orpheus story subplot
* Added several miscellaneous narrative events for Eurydice & Orpheus
* Fixes and updated requirements for some narrative events
* Fixes and tuning to some contextual voice events

## Miscellaneous

* Minor improvements to some Shades milling about the House of Hades
* Skelly no longer rudely talks over Zagreus when starting a new escape attempt

## Bug Fixes

* Fixed the Rail's Hestia Aspect empowered shot applying damage twice from one Dash Attack
* Fixed an issue causing Support Fire (Artemis) to never be offered
* Fixed Hermes Boons unintentionally being affected by Eurydice's treats
* Fixed Exalted Brightswords sometimes being able to destroy the Rail's Bombard projectiles
* Fixed Final Boss not canceling out of certain attacks upon defeat
* Fixed some conversation alert icons not clearing as expected
* Fixed certain Eurydice narrative events unintentionally being able to play more than once
* Fixed 'Bounty Earned' messages showing current total Heat, rather than target Heat for Bounties
* Fixed an issue causing 'Death and I' to never be offered for the Music Stand
* Other minor fixes

## Quote of the Patch

> 'One sole condition yet
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> Upon the boon is set:
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> Let him not turn his eyes
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> To view his hard-won prize,
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> Till they securely pass
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> The gates of Hell.' Alas!
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> The Consolation of Philosophy (Boethius; H.R. James translation)

Note: You should see v0.22033 in-game once you have the update.