Patch Notes 0.10

Major Content Patch!

*With the cold brings both changes and fright,*
*As making his entrance is the Lord of the Swarm,*
*Looking for victims which he can conform.*

*But other champions are claiming their place,*
*The Mischievous flinging fire at furious pace,*
*The Scavenging Inventor with new gadgets to show,*
*And The Wind of the West riding cold winds that blow.*

*They all rush to compete in the Battlerite League,*
*With no signs of showing any fatigue,*
*Climbing the divisions with one goal in mind,*
*To become a Grand Champion, the best of their kind!*

*But for one special occasion they all take a break,*
*Gather together and presents they make,*
*Exchanging Frozen Chests while having a ball,*
*And maybe the sticks did something after all...''*

## New Content and Features

### New Champion - Pestilus - Lord of the Swarm

Pestilus is the head priest of Quna. He serves the Qunan royal family, but secretly worships an evil deity, Rasal. His schemes manipulated the king into exiling the crown prince. In the arena, Pestilus unleashes swarms of insects to infest and cripple his enemies, releasing his innermost darkest desires.

**Ability Kit**

* (M1)
	+ Projectile attack that deals 8 damage on enemy hit and heals 8 health on ally hit. Inflicts Moth and heals you for 8 health.
* (M2)
	+ Projectile attack that deals 30 damage on enemy hit, heals 30 health on ally hit and deals 15 damage to self. Cannot deal lethal damage to self. A Queen hit by Bloodsucker is instantly killed.
* (Space)
	+ Lunge at enemies or allies to Infest them for up to 2s. Heals allies and self for 8 health. Infested enemies take 25% more damage and infested allies absorb 75% damage. Can be recasted to cancel the effect.

Recast to order the Queen to fly to a new location. (Q)

* + Summon a Queen that heals nearby allies for 16 health and 18 additional health over 5s. The Queen explodes after the duration, dealing 24 damage to nearby enemies. This effect does not occur if the Queen is killed by an enemy.
* (E)
	+ Throw a spider egg that breaks on impact inflicting a 1.5s Panic on all nearby enemies.
* (R)
	+ Shield target ally. Swarm absorbs up to 24 damage and spreads Moth to nearby enemies if destroyed by damage.
* (EX M2)
	+ Cone attack that deals 8 damage, inflicts Moth and a 1,5s Root.
* (EX E)
	+ Throw a Brain Bug that infests the enemy allowing you to control its movement. Recast to order target to move in that direction.
* (F)
	+ Summon and command 3 Scarabs to attack enemies or aid allies. A Scarab deals 24 damage on enemy hit and heals 24 health on ally hit. Scarabs stick to their target for a short duration dealing damage to enemies and healing allies.

**Battlerites**

Round 1

* + Landing Bloodsucker on a target affected by Moth causes it to spread to nearby enemies.
* + Allows you to Infest an additional target.
* + Queen inflicts Panic on all nearby enemies when it explodes.

Round 2

* + Infest reduces damage and healing output of an enemy by 50% and increases the damage and healing output of an ally by 25%.
* + Arachnophobia bounces, causing another impact.
* + The Queen is invulnerable for 1.5s and heals nearby allies for 12 health the first time it blocks damage.

Round 3

* + Releasing an Infested enemy pushes it back in the opposite direction.
* + You can recast Queen to command it to fly towards target location.
* + Bloodsucker consumes Moth dealing 6 bonus damage to enemy, healing 6 bonus health to ally and healing self for 6 health.

Round 4

* + The Queen slows nearby enemies movement speed by 30%.
* + You move 5% faster for each nearby enemy or ally affected by Moth.
* + Infest duration is increased by 0.75s.

Round 5

* + Each active Scarab absorbs 15% of damage taken during Scarab Pack.
* + Scarab inflicts a Fading Blind that reduces enemy sight range by 90%. The effect wears off over the duration of Scarab.

### Winter Cosmetics!

For a limited time you can now unlock Frozen Chests containing guaranteed winter cosmetics such as frost weapons and winter themed outfits & mounts. Winter cosmetics can also be obtained in normal chests although the drop chance is fairly low.

### New Ranking System

The ranking system has been reworked but it is still a work in progress so expect it to be improved upon in future patches.

#### Team Rating

You will now have a separate team rating depending on which teammate you play in a party with. The intention is to improve the accuracy of the rating and matchmaking as it will only take your team’s skill level into account, rather than trying to balance out separate solo rankings when playing with others. You will also gain rating as a team, eliminating the discrepancy of having a teammate that gained/lost a different amount of MMR than you.

While playing League (formerly known as Ranked) you will be able to queue for both 2v2 and 3v3 while solo queuing, but in a party you can only queue 2v2 in a party of two and 3v3 in a party of three.

You will automatically form a team while playing in a party in League. You will be able to rename your team and select an avatar to represent your team if you wish to.

When playing League, teams will only face other teams and players queuing on their own will only meet players that are solo queueing.

#### Leagues and Divisions

Grades have now been replaced by Leagues and Divisions. Each League represents players of a certain span of skill, and each League consists of multiple divisions.

* Placement - The first time you play League (with a team or by yourself) in the Season, you will have to play placement matches. You will then be placed into a League accordingly.

* Bronze League - Consists of 10 divisions.

* Silver League - Consists of 9 divisions.

* Gold League - Consists of 8 divisions.

* Platinum League - Consists of 7 divisions.

* Diamond League - Consists of 6 divisions.

* Champion League - Consists of 5 divisions.

* Grand Champion - Has no divisions.

As you gain rating, you will move between Divisions and if you continue to win you will eventually reach the highest Division in a given League, Division 1. We've also improved the rating calculations so that climbing the ladder is easier (where applicable). Progressing further will promote you to the next League.

#### Season Based Rankings

Starting tomorrow, we are introducing Seasons. The first being Season 1 - Arctic Winds. What this means is that during a particular amount of time, two months for this first season, you will be able to climb the rankings and try to attain as high a League as possible. At the end of the Season you will earn rewards based on your highest attained League.

For example, if you have a team in a League that is higher than your solo queue League, you will gain rewards based on your team’s League. The rewards that can be earnt are chests, tokens and a Season 1 exclusive avatar.

Grand Champions of Season 1 will have access to an exclusive mount for the duration of the following Season. This mount can only be obtained if you placed as Grand Champion in previous Season.

The Season then ends with the rankings having a soft reset and you will play through the Placement matches again in Season 2.

#### Miscellaneous Ranking System Changes

* Sometimes you will be matched against players from a different League than you. If you are playing against a team from a higher League, you will get bonus rating from winning, but if you lose, you will not lose rating.
* If you happen to play with a player who is in placement, and you yourself is not in placement, you will not lose any rating if you lose the match.
* The same also happens if you are put in a team with someone who leaves or disconnects.
* If you leave a game you will get a rating penalty.
* During a season, you can not be demoted to a lower League.

## Champion Updates

Ezmo

*Ezmo has several nifty tools but most of them have been overshadowed by his signature move,*

*. We've shifted some of this power to other abilities and Battlerites to encourage more diverse playstyles.*

Core Changes

* + Knockback/Pushback location slightly tweaked. Enemies now end up slightly further away when hit.
	+ Min damage increased from 6 to 10 and max damage reduced from 22 to 20.
	+ Ezmo's Chaos Grip now shows a range indicator effect to all players.
* now instantly reloads all ammo when triggered if below 5 charges.

Battlerites

Round 1

* **(Updated)**
	+ silences target hit for 0.5s to 1s depending on charge-up.
* **(Updated)**
	+ can be recasted for 5 weapon charges to fire a projectile that deals 10 damage and heals you for 20 health. Can be recast as long as you have enough charges.
* **(Updated)**
	+ You gain 1 bonus Weapon Charge after using  and a  attack speed increases by 30% until you reload.

Round 2

* **(Updated)**
	+ reduces target's damage & healing output by 50% for 3s.
* **(New!)**
	+ Using  grants a 60% Fading Haste that lasts 2s.
* **(Updated)**
	+ range increases by up to 25% when fully charged.

Round 3

* **(Updated)**
	+ Landing 5 consecutive s inflicts a 2s Fading Snare.
* **(Moved & Updated)**
	+ grants double the amount of charges and you are healed for 4 health for each charge gained.
* **(New!)**
	+ After landing  your  gains 50% increased range until you reload.

Round 4

* **(Updated)**
	+ increases your movement speed by 50%.
* + Maximum Energy is increased by 25% and  hits grant 1% bonus energy.
* + deals 2 bonus damage to enemies rooted by .

Round 5

* **(Updated)**
	+ leashes on to you restoring 2 weapon charges every 1s.
* + leashes on to nearby allies healing them for 10 health per second.

Iva

*Granny got herself some shiny new tools.*

*Iva has lately become a bit overshadowed by some of the new ranged champions. With these changes we wanted to give granny a more defined role in the arena, and with that came some new tools and Battlerites that should allow more exciting plays.*

Core Changes

* radius increased from 0.3 to 0.35.
* minimum travel distance has been slightly reduced.
* haste bonus reduced from 50% to 30%.
* now dispells all positive effects from an enemy hit.
* can no longer be cancelled by .
* Oil
	+ Slow reduced from 30% to 25%.
	+ Duration reduced from 4s to 3.5s.

Battlerites

Round 1

* + After using  you can re-activate it to fly back.
* + bounces towards an additional target.
* **(Swapped places with Blast Shield)**

Round 2

* **(Swapped with Rocket Boosters)**
	+ Direct  hits deal 4 bonus damage and inflict a 1s Fading Snare.
* **(New!)**
	+ Your next  after using  inflicts oil.
* **(Swapped with Stockpile)**
	+ knocks nearby enemies back and further increases movement speed by 30%.

Round 3

* + increases your  attack speed by 25%.
* **(Swapped with Heavy Rocket)**
	+ increases movement speed by 65% for 2s.
* **(New!)**
	+ Stuns all enemies caught in the beam for 1s when the effect ends and cooldown is reduced by 5s.

Round 4

* **(Moved & Updated)**
	+ absorbs 12 more damage.
* + ammo increased by 1.
* **(Updated)**
	+ Oil further reduces movement speed by 10% and duration increased by 1s.

Round 5

* + grants a shield that absorbs up to 30 damage over 2.7s.
* + fires oil on all nearby enemies and launches a  after firing the last bullet.

Pearl

*The spoilt brat has received some changes, but don't worry, she is still as painfully arrogant as she was before. We're in discussion about how we could nerf her voice lines...*

*A big issue with Pearl has been her very one-sided battlerite alternatives and that is what we primarily aim to fix with this update.*

Core Changes

* + Knockback from charged Volatile Water hits no longer scales with distance and now always does a minor knockback.
	+ Silence Duration from charged Volatile Water hits reduced from 1.2s to 1s.

Battlerites

Round 1

* **(New!)**
	+ Diving into a  destroys the bubble and resets the cooldown of .
* **(New!)**
	+ Firing  through a  increases travel distance by 25% and damage by 4.
* **(New!)**
	+ recharges your staff when triggered.

Round 2

* **(Moved)**
	+ can be recasted within 1.5s to spawn a lesser Bubble Barrier.
* + Empowered  deals splash damage and inflicts Silence on all enemies hit.
* **(New!)**
	+ heals self for 6 health and nearby allies for 12 health when emerging from the deep.

Round 3

* **(New!)**
	+ deals 8 damage and inflicts a 1s Root.
* **(Updated)**
	+ spawns a tasty fish in the center of the bubble that heals 8 health and increases damage output by 20% for 3s when picked up.
* **(Moved)**
	+ spawns a lesser  around you when triggered.

Round 4

* **(Moved)**
	+ projectiles bounce to the nearest ally healing them for 6 health.
* **(Moved)**
	+ Walking through a  increases your movement speed by 50%.
* + The Silence duration from a charged  is increased to 1.5s from 1s.

Round 5

* **(New!)**
	+ maximum spew range increases by 25% and enemies are slowed by 33% for 2.5s when they land.
* **(New!)**
	+ An enemy spewed out by  that lands inside a  destroys the bubble and takes 14 extra damage.

Taya

*The wind blows Taya's way this Winter.*

*Taya has a great core kit but has been lacking creative battlerites. These changes should give her more strategic options when facing both ranged and melee opponents.*

Battlerites

Round 1

* **(New!)**
	+ creates a wind stream for up to 4s, allies who enter the stream are granted Haste.
* **(New!)**
	+ spawns a gale that slows projectiles for up to 2s.
* **(New!)**
	+ can be used on the move during .

Round 2

* **(New!)**
	+ Landing  with  reapplies Haste.
* + deals 8 additional damage where the boomerangs intersects.
* **(Moved)**
	+ During  your  inflicts a 0.5s Fading Snare.

Round 3

* **(Moved)**
	+ Enemies that are knocked into a wall by  take 10 damage and are Stunned for 1s.
* **(New!)**
	+ ~~Target gains Haste when landing after a  and cooldown is reduced by 5s.~~ (incorrect)
	+ During  your  first hit heals you for 6 health.
* **(Updated)**
	+ ~~grants ***Haste*** to its target.~~ (incorrect)
	+ grants  and cooldown is reduced by 5s.

Round 4

* **(Moved)**
	+ increases the movement speed of nearby allies by 50% for 2s.
* **(Moved)**
	+ spawns a vortex that pulls enemies toward its center for 1.5s.
* + hits reduce the cooldown of  by 0.4s.

Round 5

* + hits while mounted extend the shield duration by 0.5s.
* + hits while mounted restore 4 health.

## Champion Balance and Fixes

*We have done additional smaller changes to some champions, but are taking it step-by-step at the moment since it is difficult to predict the effects the above changes will have.*

Bakko

* &
	+ Hitboxes additionally tweaked to better correspond with visuals.
* ~~tooltip now correctly shows Incapacitate instead of Stun.~~ (This is mistaken)

Croak

* &
	+ You can now run through other players while in Camouflage & Deceit.

Jade

* &
	+ You can now run through other players while in Stealth and Smoke Veil.

Jumong

* now has an Aim Preview.
* &
	+ Removed unintentional snare on the Bleed.

Lucie

* - Revitalize healing reduced from 8 to 6.

Oldur

* delayed damage reduced from 12 to 10.

Poloma

* healing increased from 12 to 16 to properly reflect the tooltip value.

Rook

* now shows the Eat icon correctly.
* Aim preview of  tweaked to match hitbox.

Ruh Kaan

* radius decreased from 0.4 to 0.35.
* now benefits from battlerites affecting .
* - The silence is now applied after the damage has been dealt (instead of before).

Sirius

* heals no longer grant energy.

## General Updates and Fixes

### Gameplay

* Health and Recovery health should now be reset in between rounds
* Fixed a bug where reloading could reduce the amount of weapon charges available
* Fixed an issue where the snare control score would be attributed to the player getting dismounted instead of the player triggering the dismount
* Removed line of sight checks for scrolling combat text
* You now need to let go of the interrupt button to be able to interrupt an ability again
* Center Orb Kills in the current round is now displayed in the top bar
* Fixed a bug where the map collision of projectiles and dashes could mismatch between client and server

### Champion Select

* Improved "Ready up" feedback with new art and effects
* Added loading indicator while loading champion
* You can now rotate team members and mounts

### Odeum

* You can now:
	+ Toggle play/pause with space
	+ Step through a replay with arrow keys
	+ Single click the replay window to toggle play/pause
	+ Double click the replay window to toggle full screen
	+ Close Odeum with escape
	+ Use observer controls while showing replay in full screen
* Chat in replays is now disabled
* Fixed white screen flash when exiting full screen
* Added animations to the timeline controls
* “Default” cursor is now shown while in fullscreen
* HUD elements are now removed when generating replay thumbnail
* Fixed a bug where cancel cast in replays would not be displayed correctly

### Replay Editing

* You can now:
	+ Toggle play/pause with space
	+ Step in replay with arrow keys
* Now shows “default”' cursor
* Chat window is disabled during replay editing
* Minor UI updates
	+ Timeline
	+ 'Select a replay to edit' window

### Miscellaneous

* New music added to the menu ▶️
* Fixed a bug where replays would display another player’s cursor
* Increased max observer slots to 6
* Added a new section to the options menu with the following settings
	+ Enable chat - toggles in-match chat functionality
	+ Accelerate Input - accelerates input at the cost of performance