Combat

Default control scheme update:

We have updated our default control scheme to resolve some combat, PVP, and quality of life issues:

• Dodge is now bound to [SHIFT] by default.

• Jump is now bound to [SPACE] by default

• Removed Sprint as an input, it will now occur automatically.

  • Sprinting will now occur automatically and will not require you to press or hold down [SHIFT] to engage. We’re trying this quality of life change to remove the need of holding down an input for a large amount of the gameplay experience and tiring out your pinky finger.

• Combat actions will cause a brief time delay before sprinting turns on automatically. We’ve added in these delays to help reduce the run-away game that has been occurring in PvP and to help melee characters close in against ranged opponents by not allowing the opponent to disengage as easily. This will also slightly reduce the ability of players to run in circles while kiting enemies in expeditions. The delays are as follows:

  • You cannot sprint for 1.5s after the beginning of an outgoing attack.

  • You cannot sprint for 2.0s after you are hit by an incoming melee attack.

• We saw that accidentally performing special navigation (such as hurdling and ledge grabs) was occurring during combat. To perform special navigation now you need to press the jump input, which is by default set to [SPACE]. You will no longer automatically perform special navigation while navigating (unless you enter auto-run mode).

Movement navigation

We have also made updates to player navigation that pair with the default control scheme update. These updates have been made to reduce the sprint jump from being used in combat to gain an advantage, which was never intended. We also needed to allow stamina regeneration during navigation since sprint is now automatic.

• Removed the roll on sprint-jump unless a player is landing from an elevated height.

• Sprint-jump no longer exceeds sprint speed.

• Stamina will regenerate while navigating.

• Removed the stamina cost from jump.

Block Break, Blocking, and Stamina

Block Break has been updated to be a more disadvantageous state, as our current block break could be used as an advantage during boss fights and trivialized certain encounters. We’ve made updates to our blocking state and stamina regeneration rules to offer a more active version of tanking and to give options to the blocking player:

• After block break, you will not be able to dodge or block for 3s.

• Stamina will now reset to full after 3s instead of 1.5s.

• Players cannot block at 0 stamina.

• Stamina will not regenerate while blocking.

• After a player releases block there is a 1s delay before stamina starts to regenerate.

• Stamina will regenerate while attacking.

• Default stamina regeneration rate has been reduced from 33 stamina per second to 20 stamina per second.

Death’s Door

• All damaging, debuffing, and buffing status effects are removed when entering death's door.

  • Timers, food buffs, and other tracking effects are not removed on death's door.

Sheathed and Prone attack updates

• • You can now trigger abilities and attacks directly from the sheathed state. Pressing an ability button while sheathed will now go straight into the attack.

  • Basic attacks and abilities can also be performed directly from the prone position.

Balance

Staves and Gauntlets

• Lowered base damage of staves by 12% and increased ability damage by 12%.

• Lowered base damage of the ice gauntlet by 13%, and increased ability damage by 13%.

• Increased heavy attack damage for staves and the ice gauntlet from 130% base weapon damage to 140% base weapon damage.

Fire Staff

• Fireball

  • Fireball can now be blocked with a shield.

  • Fireball has been updated to a 3m AoE attack at 125% weapon damage that causes scorched earth.

• Reheat Pyro Ultimate

  • Reduced Reheat Pyro Ultimate from 500% mana regeneration rate after not using an ability for 5s to 400% after 6s.

• Incinerate

  • Removed stagger; increased knockback to compensate for stagger removal.

  • Updated functionality so damage over time effects will not heal the player while the Cauterize Wounds modifier is active.

  • Reduced healing to 20% of damage done, as the AoE attack was healing for too much against multiple targets.

• Prophet of a Fire God

  • Reduced critical damage bonus from 35% to 20%.

Musket

• Trapper Ultimate

  • Redesigned Compounded Adrenaline to now be Lethal Combo: Grants a 40% base damage increase to musket attacks on targets that have any of the status effects applied by the Trapper tree active abilities.

• Tactical Reload

  • Extended the cooldown for using Tactical Reload from 2s to 3s.

Ice Gauntlet

• Replaced Stabbing Winds perk with Unending Thaw: Makes frost effects remain on enemies for 2s after exiting Ice Storm.

Life Staff

• The Mending Touch passive and Purify modifier for Splash of Light now only remove a single debuff from targets affected instead of all debuffs.

War Hammer

• Adjusted homing for the heavy attack, so it will direct the player slightly towards the target.

Great Axe

• Adjusted homing for the heavy attack, so it will direct the player slightly towards the target.

Perks

• Cruel perk updated to only affect crowd control status effects (root, slows, and stuns) instead of all debuffs.

  • Increased the effectiveness by 2%, from 4/6/8/10% to 6/8/10/12% respectively.