Patch date: . Guide reviewed 2026-11-03. Historical changes can be superseded; use current definitions for a match today.
How this guide was prepared: AI-assisted analysis with a separate source-check pass against archived official notes. Practical decisions are reasoned suggestions, not player-tested results or measured win-rate evidence. A small hotfix receives a short guide rather than a reconstructed full build.
Original update sources
Recorded topics: Heroes, Items, Gameplay, Fixes. Dates refer to the update named in the notes; a mirrored post can be published later.
Lane defenses and movement timing
What changed: Lane Guardian HP increased from 3750 to 4600; midlane Walkers were reduced to the sidelane Walkers’ HP. The layout also changed in several places, including a doorway at the inner-lane urn bridge that lets defenders shoot down into the canal. Base zipline speed increased by 10%. Airborne Heavy Melee now triggers when its charge completes rather than waiting for landing; its distance was increased to match the ground version, and its timing was reduced from 0.6 to 0.55 seconds. Crate powerups can spawn only after two minutes.
How to adapt: Test your usual approaches near changed objectives and the new canal firing access, and account for the faster base zipline and earlier airborne melee release when judging travel or attack timing; do not assume every lane changed identically.
Disconnect and pause rules
What changed: After a player has been disconnected for more than 30 seconds, their hero retreats home and then a bot takes over. After four minutes, the bot starts using souls to buy items. During laning it goes to its assigned lane; afterward it aims to stay near most allies. It leaves if the player rejoins. A temporary matchmaking ban system was added for people who leave games. During the first 30 seconds of a pause, only the player who paused can unpause; after pausing, that player cannot pause again for five minutes.
How to adapt: If a player disconnects, check whether the bot has taken over and where it is heading before planning around that hero; when pausing, keep both the 30-second unpause restriction and the five-minute pause restriction in mind.
Selected item changes
What changed: Several item values changed. Shifting Shroud gained duration, can be canceled early, and has a shorter cooldown; Knockdown’s cooldown was reduced. Toxic Bullets now deals half damage against troopers and neutrals. Glass Cannon’s Weapon Damage bonus fell from +70% to +65%, and Leech no longer grants +8 Spirit. Other changes include Headshot Booster’s cooldown falling from 9 to 5 seconds, Spirit Strike’s health regeneration rising from 0.7 to 1, and Enduring Spirit losing +1 Sprint while gaining +10% Spirit Lifesteal.
How to adapt: If you rely on Toxic Bullets for wave or neutral damage, test its changed damage against those targets; the notes do not report a change to its damage against heroes. Recheck affected item timings and values in your loadout rather than assuming these selected adjustments describe every item change.
Selected hero changes
What changed: Hero adjustments are specific to the listed ability or stat, not a single general balance shift. Paradox’s bullet base damage and growth fell, indirectly affecting Kinetic Carbine; Kinetic Carbine’s damage bonus and Paradoxical Swap range also fell. Kelvin’s base health and Frost Grenade radius increased. Pocket’s Barrage radius increased and cooldown fell. Vindicta now has -10% Base Bullet Resist. McGinnis’s Rocket Barrage does less damage to objectives, while Mo & Krill’s Sand Blast no longer affects bosses. Other examples include Grey Talon’s Charge Shot spirit scaling improving from 1 to 1.3, Haze’s Sleep Dagger cooldown increasing from 27 to 29, Infernus’s Afterburn T3 falling from +40 to +35 DPS, and Yamato’s Power Slash spirit scaling improving from 1.6 to 2.0.
How to adapt: If you play an affected hero, test the named ability or stat in its relevant situation before relying on old range, damage, or timing assumptions; for McGinnis and Mo & Krill, check the stated objective and boss restrictions specifically.
Communication and Watch updates
What changed: The Watch tab was reworked to highlight suggested matches and recommend alternatives when suggested games are full; it also indicates whether a friend is in a match. Players can ping enemy items on the scoreboard, middle-click an ability to report that it is on cooldown, and alt-click active items to report whether they are ready. Chat gained a message sound, larger base font size, and longer visibility.
How to adapt: Use the new callouts when teammates need item or cooldown information, and try another suggested match if a full spectator slot prevents watching the first choice.
Follow the affected decisions
- Abrams build and counter guide
- Bebop build and counter guide
- Dynamo build and counter guide
- Grey Talon build and counter guide
- Haze build and counter guide
- Infernus build and counter guide
- Ivy build and counter guide
- Headshot Booster item reference
- Slowing Hex item reference
- Restorative Locket item reference
- Spirit Strike item reference
- Suppressor item reference
Verify your match build · How current recommendations are checked
Earlier and later records
Archive coverage currently ends 2026-10-30; sources last successfully checked 2026-11-01. A source check does not establish a post-patch win rate.