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 Historical changes can be superseded; use current definitions for a match today.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, Interface. Dates refer to the update named in the notes; a mirrored post can be published later.
Adapt lane and Flex Slot expectations
What changed: The 1-1-2-2 and 2-2-1-1 lane allocations are no longer possible. Flex Slot now requires two Walkers rather than the first Walker.
How to adapt: Check your assigned lanes and coordinate around the available setup; do not plan around either removed allocation or expect Flex Slot after only one Walker.
Recheck ability and item cooldown timing
What changed: All ability and item cooldowns increased by 6% globally. Separately, Echo Shard's Spirit Power increased from +8 to +12, and Warp Stone's range fell from 13m to 11m.
How to adapt: Recheck the cooldowns you rely on in play rather than carrying over old timing expectations; test Warp Stone's shorter range before depending on a familiar escape or engage distance.
Adjust to Kelvin's Arctic Beam changes
What changed: Arctic Beam's fire-rate slow decreased from 80% to 40%, and its movement slow decreased from 80% to 70%. Objectives and the Rejuvenator are frozen and invulnerable under Frozen Shelter.
How to adapt: When playing Kelvin, reassess how long you can rely on Arctic Beam to slow enemy fire; do not treat targets under Frozen Shelter as damageable, and test the interaction in matches.
Account for Seven and Vindicta changes
What changed: Seven's base bullet resistance fell from 8% to 0% and no longer scales with Boons, while headshot reduction rose from 25% to 35%. Storm Cloud damage and radius decreased, but its cooldown fell from 180s to 140s. Vindicta's Assassinate deals 20% more damage on a headshot, and its scope ends when she is stunned.
How to adapt: As Seven, reassess exposure to bullets and separately account for the increased headshot reduction. As Vindicta, test headshot timing and remember that a stun ends the scope; neither change guarantees a kill.
Reposition for Rescue Beam
What changed: Rescue Beam's heal decreased from 30% to 26%, its cast range decreased from 45m to 36m, and it no longer requires Healing Rite.
How to adapt: If using Rescue Beam, test ally positioning within its shorter cast range and account for the reduced heal instead of relying on its previous reach or amount.
Know the matchmaking restrictions
What changed: Solo-queued new players match only with other new players until they have four wins. Six-player parties will no longer match against solo players; the notes warn this may mean longer queue times for six-player parties.
How to adapt: If queueing as a six-player party, allow for potentially longer waits; if new and queueing solo, expect the stated new-player matchmaking restriction until you have four wins.
Follow low-priority game requirements
What changed: Abandoning games is the primary route into low priority, though other behavior can contribute. Players must complete the required number of games to return to normal matchmaking, and that number escalates with low-priority frequency.
How to adapt: If placed in low priority, check the required game count and complete it before expecting normal matchmaking; the notes do not specify a fixed count.
Follow the affected decisions
- Kelvin build and counter guide
- Seven build and counter guide
- Vindicta build and counter guide
- Rescue Beam item reference
- Warp Stone item reference
- Echo Shard 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.