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 Historical changes can be superseded; use current definitions for a match today.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.
Ranked: scheduled solo queues and weekly medals
What changed: Ranked is experimental, solo-only, and requires 50 games played; players with behavior-related restrictions cannot queue. It is open daily from 1pm–4pm and 7pm–10pm in the selected time zone, which can be changed once per week. Matches pair players with the same medal; there are 11 medals with 6 levels each, and medals and levels are displayed in ranked games. A weekly calculation runs Tuesday at 8pm GMT. Seven games in the preceding week are required to receive a rank for that week; otherwise the medal is marked undefined until a later qualifying update. The queue first opens October 15 at 8pm GMT, and the first medals are granted October 22 at 8pm GMT.
How to adapt: If you intend to play ranked, check that you meet the entry and behavior requirements, select a suitable time zone, and plan for its listed daily windows. Play at least seven games in a week to be eligible for that week’s medal update; do not expect per-match medal adjustments.
Recheck Guardian pressure and objective timings
What changed: Troopers attack Lane Guardians from 12m rather than 13.5m. At game start, Guardians take 70% less damage from troopers; that reduction falls by 10 percentage points per minute, reaching 30% increased damage at 10 minutes. Players must be within 19m, above the ramp, to attack a Lane Guardian. Medium camps spawn at 5 minutes and hard camps at 8 minutes. Teleporters open at 8 minutes; trooper lane-end/bounty timing changes from 10 to 8 minutes; Vault spawn timing and interval change from 10/5 to 8/4.
How to adapt: Test early Guardian pressure against the changing trooper damage modifier and the closer attack range, and account for the 19m player attack requirement. Recheck camp and objective rotations against their separate timings; the notes do not prescribe a route.
Urn carrying is more exposed and rewarding
What changed: The Urn runner is revealed on the minimap, and a heavy melee against the runner causes them to drop the Urn. Delivery gives each teammate a permanent Golden Statue buff, increases the bounty by 15%, and the Urn falls from the sky faster.
How to adapt: As a carrier, account for minimap visibility and the possibility of dropping the Urn to a heavy melee. As a team, test how the reveal changes your escort and interception choices; the notes do not specify a guaranteed route or outcome.
Casting, abilities, and selected item changes
What changed: Quick Cast is added alongside Instant Cast and Confirm Cast: it shows range or radius on key down and acts like Instant Cast on key up. Ability input buffering lets a subsequent ability input during a cast time fire rather than be dropped. Bebop’s Hook range increases from 25m to 30m and it now instantly kills enemy troopers. McGinnis’s Mini Turrets have shorter duration and cooldown, faster recharge and deployment, longer cast range, and reduced health scaling. Melee Charge cooldown rises from 10.5 to 16 seconds. Healing Rite lasts longer for the same total heal. Rescue Beam cast range falls from 36m to 32m. Return Fire cooldown rises from 25 to 30 seconds and active bullet resist falls from 25% to 20%.
How to adapt: Try Quick Cast and buffered follow-up inputs in a controlled match to see whether they suit your timing. Recheck Bebop’s Hook and McGinnis turret use around their changed properties, and reassess the listed items where their cooldown, duration, or range matters; these changes do not establish an optimal build.
Follow the affected decisions
- Bebop build and counter guide
- McGinnis build and counter guide
- Return Fire item reference
- Rescue Beam item reference
- Healing Rite item reference
- Melee Charge 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.