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 Historical changes can be superseded; use current definitions for a match today.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.
Hero Labs is experimental and provisional
What changed: Six heroes were added to Hero Labs, an experimental matchmaking mode with limited testing hours and a 50-game queue requirement. Models, names, effects, and some abilities could be placeholders; heroes and abilities could change. Players who did not get a new hero selected received higher priority for a new hero from their roster selection in subsequent matches.
How to adapt: Treat Hero Labs as a feedback opportunity rather than a stable roster, and check its forum section for changes; higher priority improves selection chances in later matches but does not guarantee a new hero.
Objective rewards and Urn conditions
What changed: Walkers no longer grant AP, and Shrines and the Patron no longer have Soul/AP bounties; the missing AP is redistributed along the souls reward line. Urn comeback properties require an 8% net-worth lead. With a lead over 8%, the drop-off is closer to the losing team’s side. If the Urn is not delivered within 90 seconds of pickup, it drains 1% of maximum health per second and disables regen; if dropped after 90 seconds, it returns to spawn immediately and the same team cannot pick it up for 12 seconds.
How to adapt: Check the minimap and world indicator for the drop-off, and account for the 90-second drain and lockout when deciding whether to continue a late carry; the notes do not establish a universally preferable route or objective.
Shiv: reduced speed, Bloodletting deferral, and reach
What changed: Shiv’s base speed fell from 7.3 to 7.0. Bloodletting’s cooldown increased from 21 to 50 seconds, duration increased from 10 to 13 seconds, and deferred incoming damage fell from 30% to 22%; T1 now adds 8% incoming damage deferral instead of 5 seconds of duration. Killing Blow range fell from 20m to 13m, and its rage buildup per heavy melee and against creeps was reduced; the rage buffer also fell from 10 to 9 seconds.
How to adapt: Test engage spacing and Bloodletting timing against the shorter reach and longer cooldown; the extra duration does not restore the reduced deferral, and Killing Blow now has less range and reduced rage buildup.
Selected ability-level changes
What changed: Seven’s Lightning Ball cooldown increased from 23 to 26 seconds and radius decreased from 4m to 3.5m; Storm Cloud range increased from 25m to 30m. Vindicta’s Flight duration increased from 8 to 12 seconds, and its T2 duration bonus increased from 6 to 8 seconds. Assassinate no longer splits to allies. Paradox’s Kinetic Carbine shots cannot miss due to evasion and can pierce breakables.
How to adapt: Test Seven’s Lightning Ball radius separately from Storm Cloud’s increased range, and check Vindicta’s Flight at the relevant upgrade level; do not rely on Assassinate splitting to allies, while Paradox players can test Carbine against evasive targets and breakables.
Item stat changes to compare
What changed: Long Range lost +25% ammo and now grants -20% reload time; Active Reload lost -20% reload time and now grants +18% ammo. Fortitude now upgrades from Extra Health, with health increased from 325 to 365 and weapon damage from 25% to 27%. Majestic Leap’s cooldown increased from 26 to 45 seconds, and being shot while airborne disables its drop-down ability. Rescue Beam’s pull speed fell by 20% and its sprint bonus fell from +2 to +1.
How to adapt: Compare Long Range and Active Reload by the changed ammo and reload stats rather than assuming either is superior; test Majestic Leap’s airborne drop-down restriction, and account for Rescue Beam’s reduced pull speed and sprint bonus.
Follow the affected decisions
- Paradox build and counter guide
- Seven build and counter guide
- Shiv build and counter guide
- Vindicta build and counter guide
- Long Range item reference
- Fortitude item reference
- Rescue Beam item reference
- Majestic Leap item reference
- Active Reload 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.