IMPROVEMENT

ONBOARDING

• We've made changes to the Onboarding experience for new + existing players with the objective of streamlining and clarifying the Trials and provide a smoother bridge to multiplayer
• Major changes are:
  • Essential knowledge is taught, and frustration elements are reduced throughout the Trials
  • Apprentice Trials and Warrior Trials are now both part of the Onboarding flow
  • All Trials are unlocked from the start (so you can skip if desired)
  • Stamina Trial is cut (it is instead taught contextually when needed)
  • Scoring and Secondary Objectives are removed (so it no longer tries to teach you to Guard Break after a Parry)
  • Adding a PvAI Dominion match, with the intent of giving new players a way to get familiar with our main game mode (with the safety of fighting only Bots)
  • Added a "How To Play" Dominion page at the start of this PvAI match
• Rewards:
  • New players receive the rewards when all Trials are completed, including the PvAI Dominion match
  • Existing players will still be able to receive any remaining rewards when they have completed all the Trials. This should be much easier (as without the Secondary Objectives, players don't have to win the 1v2 without getting hit)
    Developer's Notes: Please note that all rewards can only be received once if you previously received the Steel rewards you will not be eligible once again.

FIGHTERS

Nuxia

• Glass Waltz and Jade Ballet are now 300ms (down from 400ms)
• Heavy attacks now cancel to Glass Waltz at 500ms (up from 400ms)
• Zone Attack now cancels to Jade Ballet at 700ms (up from 600ms)

Developer's Notes: Nuxia's changes to her Trap timings were found to be successful in the Y7S1 Testing Grounds, so now we integrate her changes into the Live game. The Testing Grounds showed that with these timings, players were unable to react to Traps, so this should be a strong boost to her core move set.

Warden

• Side Heavy Finishers are now 800ms (down from 900ms)
• Side Heavy Finishers now have improved trajectories to help hit external opponents
• Shoulder Bash now can be done from 100ms-500ms into the front dodge (was 300ms - 500ms)

Developer's Notes: Warden has been underperforming for a while, especially in group fights and at initiating offense in 1v1 scenarios. With these changes, the hero should be better equipped to hit opponents around them, as well as having a better way to get into Shoulder Bash from a front dodge.

Hitokiri

• Opener Heavy Attacks now has Uninterruptable Stance beginning at 500ms at the earliest on the Uncharged Strike
• Opener Heavy Attacks now has a minimum charge time of 300ms (down from 400ms)
  • This results in the hero's Heavy Openers to have a 700ms timing when not holding down the Heavy Attack button, down from 800ms
• Adjusted chain timings from Opener Heavy and Chained Heavy attacks to be from 200ms to 400ms (down from 366ms to 400ms)
• Adjusted Zone Attack's trajectory to better match weapon visuals
• Heavy Openers now deal 22 damage (from 24)

Developer's Notes: Hitokiri has also been underperforming, and so we're doing some changes to help the hero get into their offense better. With Uninterruptible Stance on their Heavy Openers, we are hoping that Hitokiri is in a slightly better position as the hero should be safer when using these attacks to initiate offense. Their shorter minimum charge time should also help in making these attacks more potent. We've also adjusted the chain link timing after Heavy Attacks so that Hitokiri's chain offense comes out at a more reasonable timing, giving the hero better pressure. Finally, Hitokiri's Zone Attack should have better reach and hit opponents around better.

Aramusha

• Blade Blockade now costs 10 Stamina on Entry (from 5) and 0 Stamina on Exit (from 10)

Developer's Notes: Aramusha's Blade Blockade had an extra penalty on whiff that made it extra punishing, but also rewarded using the move as a recovery cancel too rewarding, so we decided to switch around the stamina costs a bit. Overall, this is a buff for the hero on miss, but a nerf on successful blocks, which should even out over time.

Jormungandr

• Chain Zone can now be performed while Out of Lock

Training Arena

• Added a new option for opponent Bots in the Training Arena, called "No Block". Intent is that players will be able to attack without the Bots Blocking

BUG FIXES

FIGHTERS

Medjay

• [Bug Fix] Fixed an issue that caused Dodge Attack sound effect to not ends correctly if the attack was interrupted (FH-4276)

CROSSPLAY

• [Bug Fix] Fixed an issue where players were unable to send group invites to accounts on a different platform with the same Ubisoft Connect account (Link to Bug Reporter Missing)

MAP

• [Bug Fix] Fixed an issue that caused Players to go out of the map at Chapel area in Secluded Keep

CUSTOMIZATION

• [Bug Fix] Fixed an issue that caused the Demonic Sacrifice idle effect to make the character look darker (FH-5419)
• [Bug Fix] Fixed an issue that caused the Berserker "Varr Helm" to not take color on Body Type 2 (FH-5318)
• [Bug Fix] Fixed an issue that caused the Warden chest piece "Tranquil Wayfarer" to be missing physics and has clipping issues on Body Type 1 (FH-4502)
• [Bug Fix] Fixed an issue that caused the Jormungandr "Thyn" Hammerhead to be the wrong way around (FH-3961)
• [Bug Fix] Fixed an issue that caused the Gladiator "Primigenia" Chest to have the same name than a Centurion Chest
• [Bug Fix] Fixed an issue that caused the Peacekeeper "Stellar Reliquum" dagger blade to appear inverted in barracks and in-game (FH-5320)
• [Bug Fix] Fixed an issue that caused the Afeera "Morbid Frenzy" armor Materials to only be applied on the back part of the chainmail
• [Bug Fix] ] Fixed an issue that caused the Raider "Kunnandi Chest" to not take color on Body Type 2 (FH-5327)
• [Bug Fix] Fixed an issue that caused "Candlelit Shrine" Color Palette thumbnail to displays different colors then what is applied on the hero