RE: Balance changes — update 0.22.0 | News | Caliber is a team-based online game

Nov. 2, 2023

RE: Balance changes — update 0.22.0

Hello everyone!

Since the latest operator balance changes in version 0.21.1, we have been closely listening to your feedback and analyzing match statistics. We’ve drawn some conclusions and noted your requests. Now, we’re finally ready to tell you what’s going to change in version 0.22.0.

We paid especially close attention to the feedback from high-ranking players of the current ranked season, Arctic Wind.

The short version is in the video. Check it out, Recruit did his best. The details are in this article.

HITSCAN

In the previous updates many operators received a buff in the form of instant bullets, also known as hitscan. But it eventually became apparent that, in deft hands, this makes certain operators TREMENDOUSLY more powerful than we’d initially thought.

For an average player, hitscan is just a slight buff. But for an experienced and talented player, it was huge.

Four operators are going to lose hitscan attacks in 0.22.0.

However, their bullet velocity will still be high, like that of Marksman Vagabond. The French marksman currently has the highest bullet velocity in the game (not counting the hitscan operators).

OPERATOR BALANCE CHANGES

VYMPEL

Healing ability: Self-healing (activated by holding [Q]) now takes 1 sec. instead of 2.3 sec.

ALPHA

Primary weapon body damage increased from 17 to 19.
Suppressed ability: The description now states the exact number of hits required to inflict the effect on an enemy.

Primary weapon reload time reduced from 3.1 sec. to 2.5 sec.

Modified upgrade #15-1 (“Incapacitating an opponent while the ability is active extends the duration of the ability by 3 seconds”): Now can only be triggered by eliminations with a headshot.
Modified linear upgrade #10 (“Thermal tape: Delays the application of the Marked effect by 3.5 sec. when using Bullet Rain”): Activating the ability no longer applies the Marked effect, but the activation cost of the ability is increased by 50 SP.

SSO

Primary weapon rate of fire increased from 8.8 to 9.3 shots per second.
Preventative Action ability: Effective range increased by 15 m. Reduced the slowing effect applied to enemies with headshots from 90% to 50%.
Upgrade #15-1: “Special trait: incapacitating an opponent affected by the ability restores Stamina” replaced with “Increases the amount of Stamina restored by the special trait”. Stamina recovery increased to 45 SP.

Primary weapon rate of fire increased from 8.5 to 9 shots per second.

The number of bursts for the primary weapon increased from 2.5 to 2.75.

Primary weapon: Bullet velocity reduced from instant (hitscan) to the current highest in the game.

22 SPN

Sabotage ability: Maximum distance the decoy can be moved increased from 30 m to 40 m.

We’ll be fulfilling the promise we made on our official Discord:

The Banner ability will now prioritize reviving Medics.

Game designer’s comment: If several incapacitated operators are nearby, the banner will prioritize reviving Medics. BUT if the banner has already started reviving a different operator (say, an Assault), and then a Medic enters its area of effect, the banner will continue reviving the Assault. The banner cannot switch targets mid-revive.

Primary weapon: Horizontal recoil increased by 25%, vertical recoil increased by 10%.
Added level 13 linear upgrade: “Low-velocity rounds: Vertical recoil reduced by 12%, horizontal recoil reduced by 20%, effective range decreased by 10 meters.”

GROM

Upgrade #4-1: “Special trait: the special gear can destroy covers” replaced with “Special gear rate of fire increased.”
M500 Shorty special gear: Increased damage dealt to heavy covers is now a base feature of this weapon.

KSK

DM 51 special gear:

Base damage radius increased from 4.5 to 5 m.
Distance-based explosion damage falloff increased from (2 m - 120)/(5.5 m - 12)/(6.5 m - 0) to (2 m - 120)/(3.5 m - 60)/(6.5 m - 12).
Upgrade #15-1 (“Increased damage radius of the special gear”): radius bonus increased from +1 m to +1.5 m.

Other:

Upgrade #7 (“Special trait: Hold the ability activation button [Q] to produce an electromagnetic pulse that destroys mines, ground-based drones, and other electronics”): activation time reduced from 2.3 sec. to 1 sec.
Nerfed the Fully-Equipped Run Personal Skill: Sprint speed boost decreased from +5/10/15% to +5/8/10%.

Decreased the Guardian ability, activation time when used on self, from 1.5 sec. to 1 sec.
Primary weapon body damage increased from 17 to 19.

Primary weapon: recoil decreased by 68%, recoil of the first shot increased by x3.8.

SEAL

Decreased base HP by 5.
Upgrade #7-2 (“Base HP Increase”): bonus HP decreased from +10 to +5.
C-4 special gear: throw range decreased by x2.
Black Mark ability: Reduced the base duration of the Marked effect on the target from 10 sec. to 6 sec.
Upgrade #10-1 (“Increased duration of the ability”): duration bonus decreased from +3 sec. to +2 sec.
Upgrade #13-1 (“Increased duration of the ability”): duration bonus decreased from +3 sec. to +2 sec.

Crackdown ability: The description now states the exact number of hits required to inflict the effect on an enemy.
Increased base armor from 20 to 40.
Decreased primary weapon spread by 20%. Reduced horizontal recoil by 15%.

Upgrade #3-1 (“Special trait: Enemies within the ability's area of effect take increased weapon damage”): damage bonus decreased from +15% to +5%.
Upgrade #7-1 (“Ability special trait damage bonus increase”): bonus damage increase reduced from +10% to +5%.

CST

XM84 special gear: base ammo reduced from 3 to 2 grenades.
XM84 special gear upgrade #14-1 (“Replaces the Stunned Effect with the Suppressed, Disoriented and Slowed Effects”): duration of the Suppressed effect reduced by x4.
Secondary weapon: movement speed bonus reduced from +50% to +10%. Rate of fire reduced from 4 to 2 shots per second.
Impersonation ability: Base cooldown increased from 22 sec. to 32 sec.
Base activation cost increased from 80 to 120 SP.
Upgrade #2-2 (“Reduces activation cost of the ability”): activation cost reduction increased from -10 SP to -20 SP.
Upgrade #13-2 (“Reduces activation cost of the ability”): activation cost reduction increased from -30 SP to -35 SP.
Personal Priorities Personal Skill: Extra ammo increased from 2 to 3.

Buddy special gear:

Now will only destroy covers on command [Q]. If you mark a spot next to a cover, the robot will simply move to the marked spot.
Upgrade #9-1 (“Special trait: the drone revives the operator and teammates in the area of effect. Each revival damages the drone for 25% of its durability.”): Buddy will now lose 50% of its total durability for each revival.

Game designer’s comment: Now Buddy will only be able to revive two teammates before breaking down. But you’ll still be able to repair him by picking up his pieces. I also recommend paying attention to the alternative upgrade, which will be buffed.

Upgrade #9-2 (“Special trait: the drone destroys enemy missiles, explosives, and gas grenades in the area of effect”): aside from protection against projectiles, the upgrade will also increase the robot’s healing by +1.5 HP/sec.

Other:

Base Stamina reduced from 625 SP to 525 SP.
Primary weapon damage reduced at distances over 22 m. Effective firing range remains unchanged.

TFB

Jammer ability: throw range reduced by 30%. Base cooldown increased from 30 sec. to 35 sec.
Upgrade #13-1 (“Special trait: places the Marked effect on the enemy that destroys the device created by the ability”): effect duration reduced from 5 sec. to 2 sec.
Upgrade #13-1 (“Special trait: the enemy team receives the EMP and Confused effects if they destroy the device created by the ability”): effect duration reduced from 3 sec. to 1 sec.
Primary weapon: Information about minimum and maximum rates of fire has been added to the description.

Primary weapon: Bullet velocity reduced from instant (hitscan) to the current highest in the game.
Healing Foam ability: Can now be applied to self by holding the activation button [Q] to restore up to 30 HP.
The ability can now be canceled manually by pressing the activation button again.

Game designer’s comment: Although Watson will no longer have hitscan attacks, he will still have very fast bullets. His bullet velocity will be x2.1 higher than in version 0.20.0.

RAID

Primary weapon rate of fire increased from 3.5 to 4 shots per second.
Linear upgrade #10 (“Increased effective firing range”): range bonus increased from +2 m to +5 m. Added a 15% bonus to stability.

Secondary weapon:

Spread while aiming decreased by 40%.
Crosshair tightening speed while aiming increased by 275%.
Crosshair tightening delay while aiming reduced to 0.1 sec.
Spread increase while moving increased by x5.

Secondary weapon: spread decreased by 20%.

NESHER

Upgrade #5-1 (“Special trait: If an operator affected by this ability is incapacitated, they receive the Last Stand effect for the duration of the ability”): the operator will no longer be able to move after activating the special trait.
Last Stand effect duration reduced from 2 sec. to 1.5 sec.

Turret ability: turret turn speed increased by 15%.

EZAPAC

Primary weapon rate of fire decreased from 10.5 to 10 shots per second.

Linear upgrade #10 (“Ammo replacement: 12ga Dragon's Breath”):

Damage penalty reduced from -4 to -2.
The description no longer mentions an effective range penalty because it was never actually applied.

ARYSTAN

Primary weapon: recoil decreased by 30%, recoil of the first shot increased by x2.5.
GLX160 with DART rounds special gear: base ammo reduced from 2 to 1.

Secondary weapon:

Rate of fire increased from 5 to 6 shots per second.
Maximum spread when hip-firing while standing increased by 33%.
Maximum spread when hip-firing while crouching increased by 43%.
Spread increase while moving decreased by x2.
Crosshair tightening speed while aiming increased by x5.
Crosshair tightening delay while aiming removed.

Dispersion ability: base cooldown reduced from 50 sec. to 40 sec.

Primary weapon: Bullet velocity reduced from instant (hitscan) to the current highest in the game.
Primary weapon: body shot damage increased from 55 to 75.
Primary weapon: crosshair tightening speed for the rifle increased by 125%. Crosshair tightening delay reduced by 66%.
Secondary weapon: rate of fire increased from 8 to 8.5 shots per second. Base ammo increased from 3 to 4 magazines.
Jamming Device special gear: base duration reduced from 30 sec. to 15 sec.
Upgrade #11 (“Increased duration of the special gear”): duration bonus decreased from +15 sec. to +7 sec.
Upgrade #14-1 (“Increased duration of the special gear”): duration bonus decreased from +15 sec. to +8 sec.

SSO RB

Added level 6 linear upgrade: “Low-velocity rounds: Vertical recoil reduced by 10%, horizontal recoil reduced by 50%, effective range decreased by 10 meters.”
Abseiling Proficiency Personal Skill: The description no longer mentions the lack of slowing upon landing. The only effect of this skill is fall damage reduction.
Tishina special gear: explosion damage reduced from 90 to 45. Fire damage remains unchanged.

Primary weapon: rate of fire increased from 6.5 to 6.7 shots per second, vertical recoil reduced by 10%.
R&R Personal Skill: now also provides immunity to the Suppressed effect.

Primary weapon: bullet velocity increased to the current highest in the game.
Upgrade #14-1 (“Special trait: primary weapon rate of fire increases by 100% while the ability lasts”): rate of fire bonus decreased from +100% to +20%.
Primary weapon: armor penetration reduced from 90% to 80%.
Primary weapon: headshot damage reduced from 180 to 155.
Ballistic Knife special gear: the delay between the animation start and the actual shot has been reduced by x2.

AMF

Upgrade #13 (“...the operator moves slower upon taking damage, and is immobilized at the end of the effect”): number of hits required to achieve maximum slowdown reduced from 9 to 7.
Upgrade #14-2 (“Decreases the amount an operator is slowed down when taking damage while the special trait is active”): slow reduction efficiency reduced by x2.

Upgrade #7-1 (“Special trait: holding the ability activation key [Q] restores Stamina to all teammates and the operator’s HP”): SP restoration increased from 75 to 100 SP.

JIAOLONG

Primary weapon: headshot damage reduced from 43 to 42.
Primary weapon: armor penetration reduced from 54% to 49%.
Xigou special gear: turn speed increased by 15%.

Primary weapon: Bullet velocity reduced from instant (hitscan) to the current highest in the game.
QLZ-87 special gear: rate of fire decreased from 2.4 to 0.7 shots per second.
Linear upgrade #13 (“Special gear ammunition replacement: increased detonation delay, increased damage and area of effect”): detonation delay increased from 0.5 sec. to 1 sec.
Electromagnetic Field Generator ability: rate of fire bonus reduced from +25% to +7%.
Upgrade #10-1 (“Increases the rate of fire bonus gained within range of the generator”): rate of fire bonus reduced from +10% to +8%.

Game designer’s comment: Like in Watson’s case, Yíngzhōu’s bullet velocity won’t be reverted to pre-hitscan values; it’ll be higher. His bullet velocity is 85% higher than it was in version 0.21.0.

Healing Plate ability:

Now uses charges for the first time in the history of the game. Number of Healing Plate charges: 4.

The number of charges reflects how many times the ability can be activated over a short period of time. Cooldown reflects how much time is left until one charge is restored.

Game designer’s comment: Now you will be able to place a healing plate on all your teammates, including yourself, with only a very short delay (1.5 sec.). To place it on yourself, hold down the ability activation button [Q].

Placing multiple plates doesn’t stack the effect, but extends it. Try to place several plates on a Support operator, since they have the most HP.

Ability mechanic reworked: once activated, pressing [Q] will fix the plate to the closest teammate.

Game designer’s comment: After the Single Strike event, players would often ask us to make the Healing Plate more similar to Medic Corpsman’s ability. While adding this mechanic, we decided to also implement ability charges and apply balance changes.

Maximum number of plates reduced from 6 to 4.
Plates no longer restore Yàowáng’s Stamina.
Cooldown increased from 14 sec. to 22 sec.
Base activation cost reduced from 65 SP to 55 SP.

BOPE

Primary weapon: now inflicts the Slowed effect if firing continuously without the bipod. Each shot increases the effect by 1%. Maximum Movement Speed decrease: 50%.

Base Sprint speed reduced from 5 to 4.5.
Pneumatic Ampoule Launcher special gear: base healing per hit on a teammate reduced from 7 HP to 5 HP.
Upgrade #10-2 (“Increases HP restored by the special gear”): restoration bonus reduced from +3 HP to +2 HP.
Upgrade #8-1 (“Special trait: the operator starts firing double shots from their primary weapon”): now also increases primary weapon spread by 50%.
Reloading ability: healing to self reduced from 40 HP to 30 HP.

Eagle eye Ability:

Cooldown reduced from 30 sec. to 25 sec.
Base duration increased from 5 sec. to 7 sec.
Activation cost reduced from 100 SP to 45 SP.

Game designer’s comment: The primary purpose of a Marksman is reconnaissance. They can spot an enemy from afar and relay the information to their teammates.

Caçador was originally envisioned as an operator with the greatest potential for spotting and “highlighting” enemies. But usage showed that he needed a buff.

AM-637 special gear: base ammo increased from 3 to 4.