RE: Balance: Update 0.23.2 | News | Caliber is a team-based online game
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RE: Balance: Update 0.23.2

Hello, everyone!

The new RE: Balance turned out great. We’ve changed the upgrades of all Vympel collection operators, made the EMP and Suppressed effects more useful against bots, added some Armor to Perun, and much more.

Watch the video to learn about the main changes, or read this article to get all the details.

EMP AND SUPPRESSED

All operators who are able to inflict the EMP and Suppressed effects will become more useful against bots.

EMP

Right now using EMP on most bots is pointless, since they don't use any abilities. Officer bots and the Heavy Fighter bot are the only exceptions to this rule.

With the release of the update, EMP will inflict the Stunned effect on bots for 1.5 seconds. The Heavy Fighter is immune to this, however.

SUPPRESSED

The Suppressed effect's efficacy against bots will be tripled. You'll become much harder to hit.

OPERATOR BALANCE CHANGES

VYMPEL

Primary weapon:

  • Decreased vertical barrel recoil by 25%.
  • Decreased sensitivity to mouse movement while aiming by 15%. Affects only weapon movement, not mouse sensitivity.
  • Increased reticle contrast for all scopes.

GP-25 special gear:

  • Range of shots increased by 33%.
  • Damage dealt increased by 20.

REVAMPED UPGRADES

New upgrades:

  • Upgrade #6-2: "Special trait: increases primary weapon reload speed while the ability is active. Reload speed: +20%".

Game designer’s comment: This upgrade will suit those players who prefer to use the standard magazine. If you have activated the ability with a partially empty magazine, then you’ll be able to reload and attack an enemy before the ability’s duration runs out.

  • Upgrade #11-2: "Ammo replacement: bouncing projectile. Increased ammo, increased area of effect, decreased damage. Ammo: +2. Damage dealt: −40. Area of effect: +1 m."

Game designer’s comment: Use the bouncing projectile to flush out enemies hiding behind covers.

  • Upgrade #11-3 "Ammo replacement: smoke shell. Can be attached to surfaces. Increased ammo and reload speed. Ammo +3. Reload speed: +50%."

Game designer’s comment: Another way to play tactically without charging into enemy territory. Contrasting with other smoke sources, the smoke shell can be attached to surfaces. The shell will stick to whatever surface you shoot at—even an enemy.

Changed upgrades:

  • Upgrade #2-2: "Increased base Stamina of the operator: +25 SP" changed to "Shortened ability cooldown: −3 sec."
  • Upgrade #5-1: "Basic Primary Reserve stock: +2." changed to "Primary Reserves upgrade. Increased cooldown."
  • Upgrade #5-2: "Shortened ability cooldown: −5 sec." changed to "Basic Primary and Secondary Reserve stock increase: +2."
  • Upgrade #5-3: "Secondary base Reserve stock: +2." changed to "Reserve usage increased by 25%. Basic Reserve stock reduction."
  • Upgrade #6-1: "Increased special gear effective range: +33%." changed to "Shortened ability cooldown: −5 sec."
  • Upgrade #10-1: "Increased headshot damage from AK-74M while using the ability. Headshot damage: +3." changed to "Increased damage upon hitting an enemy with the AK-74M while using the ability. Damage: +10." Previously, the upgrade strengthened headshots. Now it strengthens body shots.

Game designer’s comment: Volk is one of the very first operators that a new player obtains. Hitting the body is easier than hitting the head, so we’ve decided to change the upgrade. However, Volk still plays well across all player levels, despite his simplicity.

  • Upgrade #10-2: "Increased base Stamina of the operator: +50 SP." changed to "Increases the effective range of the AK-74M while using the ability. Effective range: +10 m."

Game designer’s comment: these upgrades will suit players who prefer mid- and close-range combat. Goes very well with the ability.

  • Upgrade #12-2 ("Removal of Sprint block applied to the operator when ability is activated") has been moved to the #12-1 slot.
  • Upgrade #13-2: "Increases base Stamina of the operator: +50 SP." changed to "Increased base Stamina of the operator: +150 SP."
  • Upgrade #14-2: "Increased special gear damage. Damage: +30." changed to "Special gear ammo increase: +1 shot."

Removed upgrades:

  • Upgrade #12-1 ("Basic Primary Reserve stock increase: +2.")
  • Upgrade #12-2 ("Basic Secondary Reserve stock increase: +2.")

Primary weapon:

  • Spread decreased by 10%.

REVAMPED UPGRADES

New upgrades:

  • Upgrade #2-2: "Increased base Stamina of the operator: +25 SP." (Moved to #12-2) changed to: "Reduced Stamina cost of Shield regeneration. Stamina cost: −1 SP/sec."
  • Upgrade #8-2 ("Increased special gear ammo. Ammo: +1 pcs.") Moved from the #11-1 slot.
  • Upgrade #8-3 ("Increases maximum number of revival kits given to the operator at the beginning of the battle. Syringe qty.: +1 pcs.")
  • Upgrade #10-3 ("Special trait bonus: Increased speed of revival of incapacitated teammates. Revival speed: +50%.")

Game designer’s comment: the latter two upgrades will make Almaz very useful for playing in teams. You’ll be able to turn the tides of battle in your favor, even when all seems lost. Just don’t forget that you can revive incapacitated teammates.

Changed upgrades:

  • Upgrade #6-1: "Basic Primary Reserve stock: +2." changed to "Primary Reserves upgrade. Increased cooldown."
  • Upgrade #6-2: "Base HP increase: +10 HP." changed to "Primary and Secondary Reserve stock increase: +2."
  •  Upgrade #6-3: "Basic Secondary Reserve stock: +2." changed to "Reserve usage increased by 25%. Basic Reserve stock reduction."
  • Upgrade #11-1: "Special gear ammo increase: +1." changed to "Base HP increase: +10 HP."
  • Upgrade #12-2: "Increased base Stamina of the operator: +50 SP." changed to "Increased base Stamina of the operator: +100 SP."

Game designer’s comment: previously, the bonus stamina was spread out across the entire upgrade tree. Now, you’ll be able to get all the bonuses with a single upgrade.

Removed upgrades:

  • Upgrade #11-1 ("Basic Primary Reserve stock increase: +2.")
  • Upgrade #11-3 ("Basic Secondary Reserve stock increase: +2.")

"Healing" Ability:

  • Increased basic healing from 34 to 45 HP.
  • It now also restores 40 SP. Previously, you needed upgrade #6-1 to trigger this effect.
  • Now, the ability can be used on a teammate with full HP to restore their Stamina.
  • Increased basic self-healing from 10 to 30 HP.
  • Increased the healing distance from 3 to 6 m.

Primary weapon:

  • Decreased spread when hip-firing by 10%.
  • Reduced vertical recoil by 10%.

REVAMPED UPGRADES

New upgrades:

  • Upgrade #8-3 ("Increases ability’s area of effect. Area of effect: +1 m.")
  • Upgrade #11-2 ("Increases ability’s area of effect. Area of effect: +1 m.")
  • Upgrade #6-1: "Special trait: the target of the ability restores some of their Stamina when the ability’s effect is applied. SP recovery: +40 SP." (Moved to base) changed to: "Special trait: using the ability on a teammate removes the Burning and Bleeding effects from them."
  • Upgrade #15-2 ("Special trait bonus: When activating the ability, the operator removes all negative effects except Marked."

Game designer’s comment: the new upgrades will allow Ded to remove almost all negative effects at once — even Burning (he could previously only provide resistance to this effect).

  • Upgrade #15-3 ("Increased Stamina restoration for the ability’s target when applying the effect. Stamina restored: +70 SP.")

Changed upgrades:

  • Upgrade #2-1: "Basic Primary Reserve stock increase: +2." changed to "Primary Reserve upgrade: First Aid Kit restores: +10 HP. Stimulant restores: +45 SP. Reserve cooldown time: +10 sec."
  • Upgrade 2-2: "Special trait: increases HP restored by the operator when using the ability. Self-heal amount: +10 HP." changed to "Basic Primary and Secondary Reserve stock increase: +2."
  • Upgrade #2-3: "Base Secondary Reserve stock: +2." changed to "Reserve usage increased by 25%. Basic Reserve stock reduction."
  • Upgrade #5-1: "Increased special gear ammo. Ammo: +1 pcs." (Moved to the #7-2 slot) changed to: "Special trait: reduced incoming damage from Bleeding effect. Damage: −30%."

Game designer’s comment: this upgrade will make Ded a useful ally, even at the beginning of the upgrade tree (Level 6 can be reached very quickly).

Removed upgrades:

  • Upgrade #10-1 ("Basic Primary Reserve stock increase: +2.")
  • Upgrade #10-3 ("Basic Secondary Reserve stock increase: +2.")
  • Base Stamina increased from 500 to 550 SP.
  • Increased stamina required for sprint from 12 to 13 SP.
  • Increased base HP by 5. This HP upgrade could previously be obtained with upgrade #5-2.

Recon ability:

  • Decreased ability activation cost from 60 to 50 SP.
  • Marked effect duration on enemy bots increased by 10 sec.

Primary weapon:

  • Recoil decreased by 10%.
  • Decreased vertical recoil after the first shot by 25%.

RGO special gear:

  • Decreased the damage that is dependent on the blast radius: from 55 to 33 at 2.5 m, from 27.5 to 16.5 at 4.75 m.

REVAMPED UPGRADES

New upgrades:

  • Upgrade #9-3 ("Increases duration of the Ability effect. Effect duration: +1.5 sec.")
  • Upgrade #15-3 ("When using the ability, the operator becomes invisible to enemy drones in the area of effect. Duration: 5 sec.")

Changed upgrades:

  • Upgrade #1-1: "Increases base Stamina of the operator: +25 SP." changed to "Increases base Stamina of the operator: +50 SP."
  • Upgrade #3-2: "Increases base Stamina of the operator: +25 SP." changed to "Increases ability’s area of effect. Area of effect: +2 m."
  • Upgrade #5-1: "Basic Primary Reserve stock increase: +2." changed to "Primary Reserve upgrade: First Aid Kit restores: +10 HP. Stimulant restores: +45 SP. Reserves cooldown time: +10 sec."
  • Upgrade #5-2: "Base HP increase: +5 HP." changed to "Primary and Secondary Reserve stock increase: +2."
  • Upgrade #5-3: "Basic Secondary Reserve stock: +2." changed to "Reserve usage increased by 25%. Basic Reserve stock reduction."
  • Upgrade #6-1: "Increased special gear effective range." changed to "Special gear ammo increase: +1 pcs."
  • Upgrade #9-2 ("Special trait: mine detection in ability area of effect.") worked incorrectly. The upgrade’s function has been fixed.

Game designer’s comment: this upgrade barely worked. The mines will now have a red lining and a well-defined contour.

  • Upgrade #11-1: "Basic Primary Reserve stock increase: +2." changed to "Increased Sprinting speed. Sprint speed: +0.2 m/sec."
  • Upgrade #11-2: "Reduces activation cost of the ability. Activation cost: −15 SP." changed to "Increases the ability’s area of effect. Area of effect: +5 m."
  • Upgrade #15-1: "Special gear ammo increase: +1 pcs." changed to "Special trait: If there are no enemies in the area of effect when activating the ability, the cooldown time is halved. Mines highlighted by the appropriate ability upgrade do not count."

Game designer’s comment: we recommend combining this upgrade with Upgrade #9-1, which allows highlighting mines. This way, you can protect your team from mines, and the ability cooldown will be twice as fast if you don’t hit any enemies while it’s active.

  • Upgrade #15-2: "Increased base Stamina. Stamina: +125 SP." Is now "When using the ability, the operator removes the Marked effect from teammates in the area of effect."

Removed upgrades:

  • Upgrade #11-3 ("Basic Secondary Reserve stock increase: +2.")

ALPHA

  • Increased base Armor by 20.

Game designer’s comment: After the global balance changes for Assaults and Marksmen, Perun was too "squishy" and couldn’t compete with other operators of the same class in this aspect.

  • Upgrade #9-1 ("Special trait: incapacitating an enemy with a headshot while the ability is active restores HP."): The amount of HP restored has been increased from 11 to 15 HP.
  • Upgrade #9-2 ("Special trait: incapacitating an enemy while the ability is active restores HP."): The amount of HP restored has been increased from 8 to 10 HP.

Fixed the Piercing Shots ability:

  • While the ability is active, the operator can only shoot their primary weapon in single-shot mode. The effective range is increased by 20 meters. Bullets pierce their targets and can hit multiple enemies. Damage is not reduced by armor.
  • It will now be possible to switch to two-shot burst mode with Linear Upgrade #6.

Game designer’s comment: the basic ability properties and the properties of Linear Upgrade #6 have essentially switched places. This change was made for new players who often considered switching to one-shot bursts a downgrade, even where this wasn’t true.

Suppressing Fire ability:

  • The Suppressed effect’s efficacy against bots has been tripled.
  • The Suppressed effect is now applied to bots on the first hit.
  • Linear upgrade #10 ("The Marked effect no longer applies when using the Bullet Rain ability. Increased ability activation cost. Activation cost: +50SP"): the negative effect that increases the ability cost has been reduced to +30 SP.

SSO

  • Decreased armor penetration of the primary weapon from 60% to 55%.
  • The Preventative Action ability’s duration decreased from 8 to 5 sec.
  • Upgrade #12-1 ("Increased duration of the ability"): duration bonus decreased from +2 to +1 sec.
  • Upgrade #12-3 ("Special trait: increases weapon stability while the ability is active"): Spread reduction decreased from 50% to 25%.
  • Upgrade #13-1 ("Increased duration of the ability"): duration bonus decreased from +3 to +2 sec.

Game designer’s comment: Voron sticks out like a sore thumb in the Assault class statistics. He’s currently the most popular operator of his class.

  • Enthusiastic ability: no longer apply the Inspired effect to Bard himself.
  • Primary weapon: increased recoil from the 2nd and the 3rd shots when firing in bursts.

Game designer’s comment: Bard was too strong and self-sufficient of an operator, especially in the hands of a highly skilled player. According to our stats, he’s the most banned Medic in Ranked Battles mode.

GROM

  • Thunder ability: now inflicts the Stunned effect on bots for 1.5 seconds for every 3 successful hits from the primary weapon.

KSK

  • Dead Calm ability: now inflicts the Stunned effect on bots for 1.5 seconds and increases incoming damage. Damage increase: +20%.
  • Upgrade #14-2 ("Special trait: the operator’s rate of fire is increased for a short time if at least one enemy is affected by the Dead Calm ability"): it is no longer necessary to land a hit on an enemy for the effect to be applied.
  • Upgrade #15-1 ("Special trait: enemies near the target within an area of effect take increased weapon damage"): increased the effect’s efficacy against bots by 30%.

SEAL

  • Upgrade #5-1 ("Special trait: hitting an enemy while the ability lasts applies the Slowed effect to them"): increased the effect’s duration on bots by 70%.
  • Crackdown ability: now inflicts the Stunned effect to bots on the first hit.
  • Upgrade #2-1 ("The Injection ability upgrade. Increases effective range of the ability"): the effective range has been increased from +2 to +5 m.
  • Upgrade #12-1 ("The Injection ability upgrade. Increases effective range of the ability"): the effective range has been increased from +5 to +10 m.
  • Upgrade #15-3 ("The Injection ability upgrade. Increases effective range of the ability"): the effective range has been increased from +8 to +15 m.

Game designer’s comment: we’re increasing Monk’s potential. Currently, he is the Medic with the largest effective range when healing a single target. If you pick the necessary upgrades, of course.

CST

  • Upgrade #14-1 ("Replaces the Stunned Effect with the Suppressed, Disoriented and Slowed Effects on special gear’s detonation"): reduced vertical recoil height from the Suppressed effect.
  • Upgrade #4-1 ("Increased duration of the ability"): duration bonus decreased from +3 to +2 sec.
  • Primary weapon: increased spread and recoil when hip-firing by 20%.
  • Decreased the base ammo of the M224A1 special gear from 3 charges to 2.

Advance ability:

  • No longer provides immunity to the Marked effect inflicted on her teammates by Team Intel in Threshold Mode.
  • Basic duration decreased from 7 to 5 sec.

Game designer’s comment: Avalanche is currently one of the most powerful operators in the game. She has almost no weaknesses. So, we’ve decided to nerf an ability that provides too much of an advantage in PvP and Threshold Mode.

TFB

  • Linear upgrade #6 ("Short barrel"): Movement Speed is no longer increased by 10%.
  • Decreased the base damage of the L17A1 special gear from 130 to 120.
  • Upgrade #12-2 ("Special gear damage increase"): damage increase reduced from +30 to +20.
  • Upgrade #14-2 ("Special trait: explosion damage is reduced while the ability is active": damage reduction is now −25% instead of −20%.
  • Unfinished Business ability: now applies a penalty after self-revival: −20 HP. Max HP cannot go lower than 40 HP. The penalty is reset upon respawning (Threshold, Annihilation) and at the start of a new round (Hacking, Onslaught, Showdown).

Game designer’s comment: Sterling is also considered one of the strongest operators in all PvP modes. With the right skill selection, Sterling can infinitely self-revive without any penalties. We want to preserve this unique mechanic, but now he will take an HP penalty for every self-revival he performs.

  • Jammer ability: now inflicts the Stunned effect on bots for 1.5 seconds once every 5 seconds.
  • Upgrade #15-1 ("Special trait: headshots from the primary weapon inflict the Suppressed effect"): the Suppressed effect’s efficacy against bots has been tripled.
  • Upgrade #7-1 ("Special trait: the targets affected by the ability are inflicted with the Suppressed effect"): the Suppressed effect’s efficacy against bots has been tripled.

NESHER

  • Crippling Shot ability: the Suppressed effect’s efficacy against bots has been tripled.

EZAPAC

  • Decreased the base damage of the AG36 special gear from 85 to 70.
  • Primary weapon, basic ammo: spread increased by 30%.

Game designer’s comment: Miguel was too strong at mid-range, which allowed him to out-gun most operators of other classes. Miguel is also currently one of the top 3 most banned Medics in Ranked Battles.

ARYSTAN

  • Radar ability: Increased basic duration of the ability’s effect on bots from 5 seconds to 10.
  • Upgrade #6-2 ("Increased duration of the ability’s effect"): duration increased from +2 to +4 sec.
  • Decreased armor penetration of the GLX160 special gear from 40% to 20%.
  • Limited the GLX160 special gear projectile’s maximum flight range after shooting through objects to 3 m.
  • Upgrade #12-3 ("Special trait: when activating the ability, the operator becomes Shielded and loses all negative effects except Marked."): This upgrade no longer applies the Shielded effect to Tibet.
  • Obstruction ability: basic bonus of the Shielded effect decreased by 15.

Game designer’s comment: Tibet got too buffed up in previous balance changes, and is now too effective in PvP modes. So, we’ve decided to nerf him a little.

AMF

  • Upgrade #15-2 ("Special trait: Enemies affected by the ability are also inflicted with the EMP effect"): now inflicts the Stunned effect on bots for 1.5 seconds.
  • Primary weapon head and body damage increased from 16/24 to 17/28.
  • Primary weapon: increased recoil while aiming by 10%.

Game designer’s comment: Freyr has the weakest damage output of all medics. We hope that this primary weapon upgrade will remedy this.

JIAOLONG

  • The EMP Grenade special gear: now inflicts the Stunned effect on bots for 1.5 seconds.

BOPE

  • Upgrade #15-1 ("Special trait: Executing an enemy using an ability applies the Special trait effect chosen for the Level 6 upgrade"): replaced with a +15 damage bonus for the Chop ability.
  • Base Chop ability damage: increased from 30 to 40.
  • Upgrades #6-1, #6-2, and #6-3 now work with the Common Execution without using the ability.

Game designer’s comment: the ability dealt too little damage, which made players use it exclusively for executing enemies.

  • Upgrade #8-1 ("Special trait: the operator starts firing double shots from their primary weapon"): decreased the negative effect of the spread. It is now 30% instead of 50%.
  • Eagle Eye ability: bots who are affected by the ability now receive an enhanced Suppressed effect.
  • Upgrades #13-2 ("The teammates’ Movement Speed increases if 3 or more enemies are detected with an ability.") and #13-2 ("The operator’s Movement Speed increases if 3 or more enemies are detected with an ability.") have been merged.
  • A new Upgrade #13-2 ("The operator receives the Focus effect for 10 seconds if 3 or more enemies are detected with an ability.") has been added.

Focus: decreases recoil and spread by 50%.

SAS

  • Dazzle ability: the Suppressed effect’s efficacy against bots has been tripled.
  • Big Brother ability: the ability activation key can now be held down to restore 20 AP to Tower himself.

Game designer’s comment: if Tower is the only member of his team left standing, his ability becomes useless. We cannot allow applying the Shielded effect to himself, since it would make him too strong. We will, however, make it possible to restore his armor.

  • Big Brother ability: increased the Shield’s blast radius from 4 to 5 m.
  • Big Brother ability: the EMP effect from the Shield explosion now inflicts the Stunned effect on bots for 1.5 seconds.
  • Increased the base damage of the ARWEN-37 special gear from 60/72 to 70/84.
  • Increased armor penetration of the ARWEN-37 special gear from 20% to 30%.
  • Upgrade #12-2 ("ARWEN-37 special gear upgrade. Increased armor penetration and damage."): the armor penetration bonus from the upgrade has been increased from +40% to +45%.
  • Increased ARWEN-37 special gear projectile velocity from 50 to 75.
  • Increased armor penetration of the primary weapon from 50% to 60%.
  • Increased armor penetration of the secondary weapon from 35% to 40%.
  • Increased the rate of fire of the secondary weapon from 8.5 to 10 shots/sec.

Game designer’s comment: Tower’s special gear will be buffed, since it is much weaker compared to others right now.

  • Chain Healing ability: the EMP now inflicts the Stunned effect on bots for 1.5 seconds.
  • On the ground! ability: can now be used through covers. The Suppressed effect’s efficacy against bots has been tripled.
  • Upgrade #10-1 ("Primary Ability upgrade: Tapping the (Q) key also inflicts the Marked effect on the target."): now increases the operator’s movement speed instead of inflicting the Marked effect on enemies.
  • Decreased stamina required for Sprinting from 13 to 10 SP.
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