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HotS Balance Update - April 9

Forum Index > SC2 General
339 CommentsPost a Reply
1 2 3 4 5 15 16 17 Next All
The_Templar
Profile Blog Joined January 2011
your Country52798 Posts
Last Edited: 2015-04-09 20:21:31
April 09 2015 19:19 GMT
#1
[image loading]

In recent months, we’ve been testing the biggest balance changes yet for StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm. After gathering and reviewing your feedback from the three separate Balance Test Maps that explored these changes, we are ready to move forward with a new balance update. You can expect to see the following adjustments applied to Heart of the Swarm multiplayer today.

Zerg

Swarm Host
  • Cost modified from 200 Minerals and 100 Vespene to 100 Minerals and 200 Vespene
  • Supply cost increased from 3 to 4
  • Movement speed increased from 2.25 to 2.95
  • Swarm Hosts now require the Burrow research in order to burrow
  • Swarm Hosts no longer collide with Locusts

Spawn Locusts – This ability has been reworked
  • Auto-cast removed, Spawn Locusts must now be manually cast.
  • Spawn Locusts cooldown increased from 25 seconds to 60 seconds
  • Casting Spawn Locusts no longer requires a Swarm Host to be burrowed

Locust
  • Weapon speed increased from .8 to .6
  • Locust duration increased from 15 seconds (+10 seconds with Enduring Locusts) to 25 seconds

Infestation Pit
  • Enduring Locusts – This upgrade has been removed
  • New upgrade: Flying Locusts - Allows Locusts spawned by Swarm Hosts to fly. Flying Locusts can use Swoop to land and attack
  • Requires Lair
  • Cost is 200 Minerals, 200 Vespene, 160 seconds
  • Allows Locusts spawned by Swarm Hosts to fly. Flying Locusts can use Swoop to land and attack
  • Swoop: Orders the Locust to land at the targeted location, allowing it to attack

Viper
  • Blinding Cloud range increased from 10 to 11


Terran

Raven
  • Point Defense Drone duration decreased from 180 seconds to 20 seconds


Protoss

Tempest
  • Bonus damage versus massive air units decreased from +50 damage to +14 damage.


Source
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ModeratorI am still alive, somehow
TL+ Member
The_Templar
Profile Blog Joined January 2011
your Country52798 Posts
Last Edited: 2015-04-09 19:22:02
April 09 2015 19:20 GMT
#2
Poll: Opinion on Swarm Host/Locust Changes?

Approve (379)
 
61%

Disapprove (178)
 
29%

Unsure/No opinion (61)
 
10%

618 total votes

Your vote: Opinion on Swarm Host/Locust Changes?

(Vote): Approve
(Vote): Disapprove
(Vote): Unsure/No opinion


Poll: Opinion on Viper Changes?

Approve (261)
 
45%

Disapprove (229)
 
40%

Unsure/No opinion (85)
 
15%

575 total votes

Your vote: Opinion on Viper Changes?

(Vote): Approve
(Vote): Disapprove
(Vote): Unsure/No opinion


Poll: Opinion on Raven Changes?

Approve (381)
 
66%

Disapprove (177)
 
30%

Unsure/No opinion (23)
 
4%

581 total votes

Your vote: Opinion on Raven Changes?

(Vote): Approve
(Vote): Disapprove
(Vote): Unsure/No opinion


Poll: Opinion on Tempest Changes?

Approve (284)
 
51%

Disapprove (191)
 
35%

Unsure/No opinion (78)
 
14%

553 total votes

Your vote: Opinion on Tempest Changes?

(Vote): Approve
(Vote): Disapprove
(Vote): Unsure/No opinion


ModeratorI am still alive, somehow
TL+ Member
Shield
Profile Blog Joined August 2009
Bulgaria4824 Posts
Last Edited: 2015-04-09 19:25:32
April 09 2015 19:22 GMT
#3
Bye, awesome PvP late game. Welcome back mass colossi PvP.

Raven

Point Defense Drone duration decreased from 180 seconds to 20 seconds


As if mech wasn't bad enough. :D
OtherWorld
Profile Blog Joined October 2013
France17333 Posts
Last Edited: 2015-04-09 19:22:49
April 09 2015 19:22 GMT
#4
RIP Glorious, exciting and skillful late-game ZvP, 2013-2015. I'll miss you.
and there's a random center tag at the top of the OP Templar sniped
Used Sigs - New Sigs - Cheap Sigs - Buy the Best Cheap Sig near You at www.cheapsigforsale.com
The_Templar
Profile Blog Joined January 2011
your Country52798 Posts
Last Edited: 2015-04-09 19:23:22
April 09 2015 19:23 GMT
#5
On April 10 2015 04:22 OtherWorld wrote:
RIP Glorious, exciting and skillful late-game ZvP, 2013-2015. I'll miss you.
and there's a random center tag at the top of the OP Templar sniped

I made the OP in two minutes, give me a break
ModeratorI am still alive, somehow
TL+ Member
Big J
Profile Joined March 2011
Austria16289 Posts
April 09 2015 19:25 GMT
#6
I guess they always need a "queen-patch" a year before the next expansion. Let's see if they are willing to balance this time or let the game rot like 2012.
Heyoka
Profile Blog Joined March 2008
Katowice25012 Posts
April 09 2015 19:26 GMT
#7
damn it's out, didn't realize the PDD duration change was so huge.
@RealHeyoka | ESL / DreamHack StarCraft Lead
ejozl
Profile Joined October 2010
Denmark3561 Posts
April 09 2015 19:26 GMT
#8
Swarm Hosts no longer collide with Locusts

This is the only thing I disagree with. I was already getting my passion back to go on the ladder, this patch furthers that
SC2 Archon needs "Terrible, terrible damage" as one of it's quotes.
BaneRiders
Profile Joined August 2013
Sweden3630 Posts
April 09 2015 19:29 GMT
#9
Looking forward to seeing flying swarm hosts next
Earth, Water, Air and Protoss!
sc2chronic
Profile Joined May 2012
United States777 Posts
April 09 2015 19:31 GMT
#10
i guess this helps us ease into lotv for the new units. still dont approve of anything regarding swarm hosts but beating a dead horse
terrible, terrible, damage
kaluro
Profile Joined November 2011
Netherlands760 Posts
April 09 2015 19:32 GMT
#11
On April 10 2015 04:26 Heyoka wrote:
damn it's out, didn't realize the PDD duration change was so huge.


It was well needed though.
Putting down PDDs infinitely with a 3 minute duration was way out of whack, it basically made a terran army completely invulnerable.
www.twitch.tv/kaluroo - 720p60fps - Remember the name! - Don't do your best, do whatever it takes.
ZeroCartin
Profile Blog Joined March 2008
Costa Rica2390 Posts
April 09 2015 19:32 GMT
#12
wtf that Viper buff is HUGE
"My sister is on vacation in Costa Rica right now. I hope she stays a while because she's a miserable cunt." -pubbanana
OtherWorld
Profile Blog Joined October 2013
France17333 Posts
April 09 2015 19:32 GMT
#13
On April 10 2015 04:29 BaneRiders wrote:
Looking forward to seeing flying swarm hosts next

I want ground-based Brood Lords too d:
Used Sigs - New Sigs - Cheap Sigs - Buy the Best Cheap Sig near You at www.cheapsigforsale.com
Spect8rCraft
Profile Joined December 2012
649 Posts
April 09 2015 19:34 GMT
#14
Well, it's still an end of an era.
stuchiu
Profile Blog Joined June 2010
Fiddler's Green42661 Posts
April 09 2015 19:34 GMT
#15
Poll: Best name for the patch?

Firekanin Patch (64)
 
42%

Firecake Patch (31)
 
21%

HotS April 9 Patch (26)
 
17%

Lillecakin Patch (22)
 
15%

Lillekanin Patch (8)
 
5%

151 total votes

Your vote: Best name for the patch?

(Vote): HotS April 9 Patch
(Vote): Lillecakin Patch
(Vote): Firekanin Patch
(Vote): Firecake Patch
(Vote): Lillekanin Patch


Moderator
UberNuB
Profile Joined December 2010
United States365 Posts
April 09 2015 19:37 GMT
#16
Might as well remove the SH completely, and tell Zerg players, "We don't care about your inability to combat death-ball armies; all-in, or GG."
the absence of evidence, is not the evidence of absence.
Dodgin
Profile Blog Joined July 2011
Canada39254 Posts
April 09 2015 19:37 GMT
#17
It's the end of an era!
Deleted User 137586
Profile Joined January 2011
7859 Posts
April 09 2015 19:37 GMT
#18
I can't imagine that we are going to have well-balanced months ahead of us. The game was in a nice state. But at least HotS games are going to be more exciting for a bit as everyone wants to observe the outcome of this major patch.
Cry 'havoc' and let slip the dogs of war
Solar424
Profile Blog Joined June 2013
United States4001 Posts
April 09 2015 19:40 GMT
#19
Probably going to be the last major balance patch for the next 6 months/until LotV release. Which is a shame, because this will absolutely destroy late-game ZvP. Zerg will have to end the game with the first push or just die to deathball.
gdarky
Profile Joined August 2014
Latvia78 Posts
April 09 2015 19:41 GMT
#20
Will GSL & SSL use old version of SC2?
1998-2003 ex-sc player under nickname SoL.Dark.wS
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