Patch 4.20 Highlights: Void Rebalance

Today Plarium have posted their patch notes for the upcoming patch, including new Dungeon levels, and a long awaited Void Rebalance, and it appears Visix has finally passed her basic Champion Training!

Hey, everyone!

Spring has been generous thus far and is raining Raid Updates still. Even after the introduction of new Doom Tower Bosses, 4.20 has some significant additions to show off: new Dungeon Stages, a major Void Champion balance patch, AI fixes, new Champions (you’ll see the details in a few days). Check out the Highlights below to learn more.

New Dungeon Stages

This one is simple but pleasant – all Dungeons (excluding the Minotaur’s Labyrinth) and Affinity Keeps are going to get 5 extra Stages. Artifact Dungeon Bosses on new Stages will have additional Passive Skills: one will limit Turn Meter decrease, the other will limit the damage they take from attacks that scale based on the target’s MAX HP (no more than 10% of HP will be lost). With that in mind, even tried and tested strategies might need to be adjusted when you venture into the new Stages – and don’t forget that even basic enemies on new Stages will be stronger! As you’d expect, rewards will scale up as well to match a greater challenge.

So get your Champions ready, it’s time to raid the Dungeons harder than ever before!

Void Champion Rebalance

We’ve gone through our Void Champion Roster and made a number of significant changes to ensure they perform better in Battles. Most of these changes are buffs, though Skills were reworked:

Visix the Unbowed[Flanged Mace] – Has an 80% chance to decrease the target’s Turn Meter by 15% (up from 10%) with each hit[Sinister Allies] – Skill redesigned: No longer places a [Shield] buff on herself and will instead place a 50% [Ally Protection] buff on all allies for 2 turns[Single Combat] – Skill redesigned: Attacks all enemies (up from 1), places a [Provoke] debuff on them for 1 Turn. Places a [Shield] buff on this Champion equal to 20% of her MAX HP

Wurlim Frostking[Winds of Winter] – Effect added: Places a [Veil] buff on the ally with the lowest HP for 1 turn if the target resisted the [Freeze] debuff. Additionally, the duration of the [Perfect Veil] buff (if [Freeze] was applied] has been increased to 2 turns[Frostbite Blast] – Effect added: Places a 50% [Decrease ACC] debuff alongside the 30% [Decrease C.DMG]. These debuffs cannot be resisted[Icegrave Armor] – Cooldown decreased to 5 turns (down from 6)[Aura] – Increases Ally DEF by 40% in Doom Tower Battles (previously increased DEF by 30% in Arena Battles)

Soulless[Base Stats]: SPD increased to 97 (up from 87), DEF increased to 120 (up from 105), ATK decreased to 70 (down from 85)[Wave of Despair and Reign of Terror] – Multipliers slightly decreased to fit the changes to his DEF stat

Exemplar[High Stance – Ascended] – Effect added: If the first hit is Critical, it will increase one of the target’s Skills cooldown (chosen at random) by 2 Turns. If the target is under a [Weaken] debuff at the time, it will increase the Skill cooldown to maximum[Pincer Attack] – Debuff chance increased to 75% (up from 50%)[Capture] – Cooldown decreased to 4 turns (down from 5)

Rowan[Blade Surge] – Debuff chance increased to 75% (up from 50%)

Towering Titan[Shieldsplitter] – Damage will be based on HP[Flailing Assault] – Damage will be based on HP. Attacks 4 times at random. Places a [Provoke] debuff on the first hit, has an additional 50% chance to place a [Provoke] debuff on subsequent hits[Bullish Vitality] – Shield duration increased to 3 turns. When ascended, the Skill will grant this Champion an extra turn

Suwai Firstborn[Utter Rampage] – Skill reworked: Attacks all enemies, has a 75% chance of placing a 50% [Decrease ATK] debuff. Cooldown: 4 turns.
Skill upgrades:
• Level 2: Damage +10%
• Level 3: Damage +10%
• Level 4: Buff/Debuff Chance +10%
• Level 5: Buff/Debuff Chance +15%
• Level 6: Cooldown -1[Deaden Reactions] – Cooldown decreased to 4 turns (down from 5)

Broadmaw[Hail] – Debuff chance increased to 35% (up from 25%)[Gift – Ascended] – Effect added. Fill the Turn Meter of all allies by 15%.[Resurrect] – Cooldown decreased to 6 turns (down from 7)[Aura] – Increases Ally DEF by 33% in Faction Wars Crypts

Baerdal Fellhammer[Base Stats] – DEF increased, HP slightly decreased.[Ensorcelled Axe] – Skill Upgrade adjusted:
• Level 2: Damage +10%
• Level 3: Buff/Debuff Chance +10%
• Level 4: Buff/Debuff Chance +10%
• Level 5: Buff/Debuff Chance +10%[Fey Protection] – Effect added. Has a 75% chance to place a 60% [Decrease DEF] debuff if the target is already under a [Heal Reduction] debuff.

Whisper[Softening Drive] – Effect added. Will also place a 30% [Increase C.Rate] buff on this Champion.[Unyielding Flurry] – Cooldown decreased to 5 turns (down from 6)

AI Improvements
• Several Champions will see changes to their behavior in Auto Battle. You can find the comprehensive list below:
• Siphi the Lost Bride will prioritize her Whirlwind Romance Skill in Clan Boss Battles
• Tyrant Ixlimor will prioritize his Hellfire Torrent Skill in Clan Boss Battles
• Shatterbones will prioritize his Hail Skill in the Fire Knight Castle Dungeon
• Scyl of the Drakes will prioritize her Wingbeat Flurry Skill when there are two or more enemies alive
• War Mother will use her Mother’s Touch Skill on Bosses the target has active [Bomb] debuffs
• Mountain King will always prioritize targets with the [Block Damage] buff when using his Regal Force Skill
• Warlord will no longer use his Orcish Rituals Skill in Clan Boss Battles
• Robar will use his Wild Swing Skill even if there is only one enemy alive
• Tayrel will prioritize his Humble Skill when fighting the Fire Knight whenever the Cloak of Fire shield is active
• Tayrel will no longer use his Preemptive Strike Skill in Clan Boss Battles
• Elenaril will no longer use her Combust Skill if the target has no [Poison] debuffs
• Zavia will no longer use her Deadly Catalyst Skill if the target has no [Poison] debuffs
• Maneater will target Skavag with his Syphon Skill when fighting in the Spider’s Den

Some really great changes upcoming, some vault dwellers will certainly be making an appearance in peoples rosters soon!

Visix has gone from being a well-known joke of the void legendary pool to being an incredibly useful champion for progression with her AOE Provoke. This is just what a legendary login reward should do!

Wurlim’s changes will also bring some joy to the community, with his irresistible debuffs on his AOE. He may see some use now too!

Overall there are some great changes, maybe not as much as we have expected – but something is better than nothing!

Let us know your thoughts in the comments:

Which change do you like the most?
What changes would YOU like to see to voids in a rebalance?
Are you going to use any of these champions now, if so, where?