Mid-Season Balance Update - Sept. 7

[ske7ch]

<mark>UPDATE: 9/7 1:15PM PT - This update is now live in-game for Xbox One and Win10! Let us know what you think!</mark>

Hey folks - I just received word that the Halo Wars 2 team is readying a mid-season balance update for release soon. I don’t have a firm ETA yet - it’s still in the final stages of testing - but it could be released as early as today (9/7). This is a server-side update that will not require a patch/download though you may need to restart the game once it’s deployed.

These changes are the result of ongoing player feedback and game data analytics that help inform the design team about units, abilities, mechanics, and Leaders that might need some fine-tuning.

Here’s a rundown of everything that’s changing with this September mid-season balance update. Comments in italics represent designer notes to provide further context for the changes.

<mark>OVERALL THEMES</mark>
Major:

• Comprehensive balancing pass for YapYap - Tuning for Forge and Decimus - Major Isabel buff - A rework to Grunt Mines to make them viable and correctly counter scouts - Further buffs to tier 2 vehicles - More counters to vehicle heroes available at tier 1 - Strengthening the tier 1 balance triangle - Greatly improving core infantry, and scaling them better into the late game - Blitz card balance and costings - Blitz starting army balanceOther:

• Buffs to Arbiter, Johnson, Cutter, Colony, Kinsano, Anders - A balance pass on unit build times, and removing the bonus for counter units - Ram quality-of-life improvements - Support units now cost power - Overall hero balance - Making tier 1 slightly less dominated by heroes - APC units (Phantoms and Mastodons) more viable - Balanced heal values across many units and structures (a unit with a higher heal value heals more slowly, so if you doubled a healing value the unit would take twice as long to heal)<mark>GENERAL BALANCE CHANGES</mark>
  Cyclops and Hunter damage type changes:

• vs Light reduced -43% - vs Light In Cover reduced -33% - vs Light Armored reduced -43% - vs Building reduced -56% - vs Heavy Infantry reduced -45%Anti-Vehicle was too general purpose, and too effective against other infantry and buildings, which is not intended.
  Banshee, Hornet and Protector Sentinel damage type changes:

• vs Medium increased +7% - vs Heavy Infantry increased +33%Air units are Intended to be a better counter to Tier 2 vehicles (which have received another buff). This change helps strengthen the counter unit triangle (air > vehicles > infantry > air).

Armory/War Council

• Power Cost 0 -> 100 - All Heroes (except Goblins) build time 30/33/35 -> 45sHeroes are now a slightly more costly decision, so players will need to think more carefully about a hero-centric build at Tier 1. This should help diversify Tier 1 builds. This also means Heroes take longer to revive if killed, which makes that loss more costly and reduces the immediate reappearance of Heroes in the late game.

Leader powers

• Most leader powers now do 85% damage to Light and Light Armored infantry (affects all infantry except Heroes, Cyclops, Hunters) Marine Grenades/Grunt Mines

• Damage to Scouts reduced -9% - Damage to Medium Hero increased +38% Allows Grenades and Grunt Mines to counter vehicle Heroes more effectively.

Ram

• Damage to Medium Hero increased +16% - Ram reflect damage vs Scouts reduced -25%Ram Quality of life changes:

• Ram is now monocast - Units will enter the Ram state when further away from the target - Reduced speed boost to prevent units going out of control while Ramming - Greatly reduced revving time to make Ram much more responsive - Ram damage bonuses reduced (-28%) against core infantry to compensate for greatly increased efficiency - Reflect damage taken from Heavy Infantry slightly reducedRam should now be more reliable to use, and monocasting prevents overkill and makes the ability more efficient. This makes Ram better against infantry groups now, so we’ve dropped the damage slightly in some cases. This change also allows Ram to counter vehicle Heroes more effectively.
  Scout damage vs Buildings reduced -25%
  Core Infantry vs Light Armored reduced -17%, vs Buildings reduced -25%
  All of the above changes help strengthen the Tier 1 unit triangle:

• Core Infantry, when upgraded (Grenades or Mines), beat Scouts - Scouts beat Tier 1 Anti-Infantry (Hellbringers, Suicide Grunts, etc), and Tier 1 rush units (Jump Pack Brutes, Goliaths, Hellbringers, etc) - Tier 1 Anti-Infantry units beat core Infantry even when upgraded - *Tier 1 rush units should be needed to attack bases or early expansions. Scouts and core infantry should not be better at this task.*Command XP generation

• Command XP per second increased +8% - CP thresholds after the 8th point reverted to the old, lower thresholds (so you accrue points at a slightly faster rate after the 8th)Partially reverts some previous slowing down of leader point gain, but only after the 8th point. Assists more synergistic leaders, like Arbiter, Voridus, Serina.
  All Tier 2 vehicle HP and DPS increased +10%, additional changes noted in individual entries below
  Tier 3 Tanks (affects Colossus, Grizzly, Wraith, Scorpion)

• Damage type vs Heavy Infantry (Cyclops, Hunters) reduced -18%, and vs In Cover reduced -25% - UNSC tanks have reduced healing values, so they take longer to heal:

• Grizzly healing rate reduced -35% - Colossus healing rate reduced -29% - Scorpion healing rate reduced -20%In the late game, compositions of Tier 3 Tanks could beat compositions of their counter unit too easily. They were also too synergistic with healing units.

<mark>See next post for additional balance update notes.</mark>

[ske7ch]

September Mid-Season Balance Update, Continued…

<mark>UNSC (All Leaders)</mark>
Jackrabbit

• DPS increase after researching Spotter Drone reduced -43% - Acceleration reduced -29% - Self-healing rate reduced -33%Jackrabbits were still dominant and making other UNSC options redundant, as well as beating Choppers in the right hands. This slightly reduces their damage and healing ability. The reduction in acceleration also curbs their ability to hit-and-run with too much efficiency.
  Sniper

• Build time 25s -> 20s - Population Cost 4 -> 3 - Cost 75/150 -> 75/135Snipers were a little too difficult to afford and use at Tier 1.
  Wolverine

• Build time 15s -> 20s - Cost 150/170 -> 150/190Warthog

• DPS and HP increased +10% - Build time 24s -> 20s - Fixed issues with Gauss where it was not an upgrade against many target types, and in particular was a large downgrade against Light Infantry.Cyclops

• Build time 15s -> 20s - DPS increased +15%/+12%With the buff to Tier 2 vehicles, and in some other situations, it was clear that the Cyclops had fallen a little behind Hunters (even when allowing for cost and population differences). This redresses that balance.
  Hornet

• Cost 375 -> 325 - Build time 20s -> 22sVulture

• Phoenix Missile now uses Ultimates damage type, damage vs Buildings reduced -30%This reduces the ability of the Vulture to snipe HQ structures with the Phoenix Missile, which was overly-effective in certain late game scenarios. The Vulture is still one of the UNSC’s premier base-crackers, but this gives a little more opportunity for counterplay, and encourages players to use Phoenix missiles more often against other targets.
  Siege Turret

• Damage increased +22%Kodiak

• Range increased +33% - Damage increased +8%Nightingale

• Cost 400/0 -> 360/50 - Population Cost 5 -> 4Marines

• HP (per squad member) increased +9% - DPS increased +24% - Velocity increased +9% - Combat Tech Engineer HP increased +25% - Combat Tech Engineer DPS increased +57% - Veterancy requirements increased by 25% to compensate for improvementsUNSC HQ Heal Value pass:

• Command 01 - Heal Value to 1.2 - Command 03 - Heal value to 2.8 - Command 04 - Heal Value to 3.8Hellbringer

• Speed increased +8% - Build time 16s -> 14s - Base HP increased +10% - Dispersion Nozzles also increases squad health by +10% - Damage slightly increased to be balance neutral with Marines (unchanged vs Marines and slightly improved vs other Light Infantry)Hellbringers still weren’t performing their role as a rush or anti-infantry unit, so needed further buffs, and needed to be able to counter the strengthened core infantry.
  Combat Salvage

• Combat Salvage buff duration reduced from 180s to 45s

• Per-unit VFX now last for the duration of the effect (so you can see when an enemy unit is under the effect of Combat Salvage) - Cost increased from 1000/500 to 1500/1000.Combat Salvage was too strong, particularly in conjunction with more expensive units like Grizzlies and Vultures. As well as dramatically increasing the cost, this also reduces the duration and makes that duration clear to players – allowing counterplay around trying to dodge a Combat Salvage-using opponent.

<mark>Banished (All Leaders)</mark>
Reworked Grunt mines:

• When cast on enemy units, Grunts will chase and throw directly at the target (like Grenades) - Throw range increased +80% - Throw speed faster - Arming time reduced -83% - Damage reduced to account for being much more reliable and better at hitting - Improved slow on affected enemy vehiclesGrunt Mines were not performing their role as an Anti-Scout Vehicle ability. This rework allows you to use Grunt Mines more reactively (like Grenades) but still retain their mine-laying ability.

Chopper

• Splash radii on Shrapnel Rounds reduced -60%/-25%Marauder

• DPS and HP increased +10% - Marauder build time 27s -> 24s - Heal Value increased +75%Suicide Grunts

• Damage multiplier against Light Armored reduced -14%

• Damage vs Light slightly increased to be balance neutral against Marines (unchanged vs Marines and slightly improved vs other Light Infantry)Banshees

• No longer deal splash damage, greatly reduces their effectiveness against infantry - Banshee build time 15s -> 18sBanshees were still too good at countering Infantry. The cause of this was a small amount of splash damage, which wasn’t large enough to matter against enemy vehicles, but gave them too much strength against Infantry units.
  Elite Rangers

• Cost 125/90 -> 90/125 - DPS reduced -13% - Build time 16s -> 20sReaver

• Build time 20s -> 22sHunters

• Build time 20s -> 23s - Cost 160/160 -> 140/180 - Assault Beam upgrade cost 900 -> 700Infantry with the Ram ability (Grunt Riders and Goliaths)

• Damage multiplier vs Scouts reduced -33%Jump Pack Brutes

• Cost 110/65 -> 90/50 - Added slight AoE to weapons, which makes them more effective against infantry squads with lots of members - Build time 17s -> 15sMaking Jump Pack Brutes more effective as rush units. Their use and win rates were low, and they weren’t doing their job effectively.
  Banished Defences

• Cloak generator build time 40s -> 45s - Shield generator build time 30s -> 45sThe Banished still have a large defender’s advantage, which can slow down games and give them an important edge over UNSC in longer games, or when there’s a high number of expansion bases.
  Support units

• Engineer cost 240/0 -> 200/30 - Shroud cost 450/0 -> 400/60Locust

• Beam AoE 50% -> 25% (this is the AoE when the beam goes through an enemy unit or structure, it doesn’t affect the main target damage) - Damage vs Medium/Medium Hero/Medium AA reduced -17% - Damage vs Building reduced -10%Banished HQ

• Builder 01 - Heal Value to 1.4 - Builder 03 - Heal Value to 3.8 - Builder 04 - Heal Value to 4.8It is intended that the Banished HQ heals more slowly, because Banished single-target heal (Engineer) is stronger, and because the Banished benefit from Shield Generators
  <mark>See next post for additional balance update notes…</mark>

[ske7ch]

September Mid-Season Balance Update, Continued…

<mark>FORGE</mark>
Forge Hog

• Forge Hog Shields reduced -29% - Anvil Round recharge reverted to 45s - Anvil Round damage reduced -16% - Forge Hog cost increased from 300/275 to 350/275 - Basic weapon DPS reduced -8%The Forge Hog was still too strong and dominating the early game. This addresses the issues more fully.
  Accelerated Assembly:

• Cost reduction per level 15% -> 10% - Training speed buff reduced from 10% at Level 1 and 17% at Level 2 to 5% per level.<mark>ISABEL</mark>
  Leader Power radial rearranged:

• Accelerated Assembly to Tier 2 - Lotus Mines to Tier 3Accelerated Assembly at Tier 2 in her leader radial is a large buff to Isabel, giving her much more early game presence with vehicles, chaining it into a strong mid-game.
  Accelerated Assembly:

• Cost reduction per level 15% -> 10% - Training speed buff reduced from 10% at Level 1 and 17% at Level 2 to 5% per level.MAC Blast:

• Level 1 cost from 400/250 to 300/200 - Level 2 cost from 500/385 to 400/300 - Level 3 cost from 600/500 to 500/400 - At all levels, damage AoEs made larger and more generousMAC was underperforming relative to other leader powers, and its AoE zones were too focused to be useful in larger battles. This change increases MAC Blast’s attack power, especially against closely-packed units.
  Ghost in the Machine

• Now has a telegraph of 1.5 seconds

• Uses the correct telegraph visuals

• Duration: 13s -> 20s - Blitz Duration L6: 45s -> 30s - Cost 1400/750 -> 850/850Ghost in the Machine was too expensive and didn’t last long enough to be useful. This greatly reduces the cost and increases the duration, but does add a short telegraph, making it possible to dodge.
  <mark>ANDERS</mark>
  Protector Sentinel

• Cost 280/30 -> 250/30Sentinel Beacon

• Lifespan 3.5s -> 5.0sThe previous removal of LoS on Sentinels summoned by the Kodiak and Siege Turret allow an increase to push up their power level again.

<mark>JOHNSON</mark>
Leader radial rearranged:

• Digging In Tier 2 -> Tier 1 - Pelican Transport Tier 3 -> Tier 2 - Remote Sensors Tier 1 -> Tier 3EMP MAC blast

• Damage reduced from 4000/5000 -> 3750/4750 - Cooldown 175s -> 190sMantis

• Cost 400 -> 350 - Heal Value reduced -40% - DPS and HP increased +10% - Build time 27s -> 24s - Speed 14s -> 12s - Acceleration reduced -16%Bunker

• Heal Value 1.0 -> 3.0 - Cooldown 90s -> 110s - Level 1 HP 13000 -> 11700 - Refund Supply 125 -> 100Johnson Hero:

• Level 1 Beacon Heal Rate increased +24% - Level 2 Beacon heal rate increased +16% - Beacon HP reduced -60% - DPS reduced -10%/-10% - Able to place beacons more consistentlyColossus

• Stomp upgrade cost 500 -> 900 - Stomp damage vs Heavy reduced -29%<mark>CUTTER</mark>
  Leader Power radial rearranged:

• Lotus Mine to Tier 2 - Battle Hardened to Tier 1ODSTs:

• Grenade damage much more consistent - SMG DPS increased +43% - Range increased +40% - Gets additional bonus range against air units - HP (per squad member) increased +46% - Demolition charge damage vs buildings reduced -25%ODSTs are back!
  Cutter’s Bombing Run:

• Projectile delay 1.35 -> 1 (bombs arrive sooner)<mark>SERINA</mark>
  Cryo Troopers:

• Speed increased +8% - Build time 16s -> 14s - Base HP increased +10% - Cryo Trooper weapon chill to Vehicles reduced -50% - Cryo Trooper aura chill to Infantry reduced -50% - Cryo Trooper aura chill to Vehicles reduced -68%As with Hellbringers, Cryo Troopers were not effective enough as a rush or anti-infantry unit. This, overall, buffs them noticeably. Their reduction against vehicles is to strengthen the Tier 1 balance of Scouts beating rush units. Previously the chill could sometimes counteract that.
  <mark>KINSANO</mark>
  Kinsano’s Cyclops:

• Flamewall cooldown from 90s to 45s - DPS at Tier 1 increased +45%, duration 15s -> 10s - DPS at Tier 3 increased +42%, duration 15s -> 10s - Flamewall has a slightly increased damage multiplier against buildings - Kinsano HP increased +13%, SP increased +13% - Kinsano now affected by Redline and Heat of BattleThis is a considerable improvement to Kinsano, who was lagging behind other Heroes in terms of effectiveness. The changes to Flamewall allows it to output the same amount of damage, but over a shorter period of time, making it less vulnerable to being cancelled by Stuns or Rams.
  Napalm Missiles:

• Damage increased +13%/+10%/+8% - Napalm DAOT duration 18/22/26s -> 22/25/30sInferno:

• Duration 20s -> 25sFlamehog

• DPS and HP increased +10% - Build time 27s -> 22s - Damage multiplier vs Heavy Infantry reduced -17%, in cover -13%<mark>JEROME</mark>
  Commander Jerome/Command Mantis

• Jerome’s Mantis now uses the Medium Hero armor type, making it more vulnerable at Tier 1 - Jerome Mantis HP/SP increased +15%/+15% - Jerome first upgrade cost 500 -> 400Mastodon:

• Mastodon HP increased +23% - Mastodon build time 30s -> 25s<mark>YAPYAP</mark>
  Cannon Fodder

• Train time 13s -> 15s - Capture/Decapture speed reduced -50% - Resource Crate gather rate reduced -69% - HP (per squad member) reduced -13%This greatly reduces the economic advantage Cannon Fodder gave to Yapyap, which was a primary source of his effectiveness.
  Methane Wagon

• Methane Round impact damage reduced -20% - Methane Round upgrade damage reduced -24% - Self Destruct damage reduced -61% - Methane debuff from 30% damage taken increase and 25% slow, to 20% damage taken increase and 20% slowMethane Party

• Bombs deal reduced damage to buildings - Methane debuff from 35% damage taken increase and 30% slow, to 20% damage taken increase and 20% slow - Removed 60% slow upon impact - Cost from 400/400 to 700/700 - Cooldown from 180s to 265sMethane Party was very effective for its cost.
  Brute Rider

• Power cost 60 -> 75 - Light -> Light Armored - HP reduced -24% - Damage vs Scouts reduced -50%Strengthens Tier 1 balance: Brute Riders are a rush and Anti-Infantry unit. Their armor type was causing core Infantry to beat them, but they were also beating Scouts. The above changes invert this relationship: Brute Riders now lose to Scouts but beat core Infantry.
  Heavy Grunts

• HP (of squad member) increased +33% - HP (of squad leader) increased +30% - HP (of My Plus One additional member) increased +40% - DPS of squad member/leader increased +30%/+35% - DPS of My Plus One additional member increased +125%<mark>DECIMUS</mark>
  Decimus’ ‘Y’ ability is improved:

• Drops 8 beams instead of 2 - Able to target self - Decimus special ability cooldown 30s -> 90sBoundless Siphon

• No longer affects the WarlordThe double siphon on an upgrade Warlord was stacking too much, and making him too difficult to kill.
  Vortex Lightning

• Stun duration 2/2.5 -> 0.5/0.8<mark>SHIPMASTER</mark>
  Elite Honour Guard:

• Damage to Scouts increased +50% - Damage to Tier 2 vehicles increased +43% - Slightly increased splash damage, increases effectiveness against Infantry squads<mark>COLONY</mark>
  Goliath:

• Ram damage increased +67%

• Slightly increased melee splash damage, increases effectiveness against Infantry squadsVehicle Symbiotes:

• Radius increased +50/+42%/+33% - Damage mitigation 8% -> 10%Skitterer

• Cost 200/10 -> 150/20 - Build time 21s -> 18s<mark>ARBITER</mark>
  Arbiter:

• HP/SP increased +14%/+14% - Damage to Scouts increased +50% - Damage to Tier 2 vehicles increased +43% - Slightly increased splash damage, increases effectiveness against Infantry squadsConduit of Rage:

• Heal per tick 3% -> 4% - Tick rate 2/1.5/1 -> 1/5/1/0.7Stasis

• Telegraphing 1.5s -> 0.5sPhantom:

• Phantom HP increased +20% - Phantom build time 30s → 25s_See next post for additional balance update notes…_

[ske7ch]

September Mid-Season Balance Update, Continued…

<mark>BLITZ OVERALL CHANGES</mark>
Detection (affects all units with detection, apart from the Watchtower)

• Range increased +20%Reflect

• Proportion of damage returned to attacker increased +20%Siphon

• Proportion of damage returned as health to the Siphon unit reduced -25%Energy Cores

• Armor type changed to be more resistant to lighter firearms, but more vulnerable to Anti-Building units<mark>UNSC Card Cost Changes</mark>
  Scorpion

• Cost: 110 -> 120Cyclops EMP

• Cost: 80 -> 70Warthog LastStand 3

• Cost: 140 -> 110Hornet

• Cost: 80 -> 70Vet Jackrabbit

• Cost: 70 -> 50Nightingale

• Cost: 50 -> 70Hellbringers Blast

• Cost: 60 -> 40 - Dispersion Nozzles Tech GrantedHornet LastStand 3:

• Cost: 130 -> 100 - LastStand 3 -> LastStand 2ODST

• Added 2 Boosts (Infantry II)Double Time

• Cost: 130 -> 60Warthog Guard

• Cost: 90 -> 80Scorpion Fear

• Added Cannister Shell Upgrade - Added benefits from “The Best Offense” passive powers (Improved Canni, Shield)MAC Blast

• Cost: 160 -> 150Ghost in the Machine

• Cost: 220 -> 180 - Duration reduced: Lvl1: 30 -> 20, Lvl6: 45 -> 30Marines Guard

• Cost: 100 -> 60Aggressor Sentinel

• Reduced HP bonus 1.5 -> 1.4Ark Defense

• Cost: 140 -> 130Watchtower

• Detection Radius Increase: 50 -> 65 - Increase to LoS: 90 -> 110 - Made the Watchtower a permanent structure like Johnson’s BunkerAdvanced Optics

• Increase General effect of card’s buff to LoS and Weapon Range to make it a choice worth considering, rather than an overlooked card - Made the effect of this card globally affect units and alliesCombat Salvage

• Cost: 180 -> 170Marines Reflect

• Cost: 60 -> 50 - Fixed an issue where Marines Reflect wasn’t getting any boosts, now the unit has 1 boost applied (Infantry I) - Added Grenade Upgrade - Added Engineer UpgradeGrizzly

• Cost: 150 -> 160Vet Flame Hog

• Cost: 100 -> 90Kinsano Hero

• Cost: 240 -> 200Bunker

• Cost: 40 -> 50Colossus

• Cost: 130 -> 140Mech Overcharge

• Cost: 90 -> 70 - Globally affects allied mech units (Cyclops, Mantis, Colossus, Johnson, Reaver, Locust, Skitterer, but NOT the Scarab).Vet Mantis

• Cost: 100 -> 110Nightingale LastStand 2

• Cost: 80 -> 90<mark>Banished Card Cost Changes</mark>
  Locust

• Cost: 40 -> 60Grunts Blast

• Cost: 80 -> 60 - Removed 1 Boost (to Infantry I) - Increased Squad Size - Added Mine UpgradeReaver

• Cost: 60 -> 50Reaver Cloak

• Cost: 90 -> 80 - Added 1 Boost (to Vehicle I)Engineer

• Cost: 50 -> 60Blisterback LastStand

• Added 1 Boost (Aircraft I)Atriox’s Chosen

• Cost: 210 -> 240Shockwave

• Cost: 60 -> 100 - Reduced level 6 time slightly 15 -> 12Atriox’s Bulwark

• Cost: 90 -> 110Hunters Guard

• Cost: 70 -> 60 - Added 1 Boost (Infantry 1)Chopper Fear

• Added Main Game Weapon Upgrade to make it worth the costSiphon Pool

• Cost: 120 -> 90Marauder Rally

• Cost: 110 -> 120 - Added 1 Boost (to Vehicle II) - Added Thick Hide UpgradeCloaking Field

• Cost: 100 -> 60 - Now affects AlliesBanshee Blast

• Cost: 130 -> 90 - Remove 1 Boost (to Aircraft I)Teleport

• Cost: 60 -> 80 - Increased Teleport rangeCleansing Beam

• Cost: 110 -> 160Spirit Assault

• Cost: 180 -> 140Marauder Cloak

• Cost: 120 -> 90 - Removed 1 Boost (to Vehicle I) - Removed Thick Hide UpgradeLekgolo Walls

• Cost: 70 -> 30 - Increased Wall Length - Added Walls to the minimapGoliath

• Cost: 40 -> 50 - Added 1 Boost (Infantry I) - Added Razor Claws UpgradeScarred Hunters

• Cost: 100 -> 80Skitterer Swarm

• Cost: 110 -> 90, - Add Laser Upgrade - +1 Boost to make Skitterers more survivablePlasma Bolt

• Cost: 70 -> 90Stasis

• Cost: 80 -> 70 - Level 6 Duration up from 7 to 10 secondsConduit of Rage

• Cost: 60 -> 80<mark>Starting Armies</mark>
  These adjustments improve the balance of starting armies, especially improving weak starting armies with poor win and pick rates.
  Cutter – Phoenix

• 2 ODSTs -> 3 ODSTsAnders - Tactician

• 2 Marines -> 1 Armored Marines, 1 Extractor MarinesIsabel – Hacker

• 1 Wild Jackrabbit -> 2 Wild JackrabbitsIsabel – Heavy Weapons

• 1 Lockdown Scorpion - 1 Armored WarthogAtriox – Warlord

• Added 1 ChopperAtriox – Bulletproof

• Removed 1 Ironclad Hunter - Added 1 Wraith GuardDecimus – Berserker

• 3 Jump Pack Brutes -> 2 Jump Pack Brutes - Added 1 Suicide Grunts - Added 1 Marauder WarchiefShipmaster – Assassin

• Added 1 Prowling ReaverForge – Full Metal

• 1 Scorpion -> 1 GrizzlyForge – Mad Dash

• Removed 2 Reactive Marines - Added 1 Warthog - Added 1 Wolverine RushKinsano – Inferno

• 3 Hellbringers -> 3 Veteran Hellbringers - 2 Cyclops -> 2 FlamehogsKinsano – Demolitions

• Added 1 Veteran JackrabbitColony – Assimilation

• 2 Hunters -> 2 Scarred Hunters - 2 Engineers -> 1 Engineer<mark>BUG FIXES</mark>

• Temporarily removed the Scarab’s ‘Y’ ability until the Awakening The Nightmare update to address a potential exploit issue - Digging In not reducing the cost of Bunker Drop - Frostraven Hijack was occurring instantly - Mantis, Flamehog and Warthog were incorrectly sharing the same sub-selection - Units could teleport back through a Level 1 Extraction portal - The Arbiter’s starting Grunts were faster than Shipmaster’s - Shipmaster had some Grunts led by Brutes among his starting squads in Domination - Fixed a bug where Cannon Fodder was giving back too much energy when killed in Blitz - Anders and Johnson trees show up correctly in Strongholds - The Brute Rider wasn’t getting the benefit of the build time upgrades - Jump Pack Brutes, Grunts, Marines and Suicide Grunts were getting massive build time reductions from the build time upgrades (essentially they were getting each build time reduction three times).Thanks for playing and supporting Halo Wars 2 and please continue sharing your feedback here on HaloWaypoint!