Agent updates
• Barrier Orb can’t be cast in Buy Phase
Although this was a hotfix solution intended to prevent an exploit with Omen, this change is overall a solid one that we believe creates cohesion across what can and can’t be cast before walls. Most of the abilities cast during buy phase are meant to set up more permanent utility.
• Once fortified, Barrier no longer loses health over time
Overall, we’ve been happy with how the fortified barrier has been playing but wanted to make some changes to prevent the mitigation of the fortifying counterplay, while rewarding Sage players that successfully fortify their walls. By removing the mitigation of the counterplay, we are able to investigate future opportunities to reward players that succeed in getting their barriers to fortify.
Map updates
Icebox
The changes to Icebox in this update are centered around simplifying the A Site and reducing the height of some of the most vertical areas on the map.
- Reduced the height of the A Belt area and connected it via a ramp to the platform below.
- Added a see-through gate here that can’t be passed from the ground level.
- Sloped the wall (first image) and replaced the double stack of Radianite crates in the site with a smaller object.
- Reduced the height of the yellow container.
Mode updates
5v5: Team Deathmatch
- The first team to 50 kills wins.
- Respawns are enabled, so get back in there.
Snowball launcher
- Killjoy has rigged a custom version of Brimstone’s molotov launcher.
- Projectile based snowballs have travel time and an arc (make sure to lead that shot!).
- Infinite snowballs—don’t stop shooting!
Power ups!
- Gifts spawn around the map, sometimes a portal appears and gifts come pouring out.
- Each gift contains a power up when opened (shoot to open).
- You can only have one of each power up at a time, so make sure to share with your teammates.
- If you die, you drop your power ups and someone else can snag them.
Gift types
- Rapid Fire: fire even faster.
- Growball: grows over time while traveling in the air.
- Ricochet: for all those snowball trick shots off the ground and walls.
- Skates: skate around quickly and in style. Jump higher!
Maps
- Week 1: Check out the festivities on the newly updated holiday version of Icebox (Snowball Fight only!).
- Week 2: Snowball Fight can be played on all current maps.
Progression
- Get 750 XP for each game completed, and 150 bonus XP for a win.
- Snowball mode does not progress missions.
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