Coming into the next balance pass we’ve had a big shake up to go through: A large balance pass last season, the introduction of Psionic Blast and Inquisitor Greyfax dropping as a new warlord.
Off the back of large changes it’s always good to let things settle down a bit, and with the incoming introduction of Deathblow we may see things shift again. As such, this month’s balance pass is going to be on the smaller side.
Since introducing the new Twitch livestreams, we’ve seen even more questions on the subject of balance. With that in mind, I’d like to include more depth on the end of season analysis we go through when determining balance changes.
To start I’ll cover off the impact of the main changes from last season:
The big one was the introduction of Inquisitor Greyfax. While her play rate overall was typical for a new warlord, in Terra she made up a massive 1 in 10 games played for the whole season. Considering she wasn’t available for the whole season, that’s an unprecedented playrate. It’s encouraging to see; it shows that she is really enjoyable to play, but the other side is that her win rate was top overall in all arenas. With a warlord that has been recently released this is a clear sign that she is currently too strong, as people still havent had time to fully level her, or to find heavily optimised builds. To comment on this in general, due to the unlimited bodyguard combinations you can run with her, it’s a very hard one to balance out the gates. Hopefully people can appreciate that an adjustment is needed, without compromising what makes Greyfax such an exciting warlord to play
Next we had the introduction of Psionic Blast, which again has proved very popular, but has hit the balance pretty much bang on where we would want it to be. For the overall scoring of psychic warlords, Ahriman is on top (as he has always been historically), with a top 5 win-rate in Terra, and top 10 win and play-rate overall; all in all strong but balanced. Voldus, who has previously struggled, is now in a comfortable position in all arenas. Whilst Eldrad is still a bit below the others, he’s much closer overall to the centre of the pack. The introduction of Psionic Blast has definitely been a positive change for psychic decks and has brought them into line with a lot of other dominant builds.The additional changes we brought out this week should help equalise it further by keeping the power level roughly the same, but interacting with other traits in a healthier way. Additionally as hoped were seeing more Psionic Blast cards being included in decks other than pure psychic builds.
Worth noting are the two warlord rule changes that sparked a lot of discussion. Both Artemis and Baddrukk’s rules saw adjustments that raised a few questions, but both are sitting in a good position when looking at the data. Artemis is still struggling overall across all arenas, his winrate coming in the bottom ten, however his play rate has jumped up to third. In Terra, both his win rate and play rate are bang in the middle. Baddruk just makes the top ten for win rate and fourth for playrate, and in Terra his win rate is a bit lower, and is the sixth most played warlord. In summary it would be good to see Artemis perform a bit better in the game overall, but in the top tier of the game, both Badrukk and Artemis are performing almost exactly where we would want them.
So with that bit of analysis done, here’s the main event, being the changes for the upcoming season.
We’ll lead with the Greyfax changes:
Inquisitorial Retinue
Old Values: For every 5 unused deck points, each friendly Servants of the Emperor card receives a 4% buff to all stats when it is deployed, up to a maximum of 80%
New Values: For every 5 unused deck points, each friendly Servants of the Emperor card receives a 3% buff to all stats when it is deployed, up to a maximum of 75%
Beyond this Warlord performance is grouped quite tightly so no other changes to Warlord rules are going to be made this pass, and similarly no changes to traits, beyond the change that went out early for Psionic Blast, which was:
Psionic Blast:
Old Values: At the start of each player’s turn, this card attacks all enemy cards for 5/10/15% of its psychic attack value.
New Values: At the start of your turn, this card attacks all enemy cards for 10/20/30% of its psychic attack value.
Stat Changes:
Aeldari
Karhaedron – Craftworld Iyanden Hemlock Wraithfighter
Cost Change: 50 -> 52 (Up 2)
Maugan Ra – Phoenix Lord of the Dark Reapers
Cost Change: 37 -> 35 (Down 2)
Stat Change: +5 Base Range, +5 Base Melee
Kelos and Nael – Harlequin Skyweaver Jetbike
Stat Change: +15 Base Wounds
Morr – Drukhari Incubi
Trait Change: Furious Charge -> Fear
Aeris Lightblade – Harlequin Player
Stat Change: +5 Base Melee
Necrons
Ascended Assassin – Szarekhan Dynasty Hexmark Destroyer
Cost Change: 27 -> 25 (Down 2)
Enforcer of Vengeance – Triarch Praetorian
Stat Change: +3 Base Melee
Dimensional Assassin – Sautekh Dynasty Deathmark Assassin
Stat Change: +10 Base Wounds
T’au
Longstrike – Master Gunship Pilot
Stat Change: -5 Base Range
Anghkor Prok – Kroot Shaper
Stat Change +10 Base Wounds
Shas’vre Kai’leath – N’dras Sept Stealth Battlesuit
Stat Change: +5 Base Range, +2 Base Melee
Kor’vesa #0014931 – Vior’la Sept M83 Recon Drone
Stat Change: +5 Base Range
Servants of the Emperor
UR-025 – Imperial Robot
Stat Change: +10 Base Wounds, +3 Base Range, +3 Base Melee
Guardsman Bergersen – Death Korps Death Rider
Stat Change: +5 Base Wounds, +8 Base Melee
Rein and Raus – Ratling Twins
Stat Change: +5 Base Wounds
Space Marines
Hammer of Titan – Nemesis Dreadknight
Trait Change: Psychic Link -> Big Game Hunter
Marneus Calgar – Chapter Master of the Ultramarines
Stat Change: +15 Base Melee
Tor Garadon – Imperial Fists Captain
Stat Change: +13 Base Melee
Chaplain Moress – Ultramarines Terminator Chaplain
Stat Change: +8 Base Melee
Lieutenant Eothrus – Primaris Battle Leader
Cost Change: 27 -> 25 (Down 2)
Brother-Lieutenant Zakariah – Dark Angels Primaris Lieutenant
Cost Change: 24 -> 21 (Down 3)
Brother Leodrak – Salamanders Bladeguard Veteran
Stat Change: +10 Base Melee
Brother Remial – Dark Angels Aggressor
Stat Change: +7 Base Range
Brother Baran – Dark Angels Deathwing Knight
Stat Change: +10 Base Wounds
Chaos
Syll’esske – The Vengeful Alliance
Cost Change: 53 -> 57 (Up 4)
Orks
Boss Zagstrukk – Leader of the Vulcha Skwad
Trait Change: Big Game Hunter -> Scout
Gubbinz – Big Mek with Shokk-Attak Gun
Stat Change: +10 Base Wounds, +6 Base Range
Spookums – Blood Axe Kommando Nob
Stat Change: +4 Base Melee
Bogrot – Evil Sunz Clan Biker
Stat Change: +4 Base Range, +4 Base Melee
Skumbo – Freeboota Gretchin ‘Kaptin’
Stat Change: +2 Base Range, +2 Base Melee
Tyranids
Specimen: BH-222-PA-Δ – Hive Fleet Behemoth Neurothrope
Stat Change: +9 Base Psychic
Specimen: LV-083-SD-Θ – Hive FLeet Leviathan Biovore
Stat Change: +4 Base Range, +4 Base Melee
Specimen: LV-852-NC-Θ – Hive Fleet Leviathan Venomthrope
Stat Change: +8 Base Melee
Chidra – Genestealer Cults Hybrid Metamorph
Stat Change: +10 Base Wounds
Specimen: LV-801-FS-Ψ – Hive Fleet Leviathan Gargoyle
Stat Change: +5 Base Wounds, +4 Base Range
Hope you all found the extra bit of analysis useful and do feel free to join the discussion on Discord: https://discord.gg/9teFN6G or join us on Twitch, where we aim to get a livestream out once a month: https://www.twitch.tv/well_played_games
Very interesting and all seems on point. Regular balances passes like this are so good for keeping the game healthy. Thanks.
Do you plan some compensation for nerfing Grayfax? I spenda lot of money for leveling her tó lvl5, then a lot of gold for upgrades tó create a deck around her, but now after 2 week the nerfing she will be só much weaker. This realy not ok. I now think about that never buy pack or cards, becuase i cant trust that my investment worth the money
Kalistri the Huntress – Ynnari Howling Banshee Exarch getting Deathblow while, Morr – Drukhari Incubi gets Fear…
Morr – Drukhari Incubi should have the deathblow. Very disappointed.
I appreciate all of this changes, but I would like cards with more that one trait…or at least, one trait per card, but with double effect.
Are there any plans to address levels beyond 71, or awarding players in some way for accumulated xp? Right now Objectives are meaningless. Can excess XP get converted to plasma and/or coins, or used as credits to allow trading cards within clans?
The Deathblow ability is kind of cool BUT it’s completely nerfed Mesphiston! Dying before your ability hits is naturally Not as good. It’s completely unfair that you keep changing things as essential to this game such as which cards have which Traits. We all love new cards with new traits and even the occasianl rebalance to price or HP or whatever but come on…. At least have a Secondary Bigger Win Box (collect 20+ skulls for a Huge haul)
I think you may find that Greyfax lists will drop off dramatically. Remember, you believed her initial buff should be 5% and now it’s 3%. I have to play test my current Greyfax list, but I have a feeling it is now a throw away.
Enjoying the updates and reworks keep up the good work
Dig the changes, addressed all relevant concerns for me except one. Gloguthrox feels weak with new rule. I assume the character is holding its own in winrate comparisons or you’d have addressed that here, but the “your cards have to die” feels less like chaos and more like you’re playing servants of the emperor, cannon fodder-type cards. Could you find some sort of middle ground to where he feels like his own thing? His earlier rule was weak, but it was his. Nurgle’s Rot feels like it belongs in a different faction (strictly mechanically speaking).
I has no problem with the balancing, she was really OP, but now when you release a new card we (the community) will think about that you also release with OP stats, grab the money then nerd again to the dust? Now thats a economic problem and more important is a TRUST problem. Is this Game going to become a cash grab? Please responde, thanks you, have a nice day.
I don’t mind the change to Boss Zagstrukk’s trait but it is counterproductive for him to get to max level because he will only benefit from a single scout. Perhaps let the scout work once with his skill and the other two scouts work as normal. I would suggest the same effect for any characters with multiple scouts as long as they are in Zagstrukk’s warband.
You’ve killed it for lower ranking players. Very good if you’re lucky enough to be on the top ranks but this gives no chance to players trying to build decks up.
What’s the point of scout with zagstrukk?
I get that it’s a free attack, but there’s zero point to having 3 tiers of scout now – as it’s all just one attack.
Hi there – really dig the analysis and hard work that’s going into this, but I’ve got to say Baddruk appears to be an anomaly.
Players in my clan, and my own experience, would suggest he’s been overpowered in terms of his trait. When opposing AI on higher levels he’s virtually unbeatable with the high powered ranged attacks of big ork cards, making him capable of wiping an entire three cards with reasonable/good health.
Just food for thought – suspect I’m not the only one wanting to see him nerfed.
Awesome
Okay
hello i ve been playing the games since its release,there been quite a lot of evolution it s always cool,but some warlord haven t had this chance at the level of their passive power :avatar of khaine ;shadowsun;ghazgkull thraka; will soon be an update for this warlod