#346 - Into the Nexus: “Patch of Plenty”

• Kyle • NotParadox

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Intro:  Welcome to Into the Nexus! The Heroes of the Storm podcast!

Host Kyle Fergusson and guest Not_Paradox lead you through a MEATY Patch! Warhead Junction gets an update, along with a massive pile of changes to Bruisers, many being brought into balance with the new D.Va and Gazlowe changes. Of course, we don’t want any Hero to feel left out, so we hit them all! Prepare yourself for a massive episode. Enjoy!

Patreon Mention: Patreon.com/ITN

Thanks to our Patreon producers Declan H, CheezyBob, Chris K, Mike C, & Shawn B.

News

Balance Patch November 4th

Battlegrounds

Warhead Junction

Developer Comment: Since the release of the Battleground, we have been hearing two resounding pieces of feedback:

• the map is very large and teams find it difficult to engage with each other due to the amount of ground needed to cover while picking up Warheads
• and very often the game either ends up being a base-race as each team takes a Junk Swarm Host and tries to push opposite lanes to end fastest.

To address this we have added a couple of Sewage Tunnels (think teleporters) to the map, one of which replaces the bottom Junk Swarm Host, and added an additional Sight Tower to allow teams to keep an eye on the bottom tunnel. We feel like these changes have been a breath of fresh air for Warhead Junction and are excited to hear your feedback!

• Sewage Tunnels have been added to the top and bottom of the Battleground.
• The bottom one has replaced the Junk Swarm Host.
• An additional Sight Tower has been added below mid lane.

Blizz_KinaBrew: I'll take "We don't want to spend time concepting, and making an asset from start to finish if the community decides this change isn't for them" for 800 Alex.

Tank

Anub’arak

Developer Comment: We’re making some changes to Anub’arak’s Level 20 talents to make them feel more heroic to take. Currently Rewind is dominating this tier due to being both very powerful on its own and fitting Anub’arak’s kit in a great way. We like this and don’t want to take away from it, so we’re looking to make his other choices also feel great when picked.

Level 20 - Hive Master [R1]

• Damage increased from 153 to 165.
• Healing increased from 50 to 80.

Level 20 - Cryptweave [R2]

• Additional functionality: Upon exiting the Cocoon, enemies take 50 damage over 4 seconds. This damage is increased by 100% for each second that they were inside.
• 1,425 damage at max channel level 20

Level 20 - Hardened Shield [Active]

• Removed.

Level 20 - New Talent: The Traitor King [Active]

• Gain 10% bonus maximum Health and 20 Spell Armor. Activate to gain 75 Armor for 4 seconds. 60-second CD.
• 5687 Health at 20, Above Johanna (With level 1 quest complete)

Mal’ganis

Developer Comment: Mal’ganis is underperforming compared to other Warriors. His talents are in a great place since his rework, so we’re giving back some of his Health so that he can more effectively tank for his team.

• Health increased from 2450 to 2550.
• Health Regeneration increased from 5.11 to 5.31.

Level 4 - Echo of Doom [W]

• Damage increased from 60 to 66.

Bruiser

Chen

Developer Comment: These are some fairly minor buffs to underperforming talents. We don’t expect huge shifts with these changes, but saw room to make Chen players’ lives a little more fun, so we’re doing it!

Level 1 - Freshest Ingredients [Trait]

• Cooldown reduction upon quest completion increased from 1 to 2 seconds.

Level 4 - Deadly Strike [Q]

• Damage bonus increased from 100% to 125%.

Level 7 - Gift of the Ox [E]

• Damage taken over time reduced from 60% to 50% of damage taken.

Underpicked Talents

Dehaka

Developer Comment: Over the years we’ve nerfed heroes like Dehaka quite a bit due to how effective players became at utilizing the power of their global presence on large maps. Dehaka has had a lower win-rate for quite some time due to this, so we’re looking to give him back some of the power he previously had.

Dark Swarm [W]

• Damage increased from 49 to 52.

• Level 13 and 20 talents have been reordered to follow our normal conventions (Q, W, E, etc.)

Level 4 - Lurker Strain [E]

• Cooldown reduction increased from 4 to 6 seconds. (7% pick rate)

Level 7 - Paralyzing Enzymes [Q]

• Slow amount increased from 30% to 35%. (12% pick rate)

Level 13 - Primal Rage [Trait]

• Damage bonus increased from 1% to 1.25% per Essence stored. (33% pick rate?)

Level 20 - Change is Survival [R2]

• Cooldown reduction increased from 30 to 40 seconds. 14%

Level 20 - Apex Predator [Z]

• Cooldown reduction increased from 35 to 50 seconds. 15%

D.Va

Developer Comment: We’re generally very happy with where D.Va has landed since her rework, but Rush Down is still a little too strong and is a large part of D.Va’s power pie, so we’re continuing to tone it down.

Level 4 - Rush Down [Q]

• Damage and healing against enemy Heroes reduced from 3% to 2% maximum Health.
• Damage bonus to non-Heroic enemies reduced from 75% to 70%.
• 75% pickrate

Gazlowe

Developer Comment: Gazlowe is a little bit too powerful after our last round of changes to him, so we’re pulling back a bit on some of our buffs and on some of his overperforming talents. Overall, he’s in a much healthier place, and we both desire and expect that he’ll be a relevant part of the meta, even after these nerfs.

Rock-It! Turret [Q]

• Damage reduced from 40 to 38.

Deth Lazor [W]

• Damage reduced from 184 to 180.

Level 1 - Big Game Hunter [Trait]

• Cooldown reduction reduced from 2 to 1.5 seconds.

Level 4 - Rock It Sock It [Q]

• Shield amount reduced from 215 to 200.

Level 13 - Superior Schematics [Q]

• Splash damage reduced from 75% to 60%.

Level 16 - Ark Reaktor [E]

• Cooldown reduction reduced from 3 to 2 seconds.

Leoric

Developer Comment: Leoric is slightly out of the meta and is currently sitting at around a 48% win rate. We’re giving him some small buffs with a focus on his Level 20 talents to make them more interesting and powerful to use.

• Basic Attack damage increased from 109 to 115.

Level 13 - Unyielding Despair [W]

• Cooldown reduction while Drain Hope is active increased from .5 to .75 seconds.
• Cooldown reduction if Drain Hope lasts its full duration reduced from 3 to 2 seconds.

Level 20 - Hardened Bones [W]

• Removed.

Level 20 - Burning Despair [W]

• Added Crit kickers when Burning Despair deals bonus damage during Drain Hope.
• Additional functionality: While Drain Hope is active, gain 40 Armor.

Level 20 - Shroud of the Dead King [Active]

• Cooldown reduced from 30 to 25 seconds.

Malthael

Developer Comment: Malthael’s talents and overall performance are in a good place but Throwing Shade and Memento Mori have been lesser picked talents for some time. We’re adding some new functionality to Throwing Shade to make it more attractive, and buffing Memento Mori’s damage bonus to help it compete against his other Level 16 options.

Level 4 - Throwing Shade [E]

• Additional functionality: Death Shroud’s initial impact deals 2% maximum Health as damage.

Level 16 - Memento Mori [Trait]

• Damage bonus increased from 80% to 90%.

Varian

Developer Comment: Despite some other recent buffs, Varian is still a bit behind other heroes in regards to his general power level. Since this is true for all 3 ways to build him, we’re giving him a pretty decent Health buff as well as buffing up a few of his talents to help him out.

• Health increased from 2116 to 2220.
• Health Regeneration increased from 4.41 to 4.63.

Level 1 - Lion’s Maw [Q]

• Damage bonus increased from 5 to 6 per stack.

Level 1 - High King’s Quest [Passive]

• Regeneration Globe collection requirement for quest completion reduced from 20 to 15.

Level 20 - Demoralizing Shout [Active]

• Cooldown reduced from 25 to 20 seconds.

Healer

Alexstraza

Developer Comment: We read some feedback that since our global Movement Speed increase many patches ago, Alexstrasza has a bit of awkwardness where she can outrun her Abundance proc, even when it is cast at max range. We agree and feel she can use a small buff in general, so we’re giving Abundance a range increase.

Abundance [W]

• Range increased from 10 to 11.5.

Preservation [W]

• Range increased from 10.5 to 11.5.

Melee Assassin

Alarak

Developer Comment: Mocking Strikes is slightly underperforming compared to other options, so we’re taking its benefit and making half of it more universally available, which should make the talent less risky to take and get value from.

Level 16 - Mocking Strikes [Passive]

• Adjusted functionality: Basic Attacks against enemy Heroes reduce the cooldown of Alarak’s Basic Abilities by 1.5 seconds. This bonus is doubled against enemy Heroes who are Stunned, Silenced, Slowed, or Rooted.

Ranged Assassin

Azmodan

Developer Comment: We saw some feedback that Azmodan’s All Shall Burn felt awkward due to not getting various procs if the target dies while he is channeling on them. This was initially intended by us due to concerns of it being too powerful and resulting in some strange moments when playing against it, but we’ve since come around and agree the lack of usability is hurting these talents and Azmodan as a whole more than it’s helping, so we’re going to try allowing these procs to occur, even if the target dies.

• Talent bonuses related to All Shall Burn will now proc their effects if the target dies while All Shall Burn is channeling on an enemy.

• This includes effects for
• Level 7 - Master of Destruction

• All Shall Burn's final damage applies to all enemies in an area around the target and grants 4 Annihilation per Hero hit.

• Level 13 - Cydaea’s Kiss

• Reduces the Channel time of All Shall Burn by 0.5 seconds. If All Shall Burn's Channel lasts its full duration against a Hero, Azmodan is healed for 8% of his maximum Health.

• Level 16 - Hell Rift

• If All Shall Burn Channels for its full duration, a Demon Warrior is summoned at the target's location and all Demon Warriors deal 100% increased damage for 5 seconds.

• Level 20 - Sin’s Grasp.

• All Shall Burn Slows the enemy target by 15% during its channel. If All Shall Burn Channels for its full duration, its cooldown is reduced by 50% and the enemy is Slowed by 50% for 2 seconds.

Falstad

Developer Comment: It’s been a long time since we updated Falstad, so we took a look at him and saw a few talents that could be improved. In general many of his talent tiers have two choices that players seem to heavily prefer over the third option, so we’re trying to create a larger incentive for players to think about choosing those talents that they currently aren’t picking.

Level 1 - Gathering Storm [Q]

• Damage bonus increased from 1.5 to 2.

Level 4 - Updraft [E]

• Shield bonus increased from 60% to 70%.

Level 7 - ​Secret Weapon [Q]

• Damage bonus increased from 80% to 90%.

Level 10 - ​Hinterland Blast [R1]

• Mana cost reduced from 100 to 80.
• Cooldown reduction when hitting enemy Heroes increased from 25 to 30 seconds.

Level 20 - ​Epic Mount [Z]

• Cooldown reduction increased from 40 to 50 seconds.

Lunara

Developer Comment: We’re making some functionality changes to some of Lunara’s talents, particularly when it comes to her Q build, with the aim of making their benefits more easily accessible. We’re also giving a small range increase to Lunara’s Basic Attacks to Starwood Spear as a baseline buff for picking the talent. While we know the range increase is small, we are nervous about giving too much of a range increase to a Hero who has a Movement Speed bonus as a baseline feature of the character, so we’ll be keeping an eye on this buff and will increase the bonus more if we feel it is appropriate.

Level 4 - Blossom Swell [Q]

• Adjusted functionality: Increase Noxious Blossom’s range by 25% and its radius by 20%. Blossom Swell applies 2 stacks of Nature’s Toxin to enemies hit.
• Previously: Increase Noxious Blossom's range by 25% and its radius by 20%. Hitting an enemy Hero with Noxious Blossom increases Lunara's Movement Speed by 15% for 3 seconds.

Level 16 - Accelerated Contamination [Q]

• Adjusted functionality: Reduce the Mana cost of Noxious Blossom from 60 to 40. While at least 1 enemy Hero is afflicted by Nature’s Toxin, Noxious Blossom’s cooldown recharges 75% faster.
• Previously: Reduce the Mana cost of Noxious Blossom from 60 to 40. While at least 2 enemy Heroes are afflicted with Nature's Toxin, Noxious Blossom's cooldown recharges 100% faster.
• 4% pick rate

Level 16 - Starwood Spear [W]

• Adjusted functionality: Increase Lunara’s Basic Attack range by .5. Using Crippling Spores increases Lunara’s Basic Attack range by an additional 2.25 for 6 seconds.
• Previously: Using Crippling Spores increases Lunara's Basic Attacks range by 2.75 for 6 seconds.
• 9% Pick Rate

Orphea

Developer Comment: We’re taking a look at Orphea’s Level 20 talents and adding some power to them to make them more fun to choose between. While doing this pass, we saw a couple places to improve her overall talent picks, so we adjusted Allegrissimo and Insatiable as well.

Level 4 - Allegrissimo [Q]

• Additional functionality: Reduce the cooldown of Shadow Waltz by 1 second.
• Added to: Hitting Heroes with the end of Shadow Waltz sets its cooldown to 0.75 second.

Level 7 - Insatiable [W]

• Cooldown on successful Chomp hit changed from 1.5 to 2 seconds.

Level 20 - Monster Within [R1]

• New functionality: Eternal Feast grants 1 Chaos each time it hits a Hero. While Eternal Feast is active, the cooldowns of Orphea’s Basic Abilities recharge 150% faster.
• Previously: Eternal Feast grants 1 Chaos each time it hits a Hero. While Eternal Feast is active, Orphea's Attack Speed is increased by 50%.

Level 20 - Engulfing Oblivion [R2]

• Armor reduction duration increased from 2 to 3 seconds.

Level 20 - Final Toccata [Active]

• Cooldown reduced from 30 to 20 seconds.
• Reads: Activate to instantly reset the cooldown of Shadow Waltz. For the next 6 seconds, dashing with Shadow Waltz resets its cooldown.

Sgt. Hammer

Developer Comment: Sgt. Hammer hasn’t seen large changes for some time, particularly to talents like Maelstrom Rounds and Mechanical Know-how. As you’ve probably seen as a theme of this patch, these talents aren’t too popular so we’re helping them out by giving them bonuses that should be more consistently achievable.

Level 1 - Maelstrom Rounds [Active]

• Bonus damage reduced from 35% to 30%.
• Cooldown increased from 90 to 100 seconds.
• Additional functionality: Basic Attacks against enemy Heroes while in Siege Mode reduce the cooldown of Maelstrom Rounds by 5 seconds.
• Previously 90 seconds: Activate to increase Basic Attack damage dealt by 35% for 5 seconds. Hitting Structures with Basic Attacks reduces the cooldown of Maelstrom Rounds by 5 seconds.

Level 4 - Barricade [W]

• Cooldown reduction increased from 3 to 4 seconds.

Level 7 - Pulse Detonation Core [Q]

• Cooldown reduction increased from 1 to 1.5 seconds, and from 1.5 to 2.5 seconds while in Siege Mode.
• Reads: Spider Mines detonate 3 times over 3 seconds. Basic Attacks against enemy Heroes grant 5 Mana and reduce the cooldown of Spider Mines by 1.5 second. Increase this bonus to 2.5 seconds while in Siege Mode.

Level 7 - Graduating Range [Trait]

• Duration between Basic Attack range increases reduced from 3 to 2 seconds.
• Reads: While in Siege Mode, Basic Attack range is increased by 1 every 3 seconds, up to 3.

Level 16 - Mechanical Know-how [E]

• Shield amount increased from 5% to 20% maximum Health.
• Basic Attack damage reduced from 50% to 30%.
• No longer requires the Shield to be destroyed to gain bonus damage.
• Previously: Neosteel Plating grants 5% maximum Health as a Shield for 2 seconds. If this Shield is destroyed, Basic Attack damage is increased by 50% for 5 seconds.

Sylvanas

Developer Comment: We’re doing a small additional buff to Mind Control, as well as trying to give Withering Barrage some functionality that is worthy of a Level 20 talent.

Level 10 - ​Mind Control [R2]

• Cooldown reduced from 50 to 40 seconds.
• Mana cost reduced from 75 to 50.

Level 20 - Dark Lady’s Call [R2]

• Cooldown reduction reduced from 30 to 25 seconds.
• Makes for a 15 second cooldown

Level 20 - Withering Barrage [Q]

• Additional functionality: Withering Fire applies Banshee’s Curse.
• Previously: Enemy Heroes hit by Withering Fire reduce its cooldown by 0.75 seconds.

Tychus

Developer Comment: We anticipated that Tychus’s early game talents would have a shake-up with how much power we added to them, but we had a bit of an oversight with Quarterback. While moving a talent from Level 7 to Level 1 would seem competitive in and of itself, the power we added to its alternatives caused the talent to be overshadowed, so we’re adding some more beef to it and to the W build in general to make it more of a compelling way to build Tychus.

Level 1 - Quarterback [W]

• Additional functionality: Increase the damage of Frag Grenade by 20%.
• Increase Frag Grenades range by 50%

Patch Breakdown

Buffs

• Mal’Ganis
• Dahaka
• Leoric
• Varian
• Alexstraza
• Falstad - Hinterland Blast
• Sylvanas

Nerfs

• D.Va
• Gazlowe

Retools/Rebalance

• Anub’arak - Rewind picked 63%
• Chen
• Malthael
• Alarak
• Azmodan
• Lunara
• Orphea
• Sgt. Hammer
• Tychus

Predictions

Bruiser Meta Shift?

Buffs

• Dahaka
• Leoric
• Varian
• Alarak?

Nerfs

• D.Va
• Gazlowe

Retools/Rebalance

• Chen
• Malthael

Unchanged

• Thrall
• Artanis
• Xul
• Yrel
• Ragnaros
• Rexxar
• Imperious
• Deathwing

Rating

Stars, out-of-10. Whatever system you want!

Links

• https://news.blizzard.com/en-us/heroes-of-the-storm/23557933/heroes-of-the-storm-balance-patch-notes-november-4-2020

Outro

Patreon Shout Out

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Thanks to our Patreon producers Declan H, CheezyBob, Chris K, Mike C, & Shawn B.

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Thanks to Gorath for our intro music and briangriffithmusic.com (@briangriffith) for our outro..

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