Halo Wars 2 receiving new balance patch this week

Halo Wars 2 will be getting a new patch on January 16 as it still continues to receive plenty of post-launch support.

With the recent Flood expansion, as well as regular content updates, this patch will add to the game with new balance tweaks and further improvements.

The Balance tweaks will see changes to various weapons and vehicles, as well as reduced costs and effectiveness.

There are also some important gameplay fixes, including a significant issue which actually let players control opposing team units. Yikes!

Here’s the full changelog. Any fixes you’re happy to see?

GAMEPLAY FIXES

Fixed a Leader Power exploit that resulted in earning Leader Points at a faster rate.
Fixed an issue which allowed players to control opposing team units.
Returned the cost increase of Colony’s Living Barrier leader power back to 0/0. (*this undoes the temporary change that was made to mitigate the Living Barrier exploit, which is now properly fixed)

BALANCE CHANGES
VORIDUS
Infusion damage and duration reduced
Infusion Damage

Damage per second reduced by 8%

Infusion Duration
All Infusion Duration reduced by -11% except for:

Infusion Mine I reduced -22%
Infusion Mine II reduced -18%
Infused Engineer reduced -10%
Pool – Medium reduced -20%
Pool – Large reduced -20%
Pool – Extra Large reduced -20%
Infusion Wake I reduced -25%
Infusion Wake II reduced -20%
Infusion Wake III reduced -15%

Infusion Duration – Blitz
All Blitz Infusion Duration reduced by -11% except for:

Infusion Mine I – Blitz reduced -10%
Infusion Mine II – Blitz reduced -10%

Infusion Tech
Reverts earlier increases to Infusion Tech I/II to reflect relative strength of Infusion without further boosts.
Infusion Tech I

Damage Scaling reduced -4%

Infusion Tech II

Damage Scaling reduced -8%

Corrupted Warlord & Mortar Warlord
Infusion pool sizes reduced slightly and substantially reduced Infusion Trail duration. Mortar Warlord Y ability cooldown increased.

Infusion Trail Duration

Corruption Trail Duration reduced -30s

Mortar Warlord Ability

Designator Cooldown increased +10s

Maelstrom
Effect duration reduced and cooldown increased to curb its overall effectiveness (especially in combination with other powers).

Cooldown increased +30s
Effect Duration reduced -17%

Cataclysm
Increased cooldown to bring power more in line with its cost effectiveness and make it more difficult to chain with other powers.

Cooldown increased +35s

Brute Grenadier
Base DPS and Infusion siphoning benefits (damage mitigation, DPS bonus) increased to improve their value as a core unit.

Grenade DPS

Damage Per Second increased +14%/+11%/+9%

Infusion Siphon

Damage Reduction Scaling increased +20%
Damage Modifier increased +33%

PAVIUM
Reduced overall cost effectiveness of Ultra Mines and increased arming time to improve player ability to avoid them.
Ultra Mine I

Arming Delay increased +1s
Reduced Arming Delay increased +0.5s
Supplies 200 -> 300
Power 200 -> 300
Ability Cooldown increased +15s

Ultra Mine II

Arming Delay increased +1s
Reduced Arming Delay increased +0.5s
Supplies 330 -> 450
Power 330 -> 450

Cooldown

Ability Cooldown increased +15s

Pavium’s Stand
Reduced duration and increased cost to balance cost effectiveness.

Supplies 300 -> 425
Power 300 -> 425
Duration reduced -20%

Lich Vanguard
Health and damage increased slightly to improve its effectiveness as an ultimate leader power.

Hit Points increased +13%
Damage Per Second increased +9%

Rain of Fire
Increased cooldown time and decreased damage to help bring the power in line with cost.

Ability Cooldown increased +20s
Damage Per Second reduced -5%

Mortar Warlord
Reduced the effectiveness of ‘Y’ ability Designator and splash damage.
Designator

Damage Reduction Scaling reduced -8%

AOE Damage

Damage Ratio reduced -20%

Upgraded Paint Target

Damage Ratio reduced -25%

ANTI-AIR VEHICLES
Slight increases to HP and Splash damage values to improve survivability and damage versus massed air units.

Wolverine

AOE Damage Radius increased +25%/+20%
Hit Points increased +10%

Reaver

AOE Damage Radius increased +13%/+14%
Hit Points increased +10%

ANTI-VEHICLE & TIER 3 VEHICLES
Health and effectiveness of Anti-Vehicle units improved versus Tier 2 Vehicles. Tier 3 Vehicles improved versus Tier 2 Vehicles, AA Vehicles, and Scouts.

Anti-Vehicle