Welcome to Year 8
Greetings Champions, and welcome to Year 8 of Paladins! We wanted to take a moment before we dive into our first update of the year, Wekono's Wake, to talk about where we are and our direction moving forward. Over the course of Year 7, we focused our small team's efforts more and more on improving the systems and features that make Paladins a standout in the genre: an emphasis on customization through Items, Talents and Cards, updating and deepening Champion kits, and bringing together older concepts and new features to enrich our Realm.
Headed into 2025, we plan to continue these types of efforts while also aiming to shift to smaller, more frequent updates and hotfixes to further improve our ability to adapt development to player feedback while ensuring our team can stay nimble. This will be most evident in our shift in cosmetic additions and a larger effort towards the aforementioned customization and gameplay focus. Without further ado, let's dive into our first update of Year 8: Wekono's Wake!
General Updates
Experimental Queue: Subclasses
Throughout the year, we want to test out various ideas we’ve had that are more drastic gameplay shifts than we usually release. These features are meant to be explorations of directions to take Paladins that could lead to new modes or enrichening existing experiences. The first of these we plan to tackle is Subclasses, a role within your class that provides a powerful effect to a specific aspect of your gameplay. You select these prior to selecting your Talent, and their effects stack with other customization options. We’ll be testing these in their own Siege queue for players to compare to normal Siege, as well as considering them for alternative modes like Arcade or Wave Defense. Here’s the list of Subclasses releasing this update:
Damage
Predator
On earning an Elimination, reduce the cooldown of your Movement ability by 40%. Imani, Saati, and Strix gain 20 of their resources.
Shock Trooper
While on the Objective, gain 10% Damage Reduction.
Triage
On earning an Elimination, drop a healing deployable at your current location.
Flank
Duelist
Gain 10% Crowd Control resistance for 3s after dealing 1500 damage.
Rallyman
On earning an Elimination, regenerate involved allies ammo by 10%.
Skirmisher
Heal for 4% every second while on the Objective.
Frontline
Fireteam Leader
After using your Q ability, provide allies within 50 units 30% Slow resistance and 20% Movement Speed for 2s.
Dug In
While on the Objective, gain 15% Crowd Control resistance.
Wanderer
You exit combat 1.5s faster and have 15% Movement Speed while out of combat.
Support
Rabid
For every 2,000 damage you deal, gain 30% Reload Speed and 10% faster cooldowns for 3s.
Skulker
You exit combat 1.5s faster and your Cooldowns are 10% faster while out of combat.
Spotter
You can no longer apply Anti-Heal, but damaged enemies take 20% more Headshot damage for 1.5s.
Map Refresh: Serpent Beach
Wekono has reawakened as her temple sees growth! This version of the map shares almost identical sightlines and pathing as the version most players are used to, which will remain in game as Serpent Beach (Classic). However, various aspects have been visually updated or adjusted to bring Serpent Beach into the modern era. Decorations have been added to adorn the walls with effigies to Wekono as well as her Champion, Mal'Damba. Sand is more prevalent, with walking trails connecting the temple structures and washing ashore the beaches. Vegetation has been updated to bring out the beach, with palm trees lining the skybox. Looking out into the sea will let players bask in the greatness of a new Serpent, whose body coils around the map to create archways. You'll also catch glimpses of Jaguar Falls and Frog Ilse outside the bounds of play!
Map Restoration: Serpent Beach (Classic)
In addition to the new vision of this classic, we've also restored details to Serpent Beach (Classic) to truly represent the version a majority of players experienced during the Open Beta. Enjoy the added flora and flames as wind gusts throughout the map!
Newcomer Queue
We’ve slowly been working to improve various aspects of playing Paladins for the first time & to have a place to learn how the game works without frustration. The Newcomer queue is our latest addition to this process, a Siege queue that is available exclusively to accounts below Level 35. This provides those Champions starting out an option to play that gives them a space to discover their favorite characters and understand the game with lower pressure. This does not prevent them from queueing for normal Siege, it’s simply a choice we want to offer to allow people to learn at their own pace. The gameplay of the Newcomer queue is identical to casual Siege so it’s the perfect way to transition from new to dedicated!
New Customs Settings
We’ve added a few more settings to Custom Matches for those looking to play with a variety of LTM and Experimental features!
- Enable/Disable Subclasses
- Enable/Disable Beyond Store
- Override Loadout Card Level
- This allows people to play Cards to the Max in Customs at any Card level!
- Talent Selection
- This will allow players to use the Truly Talented selection in Customs. Note: Any Champion who is not in Truly Talented will use their normal Talents.
Ranked Season 8
Welcome to Season 8 of Ranked! Our goals with this Season are to make systemic changes that make the mode more enjoyable to grind as well as easier for players who have historically shied away from the queue to join. It’s some of the largest adjustments to the system we’ve made in recent years, and we’re excited for players to get their hands on it and give us feedback! NOTE: Season 7 Loading Frames will be distributed in our next major update.
Requirements
- Increased the number of Champions required from 18 ➞ 24
Tier Points System
- The base amount of Tier Points players can move has been increased from 11 ➞ 15
- The maximum amount of points players can move has been increased from 16 ➞ 23
- The maximum amount of points players can lose has been increased from 16 ➞ 23
- The severity of which favored teams lose Tier Points on a loss is decreased by 33%.
Map Frequency
- Serpent Beach (Classic) has the same frequency as Serpent Beach in Season 7.
- Serpent Beach will have higher frequency during Split 1.
Draft Changes
We’ve heard a lot of complaints about the time spent in Ban Phase & its usage across skill levels, so we’re planning to implement a system that dynamically scales the amount of bans based on the skill of the lobby.
- Gold & below lobbies will have 2 bans per side
- Platinum will have 3 bans per side
- Diamond+ will have 4 bans per side
Our goal is to finetune this system to allow players to slowly learn the priorities of banning as they climb the ranks as well as giving lower skill players faster matches and more Champions to pick from to encourage them to give Ranked a fair shot!
Rewards
We’ll continue to have expected rewards both for the Season and the Split, provided at the usual milestones.
- Play 100 Matches - Avatar
- Win 75 Matches - Subjugator Zhin, a recolor of Conqueror Zhin
- Place in a Split - Golden Cache
- Play 25 Matches in a Split - Avatar
In addition to the traditional rewards offered via Ranked, we’re now also offering new rewards in addition to what was done prior!
- Reach Masters in Season 8 Ranked to receive a Limited Skin Token
- We’ve converted the Anniversary Store into the Limited Skin Vault and will be rotating skins in and out of the Vault occasionally so stay tuned!
- COMING SOON: Play 25 Games on a Class to receive their Class Chest
- If you own all the contents of the Class Chest, you’ll instead receive 100 Crystals.
Wekono’s Wake Event Pass
This update, the Event Pass we're offering has some changes to accommodate our focus on gameplay as well as simplify how we handle Flashbacks.
This pass will be 30 levels of exclusive Titles, currency, and for the first time ever multiple Diamond Troves and several other chests containing cosmetics from across the game. While there aren't many new contents, the value offered in this eclipses Flashback Passes and allows us to focus our time on other aspects of the game.
We did want to offer something new for the players who own almost everything or those looking for a chase, so at the final level of the pass you can earn Loci-Buster Ash, a recolor of Xeno-Buster that sees the fight taken to a more Arctic aesthetic.
Mode Rotations
Arcade
- Onslaught removed from the rotation of modes.
- Moving forward, whenever we swap which mode is featured outside Arcade, that mode will no longer be featured in Arcade.
- Next update, we plan to swap Team Deathmatch and Onslaught so TDM will be featured as the standalone queue.
Limited Time Modes
Truly Talented
Jenos
- Illuminated Talent from Reality Warp added.
Maeve
- Swapped Artful Dodger for Street Justice.
- Increased execution threshold during Midnight from 40% ➞ 75%
Balance
General
Anti-Healing
- Decreased the starting value from 30% ➞ 25%
Items
Blast Shields
- Decreased cost from 300/600/900 ➞ 275/550/825
Bulldozer
- Increased scaling from 30/60/90 ➞ 50/100/150
Deft Hands
- Decreased cost from 225/450/675 ➞ 200/400/600
Guardian
- Increased scaling from 15/30/45 ➞ 20/40/60
Returning Item:
Resilience
- Reduce the duration or effectiveness of Crowd Control effects by {25|25}%.
- Replaces
Unbound
Sentinel
- Increased cost from 200/400/600 ➞ 225/450/675
- Reworked to “Gain a 200|200 Health Shield for 5s after an Elimination.”
Wrecker
- Increased cost from 275/550/825 ➞ 300/600/900
- Increased scaling from 30/60/90 ➞ 50/100/150
Effects
NEW: Shock
On various Champions in the balance notes below, you’ll notice a callout to Shock damage. We’ve been working on various ways to expand the way Champions kits interact and ways for them to influence drafting beyond Items or Class. Shock is our first foray into these goals, with select Champions now having a VFX on targets they hit and Kinessa having a Talent that interacts with these jolts similar to Tribunal Upgrades on VII, but with no additional effect at base.
This is a limited implementation that is meant to allow players to test the effect and give feedback on if the direction is something worth expanding or moving away from. Paladins is already an Effect-heavy game on the CC side, but expanding our Effects into more unique damage types and applications could allow for more interesting nuance. As always, community feedback will be key!
Champions
Androxus
- Weapon
Revolver
- Reduced time for reload pre-load from 1.3s ➞ 1.2s
- Increased time for reload post-fire from .4s ➞ .5s
Ash
- Abilities
Siege Shield
- Increase from 4500 ➞ 4750
- Talents
Fortress Breaker
- Increase bonus from 2500 ➞ 2750
Barik
- Weapon
Blunderbuss
- Increased accuracy from .8 ➞ .85
- Abilities
Barricade
- Increase Shield amount from 4000 ➞ 4500
- Ultimate
Dome Shield
- Increase Shield amount from 10,000 ➞ 14,000
- Increase duration from 6s ➞ 8s
- Cards
Accelerator Field
- Increased scaling from 10|10 ➞ 12|12
- Duration increased from 4s ➞ 5s
Bowling Ball
- Scaling increased from 150|150 ➞ 175|175
Bunker
- Scaling increased from 200|200 ➞ 250|250
Combat Repair
- Scaling increased from 90|90 ➞ 100|100
Double Time
- Scaling increased from 50|50 ➞ 65|65
Failsafe
- Reworked to "Reset the Cooldown of Rocket Boots when you are at or below 40% Health" ICD 30|-3
Field Deploy
- Scaling increased from 20|20 ➞ 50|50
Forged Alloy
- Scaling increased from 140|140 ➞ 150|150
Healing Station
- Scaling increased from 25|25 ➞ 50|50
Palisade
- Scaling increased from 0.4s|0.4s ➞ 0.6|0.6s
Betty La Bomba
- Abilities
Cluster Grenade
- Now also detonates on contact with enemies or Shields
- Decreased secondary detonation timer from 3s ➞ 2s
- Increased initial impact damage from 250 ➞ 350
Buck
- Abilities
Net Shot
- Decreased cooldown from 10s ➞ 8s
Recovery
- Decreased cooldown from 10s ➞ 8s.
- Decreased channel time from 1.5s ➞ 1.2s
- Talents
Bulk Up
- Increased healing from 400 ➞ 600
Ensnare
- Increased bonus damage from 20% ➞ 25%
- Cards
Concussion
- Scaling decreased from 1s ➞ .6s
Giga Siphon
- Reworked to "Increase your Movement Speed by 8|8% for 3s after using Recovery."
Reconstruction
- Scaling decreased from 1s ➞ .6s
Caspian
- Weapon
Love & War
- Reduced time for reload pre-load from .8s ➞ .7s
- Increased time for reload post-fire from .3s ➞ .4s
Cassie
- Weapon
Crossbow
- Decreased reload time from 1.4s ➞ 1.2s
- Decreased time for reload pre-load from 1s ➞ .8s
- Abilities
Dodge Roll
- Reduced cooldown from 7s ➞ 6s
- Talents
Big Game
- Increased Max Health damage percentage from 8% ➞ 9%
- Cards
Drain Life
- Scaling increased from 75|75 ➞ 85|85
Onslaught
- Scaling increased from 75|75 ➞ 85|85
Intense Training
- Duration increased from 1.5s ➞ 2s
Incitement
- Scaling reduced from 1s|1s ➞ 0.8|0.8
Corvus
- Weapon
Officer’s Pistol
- Reduced time for reload pre-load from .85s ➞ .8s
- Increased time for reload post-fire from .35s ➞ .4s
Dredge
- General
- Movement Speed Increased from 340 ➞ 350
- Passive
- Abyssal Reload
- Increased damage from 850 ➞ 1000
- Abyssal Reload
- Abilities
Broadside
- Decreased postfire from 1.2s ➞ 1s
- Talents
Scuttle
- Now also reduces Abyssal Reload’s damage to 700
- Reworked:
Hurl
- Hits with Harpoon refund its Cooldown and generates 50% more Ultimate Charge. Harpoon no longer Slows.
- Cards
Mortal Skewer
- Scaling increased from 70|70 ➞ 80|80
Abyss Cannon
- Scaling increased from 1|1 ➞ 2|2
Gun Deck
- No longer also increases maximum ammo
- Scaling increased from 3%|3% ➞ 4%|4%
Plank Walker
- Scaling increased from 100|100 ➞ 120|120
Haul on the Bowline
- Scaling increased from 7%|7% ➞ 8%|8%
- Duration increased from 3s ➞ 4s
Heave Away
- Scaling increased from 0.2|0.2 ➞ 0.6|0.6
Drogoz
- Weapon
Rocket Launcher
- Reduced time for reload pre-load from 1.4s ➞1.2s
- Increased time for reload post-fire from .4s ➞ .6s
- Abilites
Salvo
- Decreased cooldown from 20s ➞ 18s
- Cards
Follow the Scent
- Reworked to “Generate 1|1 Ammo after using Fire Spit.”
Fernando
- Weapon
Flame Lance
- Reduced time for reload pre-load from 1.8s ➞ 1.5s
- Increased time for reload post-fire from .4s ➞ .7s
- Abilities
Chivalry
- Increase from 3500 ➞ 4000
Furia
- Talents
Cherish
- Now also heals Furia herself if in range
- Cards that affect Kindle Soul targets also work with Cherish
- Cards
Light Forge
- Increased duration from 1.5s ➞ 2.s
Grohk
- Weapon
Lightning Staff
- Reduced time for reload pre-load from 2.5s ➞ 2s
- Increased time for reload post-fire from .4s ➞ .9s
- Abilities
Shock Pulse
- Now applies a Shock effect for 1.5s
- Talents
Spirit’s Domain
- Healing now scales up to 30% increased healing if held on target.
Imani
- Talents
Pyromania
- Removed decrease to Pyre Ball’s damage
- Cards
Affinity
- Reduced ICD from 5s ➞ 3s
Arcane Ice
- Increased scaling from 15|15 to 25|25
Elemental Barrier
- Reduced ICD from 5s ➞ 3s
Inara
- Cards
Crag
- Removed ICD
Io
- Weapon
Light Bow
- Reduced time for reload pre-load from 1.2s ➞ 1.1s
- Increased time for reload post-fire from .4s ➞ .5s
Jenos
- Weapon
Star Splitter
- Reduced time for reload pre-load from 1.2s ➞ 1.1s
- Increased time for reload post-fire from .4s ➞ .5s
Kasumi
- Weapon
Yokai Doll
- Reverted damage falloff from previous update
- Increase bonus damage on Deployables & deployed Shields from 250% ➞ 400%
Khan
- Weapon
Heavy Repeater
- Decreased post-fire from .24s ➞ .22s
- Abilities
Bulwark
- Increased Shield health from 4400 ➞ 4500
- Ultimate
Overpower
- Reduced pre-pull time from .5s ➞ .25s
- Talents
Storm of Bullets
- Reduced bonus firerate from 60% ➞ 40%
Vortex Grip
- Now also Weakens the target to weapon attacks by 15% for 1.4s.
- Cards
Shield Wall
- Increased scaling from 200|200 ➞ 250|250
Kinessa
- Passive
- Bag Em & Tag Em
- Now applies a Shock to enemies instead of a Mark
- Bag Em & Tag Em
- Abilities
Oppressor Mine
- Now classified as Shock damage
- Talents
- NEW:
High Voltage
- Carbine Rifle now deals 25% increased damage against Shocked targets.
- Replaces
Crystalline Battery.
- NEW:
Lex
- Weapon
Magnums
- Reduced time for reload pre-load from 1s ➞ .9s
- Increased time for reload post-fire from .4s ➞ .5s
Lian
- Weapon
Heirloom Rifle
- Reduced time for reload pre-load from 1.3s ➞ 1.1s
- Increased time for reload post-fire from .4s ➞ .6s
Maeve
- Talents
Artful Dodger
- Activating Nine Lives interrupts and cleanses all Crowd Control effects. You have an additional midair jump.
- Replaces
Street Justice
Makoa
- Abilities
Shell Shield
- Increase from 4000 ➞ 4500
- Ultimate
Ancient Rage
- Reduced prefire from .15s ➞ .05s
- Shifted mesh scaling to Leviathan
- Removed headshot damage protection
- Talents
Half Shell
- Also provides 500 bonus Shield health
Leviathan
- Now also has Makoa grow by 50% and resets Shell Shield’s cooldown as well
- Cards
Barrier Reef
- Increase trigger threshold from 900 ➞ 1000
Moji
- Abilities
Sparkle
- No longer Self Slows while firing
Magic Shield
- Increase instant Shielding given to allies from 100 ➞ 200
- Moji now will give a total of 600 Shielding to all allies in range
- Increase Shields given duration from 4s ➞ 5s
- Talents
Jubilation
- Increased maximum stack damage from 350 ➞ 550 (800 ➞ 1000)
- Cards
Morning Breath
- Reworked to “Sparkle regenerates {scale=20|20}% Ammo spent when hitting an enemy."
Shimmering
- Increase duration from 4s ➞ 5s
Nyx
- Abilities
Abyssal Fortress
- Increase from 1500|3000|4500 to 2500|3750|5000
- Cards
Unyielding Advance
- Increase scaling from 200|200 ➞ 250|250
Pip
- Weapon
Potion Launcher
- Reduced time for reload pre-load from 1.1s ➞ 1s
- Increased time for reload post-fire from .4s ➞ .5s
- Abilities
Healing Potion
- Increased healing from 1000 ➞1200
Weightless
- Increased duration from 2.5s ➞ 3s.
- Pip has an additional midair jump during the ability.
- Talents
Mega Potion
- Healing bonus changed from 100% ➞ flat 1000 bonus
Raum
- Weapon
Hellfire Gatling
- Reduced time for reload pre-load from 3s ➞ 2.75s
- Increased time for reload post-fire from 1s ➞ 1.25s
Ruckus
- Weapon
Miniguns
- Reduced time for reload pre-load from 1.1s ➞ 1s
- Increased time for reload post-fire from .4s ➞ .5s
- Abilities
Emitter
- Increase Shield health from 2000 ➞ 2500
VII
- Weapon
Heavy SMG
- Standardized reload timing across fire modes
- Mag Dump’s reload time is decreased from 1.4s ➞ 1.2s
- Reduced time for reload pre-load from .85s ➞ .8s
- Increased time for reload post-fire from .25s ➞ .3s
- Standardized reload timing across fire modes
- Talents
Tribunal Upgrades
- Burst Mode transitioned to Shock damage
Sha Lin
- Passive
- NEW: Hazy Vision
- While Stealthed, Sha Lin has 20% increased Movement Speed.
- NEW: Hazy Vision
- Weapon
Longbow
- No longer slows Sha Lin while charging
- Increased minimum damage from 30 ➞ 100
- Talents
- NEW:
Desert Shadow
- Eliminations enter you into Stealth for 2s. Shots from Stealth deal 200 increased damage.
- Replaces
Desert Silence.
Sand Trap
- Removed 1s Cooldown penalty
- Reduced effective blast radius from 20 ➞ 12
- NEW:
- Cards
Poise
- Reworked to “While in Stealth, gain 40|40 increased Jump Height.”
Skye
- Cards
Tactical Reload
- Reworked to “Increase your maximum Ammo by 2|2.”
Twilight Armor
- Reworked to “Increase your maximum health by 50|50.”
Strix
- Weapons
Talon Rifle
- Reduced time for reload pre-load from 2s ➞ 1.6s
- Increased time for reload post-fire from .4s ➞ .8s
Pistol
- Reduced time for reload pre-load from 1s ➞ .9s
- Increased time for reload post-fire from .4s ➞ .5s
Talus
- Weapon
Veracharger
- Reduced time for reload pre-load from 1s ➞ .9s
- Increased time for reload post-fire from .4s ➞ .5s
Tiberius
- Abilities
Combat Trance
- Reduced prefire from .2s ➞ .09s
- Talents
- NEW:
Borrowed Luck
- Combat Trance now resets your other abilities' cooldowns when activated.
- Replaces
Predatory Instincts.
- NEW:
Torvald
- General
- Health
- Increase base Health from 2800 ➞ 3000
- Decreased base Shield from 2700 ➞ 2500
- Health
- Weapon
Gauntlet
- Reduced time for reload pre-load from 1s ➞ .9s
- Increased time for reload post-fire from .4s ➞ .5s
- Abilities
Nullify
- Now classified as Shock damage
Protection
- Increase duration from 4s ➞ 5s
- Decrease cooldown from 9s ➞ 8s
Recharge
- Increase from 2700 ➞ 2750
- Ultimate
Hyper Beam
- Torvald now goes CC immune during the windup animation
Viktor
- Talents
Cardio
- Now also increases Jump Height by 150% during Hustle
Shrapnel
- Now also deals an additional 150 damage
Vivian
- Weapon
Light Machine Gun
- Reduced time for reload pre-load from 2.6s ➞ 2s
- Increased time for reload post-fire from .4s ➞ 1s
- Abilities
Deflector Shield
- Increase health from 1200 ➞ 1500
- Ultimate
Sentinels
- Now classified as Shock damage
- Talents
Suspect Everyone
- Removed Shield health bonus
- Removed ICD
Willo
- Weapon
Wand of Overgrowth
- Reduced time for reload pre-load from 1.3s ➞ 1.2s
- Increased time for reload post-fire from .4s ➞ .5s
- Cards
Fauna
- Reworked to “Increase the Knockback you receive from Wand of Overgrowth by 40|40%”
Yagorath
- Abilities
Piercing Quills
- Uses Ammo instead of Cooldown, reloads every .5s.
- Ultimate
Devour
- No longer refunds 30% energy if the target takes 1000 damage and is dropped due to collision
- No longer has Critical Hit spots on her Tail
- Modified how Yagorath checks for sight on targets to not allow her to Ultimate people through walls
- Talents
Unnatural Persistence
- Reworked to "While in Hardening, receive 50% increased healing from others."
Out of Time Card considers this an effect of Hardening, reducing the effect to 25% but allows it to linger.
- Reworked to "While in Hardening, receive 50% increased healing from others."
Sight Begets Strength
- Increase Shield health from 90 ➞ 100
- Increase duration from 4s ➞ 5s
Ying
- Cards
Ephemeral
- Reworked to “Reduce the cooldown of Dimensional Link by .5|.5% for each hit with your weapon.”
Bug Fixes
Cards
- Fixed an issue where some Card decks were misnamed or poorly ordered after recent balance adjustments.
Effects
- Fixed various instances of effects not being highlighted in our recent update to Status Effect indication.
Skins
- Fixed an issue where Shikoa Makoa’s hook chain was not textured as intended. This skin has had its visual textures and colors updated slightly.
- Fixed an issue where Street Style: World Tour and Ska’drin Celebration skins had temporary or blurry Loading Art
Champions
Drogoz
- Fixed an issue where Fire Spit erroneously stated that its Weaken was to all attacks, it is only to weapon attacks.
Lillith
- Fixed an issue where Blood Hex’s damage was not scaling down properly after targets began to lose health.
- We’ve heard some player feedback that enjoyed this accidental change to Lillith. We’ll be investigating ways to allow her Hex to be a more aggressive option in her kit in a future update