For the first time in the game, the forces of Chaos will intervene in the conflict between the Imperium and the Tyranids.
Players have the opportunity to play as Heretic Astartes in Siege mode. Supported by Cultists and even a Helbrute, players must battle against both Tyranid Hive Fleet forces and the Loyalists.
The Tyranid invasion has exposed the activity of Chaos forces on Avarax. Somewhere in the heart of the Hive City, Heretic Astartes are defending strategically vital locations and attempting to perform blasphemous rituals.
This is our first true endgame activity. We will continue to evolve it and monitor all feedback regarding it. The rewards for the Crucible are meant to be expanded over time.
Crucible is a new endgame PvE mode available for Level 25 classes. Launch it through PvE Operations and apply Penances to yourself to make the mission more challenging in exchange for Crucible XP and unique customisation rewards. Crucible uses a separate matchmaking pool from standard PvE.
Progressing into Crucible mode will unlock the armour parts of the Lamenters set.
A rework of the Tactical class perks, offering more flexible customisation options to suit your playstyle - whether that’s using two primary weapons, taking down enemies with Gun Strike, or engaging in close combat - as well as an expansion of the Tactical class’s melee weapon arsenal.
New Ordeals featuring Vanguard and Heavy class challenges, as well as PvP and Siege game modes.
A fast weapon that can transition between single target and area attacks. Accumulate charges and spend them on more powerful attacks.
Expanded Wargears customisation with the addition of separate slots for tabards and cloaks, the ability to paint them, an extended list of colours for cloth, and a set of patterns for painting cloaks for the Sniper class.
Added 3 Heroic Weapons to unlock with Accolades:
Power Axe (Frost Axe - Balance): Killing enemies with Executions generates Power Charges that empower your next Whirl Slash. Damage and radius are increased, and enemies hit are slowed.
One-Handed Thunder Hammer (Power Maul - Balance): Holding the attack button performs a powerful Ground Slam that consumes all charges, damage increases by the amount of charges spent.
Auto Bolt Rifle (Iron Hands): The rate of fire is increased, but gradually decreases while firing.
Added 3 Heroic Armour Parts to unlock with Accolades:
Crusade Ancient Shoulder Pad
Assault Iron Halo
Mark VI Corvus Shoulder Pad
🐺 Space Wolves Champion Pack
Bulwark Champion (Wolf Guard)
One-Handed Thunder Hammer skin
💀 Exorcists Cosmetic Pack
The Exorcists Cosmetic Pack includes:
2 Helmets
2 Left & Right Pauldrons
2 Left & Right Gauntlets
1 Breastplate
The armour pieces are automatically unlocked and added to your armour sets once you purchase the pack.
Tactical
With these changes we feel like Tactical will have way more build options. Overall, Auspex scan damage bonus is smaller than before, but the fact that he gets Kraken Penetrator rounds by default and most primary weapons get a buff should even up the playing field.
Starting perk now lets Bolt Weapons penetrate 1 additional enemy. Non Head Shot Damage is increased by 20% for Bolter Weapons.
Prestige perk Exigency Charge is replaced with Passive Chambering: “Any unequipped Ranged Weapon reloads automatically after 10 seconds”.
Kraken Penetrator Rounds has been removed from the skill tree to be included in the starting Class perk. The slot is replaced with Armour Reinforcement: “Non-finisher Gun Strikes restores 1 Armour Segment”.
Steady Aim has been removed and replaced with Focused Strike: “During a Gun Strike you do not lose control upon taking Heavy Hits, cannot be knocked back and you take 30% less damage”.
Close Targeting has been removed and replaced with Vital Data: “Scanning an Extremis or Terminus-level enemy restores Auspex Scan's Charge by 50%”.
Vital Data’s slot is replaced with Improved Efficiency: “Auspex Scan recharges 25% faster”.
Improved Efficiency’s slot is replaced with Marksman's Mandate: “Enemies marked by Auspex Scan take 40% additional ranged damage (Base damage is increased by 50%)”.
Priority Targeting has been removed and replaced with Pulse Auspex: “Auspex Scan emits a single pulse instead of creating a scan zone. It has 2 charges, but the radius is reduced by 25%”.
Target Lock has been removed and replaced with Mobile Auspex: “Auspex Scan activates around you. Its radius is increased by 30% and it lasts 4 seconds longer. (Base duration: 5 seconds)”.
Precise Calibration has been removed and replaced with Bladesman's Mandate: “Enemies marked by Auspex Scan take 60% more melee damage and 20% more Gun Strike damage (Base damage is increased by 50%)”.
Expert Timing has been removed and replaced with Strongpoint: “While inside the Auspex Scan area, you and your Squad Members deal 20% more melee damage and take 20% less health damage”.
Concentrated Fire has been removed and replaced with Prime Target: ”Activating Auspex Scan applies a Gun Strike mark to the most dangerous enemy within its range”.
Marked for Death has been modified: “Activating Auspex Scan weakens one Majoris- or Extremis-level enemy within its range. All damage bonuses applied by Auspex Scan against that target are increased by 100%”.
Signal Jammer has been removed and replaced with Tactical Reserve: “Your Secondary Weapon is replaced with a Primary Bolt Rifle”.
Secure Stockpile: cooldown is increased from 60 to 90 seconds.
Techmarine
Perk Combat Squad Resupply now affects Melta Bomb too.
For a very long time all weapons damage were balanced around the fact that Auspex Scan can provide x3 damage boost for the entire team. With Auspex scan efficiency reduced we are increasing base damage for almost all primary weapons to compensate.
Bolt Rifle
Base damage is increased by 10%.
Auto Bolt Rifle
Base damage is increased by 15%.
Heavy Bolt Rifle
Base damage is increased by 5% (not for the Heroic version with Auxiliary Grenade Launcher).
Bolt Carbine
Base damage is increased by 7.5%.
Instigator Bolt Carbine
Base damage is increased by 7.5%.
Occulus Bolt Carbine
Base damage is increased by 15%.
Plasma Incinerator
Common shot base damage is increased by 10%.
Heavy Bolter
Base damage is increased by 5%.
Pyreblaster
Base damage is increased by 10%.
Pyrecannon
Base damage is increased by 10%.
Bolt Carbine One-Handed
Base damage is increased by 10%.
Melta weapons were very strong at launch, but have been power creeped by other weapons over time. With this update we are giving them a huge damage boost, but in return the damage fall off is more aggressive and ammo is more limited. This should make them deadly at point blank range. The change also affects heroic versions too.
Melta Rifle
Base damage is increased by 65%.
Base ammo capacity is decreased from 15 to 10.
Standard-Issue version:
Damage fall off distance start point is changed from 5 to 2 meters.
Max damage reduction is changed from 50% to 30%.
Master-Crafted - Alpha version:
Damage fall off distance start point is changed from 8 to 2.5 meters.
Max damage reduction is changed from 50% to 30%.
Salvation of Bakka version:
Damage fall off distance start point is changed from 9 to 3 meters.
Max damage reduction is changed from 50% to 30%.
Gathalamor Crusade version:
Damage fall off distance start point is changed from 10 to 3 meters.
Max damage reduction is changed from 50% to 30%.
Salamanders - Heroic version:
Damage fall off distance is added.
Max damage reduction on distance from 25 to 30 meters is 70%.
Heavy Melta Rifle
Base damage is increased by 60%.
Base ammo capacity is decreased from 20 to 16.
Standard-Issue version:
Damage fall off distance start point is changed from 5 to 2 meters.
Max damage reduction is changed from 50% to 30%.
Master-Crafted - Alpha version:
Damage fall off distance start point is changed from 8 to 3 meters.
Max damage reduction is changed from 50% to 30%.
Salvation of Bakka version:
Damage fall off distance start point is changed from 9 to 4 meters.
Max damage reduction is changed from 50% to 30%.
Gathalamor Crusade version:
Damage fall off distance start point is changed from 10 to 5 meters.
Max damage reduction is changed from 50% to 30%.
Combi-melta (Heroic Bolt Rifle)
Melta barrel damage is increased by 65%.
Damage fall off distance start point is changed from 5 to 2 meters.
Damage reduction is changed from 30% to 20%.
Deathwatch Stalker Bolt Rifle (Heroic)
Fixed several issues with body shots tracking making it easier and more consistent to trigger its heroic perk
Tactical
Added three new melee weapons: Power Sword, Power Axe and One-Handed Thunder Hammer. When equipped, the Tactical class cannot equip a Primary weapon.
Techmarine
Added Two-Handed Thunder Hammer.
Ominissian Axe
Description of the Rampage perk was changed to reflect actual gameplay.
Deathwatch Power Fist (Heroic variant)
Melta Blast attack can now be chained.
Fixed an issue with some weapon and class perks not affecting the Melta Blast attack.
Lord Executioner’s Axe (Heroic Thunder Hammer)
Fixed an issue where Adrenaline Surge stacks were not granted in some cases.
Corrupted & Hallowed Relic defeat timer is increased from 15 to 20 seconds.
Fixed a bug where the Measured Mercy stratagem would only grant only one relic if playing solo or with bots.
Lots of minor fixes to stratagems.
The camera position in scopes has been moved closer to the character, reducing the ability to shoot from behind cover while remaining completely hidden.
Heavy
Iron Halo health is reduced by 25%.
Techmarine
Class ability cooldown reduced by 16%.
Melta Rifle
Rate of fire is increased by 10%.
Instigator Bolt Carbine
Base damage is reduced by 12.5%.
Auto Bolt Rifle
Base damage is reduced by 7.5%.
Bolt Rifle
Maximum spread is reduced by 15%.
Sniper Bolt Rifle
Rate of fire is increased by 9%.
Combat Knife
Added stagger for 4th attack in light combo.
Damage of the 4th strike in light combo is reduced by 33%.
Power Sword
Power Whirl damage reduced by 20%.
With Patch 16 we will take another look on Blessing and Atonements in Siege mode, as well as some of the Battlefield conditions in Stratagems mode.
Cursed Relic is temporary removed from Atonement pool.
Lots of minor fixes.
Lots of minor fixes with level geometry.
Ordeals to unlock Chaos Relic Armour now count kill assists as well.
Fixed an issue with the Unending Vigil ordeal not being unlockable.
Fixed an issue with Eternal Conflict and Ace of Aces not being unlocked after reaching condition.
Block stance of enraged enemies (i.e. Bonesword Tyranid Warrior) can now be broken by heavy attacks.
Barbed Strangler radius is reduced by 10% to better match the visual radius of the effect.
AI Director now prioritizes ammo boxes drops if the player's weapons secondary barrel is empty.
Biovore is added to the enemy list in Battle Simulator.
Ammo boxes added to Battle Simulator.
Added the Unhelmed Salamander Helm and Salamander Voice to the Chapter Voice Pack 1 DLC.
Added Raven Guard Unhelmed head to the Refinement and Redemption shop.
Added White Scar Unhelmed head to the Refinement and Redemption shop.
Added Iron Hands Champion, Salamanders Champion, and Space Wolves Champion Tabards for the Assault class.
Added Tabards for the Vanguard and Heavy classes.
Added "Mark XI Hell's Teeth" chainsword skin to the Refinement and Redemption shop.
Added the Salamander Champion Cloak for the Assault class.
Cloth wargear slot has been split into Cloth and Cloak slots. Tabards and cloaks can now be equipped separately.
Added a Cloth Wargear slot for the Vanguard and Heavy classes.
Added new colors for Cloth and Cloaks.
Wargears can now be coloured through their dedicated customisation slot instead of being coloured together with the Backpack or Chest.
Added separate camouflage patterns for Sniper Cloaks.
Added colouring support for:
Battleworn Tabard
Regal Tabard
Noble Tabard
Consecrated Tabard
Vermillion Cloak
Sable Cloak
Techmarine: Manipulator slot has been split into Manipulator and Backpack slots.
Lots of minor customisation fixes for both Loyalists and Chaos.
Fixed an issue where the player could take damage from Tzaangor Enlightened despite performing a Perfect Dodge.
Lots of minor fixes with animations.
Fixed a rare bug where executing finishers were not restoring contested health.
Fixed a bug where players couldn’t pick up Armour boosts after disabling the "Depleted Armour" stratagem in Siege mode.
Fixed a bug with Assault's “Furious strike” perk resetting the cooldown progress of the Jump Pack ability in some cases.
Fixed a bug with Tactical’s "Radiating Impact" perk that could damage allies on hard stratagems mode.
Fixed a bug with the "Migraine" stratagem not triggering an explosion when a Scarab Occult Terminator Sorcerer is killed with a headshot.
Lots of minor bug fixes.
Lots of minor UI and sound fixes.
Loading times improvements.
Memory optimisations.
Minor performance improvements.
General connectivity improvements.
Crash fixes and general stability improvements.
