Multiplayer Balance Changes

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August 28, 2012
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Gold and Platinum Difficulties
- Enemy shield/barrier damage gates on weapon damage reduced from 90% to 75%, which means
25% of the remaining weapon damage will pass through to health.

Medigel maximum capacity increased from 5 to 6 due to the success of Operation Alloy

Falcon Assault Rifle
- Encumbrance decreased from [2.0-1.4] to [1.75-1]

Geth Pulse Rifle
- Damage increased from [24.1-30.1] to [27.4-34.2]

Hawk Missile Launcher Power
- Rank 3 damage bonus increased from 20% to 30%
- Evolve 1 shield penalty reduction increased from 15% to 25%
- Evolve 2 damage bonus increased from 30% to 40%
- Evolve 3 missile refire time reduction increased from 25% to 35%
- Evolve 5 damage of split missiles increased from 50% to 75%
- Evolve 6 damage bonus increased from 100% to 150%

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September 11, 2012
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Overload Power
- Duration that Tech Burst power combos are set up increased from 3.5 to 5 seconds

Cryo Blast Power
- Base duration increased from 3 to 4 seconds
- Base cooldown reduced from 6 to 5 seconds
- Evolve 3 movement speed penalty increased from 20% to 30%
- Evolve 5 recharge speed bonus increased from 50% to 100%

Crusader Shotgun
- Damage increased from [530.9-663.6] to [573.4-716.75]

Graal Shotgun
- Damage increased from [80.0-100.0] to [88.0-110.0]
- Damage multiplier for head shots increased from 2.5 to 3.0

Kishock Sniper Rifle
- Damage increased from [645.4-806.8] to [774.5-968.1]
- Percentage of total damage that is done as bleed damage increased from 20% to 33%
- Bleed damage duration remains at 10 seconds

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September 25, 2012
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Battlefield 3 soldier kit now available as a new Rare card

Typhoon Assault Rifle
- Recoil no longer gets worse as the weapon levels up.

Striker Assault Rifle
- Max spare ammo increased from [48-60] to [60-72]

Eagle Pistol
- Damage increased from [74.9-93.7] to [86.1-107.7]
- Encumbrance decreased from [0.6-0.25] to [0.45-0.25]

Paladin Pistol
- Encumbrance decreased from [1.25-0.7] to [1.0-0.7]

Talon Pistol
- Encumbrance decreased from [1.1-0.6] to [0.9-0.6]

Carnifex Pistol
- Encumbrance increased from [1.0-0.5] to [1.2-0.7]

Piranha Shotgun
- Clip size decreased from 8 to 6

Frag Grenade Power
- Base damage increased from 750 to 900
- Evolution 4 bleed duration reduced from 10 to 5 seconds. The total damage applied remains the same.

Lift Grenade Power
- Base damage increased from 750 to 900
- Evolution 3 increase to max grenades increased from 1 to 2

Sticky Grenade Power
- Base damage increased from 900 to 1100
- Evolution 3 increase to max grenades increased from 1 to 2

Cluster Grenade Power
- Evolution 3 increase to max grenades increased from 1 to 2

Inferno Grenade Power
- Base damage increased from 125 to 150 per second
- Evolution 6 impact radius bonus increased from 40% to 50%

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October 9, 2012
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New weapon mods available
- Assault Rifle Thermal Scope
- Assault Rifle High-Velocity Barrel
- Shotgun Omni-Blade
- Shotgun High-Velocity Barrel
- Sniper Rifle Thermal Scope
- Sniper Rifle High-Velocity Barrel
- Pistol Heavy Barrel

Singularity Power
- Duration of singularity decreased from 25 to 8 seconds (October 2 balance changes missed this)

Cryo Explosion Power Combo
- Like Biotic Explosion or Tech Burst combos, this combo can now occur without killing the target.
- The target must still be fully frozen to be detonated.
- Damage increased from [50-125] to [75-200]
- Impact radius decreased from [3-5] meters to [2-4] meters

Fire Explosion Power Combo
- Like Biotic Explosion or Tech Burst combos, this combo can now occur without killing the target.
- Impact radius decreased from [3-6] meters to [2-4] meters
- Damage decreased from [150-375] to [100-250]
- Damage-over-time damage decreased from [20-50] to [12.5-31.25]

Bug Fixes
- Fixed issue where you could get an unlimited number of the new character cards
- Fixed issue allowing players to see the unreleased Retaliation kits in the character selection screen

Also, here are some additional changes that were included with the Retaliation DLC or missed in our patch notes.
- Geth Pyros can now stomp players who are downed
- Marauders can now stomp players who are downed
- Atlas now moves faster
- Atlas rocket will add a small damage-over-time effect on players that prevents shield regeneration for a short time
- Geth Prime drone now attacks players
- New map layout for Firebase White and Firebase Glacier
- Wave changes to Geth faction to account for new Geth Bomber enemy
- Wave changes to Cerberus faction to account for the new Dragoon enemy
- Weapons in the lobby show their rarity as a border around the weapon
- Can now see the last pack you purchased in the store
- Consumables now show statistics in their descriptions
- Destroyer's missile launcher now shows "Hawk Missile Launcher" in the kill feed instead of "Missile Launcher"
- When 3 of 4 players are ready in the lobby, there is a 20 second countdown before the match automatically begins
- Promoting a character preservers name and appearance, and doesn't assign any talent points
- Carnage power can now set up Fire Explosion power combos

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October 24, 2012
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Asari Valkyrie Sentinel kit now available as a new Rare card

New hazard maps available this week are Firebase Glacier and Firebase White

Challenges
- Added an Asari Valkyrie challenge to Commando Mastery

Krogan Shaman
- Now moves at the same speed as other Krogan when carrying objectives
- Added skin tone as a customization option

Turian Ghost and Havok
- Now move at the same speed as other Turians when carrying objectives

Reaper Husk
- Score rewards for kills and assists on Husks increased by 50%

Reaper Brute
- (Silver) Armor increased from 7500 to 9000
- (Gold) Armor increased from 9000 to 13500
- (Platinum) Armor increased from 11700 to 15210

Cerberus Wave Data
- (Bronze) Wave 9: Removed 1 Dragoon and added 1 Engineer
- (Silver) Wave 9: Removed 1 Dragoon and added 1 Centurion
- (Silver) Extraction: Removed 1 Dragoon and added 1 Centurion

Geth Wave Data
- (Bronze) Extraction: Removed 1 Hunter and added 1 Trooper
- (Silver) Wave 10: Removed 1 Prime and both Hunters and added 3 Troopers
- (Silver) Extraction: Removed 1 Prime and both Bombers and added 3 Rocket Troopers

Geth Prime
- (All Difficulties) Cooldown for spawning Turrets and Drones increased by 50%

Geth Hunter
- Delay between shotgun bursts increased from [0.9-1.5] to [1.2-1.8]
- Shotgun rate of fire decreased from 60 to 45

- The hit reaction chance multiplier is the chance for players to hit react the Hunter
- (Bronze) Hit reaction chance multiplier went from 80% to 90%
- (Silver) Hit reaction chance multiplier went from 65% to 75%
- (Gold) Hit reaction chance multiplier went from 50% to 60%
- (Platinum) Hit reaction chance multiplier went from 40% to 50%

- (Silver) Movement speed modifier while cloaked decreased from 90% to 80%
- (Gold) Movement speed modifier while cloaked decreased from 110% to 90%
- (Platinum) Movement speed modifier while cloaked decreased from 110% to 100%

Drell Assassin Passive Power (All Drell Kits)
- Rank 1 power damage bonus increased from 5% to 10%
- Evolution 1 weapon damage bonus increased from 7.5% to 10%
- Evolution 2 power damage bonus increased from 10% to 15%
- Evolution 3 power damage bonus increased from 15% to 20%
- Evolution 4 head shot damage bonus increased from 20% to 30%
- Evolution 6 weapon damage bonus increased from 10% to 12.5%

Turian Veteran Passive Power (Original 2 Turian Kits)
- Rank 1 weapon damage bonus increased from 7.5% to 10%
- Evolution 1 weapon damage bonus increased from 7.5% to 10%
- Evolution 2 power damage bonus increased from 10% to 15%
- Evolution 3 power damage bonus increased from 15% to 20%
- Evolution 4 head shot damage bonus increased from 20% to 30%
- Evolution 6 weapon damage bonus increased from 10% to 12.5%

Devastator Mode Power
- Base magazine size bonus decreased from 25% to 15%
- Rank 2 magazine size bonus decreased from 10% to 5%
- Evolution 3 magazine size bonus decreased from 25% to 15%
- Evolution 4 rate of fire bonus decreased from 25% to 15%

Hawk Missile Launcher Power
- Base damage and force increased from 150 to 200
- Evolve 1 shield penalty reduction increased from 25% to 40%

Supply Pylon Power
- Base time interval between spawning ammo increased from 15 to 17.5 seconds
- Base time interval between spawning grenades increased from 20 to 24 seconds
- Evolution 3 weapon damage bonus decreased from 15% to 10%
- Evolution 4 power damage bonus decreased from 15% to 10%

Cryo Explosion Power Combo
- Damage increased from [75-200] to [100-250]

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Nov 7, 2012
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Happy N7 day!

Everyone who logs in is awarded an N7 Loyalty pack. Must be collected today!

New N7 challenge available for a limited time

Geth Trooper Soldier kit now available as a new Rare card

New hazard maps available this week are Firebase Reactor and Firebase Giant

Challenges
- New N7 Valkyrie Assault Rifle challenge under Assault Rifle Mastery (140,000 point requirement)
- New M-55 Argus Assault Rifle challenge under Assault Rifle Mastery (140,000 point requirement)
- New AT-12 Raider Shotgun challenge under Shotgun Mastery (140,000 point requirement)
- New Collector Sniper Rifle challenge under Sniper Rifle Mastery (140,000 point requirement)
- New Collector SMG challenge under SMG Mastery (140,000 point requirement)
- New Smash challenge under Biotic Mastery (50,000 point requirement)
- New Biotic Orbs challenge under Biotic Mastery (50,000 point requirement)
- New Barrier challenge under Biotic Mastery (50,000 point requirement)

- Point reward for completing Solo Mastery decreased from 300 to 100
- Point reward for completing Biotic Mastery decreased from 300 to 140
- Point reward for completing Tech Mastery decreased from 300 to 140
- Point reward for completing Squad Elite increased from 130 to 200
- Point reward for completing Resurgence Mastery increased from 130 to 170
- Point reward for completing Rebellion Mastery increased from 130 to 170
- Point reward for completing Earth Mastery increased from 130 to 170
- Point reward for completing Commando Mastery increased from 160 to 200
- Point reward for completing Machine Mastery increased from 140 to 170
- Point reward for completing Outsider Mastery increased from 130 to 170
- Point reward for completing Shotgun, Assault Rifle, or Sniper Rifle Mastery increased from 140 to 175
- Point reward for completing Pistol Mastery increased from 130 to 155
- Point reward for completing Combat Mastery increased from 170 to 255
- Point reward for completing Cerberus Mastery increased from 220 to 250
- Point reward for completing Reaper Mastery increased from 200 to 250
- Point reward for completing Geth Mastery increased from 200 to 250
- Point reward for completing Collector Mastery increased from 200 to 250

- Fixed a bug where the Arc Grenade challenge for Male Quarian kits was not working
- Fixed a bug with the Survival Medal challenge not completing, details here

- Title for completing the Halloween Challenge changed from "Halloween Challenge" to "Hallowed Hero"

Batarian Brawler
- Now moves at the same speed as other Batarians when carrying objectives

Cerberus Wave Data
- (Bronze) Wave 6, 7, 9: Maximum number of Dragoons per wave capped at 2 (there was no cap before)

- (Silver) Wave 4, 8, 9: Maximum number of Dragoons per wave capped at 5 (there was no cap before)
- (Silver) Wave 5: Maximum number of Dragoons per wave capped at 3 (there was no cap before)

- (Gold) Wave 4: Removed 1 Dragoon and added 1 Centurion
- (Gold) Wave 7: Removed 1 Dragoon and added 1 Engineer
- (Gold) Wave 3: Maximum number of Dragoons per wave capped at 3 (there was no cap before)
- (Gold) Wave 4, 6, 7: Maximum number of Dragoons per wave capped at 6 (there was no cap before)

Collector Wave Data
- (Gold) Wave 3, 5, 9: Maximum number of Praetorians per wave capped at 3 (there was no cap before)
- (Gold) Wave 6, 8, 10: Maximum number of Praetorians per wave capped at 6 (there was no cap before)

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Nov 20, 2012
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New hazard maps available this week are Firebase Dagger and Firebase White

Volus Mercenary Sentinel is now available as a new Rare card

Submission Net (Vorcha Engineer)
- All stats changed to match the Batarian Submission Net

Challenges
- Renamed N7 Day Challenge banner title to "Loyalist"

Arc Pistol
- Damage multiplier when fully charged increased from 2.0 to 3.0

Disciple Shotgun
- Damage increased from [46.3-57.8] to [55.6-69.5]

Collector SMG
- Damage increased from [37.4-46.75] to [41.2-51.5]

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December 4, 2012
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Unlocking Male Quarian Marksman Soldier and challenge

New hazard maps available this week are Firebase Ghost and Firebase Giant

Stimulant Pack Power
- Base damage bonus decreased from 10% to 5%
- Base max shield bonus decreased from 2000 to 1200
- Evolution 5 weapon damage bonus decreased from 10% to 8%

Havok Strike Power
- Base cooldown reduced from 10 to 8 seconds
- Base damage increased from 500 to 600

Acolyte Pistol
- Base damage decreased from [420.2-490.0] to [378.0-441.0]

Saber Assault Rifle
- Base damage increased from [427.9-534.8] to [460-575]

Valkyrie Assault Rifle
- Base damage increased from [114.2-142.8] to [119.9-149.9]

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December 18, 2012
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There will be no balance updates for the next 3 weeks due to the Christmas holidays

Two new packs added to the store:
- Reserves Pack - for players who want character unlocks and upgrades
- Arsenal Pack - for players who want weapon unlocks and upgrades

Unlocking Volus Protector Vanguard and challenge
Unlocking Batarian Slasher Adept and challenge
Unlocking Drell Assassin Infiltrator and challenge

All hazard maps are now unlocked for the Christmas holidays

Acolyte Pistol
- Reverting pistol to original state before the attempted rocket glitch fix since the change
did not curb the use of the glitch

Sabotage Power
- Base cooldown decreased from 14 to 10 seconds
- Base backfire damage decreased 300 to 250

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Jan 29, 2013
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N7 Valkyrie Assault Rifle
- Encumbrance changed from [1.75-1.25] to [1.5-1.25]
- Head shot damage multiplier increased from 2.5 to 3

Havoc Strike Power
- Base force increased from 600 to 650
- Rank 3 damage and force bonus increased from 20% to 25%
- Evolution 1 damage and force bonus increased from 30% to 35%
- Evolution 5 damage and force bonus increased from 50% to 55%

Scimitar Shotgun
- Encumbrance changed from [1.25-0.7] to [1.15-0.6]

Barrier Power
- Detonation blast damage increased from 350 to 500

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Feb 5, 2013
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Fixed Acolyte pistol issue introduced with patch 5. The weapon has been reverted to its shipped state.

Fixed character card cap bugs introduced with patch 5

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Feb 27, 2013
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Stasis Power
- Base cooldown decreased from 12 to 10 seconds

Batarian Enforcer Passive Power
- Base power damage and force bonus increased from 2.5% to 7.5%