Not only does this update unleash the Lady Of The Lamp, Update 1.4 also brings changes to recommended blocks, hero balance shifts, new arenas, matchmaking alterations, Blockbuster Boost and much more.
Heroes
Now that we have fixed the issue which caused fire rates to be linked to frame rates, we have completed a pass on all Heroes bringing their damage up to where the “60 FPS” players were seeing it before the bug fix. Heroes’ damage in relation to each other remains the same, but the overall damage-per-second average is up to 40 from 35 and so “seconds to death” has been slightly reduced for all Heroes to be in line with what was intended.
Dream Genie
Another new Hero is entering the Block N Load arenas! Dream Genie has some very unique options available to her including being throwing blocks that she constructs so that they are built further away from her and an active ability that can turn enemy devices to your team for a short period of time.
See the Dream Genie guide here for the full run down of her weapons and abilities.
Hero Balance
Astarella
- Recommended block loadout has been changed to Orbital Strike Beacon, Bricks, Glue, Bear Trap, Speed Block, and Bounce Pad.
- P.P.P. player and world damage has been increased from 5 to 6 per shot.
- Orbital Strike Beacon cost increase when placing multiple copies whilst one is still active has been reduced from 2000 to 1500 bricks.
- Orbital Strike Beacon damage has been increased from 30 to 35.
- Hit detection when aiming at Astarella’s stomach has been improved.
- The P.P.P. flashes when hitting another player are no longer as bright.
- A video on how to play Astarella has been added to her Learn page.
Anthony ‘Tony’ Turretto
- Recommended block loadout has been changed to Lil’ Buddy, Bricks, Force Gate, Glue, Heal Station, and Ammo Crate.
- Rivet Gun accuracy has been increased and spread has been reduced.
- Lil’ Buddy turret HP has been increased from 120 to 150.
- Damage repaired by the Caulk Gun has been increased from 5 to 6.
‘Doc’ Eliza Doolally
- Recommended block loadout has been changed to Miasma Mine, Fire Trap, Bricks, Large Bomb, Heal Station, and Ammo Crate.
- Globe Gun primary and alternate attack rate of fire has been increased from 1.5 to 2 shots per second.
- Miasma Mine gas damage reduced from 20 to 15 per second.
- Duration of gas clouds left when Eliza is killed or a level 10 Eliza uses their active ability has been reduced from 10 to 5 seconds.
Sergeant ‘Sarge’ Stone
- M60 OMG rate of fire has been increased from 6.67 to 8 shots per second.
Cogwheel
- Rotary Cannon primary and alternate attack rate of fire has been increased from 5 to 6.67 shots per second.
Sweet Science
- Blitz Stance primary attack rate of fire has been increased from 4 to 5 punches per second.
- Blitz Stance animation has been improved to better represent where the blows from it will land.
- Position of Sweet Science’s hands when finishing walking and sprinting has been made more consistent.
O.P. ‘Juan’ Shinobi
- The shape of the hands on the progression skin for O.P. when the tool is selected have been improved.
Arenas
- Classic mode matches containing players new to Block N Load will have a slightly different selection of arenas available. The existing arenas High and Low, Pillerd, and Insandity will be available along with the new arenas Citadel and Bulwark.
- Classic mode now includes the new arena Tower.
- Custom mode now includes the new arenas Tower, Citadel, and Bulwark as well as the existing arenas High and Low, Pillerd, and Insandity.
- Mount Olympus has been updated to include a metal plate under the Blockbuster drop location.
Hero Tips
- When in a match as a level 1 or level 2 Hero a panel with hints and tips for the chosen Hero will be displayed in the upper left of the screen. These can be minimized at any time, but will be maximized by default during the Build Phase and when in your team’s spawn area.
New Player Introduction
- When new players enter in to the game they are now presented with options as to whether they wish to view a video tutorial, play the Practice Grounds tutorial arena, or skip the tutorials and go straight in to a queue for a Classic mode match.
- Where any match contains one or more players who have a player score of 10 or less the arena choice will be limited to Citadel, Bulwark, High and Low, Pillerd, and Insandity. In these matches the XP and Player Score gained for completing the match is increased by 10% for all players.
Hero Selection
- It is now no longer possible to select two of the same block with different skins in the loadout of a Hero.
- When selecting a Hero you will also be prompted to select whether you’re planning on attacking the enemy Base or defending your own so that the rest of your team can see what your plans for the match ahead are. This does not affect Hero selection, or block availability, it just communicates your intention to your team mates.
Block Buster Boost
- Duration of the boost has been increased from 90 to 120 seconds.
- Effects of the boost are no longer removed upon death, and players will have the effect for the full duration.
- Effects are applied to team-mates who were respawning at the time the boost was collected.
- A new version of the boost appears from 40 minutes after the end of the build phase. This modifies damage to blocks and devices by 250% and incoming damage by 50%.
Matchmaking
- The “Join shorthanded games” option to backfill in to games in progress is now switched off by default and is not available to players who are below Player Level 6. It becomes available as an option after reaching Player Level 6.
Tutorial
- A new tutorial video has been added. This can be accessed through the “Learn” section of the menu.
- The Practice Grounds tutorial has arena had some improvements made to it, including adding specific target blocks to the weapons section of the arena.
- The Radars placed in the tutorial now generate the debuff icon to indicate you have been spotted by them when you are near enough.
- The Fanfare screen displayed when selecting to leave the tutorial after collecting all the tokens, destroying the Base, or reaching the last room can now be skipped with keyboard presses as well as mouse buttons.
You can read our miscellaneous patch notes here