Welcome to the first Test Server update for Version 2.1!
One month has passed since the launch of Version 2.0, and Season 9 has entered a relatively steady phase. Over the past few weeks, we have focused on collecting and analyzing player feedback, and have made a series of targeted optimizations and adjustments accordingly: for [Standard Versus], we have experimentally introduced a batch of new equipment items and adjusted the mechanics of Unit Reinforcements and Battlefield Powers; for [Star Expedition], we have implemented the highly requested [Save Anytime in Solo Mode] feature and added [Difficulty Branches] to the Star Map. Additionally, we have redesigned the Main Menu UI layout and further improved game performance and network connection quality.
Standard Versus - New Equipment Reinforcements
The new equipment items listed below are currently in a temporary, experimental state in Standard Versus. We are closely monitoring their impact on match pacing and army counter-play. They are not guaranteed to carry over into future live server updates, and we will very likely adjust or temporarily remove some of them at any time over the next few days based on testing results.
[Absorption Armor]: HP increased by 60%, and gains 3% ATK each time it takes damage. Attacks convert damage dealt to enemies into its own HP.
[Adaptive Radar]: For every 10m moved, Range +1m, ATK +2%, and HP +10%.
[Rapid Autoloader]: Attack Interval reduced by 50%.
[Charged Ammo]: Every 3 seconds, increases the ATK of the next attack by 250%. This effect does not stack and resets after each attack.
[Focus Module]: ATK +50%, HP +50%, and grants immunity to negative effects (debuffs).
[Anti-Air Radar] (Ranged units only): The equipped unit can attack aerial units.
[Elite Crew]: The equipped unit's stats scale with its Rank: +30% HP, +10% ATK, and +5m Range per Rank.
[Regenerative Barrier] (Ground Giant units only): The equipped unit projects an 80,000 HP Defensive Barrier that protects nearby units. Once the barrier is destroyed, it reactivates after 20 seconds.
Standard Versus - Balance Adjustments
Hound
[Incendiary Bomb]: Missile HP reduced by 30%, Cost 250 → 300
[Chamber Compression]: Cost 300 → 250
Developer's Note: We have slightly nerfed the Hound's strongest Tech while buffing its weakest Tech.
Sledgehammer
[Armor-Piercing Bullets]: Cost 100 → 150
Developer's Note: Following the buffs in the previous patch, the Sledgehammer's usage rate has improved noticeably. We are generally satisfied with its overall performance, but [Armor-Piercing Bullets] needed a slight nerf.
Centurion
[Reactive Armor]: Damage reduction charges 5 → 7
Crawler
[Subterranean Blitz]: Damage reduction 40% → 35%
[Replicate]: Cost 250 → 200
Developer's Note: Due to Mechabellum's core counter mechanics, high-model-count swarm units are often the most critical component of an army. We want to slightly reduce the Crawler's durability so that the pick rates between the two primary swarm units—Crawler and Fang—become more balanced.
Fang
[Rifle Grenade]: Cost 150 → 100
[Ignite]: Cost 150 → 100
Developer's Note: We want to give Fangs more opportunities to shine. Making [Rifle Grenade] and [Ignite] more affordable will open up a wider variety of Fang-centric tactics. We will continue to closely monitor the performance of [Rifle Grenade] on the Test Server to make further adjustments as needed.
Tarantula
[High-Explosive Ammo]: Cost 300 → 350
Void Eye
ATK: 1144 → 1087 (-5%)
[Energy Shield]: Cost 250 → 200
Typhoon
ATK: 88 → 93 (+5%)
[Field Entrenchment]: Range modifier +20 → +30
[Field Reassembly]: Revive time 5s → 3s
[Reactive Armor]: Cost 150 → 100
Developer's Note: After [Wreckage Detonation] was nerfed, the Typhoon's overall pick rate dropped a bit too low. Therefore, we are giving its base stats and several of its Techs a compensatory buff.
Stormcaller
[Incendiary Bomb]: Cost 350 → 300, Range modifier -20 → -15
[Launcher Overload]: Range modifier -40 → -30
Developer's Note: After multiple rounds of nerfs, the Stormcaller's pick rate has fallen too low. We have moderately reduced the range penalties on some of its Techs.
Farseer
[Full Salvo]: Missile count 12 → 14
[Electromagnetic Blast]: Cost 150 → 100
Developer's Note: By buffing the Farseer's less popular Techs, we hope to encourage more diverse tactical choices around the Farseer.
Sabertooth
[Field Entrenchment]: Range modifier +20 → +30
[Anti-Air Missile]: Damage 2500 → 2000; damage now scales with unit Rank, and its range matches the main cannon.
Vortex
[Capacitor Shield]: Shield HP 2000 → 2500
[Mobile Power Plant]: Cost 250 → 200
Battlefield Powers
[Nuclear Strike]: Cost 250 → 200
If a player on the field has already selected [Electromagnetic Blast], new [Electromagnetic Blast] cards will no longer appear in subsequent Reinforcement drafts.
[Massive Electromagnetic Blast]: Research time increased by 1 round; damage to shields 20,000 → 30,000
[Redeployment]: Cooldown increased by 1 round, Cost 50 → 0
Equipment
[Dominion Core]: Cost 100 → 50
Unit Reinforcements
Rank 3 or higher Rhino, Scorpion, Sabertooth, and Centurion will no longer appear in Unit Reinforcements.
Developer's Note: Based on recent player feedback, we have removed the possibility of these high-tier units appearing directly at Rank 3 or higher in Unit Reinforcements, reducing the extreme impact that a single random reinforcement drop can have on the course of a match.
Star Expedition - New Features & Mechanism Adjustments
Save & Load
Players can now save and exit a Solo Star Expedition at any time, and load their progress later to resume their unfinished expedition.
Difficulty Selection
We have added branching difficulty paths to the Star Map and increased the ship's movement speed across the Star Map. During an expedition, players now have the opportunity to venture into more dangerous sectors for greater score and supply rewards, or head toward safer sectors for a more relaxed combat experience.
Developer's Note: Mid-run saving for solo play and a more flexible difficulty experience have been the two most requested features since the launch of [Star Expedition]. We will continue to add more features to the Star Map in the future.
Round 7 Titan Reinforcements
In Round 7, in addition to the 3 Titans, the following Equipment Reinforcements may now also appear:
[Mass-Produced Interference Armor]: Gain 3 Interference Armor
[Mass-Produced Absorption Armor]: Gain 3 Absorption Armor
[Mass-Produced Adaptive Radar]: Gain 3 Adaptive Radar
[Mass-Produced Diffusion Ammo]: Gain 2 Diffusion Ammo
[Mass-Produced Rapid Autoloader]: Gain 2 Rapid Autoloader
[Mass-Produced Long-Range Scope]: Gain 2 Long-Range Scope
[Mass-Produced Charged Ammo]: Gain 3 Charged Ammo
[Mass-Produced High-Combustion Ammo]: Gain 3 High-Combustion Ammo
[Mass-Produced Emergency Armor]: Gain 3 Emergency Armor
[Mass-Produced Focus Module]: Gain 3 Focus Module
[Mass-Produced Anti-Air Radar]: Gain 3 Anti-Air Radar
[Mass-Produced Elite Crew]: Gain 2 Elite Crew
[Mass-Produced Regenerative Barrier]: Gain 2 Regenerative Barrier
Star Expedition - Balance Adjustments
[Bulk Purchase]: Cost 200 → 0
[High-Combustion Ammo]: Burn duration 2s → 4s
Battle Contracts
Added new Elite Battle Contracts: [Dieselpunk - Fortress], [Dieselpunk - Scorpion], and [Royal - Raiden]
General Optimizations
Entries for Tournaments and Community Tournaments have now been merged under the Multiplayer menu.
Redesigned and optimized the layout of the Main Menu based on player feedback.
Bugfixes
Further optimized network routing to improve the online multiplayer experience for players in certain regions.
Fixed an issue related to the Death Knell.
Fixed multiple issues that could cause data anomalies.
Fixed several unit animation display issues.
Fixed multiple UI animation display issues.
Fixed and improved various localization texts across multiple languages.
How to access the Public Test Server
1. Locate Mechabellum in your Steam library, right-click on it, and select Properties...
2. In the pop-up Properties window, select the Game Versions & Betas tab, and then choose public_test from the menu of NAME & DESCRIPTION
3. Wait for the update to complete. Please note that the version should display as public_test. Now click Play, and you can get access to the Public Test Server.
4. In order to switch back to the Live Server, please repeat these steps and select Default Public Version from the menu.
Feedback & Bug Reports
Feel free to submit feedback, suggestions, or report bugs for this update via the following channels:
Mechabellum Discord: https://discord.gg/mechabellum
Mechabellum Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/Mechabellum/
Mechabellum Steam Discussions: https://steamcommunity.com/app/669330/discussions/