[img]//assets.albiononline.com/uploads/media/default/media/dffe36cf0c3bcb3687bfed2057eb626260504446.jpeg[/img] Call to Arms Patch 4, AKA the [b]Call to Arms Balance Patch[/b], is here! First and foremost, this patch brings big changes and improvements to all types of [b]Hellgates[/b], including [b]massively increased rewards[/b], improved [b]matchmaking[/b], an automatic [b]cooldown reset[/b] when invaded, and streamlined [b]knockdown mechanics[/b]. Additionally, Patch 4 brings a huge array of [b]Combat Balance Changes[/b] across numerous weapon and armor lines, along with updates and improvements to [b]Faction Warfare[/b], the [b]20v20 Crystal League[/b], the [b]Black Zone Fame Buff[/b], and more. [h3]Hellgates: Better Rewards and Matchmaking[/h3] We've made numerous improvements to the overall experience in all sizes and types of Hellgates based on testing and community feedback. Here are some of the biggest changes: [list] [*][b]Significantly increased rewards[/b] across all Hellgate modes[/*] [*]Chests now [b]always spawn[/b] once a Hellgate is complete, whether or not PvP occurred[/*] [*][b]Cooldowns and Health [/b]now reset after an invasion[/*] [*]Removed matchmaking delay in [b]chained Hellgates[/b][/*][/list][img]//assets.albiononline.com/uploads/media/default/media/2e3338400750ef56e57d10ffb880fa1a5418a75d.jpeg[/img][h3]Combat Balance Changes[/h3] Michael Schwahn, Albion's Combat Designer, sums up the balance changes in this patch: [i]"This patch aims to bring a wider variety of healing staffs into the meta while reducing the dominance of certain items in specific content, like Dagger Pairs in 2v2 Hellgates and Quarterstaffs in Corrupted Dungeons. Sustain damage provided by the axe line is also reduced, to bring them more in line with other melee weapons. This patch also offers reworks of abilities that have been out of the spotlight recently."[/i] Here's a partial list of what's new: [list] [*][b]Axes:[/b] Updated numerous skills to increase importance of positioning and timing[/*] [*][b]Cursed Staffs:[/b] Buffed various skills to improve performance in PvP[/*] [*][b]Nature Staffs:[/b] Added a burst-heal W-slot ability[/*] [*][b]Armors:[/b] Updated Life Steal Aura and Self-Ignition[/*][/list][img]//assets.albiononline.com/uploads/media/default/media/c666be2ddf88b11e28f238ab6cdce2907b87aad1.jpeg[/img][h3]Other Changes[/h3][list] [*][b]Improved load times[/b] between zones on all platforms[/*] [*][b]Faction Warfare: Respawns[/b] now happen in batches to help rally forces; [b]Bandit Assault[/b] is more frequent and unpredictable[/*] [*][b]20v20 Crystal League: [/b]Increased [b]artifact rewards[/b] in final chests[/*] [*][b]Black Zone Fame Buff [/b]persists when [b]moving between zones[/b][/*] [*][b]Mobile Version:[/b] Further optimizations and UI improvements[/*] [*]… and much more[/*][/list] [img]//assets.albiononline.com/uploads/media/default/media/947cb7027ae6bc9a3ae0cab562dbb17383ad40a5.jpeg[/img] Finally, for this patch, we're also trying something new: offering [b]detailed explanations of combat balance changes[/b] under each weapon and armor type, to show the reasons and goals behind them. As always, you can check out the full list of changes, including these detailed balance change descriptions, in the [url=https://albiononline.com/en/changelog/CALL%20TO%20ARMS%20PATCH%204][b]official patchnotes[/b][/url].