It is official: the Hemlock is being put back in its place. After dominating the mid-season meta as an Elite weapon, Respawn has released a new update that significantly reins in the burst-fire beast. While it hasn’t received a direct damage nerf, the latest changes are designed to make it much harder to use effectively.
TLDR
- Hemlock recoil increased and hipfire spread widened with a future revert to burst mode planned.
- Pathfinder buffs are officially confirmed and coming in a future update.
- Octane is being monitored for potential nerfs if his pick and win rates stay high.
- Conduit’s passive is scheduled for a rework to adjust her team utility.
- Wraith might have her level 2 passive perk moved into her base kit.
- Horizon will likely avoid further nerfs as her win rate is considered balanced for her skill ceiling.
- LMG weapons are slated for buffs to improve their standing against other classes.
- Reactive skin VFX have been fixed and should now function correctly.
- Left handed view mode is being considered as a permanent accessibility setting.
- Fortified legends may receive a shared speed boost passive in a future patch.
The Hemlock update
The biggest news is that the weapon will eventually revert to its original burst-fire mode, ending its time as an automatic powerhouse. For now, players will have to deal with a much more temperamental version of the gun.
The update has increased both horizontal and vertical recoil, while also significantly widening the hipfire spread. These changes target the “smooth as butter” feel that made it so oppressive in close-quarters and mid-range fights.
Reddit AMA highlights: Legend and weapon news
The developers recently took to Reddit for an AMA (Ask me anything), giving us a clearer picture of what the next few months will look like. It is clear that while some legends are thriving, others are in for a serious shake-up.
- Pathfinder: Buffs are officially confirmed and coming soon. The friendly robot has been feeling a bit left behind by newer skirmishers, so this is a welcome update.
- Octane: The high-speed daredevil is currently on the “watchlist.” If his pick rate and win rate stay at their current levels, we can expect more nerfs in the near future.
- Conduit: Her passive is slated for a rework or significant adjustment to change how she interacts with the team.
- Wraith: There is a strong possibility that her level 2 passive perk will be moved into her base kit. Additionally, a specific interaction has been fixed: Wraith will no longer be stunned by Gibraltar’s electrified dome while she is in the void.
- Horizon: Do not expect any more nerfs for the space mom. The devs believe she is difficult to master, and while her win rate is high in top-tier lobbies, it remains balanced when compared to her overall pick rate across all skill levels.
- LMG Buffs: The entire LMG category is expected to receive some love soon to help them compete with ARs and SMGs.
- Breach Charges: The explosive mechanic from the Hemlock might actually become a permanent addition to the game in some form.
Respawn’s AMA summery
| Topic | Status |
| Pathfinder | Buffs confirmed |
| Octane | Potential nerfs being monitored |
| Conduit | Passive rework incoming |
| Wraith | Potential passive buff to base kit |
| Flashbangs | Very unlikely (do not fit the game style) |
| Hemlock | Reverting to original state soon |
| LMGs | Buffs scheduled |
| Breach Charge | May become a permanent mechanic |
The mystery of the deleted comment
Perhaps the most intriguing leak came from a briefly visible comment on the dev forums. A Respawn representative mentioned that new passives for Fortified legends might be in the works, specifically suggesting that Gibraltar’s recent speed boost could be given to other large legends. The comment was deleted after only a few hours, leaving us to wonder if this is an upcoming feature or a scrapped experiment.
Quality of life and community requests
Beyond the balancing, there are a few interesting technical and community notes from the latest update. The VFX for reactive skins has finally been fixed and should now work as intended both in matches and the firing range.
One of the most popular requests right now is for a live “heirloom” pack tracker. Players want an in-game counter that shows exactly how many packs are left until a guaranteed shard drop. While Respawn hasn’t confirmed this yet, the community noise is getting harder to ignore.
In a move for accessibility, Respawn is considering making the left-handed view mode a permanent option. It was originally introduced as a prank for the April Fools event, but the massive popularity and its value as an accessibility tool for certain players might make it a staple in the settings menu.
