Zarlic and Microwave Get Cooldown Boosts
Two major items received significant attention. Zarlic's cooldown has been cut from 8s down to 6s, and its charge time was halved from 2s to just 1s. This is a direct injection of power, making it a much more aggressive and responsive tool in any build. Expect to see it appear more frequently as a reliable source of pressure.
The Microwave also saw its cooldowns reduced across all tiers, with the max tier now at 5s instead of 6s. Its "Heated" bonus was also adjusted, changing how it scales. This should make Microwave-focused builds more consistent throughout a match.
How do Silver-tier items change the early game?
One of the most impactful changes in this hotfix is the adjustment to item starting tiers. Four items now begin at Silver rarity instead of Bronze:
- Gingerbread House
- Coffee
- Luau
- Laurel’s Fortress
This is a big deal for build consistency. Starting with a Silver-tier item means you get a stronger base effect right away, reducing your reliance on early-game RNG to find an upgrade. Builds centered around these items just became more viable from the get-go.
Widespread Tuning and Bug Fixes
Beyond the headliners, the patch is packed with smaller numerical adjustments to damage, shields, burn effects, and scaling values for a wide array of items and consumables. While individually small, these changes add up and will subtly shift the power dynamics of many existing builds. It's a good time to re-evaluate your favorite combos.
Finally, the hotfix also squashed several bugs related to item triggers and incorrect spawning behavior. These quality-of-life fixes ensure that matches run more smoothly and that your carefully planned strategies work as intended.