For this month's patch, there have been some pretty significant changes to the game client while in game. The chat and combat log is now integrated into the lower UI so it can be seen immediately and while the game is being played. In fact, this design inadvertently functions almost identical to the UI from before expansion 12 when the game was launched on Facebook. Everything old is new again!

On top of the client changes and improvements, there are also a number of balance changes for this month's patch.

Enjoy!

Game Client

In Game UI
* The Lower UI in the game now has the chat & combat log integrated to be shown at all times.
* When a match starts, the combat log is now selected by default.
* Made major improvements to the Help screen

Lobby / Menu
* Pressing ESC on the keyboard now acts as a back button rather than opening the Options modal when on screens besides the main landing screen.

Art & Effects
* Made performance tweaks on the spells Pygmy Hippo Stampede and Boghopper Bravado.
* Added additional high resolution rune art.

Game Mechanics

* Knockback now suffers from diminishing returns when the unit hits another unit or impassible terrain. The damage starts at 5 damage per space that the unit failed to move, with each subsequent space doing 2 less damage with a minimum of 1 (5 for 1 space, 8 for 2 spaces, 9 for 3 spaces, 10 for 4 spaces, etc).

Abilities

* Deconstruct changed to: This champion has Stitched. When this unit destroys an opposing champion with a basic attack, that unit does not drop a nora globe and a Stitched Remains relic is spawned in the location that champion occupied.
* Envenom 1 changed to: Target opposing champion within 5 spaces becomes Poisoned 3 and loses 3 AP at the start of their next turn.
* Envenom 2 changed to: Target opposing champion within 5 spaces becomes Poisoned 4 and loses 4 AP at the start of their next turn.
* Eternal Life champion nora cost changed from 0 to 2
* Mindwipe Aura 1 champion nora cost changed from 4 to 6
* Mobilize Engine changed to: This ability costs 10 nora to use. This champion's speed is set to 7 for 1 turn and it gains 9 AP. This champion loses all AP at the end of this turn. This ability comes into play on cooldown.
* Sermon changed to: Friendly champions that share a race or class with this champion gain +1 DEF, +2 DMG and +5 HP until this champion next moves. This ability does not stack.
* Silent Contemplation changed to: Until this champion moves, it has +3 MAX RNG, Planar Bound, and Sentinel.
* Silent Contemplation champion nora cost changed from 8 to 6
* Throw Javelin changed to: This champion makes a Physical attack at range 2-5. Target champion becomes Eviscerated for 3 turns.
* Throw Shield changed to: This champion makes a Physical attack at range 2-5. If successful, the target has -1 DEF for 5 turns.
* Throw Shield champion nora cost changed from 3 to 5
* Transplant changed to: When this champion would be destroyed and has at least 10 MAX HP, the nearest friendly Young Sapling or Sapling champion is destroyed and this champion respawns on that location with -10 MAX HP.
* Warchief: Storm Clan changed to: At the end of its turn, this unit gains one rank of Lightning Storm. When this unit uses Lightning Storm, it takes 4 Electricity damage. When this unit is destroyed and there are no other champion with this ability, the closest friendly champion with Race: Barbarian gains this ability.
* Worship: Lich changed to: This champion loses 7 HP and gains Immobile for 4 turns, and friendly Liches gain Regeneration 2 until this champion moves.
* Worship: Lich champion nora cost changed from 4 to 6

Champions

Forsaken Wastes (6)

Anthropomancer
* DEF changed from 2 to 1
* HP changed from 48 to 45
* Removed base ability Eternal Life
* Removed base ability Void Shield
* Added base ability Hex 2
* Upgrade Path 1 changed to: Afflict 2*, Void Shield, Curse 2 (was Afflict 2*, Hex 2, Curse 2)
* Nora Cost changed from 72 to 71 (71-73)

Brightmoon Lich
* Removed base ability Eternal Life

Lichling
* Upgrade Path 1 changed to: Gift of Scrying*, Gore (was Gore*, Gift of Scrying)
* Upgrade Path 2 changed to: Reinforcement 1, Reinforcement 2* (was Initiative 2, Initiative 1*)
* Nora Cost changed from 53 to 57 (53-57)

Moragen the Lost
* Removed base ability Zombie Apocalypse
* Added base ability Ravenous Torrent
* Upgrade Path 1 changed to: Soothing Serenade, Revel in Misery*, Drudgery (was Soothing Serenade, Flourish*, Drudgery)
* Upgrade Path 2 changed to: Zombie Apocalypse*, Abash, Spell Breach (was Subsume*, Abash, Spell Breach)
* Nora Cost changed from 82 to 83 (83-83)

Necrotaur
* Upgrade Path 1 changed to: Revere: Mairdreth of the Rot*, Disease Aura 3, Amplify: Disease (was Revere: Mairdreth of the Rot*, Disease Aura 3, Rabid 2)

Serkan, Lich Master
* Upgrade Path 1 changed to: Frost Cone 3*, Dread, Spirit Harvest (was Frost Cone 3*, Spirit Harvest, Dark Favor 2)
* Upgrade Path 2 changed to: Vengeful, Defensive Strike, Spellswallower* (was Spellswallower, Defensive Strike, Vengeful*)

Ironfist Stronghold (2)

Dwarven Windfury
* Removed base ability Multiattack 1
* Added base ability Sunder 2
* Upgrade Path 2 changed to: Evasive 3, Multiattack 1, Dodge 2* (was Evasive 3, Sunder 2, Dodge 2*)

Fury of the Storm
* Removed base ability Paralytic Feedback
* Added base ability Storm Acolyte
* Upgrade Path 1 changed to: Warchief: Storm Clan*, Static Greeting, Grant: Electricity Aura (was Static Greeting*, Storm Acolyte, Warchief: Storm Clan)
* Nora Cost changed from 76 to 78 (77-79)

K'thir Forest (2)

Bowmage
* DMG changed from 11 to 10
* RNG changed from 1-2 to 1-3
* HP changed from 49 to 48
* Removed base ability Ranged Stance
* Added base ability Immunity: Magical
* Upgrade Path 1 changed to: Stat Bonus: Range 1, Forest Exploit, Aim* (was Immunity: Magical, Aim, Forest Exploit*)
* Upgrade Path 2 changed to: Provision: Speed*, Grant: Electricity Aura, Tempo (was Grant: Electricity Aura*, Provision: Speed, Tempo)
* Nora Cost changed from 82 to 79 (79-83)

Menalaus
* Removed base ability Grant: Magical Aura
* Added base ability Heal Mass 2
* Upgrade Path 1 changed to: Cleanse, Healing Mind*, Forest Exploit (was Debilitate, Healing Mind*, Forest Exploit)

Sundered Lands (1)

Judge Torien
* DMG changed from 11 to 12
* SPD changed from 7 to 6

Shattered Peaks (4)

Bat Swarm
* DMG changed from 10 to 9
* SPD changed from 6 to 5
* Added base ability Numerous
* Added base ability Sibling
* Upgrade Path 1 changed to: Ready 1, Logistics: Speed, Empowered: Speed* (was Ready 1, Logistics: Speed, Encouraged*)
* Upgrade Path 2 changed to: Latch On, Confuse Enemy, Fellowship* (was Escape, Confuse Enemy, Assimilate*)
* Nora Cost changed from 71 to 67 (67-69)

Deepcave Extractor
* DMG changed from 6 to 0
* HP changed from 44 to 35
* Removed base ability Nora Miner 2
* Added base ability Extraction
* Added base ability Self Destruct
* Upgrade Path 2 changed to: Sabotage: Lethargy*, Drudgery, Worthwhile (was Depression*)
* Nora Cost changed from 57 to 60 (59-70)

Hyaenid Instigator
* DEF changed from 1 to 0
* HP changed from 44 to 42
* Removed base ability Easy Target
* Added base ability Faithless
* Upgrade Path 1 changed to: Logistics: Damage*, Logistics: Flanking, Serf to the Djinn (was Logistics: Damage*, Logistics: Flanking, Logistics: Speed)
* Nora Cost changed from 72 to 74 (74-74)

Moga Spellsnare
* RNG changed from 3-4 to 2-4
* Added base ability Spell Charged 2
* Added base ability Charged Magic Bomb
* Upgrade Path 1 changed to: Cleanse*, Book Burn, Spell Breach (was Spell Breach*, Book Burn, Backlash)
* Upgrade Path 2 changed to: Favor*, Council: Spells, Nora Link (was Mind Lock*, Cleanse, Suppression)
* Nora Cost changed from 46 to 59 (58-59)

Savage Tundra (2)

Ice Dragon
* Removed base ability Attack: Physical
* Added base ability Attack: Frost

Jakei Shardmaster
* Upgrade Path 1 changed to: Frost Nova 3*, Surge: Elemental, Grant: Frost Aura (was Grant: Frost Aura*, Savage Exploit, Surge: Elemental)
* Upgrade Path 2 changed to: Trail: Ice, Frost Greeting* (was Frost Greeting, Trail: Ice, Domain: Arctic*)
* Nora Cost changed from 69 to 70 (67-70)

Underdepths (5)

Imp Jester
* RNG changed from 1 to 1-2
* HP changed from 46 to 44
* Added base ability Rude Fighter
* Upgrade Path 2 changed to: Sonicburst, Grant: Sonic Aura*, Hit and Run (was Evasive 2, Grant: Sonic Aura*, Howling Attack)
* Nora Cost changed from 69 to 70 (70-72)

Murk Demon
* DMG changed from 9 to 0
* HP changed from 36 to 34
* Removed base ability Attack: Acid
* Added base ability Enveloping Mist
* Added base ability Shadowspawn
* Added base ability Curse 2
* Upgrade Path 1 changed to: Shadow Shift, Escape*, Fading Light (was Shadow Shift, Escape*)
* Upgrade Path 2 changed to: Wicked Aura 2, Cloak 2*, Censure (was Shadowspawn, Stealth*)
* Nora Cost changed from 66 to 67 (65-67)

Servile Brute
* Upgrade Path 1 changed to: Surge: Beast, Surge: Demon Elf* (was Surge: Demon Elf, Surge: Beast*)
* Upgrade Path 2 changed to: Antagonize, Resilient* (was Resilient, Tough 1*)
* Nora Cost changed from 52 to 57 (57-57)

Void Spider
* Upgrade Path 1 changed to: Damage Shield: Psychic 3*, Soultap Feedback, Logistics: Life Siphon (was Psychic Anguish*, Terrorize, Soultap)
* Nora Cost changed from 81 to 78 (78-79)

Vothsair Overlord
* DMG changed from 12 to 11
* HP changed from 55 to 51
* Upgrade Path 1 changed to: Restrict, Cull*, Death Nova: Fire 4 (was Restrict, Regeneration 2*, Fire Acolyte)
* Upgrade Path 2 changed to: Searing Aura 4, Crushing Charge, Amplify: Fire* (was Searing Aura 5, Crushing Charge, Amplify: Fire*)
* Nora Cost changed from 86 to 85 (83-86)

Forsaken Wastes / Underdepths (2)

Stitched Anathema
* Upgrade Path 1 changed to: Psychic Blast, Dispel*, Impair Vision (was Paralytic Strike, Dispel*, Impair Vision)
* Upgrade Path 2 changed to: Grant: Electricity Aura*, Soultap, Repulsion (was Grant: Electricity Aura*, Paralytic Feedback, Repulsion)

Stitched Hexer
* Upgrade Path 1 changed to: Soultap, Debilitate*, Paralytic Feedback (was Soultap, Confuse*, Paralytic Feedback)

K'thir Forest / Underdepths (1)

Ash the Bandit Prince
* DMG changed from 10 to 11
* SPD changed from 6 to 7
* RNG changed from 4-6 to 5-6
* Removed base ability Pariah
* Added base ability Mercenary
* Upgrade Path 1 changed to: Aim, Provision: Offense*, Charged Attack (was Feint, Provision: Offense*, Charged Attack)
* Upgrade Path 2 changed to: Violence Charged 3, Tariff*, Shadowstrike (was Logistics: Speed, Tariff*, Rain of Arrows 2)
* Nora Cost changed from 107 to 101 (101-104)

Relics

* Bridge to Nowhere changed to: This relic has Hallucinogenic, Relocate: Fairy and Teleport (Relic).
* Bridge to Nowhere's Nora cost changed from 25 to 30
* Germination Engine changed to: When this relic is deployed, a Level 3 Sapling is summoned on the nearest unoccupied space within 5 spaces. At the end of every 6 turns, a Level 3 Sapling is summoned on the nearest unoccupied space within 5 spaces. This relic loses 5 HP each time a Level 3 Young Sapling is summoned. This relic has Forest Front. Saplings summoned from this relic cost 10 nora.
* Grimlic's Portal changed to: This relic has Immunity: Physical and Relocate Self. All champions, both friendly and opposing, adjacent to this relic gain Portal (This champion is relocated to a deployment zone its controller controls, 4AP).

Spells

* Channeled Violence changed to: Area Effect 1: Friendly champions gain Enrage 2 and Abuse Charged 2 for 4 turns. If the champion has Race: Draksar, it also gains Multiattack 1 for 4 turns.
* Decay changed to: For 4 turns, when a champion would receive healing, it loses HP equal to 50% of the healing instead.
* Humble changed to: Enemy champions within 3 spaces of target friendly large champion gain 2 stacks of Demoralized (This champion has -2 SPD) and become Distracted for 4 turns. If any of those champions have a nora cost more than 80, they also gain Awestruck for 2 turns.
* Mirrorhold changed to: For each champion in affected area, 2 illusions of that champion are spawned within 5 spaces under your control. While illusions for the affected champion are in play, that champion is Distracted and Confused.
* Mystic Opposition changed to: For 8 turns, if target champion becomes the target of a spell, the spell backfires and that champion is healed for 10 HP. This effect is hidden until triggered.
* Suppress changed to: Target champion becomes Distracted 6 and gains Lumbering for 4 turns and Pacified for 2 turns.
* Time Slip changed to: Target friendly champion with Race: Vashal gains Hastened (This unit has +4 SPD) for 3 turns and Zeal: Speed for 6 turns.
* Time Slip's Nora cost changed from 30 to 35 (CD 7)