Real World

Season 1 (Halo Wars 2)

This article is about Season 1 of Halo Wars 2. For other uses of the term Season 1, see Season 1 (disambiguation).

Previous:

Season 0

Next:

Season 2

Season 1
HW2 Season 1 Icon.png

Start date:

March 20, 2017[1][2]

End date:

April 28, 2017

Includes content for:

Halo Wars 2

 

Season 1 was the first season of Halo Wars 2 to launch, beginning on February 28, 2017. The season followed the launch-era Season 0 and was succeeded by Season 2 on April 28, 2017. The season was released to coincide with the Kinsano DLC, and features Kinsano's Cyclops as the Season banner.

Season 1 Title UpdatesEdit

A number of Title Updates were released for Halo Wars 2 during Season 1.

March 20 patch

March 20 patch notes

The latest update for Halo Wars 2 is rolling out today for Xbox One & Windows 10 and includes more fixes, improvements, a number of balance changes, and paves the way for our first new leader, Kinsano![3]

Crashes / Errors / Performance

  • Fixed a crash that occurred in Skirmish against AI opponents
  • Fixed some error handling with Xbox live service messages
  • Fixed a crash that can occur in a LASO play through
  • Fixed a hardlock that could occur when loading into “Lights Out”
  • Fixed a desync that could be hit in Firefight
  • Fixed a crash that could occur while watching the prologue cinematic
  • Fixed a crash that could occur while a user signs out while loading into a certain game mode
  • Fixed a crash that could occur when transporting newly deployed units
  • Fixed an Win 10 specific issue with the game hanging sometimes when restarting a mission
  • Fixed some suspend/idle issues that caused infinite loads
  • Fixed some Intel Iris Graphics 520 issues that could cause a crash
  • Improved performance when running on various Intel integrated GPUs
  • Fixed some improper localization strings in controller layout while playing the Basic Tutorial
  • Fixed an issue that could cause a crash when a Wolverine is destroyed by a Lightbridge toggling off while it was on it
  • Improved stability by fixing a large variety of one-off crashes
  • Fixed some performance hitches in Campaign that were caused by scripted events triggering

Gameplay

  • Fixed an issue where players were sometimes able to quickly assign one Leader Power point to two different Leader Powers
  • AI now garrisons a bit more often in Legendary when low on health
  • Nightingale Smoke bombs now stop Turrets shooting outside of the smoke, identical to how units behave
  • Damage against Bases show as soon as it happens
  • Fixed an issue with Hornets sometimes not responding to Banished unit attacks
  • Fixed an issue with pressing the ‘Q’ key twice did not select all units, if there were no units on the screen
  • Fixed an issue with Challenges sometimes not progressing in Solo/Team War or Team Objective Playlists
  • Fixed Shift-Right-clicking to set multiple waypoints not working in some cases
  • Fixed an issue with AI ignoring Sentinel recaptured Control Points
  • Fixed some units getting stuck on the campaign mission “The Halo”
  • Fixed a bug where the enemy AI retreats too often on Normal
  • Fixed an issue where the AI would sometimes kill its own units by toggling a Lightbridge
  • Fixed an issue with units doing no damage in a specific scenario
  • Fixed an issue with “Departures” video being unlocked after completing “The Halo”
  • Fixed a bug with “Just the Facts” and “The full story” achievements not triggering properly
  • Fixed an issue where players would get their Favorite Leader instead of the one picked
  • Various unit animation fixes
  • Added three new achievements unique to the upcoming “Kinsano” leader DLC

Cosmetic

  • Fixed some text truncation that could occur in some Campaign missions
  • Fixed some text in a few Phoenix logs
  • Fixed some UI callouts for failed objectives in a previously played mission showing in a different mission

Audio

  • Fixed some cases of audio corruption when multiple sound effects were played at the same time
  • Fixed an issue with vehicle engine audio stuttering when on the edge of battle
  • Fixed an issue with clipping/corruption occurring in higher waves of Blitz Firefight

Design & Balance Changes

Note: Balance changes affect units in standard and Blitz multiplayer modes unless otherwise noted. For Halo Wars 2 game designer notes and context surrounding these changes, please check out the March 16th Community Update blog.

Leader Powers
  • Shipmaster’s Scout mines cannot be dropped on buildings anymore
  • The Banished Cleansing Beam speed slightly reduced
  • ODSTs cost increased from 600 to 800, HP slightly decreased
Economy
  • Adjusted the Supply income curve to give less of a bonus income on the first few Supply Pads/Warehouses, but less limiting as player’s build additional pads.
Leaders
  • Sgt. Forge: Removed the discount on Supply Pads and Reactors in the “Rolling Economy” leader power
  • Sgt. Forge: Accelerated Assembly and Lotus mines swapped places
Units
Jump Pack Brutes:
  • Increased HP
  • Incased basic DPS
  • Slight increase to move speed
Hellbringers:
  • Significant increase to HP
  • Significant increase to fire damage dealt to basic infantry units
  • Move speed slightly increased
  • Cost reduced from 80/50 to 80/40
  • Reduced pre-attack and post-attack cooldown to improve responsiveness
Suicide Grunts (NOT Blitz Suicide Grunts)
  • Increased HP
  • Base damage decreased
  • Base AOE range increased
  • Move speed slightly increased
  • Charge distance increased
  • Charge speed decreased
  • Cost reduced from 100/25 to 100/20
Elite Rangers
  • Significantly increased HP
  • Armor type changed to be more resistant to small arms fire from Marine & Grunt squads
  • Cost reworked from 80/110 to 125/90
  • DPS increased
Jackrabbit
  • Cost reduced from 220/15 to 200/12
Ghost
  • Cost reduced from 265/20 to 230/15
Chopper
  • Cost reduced from 280/20 to 245/15
Hunters
  • Cost reduced from 150/200 to 160/160
  • DPS reduced
Cyclops
  • Cost reduced from 120/150 to 120/120
  • DPS reduced
Wraiths
  • HP significantly increased
  • Shields significantly increased
  • Build time reduced
  • Cost changed from 550/40 to 525/70
  • Plasma Cannon DPS increased
  • Plasma Mortar DPS increased
  • Plasma Mortar Fire rate increased
  • Y ability initial damage increased significantly
  • Incoming healing reduced
Scorpion
  • HP increased
  • Cost changed from 650/50 to 600/90
  • Machinegun DPS increased
  • Cannon DPS increased
  • Cannon AOE size decreased
  • Canister shell DPS increased
  • Canister shell AOE size increased
  • Incoming healing reduced
Grizzly
  • HP increased
  • Machinegun DPS increased
  • Missile pod DPS increased
  • Cannon DPS increased
  • Missile Barrage ability damage increased
Grunts
  • Grunt squad build time reduced
  • Overall DPS increased for basic and mine-upgrade squads
  • Overall DPS increased for pack brother upgrade squads
Marines
  • Grenade DPS decreased significantly
  • Grenade large AOE size reduced
Anders’ Sentinels
  • Move speed decreased
  • No longer has a huge damage bonus vs. buildings
  • General DPS decreased
  • Lockdown Bolt damage decreased significantly
Banshees
  • Banshee Plasma Torpedo damage reduced
Locusts
  • Basic DPS slightly reduced
  • Line of sight range reduced
  • Weapon range reduced
Base Turrets
  • UNSC and Banished upgraded turrets DPS increased
  • Banished turrets HP increased
  • UNSC turrets build time reduced
  • Banished turret build time reduced
Strongholds
  • UNSC and Banished HQ HP increased to a constant, high HP amount across all tech tiers
April 4 patch

April 4 patch notes

This week another small patch will be released for Halo Wars 2 that addresses a saved-game issue that was introduced with the Kinsano update in addition to a few smaller fixes. Please see below for the full details:[4]

Crashes / Errors / Performance

  • Fixed an issue where campaign save files from previous versions/patches were crashing on load. The save files now load successfully.

Gameplay

  • Fixed an issue where watchtowers and motion sensors did not detect cloaked units
  • Fixed an issue where cloaking generators would stop cloaking after 15 seconds if the advanced cloaking leader power was fully unlocked/upgraded
  • Fixed an issue where Forge’s warthog was not displaying aura VFX and his upgrades were not working.

Cosmetic

  • Updated text for Forge’s “Rolling Economy” Leader Power to match balance changes made in the Kinsano update (removed text referring to reduced building cost)
The next Halo Wars 2 update is underway and is currently scheduled for release in conjunction with the new leader launch later this month. More details to come!

SourcesEdit

  1. ^ Halo Waypoint, Burn Baby Burn: "In addition to the Kinsano leader DLC, and the patch fixes and balance changes noted above, next week will also see the implementation of the first season of Ranked online play in Halo Wars 2." (Retrieved on Feb 28, 2021) [archive]
  2. ^ Halo Waypoint, Welcome Kinsano! (Retrieved on Feb 28, 2021) [archive]
  3. ^ Halo Waypoint Forums, Halo Wars 2 - Patch Notes: Post 4 (March 20 patch notes) (Retrieved on Feb 28, 2021) [archive]
  4. ^ Halo Waypoint Forums, Halo Wars 2 - Patch Notes: Post 3 (April 4 patch notes) (Retrieved on Feb 28, 2021) [archive]