To be honest, I have been staring at this change since the end of the S3 season. The data leaked from the test server at that time made people sweat. The new version increases the cooldown time of drones by 15% and reduces the blood recovery efficiency of the mercenary system. These two changes directly change the rhythm of the entire competitive environment.
In the past, when everyone was playing ranked, the most stable strategy was to have double wet nurses with heavy equipment, huddle behind the cover, wait for the drone to turn around, and then rush in. This style of play is basically useless now, because the cooldown time is extended, and if the opponent counterattacks during the window period of your skill, you will find that you can't stand at all. On the contrary, players who play assault professions and rely on physical skills have begun to show up, especially those high-level players who have mastered the "armorer". The optimization of the recoil in the new version of the gun modification system has made the mid-range gun shooting more fault-tolerant, and it is more a test of on-the-spot gun pressure rather than pure heaping of values.
Another point worth noting is that this version has made adjustments to the monster AI paths in the "Zombie Rising" mode. It seems to be PVE content, but it actually affects the map utilization ideas of the arena. Because several new monster spawning points were added to the training ground, many teams began to use these points to practice drawing lines, causing the classic stuck points in high-end games to suddenly become unsafe. It feels like the official is trying to force everyone to shift from "staying in place to ensure a win" to "dynamic advancement." This idea is good for the enjoyment of e-sports, but there will definitely be pain during the players' adaptation period.
Personally, I feel that the teams that are suffering the most at the moment are those teams that rely on drones to fight outbreaks. When a platoon encounters teammates who don't communicate well, it's easy to turn into a gourd baby to save grandpa because their skills have not improved and they are focused. But the good news is that the shield-breaking efficiency of the current version of the shotgun has been enhanced, and there is still room for survival at low levels by relying on fire suppression. When everyone develops the new version of combos, it is estimated that the professional league next week will be different.
In short, this wave of updates is a bold subtraction, suppressing the previous skill-rolling keyboard gameplay, and placing more emphasis on reaction and movement. I hope the official will stop adjusting the values with shaking hands in the future. After all, the most feared thing in competitive games is one dad every week😅 Balance is an art, so take your time.