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Blizzard patches StarCraft II as World Championship Series creeps into off-season

Following up on two community tested balance test maps and a community ran balance test tournament, Blizzard patched StarCraft II as the 2013 World Championship Series closes.

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Blizzard announced changes to StarCraft II's balance that would patched into the game now that the 2013 World Championship Series Grand Finals had finished. The company had utilized two different community tests maps to test the features they planned on implementing and watched as members of the community ran a balance test tournament.

The patch aims to increase the variety of play we see in games by giving incentive to use new units through buffs. During a panel at BlizzCon this weekend, David Kim explained that he felt like the game needed to be faster, with more easily discernible displays of skill, and a wider range of unit compositions that were viable.

The patch notes can be read below:

An anonymous Blizzard staffer writes on Blizzard's battle.net website:

Last month, we requested your help in playtesting a variety of potential balance changes for Heart of the Swarm. After two iterations of potential changes, two brand new versions of the test map, and a community-driven balance test tournament, we're pleased to announce that we're ready to move forward with a balance update as we begin ladder play during the World Championship Series off-season.

The patch notes can be read below:

Protoss

Oracle

  • Movement speed increased from 3.375 to 4.
  • Acceleration increased from 2 to 3.
  • Units that burrow or cloak while under the effects of Revelation will once again be revealed after unburrowing or uncloaking.

Terran

Armory

  • Vehicle and Ship Weapon upgrades have been combined.

Siege Tank

  • Siege Mode attack period decreased from 3.0 to 2.8.

Widow Mine

  • Sentinel Missiles now deal reduced damage to units caught within its splash radius based on their distance from the target:
    • 40 damage within 1.25 radius.
    • 20 damage from 1.25 to 1.5.
    • 10 damage from 1.5 to 1.75.

Zerg

Roach Warren

  • The Tunneling Claws upgrade now increases burrowed Roach movement speed from 1.41 to 2.

Image Credit: battle.net

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