Annotated Patch Notes

Graph of Damage Changes

Patch notes:

Update 3.4.0 - 30th Anniversary Patch

• Fighting Lion
  • Removed the multi-hit requirement (i.e. dealing any damage will grant the buff).
  • Increased the buff to the reload stat from +50 to +70. “Reload will still be slow if you miss, but if you land any damage Fighting Lion will reload faster than it did before the nerf.”
  • Increased the buff duration to 7s.

Patch note preview for 30th Anniversary Patch:

“Got in touch with the team, here’s some info straight from their keyboards:

Fighting Lion wasn’t a specific problem before we reworked the weapon, but given increasing frustration with breech grenade launchers in crucible it seemed like a misstep to say “we hear you” and “here’s an infinite ammo version of that thing you’re frustrated about” in the same patch It has become clear through hands on, feedback, and backend data that the full nerf isn’t needed, so we’re adjusting it in the 30th Anniversary patch

Note: This is not a full rollback - there’s still a difference between “almost infinite ammo” and “actually infinite ammo” in how weapons are used, so we want to make sure we don’t create a monster.

Here’s a quick patchnote preview for December:

• Removed the multi-hit requirement for the reload speed buff
• Increased the buff to the reload stat
• i.e. reload will still be slow if you miss, but if you land any damage Fighting Lion will reload faster than it did before the nerf”

Update 3.3.0 - Season of the Lost (15) patch

• Breech Grenade Launchers
  • Reduced blast radius by 0.4m, e.g. max blast radius decreased from 4.55m to 4.15m, min blast radius decreased from 3.80m to 3.40m.
  • Reduced splash damage by 20, which reduces total damage for a direct hit from 220 to 200 (before taking spike or proximity grenades into account).
  • Increased damage in PvE by 12%.
• Fighting Lion
  • Fighting Lion ammo increased from “a lot” to “infinite.”
  • Receives the same changes as other breech Grenade Launchers.
    • (editor’s note: Special GLs had damage reduced by 20, Fighting Lion had it reduced by 16)
  • Reduced base reload stat to 0.
    • (editor’s note: Catalyst still gives a +27 reload bump)
    • (editors’ note 2: reload stat really lowered to 10)
  • Now increases reload speed to its previous level on damaging multiple enemies with one grenade.

Discussion of changes in the TWAB here.

• Fighting Lion has always been fun but not dominant in PvE, so we weren’t worried about the impact infinite ammo would have there. However enabling fast, unlimited grenade spamming was too much in PvP based on internal playtests, so we’ve addressed that specific case without significantly impacting its feel in PvE.

  • Fighting Lion reserve ammo increased from “a lot” to “infinite.”
  • Receives the same changes as other breech Grenade Launchers.
  • Reduced base reload stat to 0 (breech Grenade Launchers with 0 reload stat reload very, very slowly).
  • Now increases reload speed to its previous level on damaging multiple enemies with one grenade.
  • We’ll be keeping an eye on this, but believe it’s in a good place with this change (and note that we’re not going to over-nerf an Exotic with its own subreddit).
  • You shouldn’t be manually reloading Fighting Lion anyway.

Discussion from Chris Proctor, Weapons Lead, on the Massive Breakdown Podcast here.

Update 3.1.0 - Season of the Chosen (13) patch

• Breech Grenade Launcher projectiles will now detonate on impact with enemies, even if holding the trigger.

Note: This effectively removes the ability for Lion to one shot in extremely rare/niche situations with a double impact.

Update 2.9.0 - Season of Arrivals (11) patch

• No explicit patch notes.

Reserve ammo increased increased by 6 grenades.

PvE damage adjusted:

- Explosion damage change: +5%
- Direct Hit damage: -12%
- Overall change: +3%

PvP damage change from Season of Worth reverted

- Explosion damage: 144 from 142
- Direct Hit damage: 22 from 26
- Overall change: 166 from 168

Update 2.8.1 - Guardian Games patch

• Fixed an issue with Breech Loaded (Special ammo) Grenade Launchers that resulted in them having a significantly reduced blast radius.

Update 2.8.0 - Season of the Worthy (10) patch

• Due to backend changes with the grenade launcher archetype, Fighting Lion inherited minor adjustments
• Rate of Fire increased from 72 RPM to 90 RPM
• Direct hit damage in PvE is now 35 (Previously 27)

Festival of the Lost 2018

Addition of the Catalyst and Prideglass ornament.

Update 2.0.4 - Forsaken Cleanup patch

• Decreased Fighting Lion damage to be brought in line with other breach-load Grenade Launchers

This patch was in response to the fact that Fighting Lion with autoloading rifts/barricades was doing more DPS than Power slot Grenade Launchers.

Update 2.0 - Forsaken Preparation

• No explicit patch notes.

Converted Lion to use primary ammo. Increased damage.

Update 1.2.0 - Warmind patch

• Deals more blast damage and less direct hit damage
• Increased ammo inventory
• Increased spawn ammo
• Kills with this weapon guarantee Energy ammo drop

Update 1.1.0 - Curse of Osiris patch

• Increased Fighting Lion damage and changed Thin the Herd perk to now grant bonus ammo rather than pulling ammo from the player inventory