Blizzard has released the latest balance patch for StarCraft 2, version 5.0.16, into public testing. This update comes after Blizzard announced that no new content would be developed for the game since October 2020.
The patch makes several changes, including reducing starting workers from 12 to 8, and introduces a variety of balance adjustments and quality of life improvements across all three races. It also includes a number of bug fixes.
According to Blizzard, the goal of the update is to expand the early and mid-game experience, allowing players to remain competitive in one to three bases for a longer period.
The goal is to make unwarped Gateway gameplay more practical and increase strategic options for Zerg, Terran, and Protoss.
Economic changes in StarCraft 2 patch 5.0.16
The most notable change affects the start of each match:
- Initial workers have been reduced from 12 to 8.
- The default resources on large mineral patches are now 1,600, up from 1,800, while small patches have increased from 900 to 1,200.
- Total default minerals per base increased from 10,800 to 11,200.
- Vespene Geysers now provide 2,500 resources instead of 2,250, raising the total gas per base from 4,500 to 5,000.
- Additionally, the harvest yield of vespene-rich gas has decreased from 8 to 6.
These changes mean players must make more cautious building decisions early in the game, emphasizing exploration and extending the time before armies reach their maximum size.
Race-specific balance changes for Zerg, Terran, and Protoss
Each race has received major adjustments. Zerg changes include reducing the supply of Hatchery, Lair and Hive from six to four; slower creep spread; increased damage from Spore Crawlers against biological units; cheaper shell upgrades; an auto-attack weapon for infestors; and the expanded Microbial Sheet varies from nine to twelve. Viper’s Abduct ability can now target besieged siege tanks.
The Terran changes involve reducing the Command Center supply from 15 to 13; reworked the Ghost to use three supplies, have 100 health, deal 20 base damage, and a range of seven, with revised Steady Targeting that no longer cancels out with damage; and update subgroup priorities in Medivac.
The Protoss adjustments include moving Warpgate research from the Cybernetics Core to the Gateway, reducing the entry time to three seconds, introducing a fifty percent transformation cost for Warpgate conversion, and updating the cooldowns for Gateway and Warpgate units. High Templar Psi Storm damage reduced from 110 to 100.
Bug fixes, PTR status, and how to try StarCraft 2 patch 5.0.16
The patch includes a comprehensive list of bug fixes and quality of life improvements addressing visual indicators, animation timings, unit selection behavior, and audio cues.
Key updates include:
- Active creep tumors now take priority over inactive ones during targeting, and Mule Repair is set to launch automatically by default.
- Xel’naga towers can now be targeted through the Fog of War.
- Additionally, there are multiple visual and audio improvements to spell effects across all races, as well as improvements to worker gathering order behavior when building refinery structures.
Patch 5.0.16 is now available in public testing. Blizzard has noted that changes may be adjusted based on feedback from testers before full release. Players can choose to enter the test realm through Battle.net to share their feedback.
StarCraft 2 was released in 2010. Although Blizzard ended new content development in 2020, the company continued to release balance updates as needed.
Patch 5.0.16 is the biggest balance and quality of life update in several years.
