Summary
Hunt: Showdown 1896,the extraction PvP shooter, has undergone many updates and changes. As players continue to enjoy its unique take on the genre, hunting down monsters and bosses while battling enemy foes in between, the audience is still incredibly dedicated. Reaching its highest-ever player count with this launch,despite some controversy over UI changes,Hunt: Showdown 1896is perhaps in the best place it’s ever been.
Now as Halloween approaches,Hunt: Showdown 1896has dropped its newest update in the form ofThe Harvest of Ghosts. With many differing patch notes, changes,new weapons,modes, and more, there’s never been a better time to jump back in and explore. But first, let’s check out what Crytek has in store for this smashing new drop.
1A New Mode: Bounty Clash
Constant Action In This High-Risk LTM
If players are eager to dive into the action quickly,Hunt: Showdown 1896’s newest limited-time mode Bounty Clash is sure to scratch that itch. Spawning in a random compound with a dead boss already awaiting banishment, teams will need to be strategic in making their moves. With only 15 minutes to play it all out, teams will be caught in constant action and will need their wits about them when it comes to picking up that integral bounty token for extraction.
As bosses drop only one Bounty Token, teams will need to be even more thoughtful in who they choose to utilize this integral piece of information. This high-risk mode is one not to be messed around with, likely to be filled with constant fighting and tactical management in rushing the boss, fighting teams, or trying to hold out on that needed restoration effect. Whatever players choose to do, it seems likely Bounty Rush will be a mode quick to gain popularity.
2The Pacts
New Ways To Play
Just like all events inHunt: Showdown 1896,this new update comes with new pacts that players can choose to pledge to across the map. With their own benefits and traits, these temporary changes are sure to change how players choose to play. Between these three choices, gamers will need to think carefully and strategically about their moves.
The Wilderness Pact offers the Surefoot ability for players to sprint with first aid, consumables, and throwables, and move faster while crouched. There are many ways to shake up gameplay with this pact. The Pact Of Omens offers Blast Sense, a recon-esque ability that’ll show gunshots and explosions within 20m in dark sight. Finally, The Smugglers Pact offers Gunrunner so that players can carry two large weapons as well as gain the quartermaster trait.
3Sealed Rewards
Returning Loot To Hunt Down
Sealed Rewards are once again scattered across the map for players to discover. With Sealed Rewards caches on each map as well as appearing at Arsenals, Supply Points, Hunting Towers, and Watch Towers, these are great items to hunt down and find. Through an assortment of different options, players could receive a variety of things from their looting.
Whether players are looking for a Four Shot Boon to receive all four syringe shot effects, a large amount of XP, a cash register bursting with hunt dollars, a full restock box, or explosives, these locations could have it all. A new Sealed Reward is also available, offering a random Burn or Scarce Trait for a pledge mark.
4New Equipment
Plenty Of New Guns, Ammo, And More
Switching up ways to play, The Harvest of Ghostsadds a bunch of new weaponry to players' arsenals. As a new variant of the bomb lance, players can now enjoy the Bomb Launcher, taking up two weapon slots while packing a punch. The Maynard Sniper on the other hand does brutal damage at 144, with a two-stage reload. As a smaller variant of the popular Centennial Rifle, players can also get their hands on the Centennial Pointman, taking up two weapon slots and featuring a marksman scope.
Other weapons include the high-damage and quick-speed Auto-4 Shorty, as well as the Rival 78 Mace for up-close action. That’s not all though, with a new harpoon ammo type that causes bleeding on impact, which is sure to be a dominant force at play, and The Dark Dynamite Sachel that can be triggered through darksight for some epic strategy. The most interesting of them all is the new Revive Bolt though, which heals dead teammates on impact.
5Trait Changes
Improvements, Nerfs, And Balance Fixes
Changing up some of the game’s core traits, this update is sure to make a big impact on some players' most-used selections, or even those once ignored. As Conduit now grants two clues instead of one for solo players, it’s sure to become a staple pick in many people’s choices. Lightfoot now allows solo players to crouch quietly too, aiding these slippery players into being more illusive and powerful without a full team to back them up.
Berseker has now become a scarce trait, meaning players will have to find it throughout the map rather than purchasing it themselves. Bulwark has also been nerfed, no longer protecting from the bomb lance but giving players more opportunity to use the weapon across the board. The best change of them all has to be Poison Sense though, now reworked into Pain Sense so that players can use darksight to see players injured by all other effects like bleeding, burning, and more.
