​DESIGNER’S NOTES: Y11S3 MID-SEASON UPDATE     ​

DESIGNER’S NOTES: Y11S3 MID-SEASON UPDATEIn this latest edition of Designer’s Notes, we’ll take a deeper dive into the balancing changes introduced in the Y11S3 Mid-Season Update.WIN DELTA VS. PRESENCE AND TOP OPERATOR BANS[PC] WIN DELTA VS. PRESENCE[CONSOLE] WIN DELTA VS. PRESENCE[PC] TOP OPERATOR BANS[CONSOLE] TOP OPERATOR BANSOPERATOR BALANCINGRELEASE FOLLOW-UPNOOR”Noor’s ability felt a bit short on multiple fronts, so it is receiving some follow-up changes in order to double down on his shield countering capabilities as well as his survivability. The Horus Lance Launcher will receive multiple improvements to make his ability more reactive, more punishing against ballistic shield operators when they make positioning mistakes, but also more rewarding for the risk Noor takes while equipping the launcher.”HORUS LANCE LAUNCHERDrilling time reduced on Ballistic Shields, soft surfaces, and solid surfaces (non-destructible surfaces) to 1.5s (from 2s).Guardbreak strength on projectile impact against ballistic shield operators is increased to 100% (from 30%).Equipping the Horus Lance Launcher uses Quickdraw animations, equip animation timings are reduced to 0.4s (from 0.9s).Horus Lance impact damage against an operator is increased to 80 (from 50).Horus Lance hitbox improvements for better accuracy and consistency.Horus Lance damages Ballistic shield operators while in the removal animation.MAJOR CHANGESTACHANKATachanka’s Shumikha Launcher relies on bouncing projectiles to deploy fire. While this allows him to apply pressure without exposing himself to enemy fire, the behavior can be difficult to control in situations requiring precision. Additionally, the delay caused by the bouncing mechanic reduces responsiveness, which can be critical in fast-paced engagements where even small timing differences can determine the outcome of a round.Therefore, we want to improve usability and responsiveness of the Shumikha Launcher by lowering the skill floor required to use the gadget effectively, while providing players with greater control and adaptability depending on the situation.Introducing an impact-triggered mode allows Tachanka to respond more effectively in precise or time-sensitive scenarios, improving reliability when targeting specific positions or reacting to enemy movement. At the same time, retaining the bouncing behavior preserves his ability to set up layered denial and control space indirectly. The choice between the 2 modes enables greater adaptability, allowing players to select the most appropriate method based on the situation.SHUMIKHA LAUNCHERAdded firing mode to trigger Incendiary Grenades on impact.SOLID SNAKESolid Snake’s Radar provides strong utility across multiple situations, allowing him to apply pressure without much risk.We want to slightly reduce Snake’s overall utility to encourage more deliberate usage and clearer prioritization of targets.SOLITON RADAR MK IIIPrecision mode charges: Reduced to 3 (from 4).VALKYRIEWe want to