The headline for most Vault Hunters will be the return of the king: the Hellwalker shotgun has received a substantial 22% damage buff. If you felt like your mobbing speed was dipping in higher tiers, this should put the iconic double-barrel back into your primary rotation. On the flip side, the Roulette has been reigned in with a 15% damage reduction to prevent it from trivializing boss encounters, while the Unstable Kor sees a massive 45% damage hike to make its volatile firing pattern worth the risk.
Perhaps the most significant long-term change is the announcement of a damage cap for Torgue Sticky projectiles coming in the v1.7 update. Currently, players are stacking these to astronomical levels, but Gearbox is capping the bonus at 200% to prevent exploit-level damage scaling. It's a nerf to the extreme high-end builds, but it's necessary for the game's health as we approach the upcoming DLC content.
Speaking of new content, the update notes shed more light on the roadmap. We now know that Mad Ellie and the Vault of the Damned will serve as DLC Pack 1, while Legend of the Stone Demon is categorized as DLC Bounty Pack 2. This distinction suggests the Bounty Packs might be tighter, mission-focused experiences compared to the larger story expansions.
Defensive options haven't been ignored either. Several Legendary shields, including the Firebreak and Sparky Shield, have received capacity buffs. These adjustments aim to give players more breathing room when tackling the aggressive enemy scaling found in the end-game loops.
Soren