Arc System Works and Neople just published the patch notes of DNF Duel’s upcoming 1.06 update. If you main Swift Master, you may want to sit down.

The update seems to be leaning towards curbing the power levels of some characters; it’s basically a bunch of nerfs at the top four most-played and most cheesed-out characters: the aforementioned Swift Master, Striker, Grappler, and Hitman. Swift Master has his kit toned down significantly, Striker’s anti-air is nerfed so that it has reduced guard stun, and the Grappler’s supposed infinite is removed. The Hitman’s Awakened passive, which is the strongest in the game since it allows for monumental comebacks, has some of its most-used moves nerfed.

Striker

• Rising Fist:
– Reduced guard stun after 2nd strike.

Grappler

• Magnumsault:
– Reduced time unable to tech during the Charged Effect version.

Hitman

• Bill Drill:
– Reduced guard stun after final strike.
– Increased guard pushback after final strike

Swift Master

• MP regeneration:
– Decreased MP regeneration rate.

• Wind Twist:
– Increased time needed to start MP regeneration.
– Reduced duration time.
– Increased stun time.
– Disappears when Guard Break is inflicted upon Swift Master.

• Wind Orb:
– Increased time needed to start MP regeneration.

• Storm Quaker:
– Increased time needed to start MP regeneration.
– Reduced guaranteed minimum damage
– Reduced guard gauge reduction amount.

• Storm Strike:
– Reduced guaranteed minimum damage.

• Vortex Hurricane:
– Reduced guaranteed minimum damage.

• Wind Blaster:
– Reduced guard gauge reduction amount.
– Reduced guard stun time.
– Reduced damage.

• Sonic Move:
– Reduced guard gauge reduction amount.
– Reduced white damage against opponents when guarded.
– Guard stun decreased when triggered in down-forward direction.

Expect the game’s meta to change in the coming months, meaning we won’t be seeing one-sided victories like the vid below: