APRIL PATCH NOTES

Patch Date and Time - April 21st, 2026 @ 10AM - 1PM PACIFIC

Version Number: TBD

Size: TBD

Please note that due to compression differences Steam patch size may be larger than the standalone client patch size.

Patch Files (Direct Download) - TBD

Greetings MechWarriors!

This month’s update includes the addition of classic maps, 'mech adjustments, quirk adjustments, and more!

As always, a 2 week in-game Patch Science Sale will go live shortly after the patch and include all applicable items for testing.

'Mechs in-game and new 'mechs releasing are subject to future balance changes and tuning, so get out there and do the science so we can hear your feedback!

The MechWarrior Online Team

Classic Maps

HPG Classic, Polar Highlands Classic, and Caustic Valley Classic have been added back to the map pool. We know not everyone enjoyed these maps back in their time, though the game has changed significantly since then. We will be keeping an eye on community responses on these new maps and, if responses are poor, will reduce their quickplay weighting or potentially deactivate them all together and keep them as event queue/competitive event maps only.

HPG Classic

Polar Highlands Classic

Caustic Valley Classic

Weapon Changes

• Reduced Arrow IV splash damage to 7.5 (from 9.0)

• Reduced Arrow IV velocity to 200 (from 250)

• Reduced Arrow IV crit rate (splash weapons roll crits at a higher rate due to dealing multiple instances of damage. Arrow IVs are exceptional crit seekers at long range, we don’t believe an indirect weapon should be landing increase crits)

• Increased ATM3 spread to 4.29 (from 3.9)

• Increased ATM6 spread to 5.39 (from 4.9)

• Increased ATM9 spread to 6.05 (from 5.5)

• Increased ATM12 spread to 6.05 (from 5.5)

In the last two patches, we focused heavily on increasing the consistency of locked missiles (excluding streaks) in their tracking and 'mech targeting. However this caused these weapons to be overwhelmingly stronger as they were originally balanced around their inconsistency. As we promised in February patch, now that these weapons are consistent we can now focus on power level.

Railgun Changes

The Railgun Mounts in the side torsos of ‘mechs carrying them have been replaced with a new piece of equipment called Railgun Capacitors. Railgun Capacitors take the same amount of weight and slots on each side as the original mounts. The purpose of the capacitors is to increase the charge potential of the Railgun, allowing for higher damage at the expense of added heat.  Like the original Railgun Mounts, there is one Railgun Capacitor in each side torso. 

• A ‘mech with both side torsos intact will deal 40 pinpoint damage, 8 splash on either side, and 20 heat generated with each Railgun shot (these are the same stats the Railgun currently has).

• With one side torso intact and one lost, the Railgun will deal 32 pinpoint damage, 6.4 splash on either side, and 16 heat generated. 

• With both side torsos lost, the Railgun will deal 24 pinpoint damage, 4.8 splash on either side, and 12 heat generated. 

The Railgun charge time, velocity, range, and all other stats WILL NOT change regardless of capacitor states. We want the weapon to feel the same to use in all states to preserve muscle memory and player intuition. Railgun Capacitors cannot be crit out, they are only lost from side torso destruction.The purpose of this change was to give a meaning to the side torso space a Railgun takes and a detriment once they are lost. The Railguns are an incredibly powerful weapon that we didn’t give enough drawbacks to. Players can run a standard engine and run very powerful “zombie” ‘mechs with a strong center torso weapon. With this change, players are incentivized to keep their side torsos intact and it gives drawbacks to the Railgun.

Store Changes

• 2025 Loyalty 'mechs release for MC

• Icons 1 booster pack released for C-Bills

• War Ghoul and Void Killer warhorn released for MC

Mech Changes

• Increased Banshee BNC-SR acceleration/deceleration to 36.15/25 (from 24.63/21.05)

• Increased Banshee torso twist/pitch rate to 108/72 (from 90/65)

• Increased Banshee BNC-SR turn rate to 62.45 (from 50.42)

• Increased Champion acceleration/deceleration to 63.85/52.08 (from multiple values)

• Increased Champion torso twist/pitch rate to 139/92 (from multiple values)

• Increased Champion turn rate to 87.66 (from multiple values)

• Increased Griffin acceleration/deceleration to 63.85/56.81 (from 47.71/45.9)

• Increased Griffin torso twist/pitch rate to 158/113 (from 135/98)

• Increased Griffin turn rate to 87.66 (from 75.05)

• Increased Firestarter acceleration/deceleration to 75.39/91.43 (from multiple values)

• Increased Firestarter torso twist/pitch rate to 189/138 (from multiple values)

• Increased Firestarter turn rate to 115.16 (from multiple values)

• Increased all Quickdraw variants to match agility with the Desperada

Quirk Changes

Urbanmech

• UM-R80

• Increased Heavy PPC Cooldown to -40% (from -20%)

Ice Ferret

• IFR-PRIME

• Reduced ATM ammo in the RA to 25% from (50%)

• IFR-C

• Reduced ATM ammo in the RA, LA, LT to 25% from (50%)

• IFR-B

• Reduced ATM ammo in the RA, LA to 25% from (50%)

• IFR-P

• Reduced ATM ammo in the LA to 25% from (50%)

• IFR-RC

• Reduced ATM ammo in the RT to 25% from (50%)

Hunchback IIC

• HBK-IIC

• Added -25% Jam Chance

• Added -25% Jam Duration

• HBK-IIC-C

• Removed -10% Energy Cooldown

• Added -10% Cooldown

Bug Fixes

• Ebon Jaguar Samantha So8 now provides a beneficial spread quirk instead of detrimental

• Consolidated the two different UAC Jam Chance quirks on the EBJ-A(while both quirks function now, this reduced the line space taken)

Known Issues

• Players can still put a targeting computer on their railgun mechs via build code injection

• TBR-N purchase in store will sometimes give an error code

Patch Files (Direct Download) 

To make the patching process easier for players with limited download caps, we'll be providing direct download links for the patch file(s) that comprise this patch. This will allow you to download the patch file(s) elsewhere, for manual injection into the MWO patcher through a Patch Cache folder.

Aside from allowing you to download the patch file(s) elsewhere, on another connection, there are no additional benefits to performing the patch this way; the patching process itself will be the same.

This direct patch download process will only work for players running the standalone client. It does not apply to players running MWO through Steam.

Patch File(s): TBD

Download the above file(s)

For sake of ease, we recommend creating a dedicated folder for the patch file(s), such as 'MWO Patch Cache'

You do not need to unzip or unpack the patch file(s)

Launch the MWO Portal

Select the three horizontal lines in the top left of the Portal Window

Choose the 'Specify Patch File Cache' option

In the field that appears, paste or enter the location in which you saved the patch file(s) and hit OK

For example, C:\Users\<username>\Documents\MWO Patch Cache

Click the blue Patch button

The launcher will now check the Patch Cache folder you defined. If it locates the required patch files, it will unpack and use those files to apply the patch