Arena Gauntlet - Balance Patch Notes 1.8.0

Illuvium: Arena v1.8.0 - The Ultimate Arena Update

Rangers,

Arena v1.8.0 is here, bringing the most significant balance update, gameplay refinements, and stability improvements to Gauntlet since launch! After extensive testing on Testnet, we’ve fine-tuned synergies, fixed critical issues, and pushed the most polished version of the Arena yet to Mainnet.

Whether you’ve been grinding through Testnet or jumping in fresh, this patch delivers a smoother, more competitive, and strategic Gauntlet experience.

For Testnet Players: The Final Tweaks Before Mainnet

You’ve seen these updates in action—now it’s time to dominate the Mainnet leaderboards. Since the last Testnet patch, we’ve made additional balance refinements and bug fixes:

• Rogue Crit Amp Adjustments – Rogues Crit Chance and Amp has been significantly reduced.

• Revenant, Phantom, Predator and Vanguard Synergy Rebalancing – More controlled scaling.

• Bulwark Adjustments – Fine-tuned damage output on max threshold effect.

• Gauntlet Desync & Ranked Mode Fixes – Fewer crashes, smoother matches

• UI & QoL Improvements – Smarter augment recommendations, cleaner shop UI

Thanks to your feedback, this is the most refined version of Gauntlet to date—time to put your skills to the test!

For Mainnet Players: The Arena Has Transformed

If you haven’t played in a while, Gauntlet is an entirely new experience. Over the last few testnet patches, we’ve overhauled core systems, added game-changing mechanics, improved stability and update a lot of UI, visual effects, sound:

• Drone Augments – New Team-wide buffs that amplify strategy

  • Champion's Focus Attack Speed and Omega Power reduced from 20/35/50% to 15/25/35%

  • Veteran's Might Attack Damage reduced from 20/35/50% to 10/20/30%

• Synergy Overhaul – Primary Synergies empower all allies, Composite Synergies unlock special abilities

• Multiplayer Server Migration – Brand new multiplayer architecture, bringing better performance, fewer crashes, faster response time to Gauntlet.

• Custom Tournament Lobbies – For us to Host private matches, choose the Gamemode, and manage the lobby

• Display Opponent Information on Hover - While not as detailed as scouting, this feature introduces a semi-scouting capacity to the gameplay.

• UI & Quality-of-Life Upgrades – New shop UI, New Top Panel UI, New Enemy Panel UI, clearer tooltips, and better augment selection, 

• Team Planner Fixes – Lower Stage Illuvials are now highlighted properly 

• Hyper Rework – Class-specific Hyper bonuses have been removed and replaced with a single, impactful effect.

• Leviathan Changes – we have adjusted the bonus stats obtained from Traits and Level.

• SFXs Improvements

• Improved Augment VFXs

Gauntlet is more competitive, strategic, and fun than ever—update through Epic Games and start climbing the ranks now!

Patch 1.8.0 Notes: Balance Changes & Bug Fixes

This update brings all previous Testnet refinements to Mainnet alongside the final tweaks before launch.

Illuvial Changes

• Verminio Omega Damage: 700 → 600

• Vermilliare Omega Damage: 875 → 725

• Ti'Ru, Tii'Ruo, Tibi'Rukko Damage on Takedown reduced from 80/100/120 to 15/25/40

Synergy Adjustments

• Rogue Crit Amp (Special Ability): 10% → 2%

• Revenant Shield: 100/125/175 → 55/70/95

• Revenant Energy Damage: 40/50/60 → 55/70/95

• Revenant Empowered Attacks: 3 → 1

• Phantom Omega Power: 3/4/5 → 2/3/4

• Phantom Omnivamp (Special Ability): 10% → 8%

• Vanguard Bonus Crit Amp: 100/150/200 → 40/70/100

• Vanguard Empowered Damage: 12/18/24% → 8/13/18%

• Vanguard Empowered Heal (Special Ability): 20% → 15%

• Predator Empowered Damage: 200/250/300 → 125/200/275

• Bulwark Reflected Damage: 12% → 10%

• Empath Attack Speed and Attack Damage (special ability) reduced from 40% to 20%

Bug Fixes & Stability Improvements

• Fixed Gauntlet desync & Ranked Mode session crashes

• Fixed Bulwark’s Special Ability by applying Pure Damage instead of Energy

• Fixed Templar’s Special Ability generating fewer stats than intended

• Fixed Empyrean Core Augment applying buffs to only one ally instead of two

• Fixed an issue causing Ti'Ru, Tii'Ruo and Tibi'Rukko takedown calculation to be wrong

• UI fixes & better augment recommendations

• Shop UI readability improved

What’s Next? Bigger Rewards, Raffles, and More!

Patch 1.8.0 sets the stage for major new rewards:

• Ranked & Leviathan Rewards – Higher stakes, bigger prizes

• New Raffle System – Earn random rewards just for playing—every match you could be a winner

More details on how to earn rewards for Ranked, Leviathan, and even casual play are coming next week—stay tuned!

For now, jump into Gauntlet, test the new balance, and start claiming your spot on the leaderboard!

Full Patch History & Links

Want to see how Gauntlet has evolved? Check out the previous patches that led up to 1.8.0:

• Patch 1.7.1 Testnet Release Notes: illuvium.io/news/illuvium-arena-gauntlet-balance-patch-notes-1-7-1

• Patch 1.7.0 Testnet Release  Notes: illuvium.io/news/arena-gauntlet-balance-patch-notes-1-7-0 

• Patch 1.6.0 Testnet Release Notes: illuvium.io/news/arena-gauntlet-balance-patch-notes-1-6-0

• Patch 1.6.0 Testnet Release Notes: illuvium.io/news/arena-release-notes-patch-1-6-0 

See you in the Arena, The Illuvium Team