Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising details “major adjustments” to mechanics in response to first open beta test

Second open beta test set for November.

Publisher Cygames and developer Arc System Works detailed the “major adjustments” to Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising‘s battle mechanics made based off feedback from the first open beta test held in July during an 80-minute “Balance and System Adjustments” video published today.

The first half of the video details all of the changes, which will be implemented when the game’s second open beta test begins in November, while the latter half is a series of matches featuring professional players.

“We had a lot of feedback regarding throws and Raging Strikes,” Granblue Fantasy series general director Tetsuya Fukuhara said. “On top of that, there were various comments about ways to use the SBA gauge. It either wasn’t clear enough, it felt off, or just wasn’t fun. We received opinions from all kinds of standpoints. It was clear that we weren’t meeting the expectations of Granblue Fantasy: Versus players, and for us, this is a game we want new players to enjoy too, so we needed to make some changes.”

Get the full list of changes below.

■ Second Beta Battle Adjustments
User Feedback Received During First Beta

Throws are too weak…
Raging Strikes are too strong…
Ultimate Skills are hard to use not only that, but there’s little reason to use my SBA gauge for anything other than Raging Strikes and Chains.
Plus Skills (Heavy Skills)
During the last beta, there was a gauge penalty when using plus skills. Basically, your gauge would fill up slower. That’s no longer the case. Just like in the first Granblue Fantasy: Versus, we want players to proactively use them. We’ve made several changes to the SBA gauge. One that you’ll likely notice is the rate at which the gauge fills from walking. On top of no longer having a gauge penalty, it also fills up much quicker now.
Changes to Ultimate Skills
Cost 50% of the SBA Gauge to activate.
Can be followed up with additional attacks.
Can be chained into mid-combo (with damage scaling).
Can be activated during skill cooldown (damage halved).
Changes to Dash Attacks
Light dash attacks advance farther for approaching foes.
Heavy dash attacks are more rewarding.
Heavy dash attacks cause a screen effect on counter-hit.
Changes to Throws
Throw break window reduced.
Throw breaks can be performed with any attack button (Treated as a late throw break that reduces damage. Perform a throw break with a throw input to completely mitigate damage).
Late throw breaks grant an advantage to the attacker and a chance to continue applying pressure.
Changes to Raging Strikes
Cost 1 BP to activate (no longer require SBA gauge).
Cause guard crush and deplete 1 BP to blocking foes.
Start-up is slower, but reach has been extended.
Can be chained into from cancelable attacks (Only upon successfully connecting-canceling a blocked attack into a Raging Strike will leave a gap in your offense).
Changes to Brave Counters
Cost 1 BP to activate (no longer require SBA gauge).
Can be performed by pressing two buttons (Medium + Heavy attack-the same input as a Raging Strike).
Visual effect has been changed.
Changes to Bravery Points
Damage taken increases as BP is depleted.
3 BP: No change
2 BP: No change
1 BP: +20% damage taken
0 BP: +50% damage taken
Guard crushes inflicted by a Raging Strike in addition to Skybound Arts/Super Skybound Arts that successfully connect at close range also deplete BP.
Changes to Skybound Arts / Super Skybound Arts
Deplete a foe’s BP upon successfully connecting at close range (Skybound Art: -1 BP, Super Skybound Art: -2 BP).
BP is depleted upon a successful hit, which may significantly increase damage dealt depending on the foe’s remaining BP.
Restore 1 BP upon activation (only applies to SBA or SSBA that deal damage—some, such as Lowain’s, are exempt from this rule).
Use them in place of Raging Strikes as your main tool to deplete a foe’s BP!
Changes to Raging Chains
Cost 25% of the SBA gauge to activate.
Gauge penalty added.
Raging Strikes are harder to land now, but can lead into powerful combos that can turn the tides of battle in your favor!
Changes to Technical Inputs
Skills performed using technical inputs deal 10% more damage (not including skills canceled into mid-combo).
“Good!” pop-up notification appears when using technical inputs.
Considering the physical difference in speed when activating a skill using technical inputs compared to simple inputs, we’ve added an advantage to technical inputs instead of a disadvantage to simple inputs.