ANTHEM Update 1.5.0 Chances Overview and Patch Notes

When most of us thought that EA will focus on promoting Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order for the next couple of months, BioWare steps up to surprise us! Anthem’s next update 1.5.0 came out of nowhere (it is tradition for them not to announce things early now, sadly). This patch brings a new event, attached to the Cataclysm. It also introduces a new seasonal Currency, new War Chests and more! Let’s take a look, shall we!

I am as surprised as you all are right about now! BioWare released a new update to Anthem today. Patch 1.5.0 introduces a new seasonal event (Helloween themed, by the looks of it). It is attached to the Cataclysm.

The update is quite large. If you are updating from 1.4.1 (the previous most current version), your download would be about 7 GB on PC (7.12 for me). I don’t have exact patch sizes for consoles at this time, but it is most likely going to be a large update there too. The Patch download process broke several times and asked me to “resume update” to continue the download.

The FULL 1.5.0 Patch notes are further below, but if you don’t want to read them all letter for letter, let me highlight the best of the changes here.

The Season of Skulls takes place in the Cataclysm event, but replaces the old Crystals with new currency. Whatever you have earned, is now lost and you have to start your grind again from 0. The Seasonal Store is back in business. The War Chests have changed. The chances for a Legendary item drop has been increased 250%.

It seems that there was a typo in the patch notes regarding the War Chest price change. The only change, according to the fixed patch notes states that only the chance for a Legendary item to drop has been increased. The old rate was around 10% (reports vary from 7% to about 10% on average). If you take 10% (for easy calculations) and multiply it by 2.5, this means that instead of one Legendary to drop from a War Chest from 10 opened ones, now your chances are far better – 25%. This means that roughly every 4th War Chest opened should yield a Legendary item from its category.

The Cataclysm map is exactly the same. The events too. What is different are the few subtle “decorations” around the walls of the caves and here-and-there around. Some of the creatures are “Helloween themed”. The events are available in a different order as well. Even the teleports are totally new. Their locations are in the same places, but one starter point now leads to a new exit location. Some of the objectives to spawn the event bosses are also different.

A new option has been added to the Seasonal Store – you can now get a Legendary-only War Chest from the Seasonal Store. The contents inside will only be a Legendary item, but at a much higher price, of course.

Other important changes to the Cataclysm? Yes, sure. All challenges that previously rewarded you with Major Crystals will now reward you with 500 minor Crystals instead. The issue with the Major crystals has been resolved – nothing rewards nor requires you to bring or transfer minor to major crystals any more.

Several new Season of Skull themed events are also made available in Freeplay now. If you complete three of them in one run, you will spawn a boss encounter. The Freeplay is quite interesting, I might add.

There are special clickable Skulls inside the Cataclysm and there are more spread around Fort Tarsis. The ones in the Fort serve to complete a brand new achievement.

Among the many bug fixes and game improvements one stands much taller – Mass Salvage is now available on all inventory management screens.

From the “Bug Fixes” category it is worth to mention that BioWare has added “Auto-Loot” feature to all “high-rarity” items.

If you are a sloppy (new pilots, listen up!) pilot-wannabe and tend to crash into obstacles often, this change is going to make your day. From now on when flying into an obstacle ,your suit will automatically change to hover mode instead of falling to the ground like a sack of potatoes.

There have been a lot of adjustments to weapons and gear for all Javelins. As usual for Anthem, most of them are increased stats and boosts, but there are a few “unpleasant fixes” here and there.

ANTHEM Update 1.5.0 Full Patch Notes

NEW FEATURES

The Cataclysm is back with updates for the Season of Skulls. The higher your score, the more seasonal currency you’ll be awarded to spend at the seasonal store.
New Season of Skulls Freeplay events. Successfully finish three of these events in one Freeplay session to spawn a boss encounter.
Learn more about Season of Skulls lore through a scavenger hunt and new data archives.
Mass Salvage is now available on all inventory management screens.
The chance to obtain a legendary item from a war chest has increased by 250%.
A Legendary-Only War Chest has been added to the Seasonal Store

BUGS FIXES AND IMPROVEMENTS

Fixed various crashes for stabilization.
Auto-loot now works for all high-rarity loot drops in a game session.
When flying into obstacles, javelins now automatically go into hover mode instead of crashing to the ground
General Cataclysm Changes/Fixes:
- All challenges that awarded major crystals now reward 500 minor crystals instead.
- Turrets will no longer respawn once destroyed in Sea of Takaro and Castle Kelrik.
- Teleporters are now immediately re-usable after teleporting.
“Daily: Repair” no longer auto-completes when a player returns to Fort Tarsis.
Fixed an issue in which the Expedition Tracked menu could display incorrect difficulty level.
Updates to inscription tooltips for Combo Damage bonus clarify which javelin a bonus applies to. Colossus Combo damage bonus is now “Combo Blast Dmg”, Ranger is “Combo Imp Dmg”, Storm is “Combo Chains”, and Interceptor is “Combo Aura Eff”.
Fixed an issue where the Acid Status Effect would not increase damage taken from the “acid” damage type
Aim assist has been adjusted so that it doesn’t “pop” onto enemies as easily
Updated multiple weapon and gear piece descriptions to read “armor” instead of “suit health”.
The Badge of Devastation component no longer shares an icon with Emergency Power.

GUN UPDATES

Assault Rifles
- Defender/Elemental Rage/Pyrrhic Victory
  - Base Damage 16->24.1
- Hammerhead/Ralner’s Blaze
  - Base Damage 24.1->34
The fire status effect applied by Ralner’s Blaze is now correctly affected by damage inscriptions.
Light Machine Guns
- Relentless
  - Base Damage 18.9->26.4
- Artinia’s Gambit
  - Base Damage 37.8->52.8
- Havoc
  - Base Damage 14.8->22.5
- Renewed Courage
  - Base Damage 23.7->35.9
- Sledgehammer
  - Base Damage 28.5->43.1
- Cycle of Pain
  - Base Damage 41.3->62.6
Marksman Rifles
- Scout/Thunderbolt of Yvinia
  - Base Damage 36.5->39.7
- Anvil
  - Base Damage 60.8->70.2
- Soothing Touch
  - Base Damage 103.4->119
Autocannons
- Torrent/Endless Siege
  - Base Damage 26.4->27.6
- Cloudburst/Fist of Strahl
  - Base Damage 19.7->20.4
- Mauler/The Last Stand
  - Base Damage 18.6->19.6
  - Fixed an issue that prevented Autocannon damage types from displaying as intended. The Anti-Armor damage type is now shown correctly.
SMG’s
- Fulcrum/Unending Battle
  - Base Damage 8.9->12
- Trajector/Retaliation of Garretus
  - Base Damage 14.3->26.3
- Hailstorm
  - Base Damage 6.9->10.8
- Vassa’s Surprise
  - Base Damage 15->21.6
Heavy Pistol
- Barrage/Close Encounter
  - Base Damage 18.1->26.5
- Resolution/Glorious Result
  - Base Damage 47.9->48.4
Shotgun
- Scattershot/Papa Pump
  - Base Damage 16.6-20.8
- Constrictor/Radiant Fortress
  - Base Damage 17.7->18.1
- Vengeance/Rolling Carnage
  - Base Damage 12.9->24.1
Grenade Launcher
- Fixed an issue that prevented Grenade Launcher damage types from displaying as intended; the Anti-Armor damage type is now shown correctly.
Sniper Rifle
- Deadeye/Wyvern Blitz
  - Base Damage 240->246
  - Fixed an issue that prevented the damage type from working as intended; now correctly displays and functions as Physical damage.
- Whirlwind/Siege Breaker
  - Fixed an issue that prevented the damage type from working as intended; now correctly displays and functions as Anti-Shield damage.
- Devastator/Truth of Tarsis
  - Fixed an issue that prevented the damage type from working as intended; now correctly displays and functions as Anti-Armor damage.
Pulse Accelerator
- Bad Omen
  - Fixed an issue that prevented the damage type from working as intended; now correctly displays and functions as Physical damage.
- Rainmaker
  - Fixed an issue that prevented the damage type from working as intended; now correctly displays and functions as Physical damage.
Blade Slinger
- Fixed an issue that prevented Blade Slinger damage types from working as intended; all now correctly display and function as Physical damage.
Volt Caster
- Jarra’s Wrath
  - The Electric status effect applied by Jarra’s Wrath is now correctly affected by damage inscriptions.

JAVELIN UPDATES

Ranger Gear Updates:
- Venom Darts/Tactical Onslaught
  - Now displays the correct number of status effect stacks
- Inferno Grenade/Explosive Blaze
  - Status effect stacks increased to 100
- Frost Grenade/Cold Blooded
  - Status effect stacks increased to 100
- The Gambit
  - Masterwork/legendary effect (as seen in the orange text on the item description) is now correctly affected by gear damage inscriptions.
- Ember’s Lance
  - Masterwork/legendary effect (as seen in the orange text on the item description) is now correctly affected by gear damage inscriptions.
- Relentless Pursuit
  - Increased damage by 50%
- Vanguard’s Rampart
  - Vanguard’s Rampart masterwork/legendary effect (as seen in the orange text on the item description) is no longer reapplied each time a player enters the bubble.
Colossus Gear Updates:
- Firewall Mortar
  - Status effect stacks increased to 100
- Rubidium Furnace
  - Status effect stacks increased to 100
  - Damage is now correctly affected by local gear damage inscriptions.
- Venom Storm
  - Status effect stacks increased to 100
- Lightning Coil/Vassa’s Arc
  - Status effect stacks increased to 100
  - Fixed an issue that prevented its damage type from working as intended. Now correctly displays and functions as Electric damage.
- Shock Coil/Voltaic Dome
  - Fixed an issue that prevented its damage type from working as intended. Now correctly displays and functions as Electric damage.
- Titan’s Hail
  - Masterwork/legendary effect (as seen in the orange text on the item description) is now correctly affected by gear damage inscriptions.
Storm Gear Updates:
- Shock Burst/Seal of the Open Mind
  - Status effect stacks increased to 100
- Icestorm/Winter’s Wrath
  - Status effect stacks increased to 100
- Binary Star
  - Fixed an issue that prevented the damage type from working as intended; now correctly displays and functions as Fire damage.
Interceptor Gear Updates:
- Interceptor Combo Aura
  - Interceptors now deal the correct amount of combo damage based on enemy material (shield, armor, or flesh) if the target is primed by Electricity.
- Venom Bomb & Serpent’s Veil
  - Status effect stacks increased to 100
- Tesilar Trap
  - Status effect stacks increased to 100
- Cryo Glaive & Absolute Zero
  - Status effect stacks increased to 100
  - Fixed an issue that prevented the damage type from working as intended; now correctly displays and functions as Ice damage.
- Detonating Strike
  - Fixed an issue that prevented the damage type from working as intended; now correctly displays and functions as Electric damage.
- Cariff’s Talon
  - Damage is now correctly affected by local gear damage inscriptions.
  - Fixed an issue that prevented the damage type from working as intended; now correctly displays and functions as Electric damage.
- Tempest Strike
  - Fixed an issue that prevented the damage type from working as intended; now correctly displays and functions as Physical damage.
- Sudden Death
  - Masterwork/legendary effect (as seen in the orange text on the item description) is now correctly affected by gear damage inscriptions.
  - Fixed an issue that prevented the damage type from working as intended; now correctly displays and functions as Physical damage.
- Wraith Strike, Shadow Claw, and Spectre’s Flash
  - Fixed an issue that prevented the damage type from working as intended; now correctly displays and functions as Physical damage.
Interceptor Melee Updates:
- Venomous Blades/Twin Blades
  - Smalls hits went from 38->50 base damage
  - Big hits went from 105->100 base damage
- Deathstalker Blades
  - Small hits went from 38->75 base damage
  - Big hits went from 105->150 base damage
  - MasterWork property – Used to deal 60 damage per hit on targets below 50%. Now doubles melee hit damage on targets below 50%.
- Blades of Warding
  - Small hits went from 38->87.5 base damage
  - Big hits went from 105->175 base damage
- Ultimate
  - Small hits went from 55->75 base damage
Storm Melee Updates:
- Searing Blast
  - Fixed an issue that prevented the damage type from working as intended; now correctly displays and functions as Fire damage