Hey everyone, it’s BUST here with an exciting review of the latest patch 0.9.21 for Backpack Battles. This is the first balance update since the release of skills, and after a week of gameplay, I’m ready to share my insights.
## New Items in Backpack Battles
### Rat Chef
The Rat Chef is a powerful addition for Rangers. It suits two main Ranger paths: the one-turn-kill (OTK) crit builds or the scaling food builds. The Rat Chef enhances scaling builds by providing a combat-oriented food option. It could potentially make vampiric items like Bloodthorn more relevant, offering a new strategy for those struggling to deal significant damage.
### Squirrel Archer
Unlike the Rat Chef, I’m not a fan of the Squirrel Archer. It seems to fix one of the Ranger’s weaknesses by adding damage to buff-centric builds. However, its rarity makes it less of a threat. It might not be overpowered, but its concept doesn’t sit well with me.
## Skill Evaluations
### General Skills
– **Spicy Banana**: A strong early-game skill that heals effectively. It pairs well with gooberts, making it a powerful choice for survival rounds.
– **Smelly Wall**: Offers excellent sustain in early rounds but lacks late-game utility. It’s best for reaching survival rounds.
– **Piggy Pinata**: A decent economic skill. Buy, explode two pigs, and sell for a profit. It’s not combat-centric but provides value.
– **Investment Opportunity**: Best with Pyromancer builds. It offers gold gain over time, making it a solid economic choice.
– **Super Spacious Bag**: A nerfed economic item. Its value lies in discounted bag purchases, but its effectiveness has decreased.
– **Smithing for Dummies**: An excellent skill for crafted weapon builds. It reduces stamina costs, allowing for extra weapon usage.
### Ranger-Specific Skills
– **Acorn Ace**: Surprisingly buffed, making it easier to use multiple weapons. It enhances crit builds, especially with expanded slots.
– **Markswoman**: A mid-tier skill that supports bow builds. It’s not a top pick but can be effective with the right setup.
## Patch Changes
The patch also brought several item and skill adjustments:
– **Spectral Dagger and Holy Spear**: Both received buffs, potentially increasing their viability.
– **Big Bowl of Treats**: Continues to be nerfed but remains a staple in many Ranger games.
– **Acorn Ace**: Buffed with reduced stamina cost and expanded slots, making it a strong choice for crit builds.
## Conclusion
This patch has introduced intriguing changes and new items that could reshape strategies in Backpack Battles. The Rat Chef stands out as a game-changer for scaling builds, while the Squirrel Archer remains controversial. Skills like Spicy Banana and Smithing for Dummies continue to be strong contenders, offering valuable benefits in different scenarios.
I hope this review helps you navigate the new patch and enhances your gameplay. Get out there and have some fun with the new strategies!
Thanks for tuning in to BATTLES WITH BUST. See you next time!