• Ra'Shoth: Initiative 5 → 4
• Stinging Ra'Shoth: Initiative 5 → 4
• Ferocious Ra'Shoth: Initiative 6 → 5

This directly slows down Schism’s early combat flow.

Schism Tier 2 Nerfs

Cultist

• Speed 4 → 3
• Glance of the Abyss effect power: 15 + 3 × Stack Size → 12 + 2 × Stack Size

Binder

• Attack 6 → 5
• Speed 6 → 5
• Glance of the Abyss effect power: 15 + 3 × Stack Size → 12 + 2 × Stack Size

Votary

• Speed 5 → 4

These are meaningful early-game nerfs. They reduce mobility, damage pressure, and the strength of Schism’s stack-scaling effects.

Schism High-Tier Adjustments

Rift Arbitrator

• Attack 24 → 26
• Defense 26 → 28
• Initiative 12 → 10

This is a mixed change: better stats, but slower action economy.

Abyssal Envoy

• Initiative 9 → 8

Abyssal Overseer

• Initiative 10 → 9

Abyssal Executor

• Initiative 11 → 10

Again, the theme is clear: Schism becomes less explosive and less tempo-dominant.

Schism Progression Reverted

Two important Schism progression changes were also made:

• Involuntary Summons once again requires Mage Guild III.
• The World is Ours law tier was reverted from 3 back to 5.

This is one of the most important Patch #9 corrections. It slows down Schism’s access to key power spikes and partially reverts the Patch #8 acceleration.

Balance Change: Hive Buffed Across the Board

Hive receives the broadest set of buffs in Patch #9.

The developers noted that Hive performs well in Arena and Classic modes, but struggles in Single Hero mode. Patch #9 moves some planned Hive improvements forward.

Hive Growth Buffs

• Tier 1 base weekly growth increased: 21 → 22
• Tier 2 base weekly growth increased: 13 → 14

All hero starting armies were adjusted accordingly.

Hive Tier 1 Buffs

Parasite

• Damage 2–3 → 2–4
• Speed 3 → 4

Warden Parasite

• Damage 2–3 → 2–4
• Speed 4 → 5

Ravager Parasite

• Damage 2–3 → 2–4
• Speed 5 → 6

These changes make Hive’s earliest fights less slow and less punishing.

Hive Tier 2 Buffs

Locust

• Damage 3–4 → 3–5

Overgrown Locust

• Damage 3–4 → 3–5

Harvester Locust

• Damage 4–4 → 4–5

Hive Tier 3 Buffs

Hornet / Chanter / Stinger

• Damage 4–7 → 4–9

This is a significant damage ceiling increase for Hive’s mid-early army.

Hive Tier 4 Buffs

Scorpion

• Attack 11 → 12
• Defense 11 → 12

Volcanic Scorpion

• Attack 11 → 12

Spelaean Scorpion

• Defense 11 → 12
• Damage 11–14 → 12–14

Hive Tier 6 and Tier 7 Buffs

• Corpse Eater healing increased: 65 → 120
• Hive Queen initiative increased: 7 → 8

These changes improve Hive’s sustain and late-game responsiveness.

Balance Change: Hive Building Costs and Laws Changed

Early dwellings become more expensive, but some later buildings become cheaper:

• Tier 1 and Tier 2 dwelling chains are more expensive.
• Tier 4 dwelling chain is cheaper.
• Tier 7 dwelling chain is much cheaper.
• Tower of Love II now requires 5 Wood and 5 Ore.

Hive laws were also reshuffled:

• Hidden Desires: Tier 1 → 2
• Focus Reserves: Tier 2 → 1
• Natural Selection: Tier 4 → 3
• Evolve, Adapt, Overcome: Tier 4 → 5
• Prosper and Flourish: Tier 5 → 4

Balance Change: Dungeon Gets Missing Pandora’s Box and Arena Buffs

Dungeon Pandora’s Box numbers were adjusted across multiple tiers:

• Troglodyte: 60/45 → 50/35
• Infiltrator: 35/25 → 40/30
• Onyx Dancer: 34/24 → 34/25
• Minotaur: 20/14 → 23/16
• Medusa: 21/15 → 23/16
• Hydra: 11/7 → 12/8

Dungeon also receives Arena mode buffs, with larger offered stacks for several creatures, including Troglodytes, Infiltrators, Minotaurs, Medusas, Hydras, and Cave Dragons.

Balance Change: Other Notable Changes

Necropolis

Necropolis receives small buffs:

• Graverobber Pandora’s Box count slightly increased.
• Vampire Lord Defense increased: 25 → 26.
• Vampire Scholar Attack increased: 26 → 27.
• Bone Exchange I and II are cheaper to build.

Grove

Grove receives small early-game and economy buffs:

• Faun damage increased.
• Faun Archer damage increased.
• Faun Warrior damage increased.
• Shroomwood Shack I is cheaper to build.

Day Magic

Riposte can now be cast on Magical creatures. This is a small but important usability change, especially for builds that rely on Magical creature stacks.

Fixed in Patch #9: Map Template

Several random map templates had issues after Patch #8: Jebus Cross: Taverns and Mage Guilds were still being built in central area cities despite the intended Patch #8 changes. Sand Clover: some guards were not generating correctly. Exodus: the template could still generate too many dwellings of a specific tier.

Fixed in Patch #9: Creature and Hero

• Upgraded Cultists had inconsistent hiring costs.
• Death Merchant’s Ensnare Memories ability displayed an incorrect casting cost.
• Tavi and Pauper had issues related to their class changes, including wrong models and Heroic Strike behavior.
• Temple’s Strong Faith sub-skill showed an incorrect number of bonus attributes.

Fixed in Patch #9: Multiplayer ALT+F4 abuse

It also fixes an exploit where force-closing the game with Alt+F4 during the pick-and-ban phase could incorrectly assign match results.