As a regular wasteland wanderer, I always get a little nervous when the developers start a post with 'we have identified the following issues'. Usually that means my favorite toy is about to get rebalanced, and I need to decide whether to laugh or cry into my scrap pile. The May 27(PT) update for Once Human is no exception. The team is adjusting AUG - Electron Cloud, Compound Bow - The Burden of Betrayal, and the Glide Pants. On top of that, Holographic Resonance and Memento are getting a small but welcome buff. Let me break it down the way I would over a can of mystery meat with my fellow Metas. 😅
The first item on the chopping block is the AUG - Electron Cloud. I have used this rifle enough to know that its magnetic field can be a little too attached to the first enemy it sees. The developers say it lacks flexibility when repeatedly generating magnetic fields, which makes target switching less efficient. In practice, that means you line up a shot on one enemy, the magnetic field does its thing, and then a second enemy sneaks up with a very rude attitude. Instead of smoothly shifting your setup, you feel like you are dragging a stubborn mule through a swamp. The update should make that magnetic field generation more responsive. If it works, the Electron Cloud will finally feel less like a one-trick pony and more like a proper combat tool. 🎯
Next up is the Compound Bow - The Burden of Betrayal. This thing has been an absolute menace, and I say that with love. The developers point out two big problems. First, Echo DMG is a core part of the bow's damage output, so Crit Rate has a major impact on consistency. That means your damage can swing from 'mighty hero' to 'slightly annoyed mosquito' depending on your luck. Second, the bow deals too much burst damage against Metas. If you have ever been on the receiving end, you know it can feel like being hit by a piano dropped from orbit. The adjustments aim to smooth out that inconsistency while trimming the over-the-top burst. I expect the bow will still be strong, just less likely to turn every encounter into a one-shot highlight reel. 🏹
The Glide Pants are the third main target, and honestly, they needed help. The developers admit the pants consume too much Stamina while their buff duration is too short. I have tried to use them in the field and ended up wheezing like I ran a marathon in heavy armor. The buff barely gives you time to process what happened before it fades away. If the adjustments reduce stamina drain or extend the buff, these pants might finally become a fun mobility option instead of a fitness punishment. Fingers crossed. 👖
On the brighter side, Holographic Resonance and Memento are getting a slight buff. I won't pretend to be a theory-crafting genius, but I appreciate any attention for gear that has been sitting in my stash. These items were not bad, but they often felt outclassed by flashier picks. A small number bump could push them back into regular rotation, especially for players who like to experiment instead of following the meta sheep. 🐑
Beyond the headline changes, there are two bug fixes that make me feel seen. The Bounce keyword could fail to trigger in certain complex situations. If you ever watched your projectile refuse to bounce and thought you were losing your mind, you were not alone. That bug is now fixed. The Portable Crossbow blueprint description also did not mention the bow draw speed increase. So the weapon felt faster, but the description left you guessing. Now the blueprint will actually tell you what it does. Small fixes like these go a long way. 🔧
To ease the transition, all players will receive 3 Blueprint Conversion Attempts after the update. This is a nice gesture. You can use those attempts to retry your luck on the adjusted weapons or rework something else entirely. If you are like me, you will probably spend all three in one evening and then stare at the result with a mix of hope and regret. But that is the wasteland way. 🎲
Here is a quick summary of the changes for anyone who wants the short version:
| Item | Issue | Adjustment Direction |
|---|---|---|
| AUG - Electron Cloud | Magnetic fields lack flexibility and slow target switching | Improve responsiveness when generating magnetic fields |
| Compound Bow - The Burden of Betrayal | Echo DMG heavily reliant on Crit Rate; too much burst vs Metas | Improve consistency and reduce over-the-top burst |
| Glide Pants | Stamina consumption too high; buff duration too short | Reduce stamina drain and/or extend buff |
| Holographic Resonance | Underperforming | Slight buff |
| Memento | Underperforming | Slight buff |
I know balance patches can spark heated debates, but this one feels focused. The developers are not dropping a nuke on everything. They are trimming outliers and fixing frustrating bugs while giving a little love to underused gear. That matches their goal of keeping combat balanced, fresh, and strategically engaging. As a regular player, I would rather adapt to a thoughtful patch than deal with the same broken interactions forever. ⚖️
If you have opinions or questions, the Once Human Feedback Platform and community channels are available. I will be out in the wasteland, testing whether my Glide Pants can finally stop embarrassing me. Thank you for reading my messy breakdown. Stay sharp, and may your crits land when you need them. ✨