Arena of Valor July 8 Update: New Battlefield

The Arena of Valor Festival Update on July 8 brings many important changes. It improves the battlefield, combat controls, ranked matches, and game performance.

This update does not only change hero strength. Instead, Garena also adds new jungle rules, map features, and support tools. As a result, matches may feel safer, smoother, and easier to control.

Therefore, players should learn these changes before entering ranked mode. A better understanding of the update can help you adjust to the new meta faster.

Follow the latest Arena of Valor news and updates at: https://www.garena.sg/news

Major Battlefield Changes

The battlefield is one of the main areas changed in this update.

First, Garena adds a new system to protect the jungle. In addition, the river objective is replaced. The game also receives a new buff-sharing feature.

These changes may affect junglers the most. However, other roles will also benefit from them.

Guardian Spirit Bird Protects the Jungle

Early jungle invasions can be very dangerous. For example, a jungler may lose the first Blue or Red Buff. As a result, they may fall behind in gold and experience. They may also struggle to reach level four on time.

To reduce this problem, Garena introduces the Guardian Spirit Bird. During the first four minutes, a Spirit Bird appears near the Blue and Red Buff areas of each team. When no enemy enters the jungle, the bird stays near the Soul Flower. It simply protects the area.

However, when an enemy hero enters the jungle, the Soul Flower disappears. Then, the bird flies above the enemy and attacks them. More importantly, the enemy deals 10% less damage while inside the protected jungle. When the enemy leaves, the bird returns to its original place. The Soul Flower also appears again.

After four minutes, the Spirit Bird leaves the battlefield. At that point, the damage reduction effect also ends. Because of this new system, early jungle attacks are now harder. Therefore, junglers have more time to clear camps and prepare for the first fight.

Spirit Bird Guardian

Glow Beetle Replaces the River Spirit Sentinel

The update also changes the Caesar-side river area. The old river creature is removed. In its place, Garena adds the Glow Beetle.

After a team defeats the Glow Beetle, a scouting spirit flies toward the enemy jungle. While moving, it reveals vision along its path.

As a result, players can see enemy movement more clearly. They may also find the enemy jungler or stop an early ambush.

The Glow Beetle appears for the first time at 30 seconds. Then, it returns every 60 seconds.

Its main stats are:

2,500 health
600 armor
0 magic defense
45 gold
50 experience

Therefore, the reward remains close to the old river objective. However, the new vision effect gives teams more useful map information.

Light Beetles and Spirit Eyes

Mid-Lane Minion Gold Changes

Garena also makes a small change to mid-lane minion gold. Melee minion gold increases from 25 to 27. Meanwhile, ranged minion gold falls from 30 to 29. The difference is small. Still, it may slightly change how fast mid-lane heroes earn gold during the early game.

New Buff-Sharing System

The July 8 update also adds a new way to share Blue and Red Buffs. After 10 minutes, the normal buff monsters change into stronger versions. Their current health carries over during this change. After a player defeats an enhanced buff monster, its spirit follows that player.

Then, when a teammate comes close, the spirit flies to the nearest ally. That teammate also receives the same buff effect. Because of this system, the jungler can keep the buff while also sharing it with a teammate.

For example, the Blue Buff can help a mage use skills more often. Meanwhile, the Red Buff can help a marksman slow enemies and deal more damage.

However, there is one important rule. If the player holding the spirit dies before sharing it, the extra buff disappears.

Therefore, teams should protect the player who defeats the enhanced jungle monster.

Mechanism for sharing red and blue buffs

Basic Attacks Feel Smoother

The update also improves the link between basic attacks and skills. Before the update, players often had to press the attack button again after using a skill. This could make combat feel slow or uncomfortable.

Now, the hero can continue attacking after a skill ends. For example, if you start a basic attack and then use a skill, the hero will return to basic attacks after the skill animation. Likewise, if you are already attacking many times, the attack chain will continue after the skill.

As a result, heroes that mix skills and basic attacks may feel much smoother.

Better Target Lock While Moving

Garena also improves target lock. Before this update, heroes could sometimes change targets while moving. In other cases, they moved in the wrong direction. Now, the target system is more stable.

When the setting is active, the hero can follow the chosen target more clearly while attacking and moving. However, this change does not increase attack speed. Attack speed still depends on each hero’s stats and items.

Players can turn this feature on or off in:

Settings → Controls → Find Basic Attack Targets While Moving

Clearer Chase Path

The update also adds a clearer chase path for precise basic attacks. After locking onto a target, the game shows the direction your hero will move.

Therefore, you can better understand the chase route before attacking. This feature is useful when chasing low-health enemies. It can also help during busy team fights.

Voice-to-Text Feature

Garena also adds a voice-to-text feature. Players can speak instead of typing. Then, the game changes the voice message into text.

As a result, teammates can share information more quickly. For example, players can warn others about missing enemies or ask the team to attack an objective. This feature may improve team play, especially in fast matches.

New Master Rank Honor Effects

The honor system also receives new rewards. After reaching Master rank, players can unlock a new honor effect for every 10 extra stars.

The reward levels are:

10 stars
20 stars
30 stars
40 stars
50 stars

In addition, the update adds two new titles. Players receive the Legendary Warrior Mark at 50 stars. Meanwhile, they receive the Legendary War God Mark at 100 stars. Therefore, high-ranked players now have more ways to show their progress.

Hero Power Is Easier to See

Hero Power information now appears in more places.

Players can see it on:

Player profiles
Chat channels
Hero selection screens
Team rooms
Post-match result screens

The game also shows Hero Power progress after each match. As a result, players can track their ranking more easily.

Hero Data During Team Selection

Players can now show hero data during the hero selection phase. This allows teammates to see how well each player has used a hero in past matches.

Therefore, the team can make better choices during the draft. Players can also show strong results from earlier games. This may help teammates trust their hero choice.

Lane Switching in Lower Ranks

In matches from Diamond rank and below, players can now change their chosen lane. This feature can reduce role conflicts.

For example, if two players choose the same lane, one of them can switch before the match starts. As a result, teams may create a more balanced lineup.

Ranked Ban System Expands to 10 Heroes

The ban system receives a major change. From Diamond rank and above, the total number of bans increases from six to ten. Each team now bans five heroes. In addition, all 10 players choose their bans at the same time. Players can also see which heroes both teams are trying to ban.

However, the same hero cannot be banned twice. Because of this change, more strong heroes can be removed before the match. Therefore, teams may need larger hero pools.

Average Team Rank Display

The update now shows the average rank of each team. This information appears in the team room and on the loading screen.

As a result, players can better understand the general skill level of both teams before the match begins.

Improved Graphics Settings

Garena also adds two recommended graphics modes. The first is Smooth Performance. This mode focuses on stable frame rates and less lag. The second is Visual Quality. This mode improves graphics and effects.

The game recommends a mode based on the device. However, players can still use Custom Mode. There, they can change frame rate, resolution, effects, and image quality.

Better Storage Management

The Resource Center also receives several improvements.Players can now see which files are important. Therefore, they can choose which files to delete more safely.

The game can also remove old entertainment mode files. In addition, it can delete files for heroes or skins that the player does not own. Players can turn automatic cleanup on or off.

Furthermore, the game sends a warning when the device is almost full. Hero pages also show the size of missing files. Therefore, players can download only the models they need.

Entertainment Mode Changes

The Festival Update also improves entertainment modes. In Rune Brawl, the random blessing system receives major changes.

Now, when players choose one blessing, blessings with a similar playstyle are more likely to appear later. Players can also spend gold or vouchers to refresh their choices again.

In addition, some blessings now require players to complete tasks before unlocking them.Many blessings also receive balance changes. Some become stronger, while others become weaker. Because of this, each match may offer more build choices.

Important Bug Fixes

The update fixes many hero and system bugs.

Dyadia

Garena fixes the strange size of basic attack damage numbers.

The update also fixes a display issue when Dyadia moves toward Aya while Aya is attached to another hero.

Azzen’Ka

Azzen’Ka’s Skill 1 no longer causes problems with Rouie’s teleport area.

In addition, the skill can no longer block Rouie’s teleport effect when placed in the center.

Bonnie

Bonnie’s movement animation after recall now works correctly.

Ming

Ming’s ultimate no longer stays locked while he is connected to an ally or enemy.

Wiro

Wiro can now use his ultimate normally after quickly using Skill 2.

Iggy

The update fixes an issue that stopped Iggy from using Skill 1 many times in a row.

Dolia

Several Dolia bugs are fixed. Her recall animation now works better. In addition, she no longer slides after recalling.

Garena also fixes a bug where refreshed skills still used energy. Her mermaid recall animation in the Love Diary skin also works correctly.

Max

Max’s ultimate target effect now appears correctly on low graphics settings.

Flowborn

Garena fixes strange voice lines and Ban/Pick display issues.

The marksman version also no longer loses the Flow Energy icon after gaining several stacks at once.

Allain

Allain now lands in the correct place after using his ultimate on a target in the air.

Amily

Amily’s Skill 2 animation no longer shakes near the end.

In addition, her enhanced basic attack no longer deals double damage after using her ultimate.

1v1 Mode

The healing pack on the Blue side now works correctly.

Final Thoughts

Overall, the Arena of Valor Festival Update on July 8 brings many useful changes. The Guardian Spirit Bird makes early jungle invasions harder. Meanwhile, the Glow Beetle gives teams more vision. The new buff-sharing system also improves team resources after 10 minutes.

In addition, basic attacks feel smoother, target lock works better, and the chase path is easier to see. The update also improves ranked drafting, graphics settings, storage tools, and team communication.

Finally, many hero bugs have been fixed. Therefore, players should learn these changes before starting their next ranked match. Those who adapt early may have a better chance to climb the ladder.

#AoV #AoVFestival #Update