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Nova SwarmNewsNova Swarm Patch Notes: Better Dodges, Builds and Tactical Choices
Game update

Nova Swarm Patch Notes: Better Dodges, Builds and Tactical Choices

Nova Swarm · published 18 Jul 2026, 15:50 UTC

All newsPlayers around this dateRead on Steam

This is a focused update built directly from recent player feedback.

Hangar launches

Starting a ship from the Hangar or Ship Details now enters Mayhem Tactical, matching the recommended main mode. Mayhem Pure remains available from the main menu.

Dodge Pulse

Dodge Pulse now activates when the phase ends instead of when the dodge begins. This preserves the full invulnerable dodge and graze window. Dodge Pulse and Phase Wake can now work together without making either choice feel wasted, while Rift Reprisal still creates shards from eligible clears.

Double Shot

We reproduced a problem where collecting the timed Double Shot pickup could make a permanent four shot build weaker. Double Shot now adds one shot to the current build. Four shots become five while the pickup is active, then return exactly to four when it expires.

Focus Lens

Focus Lens now provides a real precision option. Holding Focus keeps the existing damage bonus and also tightens the current weapon spread by 25 percent. Projectile count and normal unfocused firing remain unchanged.

Wave clear voices

The game will no longer follow a lost life with a sarcastic compliment or celebratory wave clear quip. Score, progression and important completion information still appear normally.

Tractor feedback

The Tractor can now participate in Chain Lightning as both a source and a target. Its damage feedback is clearer, and its health bar is easier to read without covering important messages or HUD information.

Tactical choices

Tactical Drafts now prioritize eligible Fusion partners and unseen choices before offering a third stack. Run Doctrines remain descriptive. They never restrict which augments can appear later.

The Steam screenshot and Game Recording capture fix from the current build line is also included unchanged.

Score formulas, leaderboard identities, stored scores, achievement requirements, save data, Steam Cloud paths and Steamworks settings were not changed.

Special thanks to Tyrian for the detailed testing and concrete examples. Feedback like this gives us something precise to reproduce and improve.

Tiny Foundry

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