Demo Update | Optimization and Experience Enhancement
The Gate Must Stand Patch Notes — February 27, 2026
Aggregated from Steam, cross-tracked with Battle.net coverage on GamePatchNote.
Commanders, we've rolled out an update focusing on optimizing gameplay experience, visual presentation, and addressing recently reported bugs.
Detailed changes below:
✨ New Features and Experience Enhancements
Upgraded Settings Options：
Added **“Hide damage numbers” and “Hide minion HP bars”** options for a cleaner display.
Mouse Side Buttons can now be bound as shortcuts.
UI Display Optimization:
Skill buttons are now permanently displayed on-screen without requiring mouse hover.
Awakening or relics with permanent stat-boosting effects (such as Shadow Assassin or Catapult) now display the current number of stacks in the bottom-right corner.
New Player Tutorial：
Added tutorials for Boss Attack the Gate, Follower Synthesis/Dismissal, and Mysterious Merchant to help players get started faster.
⚖️ Balance & Mechanics Adjustments
Boss Mechanics Adjustments:
Initial Difficulty Optimization: Bosses now only take 60% damage from control and displacement effects.
Collision Optimization: Heroes can now pass through Boss models, but suffer a 90% slow effect while traversing.
Heroes & Skills:
Forward Slash: Epic-level handling optimization! Now Step Forward Slash can directly pass through minions, fences, and Bosses without getting stuck.
Mage Adjustment: Mage heroes' out-of-battle experience logic has been adjusted. It now calculates based on enemies base experience and is no longer affected by in-battle experience bonuses, fixing the issue of excessive leveling speed.
Black Hole Skill:
Black Hole (Melina's dark orb) can no longer pass through terrain edges like city gates and walls.
Fixed an issue where Black Hole triggered by basic attacks would consume the skill's duration. Both now have separate cooldowns.
Other:
Forward Slash Logic: While a follower is being thrown, no other follower can be placed in its original position, preventing overlapping upon revival.
🎨 Visual & Audio Effects
Merchant Entrance Animation: When the Mysterious Merchant arrives on the battlefield, the camera will zoom in with brief slow-motion and highlight effects, ensuring you don't miss it!
Control Visual Optimization:
During minion merging or when using Decree of the Ancient King, the background dims and highlights selectable minions for clearer visual hierarchy and reduced obstruction.
When placing minions in the Tavern, unplaceable areas automatically dim, leaving only green-highlighted slots visible.
Audio Optimization: When the game is paused, looping battlefield sounds (e.g. Gale Dance, Protective Barrier) will be muted accordingly.
🐛 Bug Fixes
Interaction Fixes：
Fixed an issue where fences could be incorrectly placed on Bosses or Heroes.
Fixed an issue where fences could overlap with minions during placement.
Fixed an issue where the character model would abnormally enlarge after canceling the selection of “Decree of the Ancient King”.
Fixed an issue where clicking the Thunder Mage's attack effect could mistakenly trigger the selection panel.
Skill & Item Fixes:
Fixed an issue where other Lightning Mages could still be upgraded incorrectly after unlocking the Lightning Chain Overlord talent.
Fixed an issue where the Codex of Chaos skill could not be auto-cast.
Fixed the abnormal spawn mechanism of Invincible Battle Flag (failed to guarantee obtaining Greatshield Guardian).
Fixed Molten Fire incorrectly attacking Shadow Assassin.
Fixed Bow Ring causing abnormal cooldown reductions.
Fixed Black Hole projecting bosses into the gate causing clipping issues.
Miscellaneous:
Fixed UI issue displaying multiple “Remove Barrier” icons simultaneously.
Fixed skill description text potentially extending beyond screen edges.
Thank you all for playing and sharing your feedback!
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