In a rare move, Steel Wave developers have pushed a second round of test server adjustments before implementing changes in the live version. Normally, Crickex Affiliate notes, the team waits until issues are discovered post-deployment to apply fixes. But due to the complexity of the EVA collaboration content, the developers exercised extra caution this time around.

The biggest update involves a correction to Irene’s exclusive weapon, RA09. Among her three special weapon skills, only Initial Strike remained untouched, while the other two received important adjustments. According to Crickex Affiliate’s breakdown, Blazing Eternity no longer requires the target to have damaged components to activate the 25% damage bonus. Instead, it now triggers when attacking enemy parts with over 50% durability. This significantly increases the skill’s overall effectiveness, allowing Irene to deal enhanced damage in more situations—solving the awkward restriction from before.

The second change affects her passive skill Scheming. The critical rate bonus has been reduced from 60% to 50%, and the activation condition has shifted. Previously, the boost triggered upon auto or manual reload completion. Now, the crit rate bonus activates after using the shoulder-mounted rocket attack. This change is harder to evaluate. The rocket skill, particularly Skyfall, has a wide area of effect but comes with high AP costs, making it impractical for regular rotation in most battles. While it’s viable in niche scenarios, its limited use means the passive may not be triggered as reliably as before.

Crickex Affiliate also reports a key bug fix: Asuka’s skill Leap Assault could previously activate Wolverine’s exclusive module Cluster Energizer and Malthus’s Long-Range Fire Control—each granting a 25% damage boost. Although that synergy was powerful during testing, treating Leap Assault as an area-of-effect skill stretched the game’s logic. The correction is technically a nerf to Asuka but aligns with the intended mechanics.

Regarding the EVA crossover, players have expressed skepticism about the actual content volume. While the campaign spans six chapters and each mission lasts about ten to fifteen minutes, claims that this event offers 2.5x to 3x the content of previous updates seem exaggerated. Crickex Affiliate suggests waiting for the remainder of the content rollout to assess its true scope.

One interesting highlight is the spotlight on the character Ophelia. Not only does she feature prominently in the storyline, but her full-body art was used as the login screen for the White Heat Prelude event. In the new content, she appears capable of summoning drone units, hinting at future strategic depth. Although it’s unclear if her role warrants the level of exposure seen in the game’s new icon—split half-and-half with her image—it’s clear the developers are positioning her for greater importance.

For now, Crickex Affiliate believes Irene’s changes are a step forward in balance, while the Asuka nerf and Ophelia’s expanded role leave plenty for players to reflect on. As always, the charm lies not just in the mechanics but in the characters who bring the battlefield to life.