Hello, Liam here.

This update is focused on Annie and Beowulf tuning.

VFX

A new effect has been added that appears when activating several defensive mechanics that are otherwise a bit hidden. The regular block effect will turn into a pink shield under the following conditions:

• You are performing what is known in the community as "absolute guard" (pushblock high, switch guard to low, or vice versa), and use it to protect yourself from a high or low hit.

• You jump a command grab and are hit with a "unblockable while rising" style attack (Magnetic Trap, A-Train, Excellabella, etc) shortly after, allowing you to block it when you normally can't.

• You activate high low unblockable protection and are protected from blocking the second hit without needing to switch your guard manually.

(... Please let me know if you see it appear unexpectedly!)

ANNIE

• Adjusted the presentation and visuals for Annie's "Sagan Beam" super. With this, all of Annie's visuals are complete.
  (... If you're enjoying Annie's over the top effects, make sure to send a huge thank you to @Persona for putting these amazing visual updates together!)

• Reduced recovery of North Knuckle (H) follow up slam slightly. Provided a small buffer into normals after to make heavy links not 1F timing on characters like Big Band and Double.
  (... Still requires her to be a bit closer to the corner to convert after on average, but shouldn't remove any of her previous corner routes which were more flexible.)

• Ground throw damage increased from 900 to 1300.

• Pillar of Creation second hit hitstop increased, and it now launches heavier characters higher
  (... She always has enough time to convert from anywhere even after using OTG now. For example, Meteor Strike → Pillar of Creation → Dash → Combo.)

• Reverted meter drain during Star Power to one bar every 10 seconds, instead of one bar every 7 seconds.
  (... The previous Star Power jHP meter drain increase does enough here without this.)

• Annie now keeps the majority of her momentum again after ending her Air Dash without cancelling it.

• Gravity Collapse (Star Power deactivation) damage increased from 1350 to 1600.

BEOWULF

• EX finishers activated from hype gained in the same combo (see previous patch notes) now deal 70% of their original damage, up from 50%.

(Build version 3.1.18)