Arena Battle Timer & CC Abuse

[spice hollow]

Hello, I’d like to report an issue regarding the Arena system. Each round allows 30 seconds of playtime, but some players abuse this by creating permanent CC teams that stall for the entire duration. This results in an unfair experience, as the outcome doesn’t truly reflect actual gameplay.

You can review my Fair Arena Finals, Match 3, as an example of this issue.

[somber wigeon]

Control is one of the 3 archetypes. This is a draft issue

[sacred ledge]

You dont seem to understand what he means ...

He doesn't lose because he dies, the game end the match because it's too long (time based not turn based) and his opponent keep having turns but let the timer run out

It's not draft issue it's abusing a faulty system

[somber wigeon]

Time limits are a good thing, and necessary in a tournament like fearless. CC loses to cleave. If you draft the right team, it's the easiest match

Look at the team he posted. They get destroyed by mass, yeli, Rosa, prob even mocha

[spice hollow]

Just to clarify, my intention was not to discuss drafting or team composition. I’m reporting this because the current system allows players to stall matches by abusing permanent CC, and the result is decided by the timer rather than actual gameplay. For example, it goes like this: 30 seconds Doki, 30 seconds Obol, 30 seconds Kazuyo, 30 seconds Cachi — and then the same thing repeats in the next round until the timer runs out, and I end up losing the match. That feels more like a system flaw than a drafting issue. I only wanted to provide feedback so this unfair interaction can be reviewed.

[somber wigeon]

I get you, I'm just pointing out that's a valid strategy that's a part of the game, and you can easily beat a team like that by drafting correctly against it

In fearless, there has to be time limits on matches so people don't have to spend an absurd amount of time waiting for their next match. CC teams aren't the meta choice because they're very easily countered, but they are hard to beat if you don't draft a good team to counter them

[shadow lagoon]

even in tank vs tank or tank vs cc people are abusing the clock in the fearless arena that's a fact. An easy fix would be to increase the speed of the etherena effect

[somber wigeon]

It's all just PVP design issues. Healing is way too strong, and damage is too high so everyone runs bb on almost every single unit

If they ever release the balance changes they said they would, maybe we'll get decent PVP. All PVP modes in this game are just broken right now

[mighty pulsar]

honestly, i think a time bank system ala chess or something like decreasing the time they have to choose their options if they keep deliberately waiting until the last possible second could be solutions.

[somber wigeon]

Yea that's not a bad idea. It'd take some careful design bc you getting more time could add up to 10 min+, which would make fearless miserable if you're stuck waiting on people to finish

A bank would be good if you just lose if you run out of time before your opponent. Though that might kill CC as a strategy as you might not be able to wipe the team before your time runs out. That style is totally about controlling and doing very small amounts of damage

To me, this is just part of the game, and it's something else to think about when drafting and building units

[spice hollow]

That's the best idea i ever seen

[spice hollow]

The main issue with time abuse in Arena is that each character has 30s per turn and total time is ~10min(for example idk the exact total time rn). Players cast strong CC, wait the full 30s, and repeat, which gives them the highest damage and wins. A potential solution could be: limit maximum turn time and gradually reduce it if players keep waiting, implement a total time bank for each player, and perform automatic actions if time runs out. CC stays strong, but deliberate stalling is prevented, keeping the meta balanced.

[raven whale]

on fearless is max 5 min

[tranquil bough]

If time runs out the player that dealt the most damage should win instead of just having highest health

[somber wigeon]

It's just another strat for that mode. Draft some cleave units and the matches will be short. If you draft bruiser yea it's always going to lose

[unique carbon]

It's secretly at least 10 min though if both players are stallers, cause don't forget that each player can take 30 seconds per pick in the draft