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Arms 3.1 Update Goes Esports with Sparring Ring Stage

Those looking to play Arms competitively will get a new stage just for them with Arms' new 3.1 update.

Ozzie Mejia

September 28, 2017 9:20 PM

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Arms graced Nintendo Switch systems just a short three months ago and has been testing the esports waters for even less time than that. For those looking to compete in or run esports tournaments, Arms just an enticing new addition with Thursday's 3.1 update in the form of a new stage.

The Sparring Ring is a no-frills stage, used in the Warm-Up minigame. It is now a full-fledged stage, selectable in Ranked Match, as well as in local play. It's lack of gimmicks will definitely make it a tournament favorite. Think of it like Arms' version of "Final Destination" in Super Smash Bros.

Other changes include some balance tweaks for the fighters and the various Arms sets, including:

Ninjara

• After getting some advice from a Ninja College alum, distance traveled when performing a mid-air mist warp has increased.

Sparky

• Increased retraction speed.

Megawatt

• Increased extension speed.

Slamamander

• Increased extension speed.
• Decreased retraction speed.

Biffler

• Increased retraction speed.

Blorb

• Increased retraction speed.
• Adjusted how damage multipliers for Rush attacks function. Total damage when connecting with all hits is unchanged.

Funchuk

• Increased the time span from exceeding a target until retraction.
• Adjusted how damage multipliers for Rush attacks function. Total damage when connecting with all hits is unchanged.
• Fixed issue during online play when Rush damage would increase under certain conditions.
• Fixed an issue where at times an opponent’s throw could be deflected with a successfully completing throw attack.

Clapback

• Decreased Rush attack damage.

Chilla

• Decreased curving.

Phoenix Thunderbird

• Decreased homing.

Nade Tribolt Chakram

• Decreased speed of charge attacks.

All of this and the rest of the Arms 3.1 patch notes can be found on the Nintendo support website.

Ozzie Mejia

Senior Editor

Ozzie has been playing video games since picking up his first NES controller at age 5. He has been into games ever since, only briefly stepping away during his college years. But he was pulled back in after spending years in QA circles for both THQ and Activision, mostly spending time helping to push forward the Guitar Hero series at its peak. Ozzie has become a big fan of platformers, puzzle games, shooters, and RPGs, just to name a few genres, but he’s also a huge sucker for anything with a good, compelling narrative behind it. Because what are video games if you can't enjoy a good story with a fresh Cherry Coke?