After a long wait, the Heroes Battlegrounds update finally introduced a major addition: Dabi Mastery Awakening, called Retribution. This update also brought a Deku passive rework and various cosmetic additions.
This guide explains everything new in simple terms so you can understand how the update affects gameplay.
Dabi Mastery Awakening — Retribution Overview
The biggest addition in the update is Dabi’s new awakening form, Retribution.
This awakening introduces:
- A completely new moveset
- A heat mechanic system
- New combo potential and finishers
It significantly improves Dabi’s overall combat performance.
Heat Mechanic — How It Works
The awakening revolves around a Heat Gauge.
As you fight and use abilities, heat builds up. Certain moves require a full or partially filled heat meter before they can be activated.
This system encourages aggressive play and sustained combat to unlock stronger attacks.
Awakening Moves Breakdown
Retribution introduces four main abilities.
Cluster Spark
This is a fast offensive move that deals strong burst damage. It can also function as a finisher under certain conditions.
It is useful for quick combos and initiating attacks.
Hellfire Bloom
This move fires projectiles that can be aimed manually, giving players control over range and targeting.
It also has a variant that allows multiple projectiles to be launched quickly for higher damage output.
Inferno Spider
This is a cinematic attack with very high damage potential. It is one of the strongest single-target abilities in the awakening moveset.
Because of its power, it is best used during key combo moments.
Hell Scorched Execution (Heat Move)
This is the ultimate heat-based ability.
It requires sufficient heat to activate and deals extremely high damage. It also has two variants:
- A single-target version for maximum burst damage
- A multi-target version for crowd control
When used correctly, it can potentially defeat opponents instantly.
New Passive Interaction
A new passive effect was added for landing finishers with certain base moves.
This passive enhances follow-up attacks and improves overall combat flow.
It encourages players to use finishing moves strategically rather than randomly.
Base Moveset Notes
Dabi’s original moves remain, including:
- Infernal Assault
- Hellshot
- Glacial Cinder
- Scorching Surge
These now integrate more smoothly into the awakening system.
Deku Mastery Changes
The update also introduced a significant rework to Deku’s passive ability.
The new passive provides dodge charges similar to an “auto-dodge” mechanic.
Key features:
- Three automatic dodges normally
- Five dodges during burst mode
This effectively allows Deku to avoid multiple incoming attacks without manual input.
Other Update Additions
The update also included several cosmetic and visual changes.
These include:
- 35 new cosmetics
- 33 new emotes
- Improved environment visuals in certain areas
These changes mainly enhance customization and presentation.
The new awakening makes Dabi significantly stronger in both duels and team fights.
The heat mechanic rewards aggressive playstyles, while high-damage finishers increase burst potential.
Deku’s passive rework improves survivability, making him harder to defeat in sustained fights.