The Once Human development team announced a major change to Deviations arriving with the December 23 (PT) update: a new Combat Deviation Skill System that gives synced Deviations two active abilities – a Battle Skill and an Ultimate – to expand tactical options in combat.
Metas who sync with a Deviation will now get a Battle Skill they can use on cooldown and an Ultimate that consumes Deviation power when activated. Battle Skills are short, varied abilities tied to each Deviation, while Ultimates are expanded from current summoning mechanics into richer, more interactive tools. Some Ultimates attach to the player, some act as mobile cover, others deal heavy damage, and some even turn the Deviation into a weapon.
Examples from the preview include the Zapamander sprinting in a lightning-fast state and By-the-Wind creating a one-way wind wall that blocks bullets. The dev blog also shows Mitsuko granting sustained auto-tracking attacks, Mini Wonder forming a black hole that pulls enemies inward, and Pyro Dino becoming a controllable Pyro Cannon.
Controls and keybinding changes
Ultimates will support multiple control modes. Players can keep the current in-game wheel mode (tap to deploy or recall, hold to open the wheel for alternate actions) or switch to a tap-to-deploy mode where tapping again during deployment enters mind control and holding recalls the Deviation.
The devs also adjusted related keybindings: the emoji wheel no longer has a dedicated default key and can be reached through the universal wheel instead. The announcement includes control diagrams for both keyboard and controller layouts.
Switching Deviations and scenario notes
One practical change players will like: after the update Metas can equip and switch deployed Deviations directly from the gear backpack as well as the secure pod. Switching clears Deviation Power and resets Battle Skill cooldowns, and these changes apply to most scenarios except “Deviation: Survive, Capture, Preserve.” The team warns that some Deviation skills may behave differently in RaidZone mode and that in-game effects take precedence.
The dev blog closes with a brief preview of broader combat overhauls the team is working on, including updates to equipment crafting, Cradle control, Stellar Stairway, and blueprints. For background on the rollout rhythm and recent patches, see our 2.2.1 coverage.
The new Deviation system looks set to change how players build rotations and approach fights, and the dev team says more details will come in future blogs.
Follow coverage on X, Bluesky, YouTube, and Instagram.
Once Human
Developed by Starry Studio
Once Human is a multiplayer open-world survival game set in a strange, post-apocalyptic future. Unite with friends to fight monstrous enemies, uncover secret plots, compete for resources, and build your own territory. Once, you were merely human. Now, you have the power to remake the world.
- Genre: Shooter, Role-playing (RPG), Strategy, Adventure
- Platforms: Android, PC (Microsoft Windows), iOS
- Modes: Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative, Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO)
- Release: 2024-07-09
- Publisher: Starry Studio
-
Age Rating:
ESRB T
- IGDB Rating: 65.4/100
