Every new Free Fire update brings significant changes, but the OB50 update seems to be taking a bold turn. In the past, character abilities were adjusted mainly for balance, either because they were too overpowered or disrupted gameplay. However, with OB50, many changes seem arbitrary, targeting even those characters that were never overpowered in the first place.
According to the Advance Server, OB50 includes ability changes for six to seven characters, and not all of them make sense. Along with these adjustments, a new female character is being introduced, whose ability could potentially unbalance the game even more.
Let’s take a closer look at what’s really changing and how it might affect your gameplay.
Are Character Ability Changes Still for Balance?
Earlier, ability changes used to be well-thought-out. But lately, it feels like Garena is just nerfing characters simply because too many players are using them. Instead of focusing on actual game balance, it seems like decisions are based more on popularity than performance. That’s why some characters that aren’t even overpowered are getting nerfed, raising questions about the update strategy.
Santino: Nerf Mentioned, But No Real Change
In the Advance Server, Santino’s ability was marked as nerfed. But upon checking in-game, both the old and new versions of his abilities appeared identical. The ability stats didn’t change even after checking multiple times. This could be a glitch since the Advance Server often contains bugs, but it also leaves room for a last-minute surprise. It’s possible that the final version may include small adjustments like reduced HP or increased cooldown.
Kairos: EP Drain Doubled
Kairos has received a straightforward nerf. Previously, when using his ability in Breaker Mode, it consumed 10 EP per second after damaging an enemy. Now, that has been increased to 20 EP per second, meaning your EP will deplete twice as fast. While this may improve skill-based gameplay, one could question whether such a drastic change was truly necessary.
Sonia: Shield Effect Reduced to Nearly Nothing
Sonia’s ability has been weakened significantly. Before, when she entered her immobilized state, she would receive a 50 HP shield, helping her survive a final blow. Now, that shield has been reduced to just 1 HP for 2 seconds. In simple terms, the only real use of her ability now is to buy just enough time to activate another character’s skill like Dimitri. She no longer provides any substantial damage resistance.
Nairi: Gloo Wall Buff Duration Halved
Nairi’s ability, which allowed HP recovery and Gloo Wall durability restoration for 2 seconds, has now been reduced to just 1 second. So instead of recovering 20 HP per Gloo Wall, you’ll now only get 10 HP. This drastically reduces Nairi’s usefulness in fast-paced battles where every second and every bit of HP matters.
Alvaro: Buffed or Nerfed? Garena Seems Confused
Alvaro is a confusing case. Initially, his ability was shown as buffed in the Advance Server, increasing explosive weapon damage from 20% to 25%. But just a day later, this change was reverted. Whether Garena will push this buff in the final release or stick to the original stats remains unclear. What’s certain is that his ability is under review and may change either way.
Laura: More Accurate Than Ever
Laura receives a useful buff in OB50. When scoped in and firing, her accuracy will now increase by 60% instead of 50%. This is great news for players who prefer precision shooting in long-range combat. Unlike Paloma, who requires you to destroy a Gloo Wall to trigger her bonus, Laura’s ability works simply with scoped fire, making her more efficient and reliable.
New Character – Rin: A Passive Ability That Can Break the Meta
OB50 also introduces a brand new female character named Rin, and she’s set to shake things up. Rin is a passive character whose ability revolves around summoning Kunai (daggers):
- Every 10 seconds, she automatically generates a Kunai (up to 3 stored at once).
- When you deal damage with your gun, the enemy (or their Gloo Wall) also takes extra damage from the stored Kunai.
- The further away the enemy is, the more bonus damage is applied.
- A single Kunai can deal up to 12 bonus damage. With 3 Kunai, that’s an extra 36 damage, without any extra input from the player.
This kind of passive ability could change the current meta entirely, especially in long-range fights, and could once again lead to imbalance in ranked gameplay.
Gun Changes in OB50
Alongside character changes, OB50 also brings several updates to weapons:
- VSK94 Sniper will now support Auto Aim.
- A new gun is being added, possibly a hybrid between sniper and shotgun.
- Drop guns and MP40 will now be upgradeable using Chips.
- Guns like Scar and M10 will now upgrade based on the damage you deal, giving an advantage to players with premium gun skins.
This clearly benefits players who already own gun skins, while others may feel left behind unless they upgrade too.
Final Thoughts
The OB50 update feels like a mixed bag. While some changes genuinely improve gameplay balance, others seem arbitrary or even unnecessary. Popular characters are being nerfed regardless of their actual power level, and the introduction of a powerful new character like Rin might unbalance things further.
If you’re a serious Free Fire player, now is the time to rethink your character combinations and strategy. This update will test your adaptability and could reshape how ranked and squad matches are played.
