Once Human May 13 Update Brings Power Surge, Bounce Arrows, and Sliding Gear

The post-apocalyptic world of Once Human is about to get a lot more chaotic in the best possible way. After the May 13 (PT) update, brand-new combat weapons and gear will arrive on all scenario servers, though RaidZones will be handled separately with a dedicated announcement later. The development team has promised that the new tools will give every Meta fresh challenges and simple joy. From erratic electric orbs to bouncing arrows and a roll that becomes a slide, there is a lot to dig into.

⚡ Power Surge: Electric Mayhem

One of the standout additions revolves around Power Surge. Attacks now have a chance to trigger this effect, but the real trick is in how the magnetic field works. After a player reloads, the first weapon hit creates a spherical magnetic field at the target’s location. If Power Surge is applied to a unit inside that field, it spawns an Electric Orb that moves around erratically. These orbs are not just for show. When an Electric Orb hits a target, it rebounds and deals additional Shock Status DMG. On top of that, Shock Status DMG is increased overall, making electric-focused builds much more dangerous.

Players who enjoy area control will likely love this. Instead of relying purely on direct damage, the Power Surge setup encourages them to position the magnetic field well and let the Electric Orbs create secondary pressure. It is a high-tempo mechanic that rewards reload timing and target selection.

🏹 Bounce Bows and Echo Stacks

The new bow tech is equally interesting. Attacks with this weapon are guaranteed to trigger Bounce, and the more Bounce targets there are, the greater the number of bounces. That alone makes it a strong choice for groups of enemies. But the bow goes further. Reload Speed is increased, and every time Bounce hits a target, it applies one stack of Echo. Once fully stacked, the target is visually highlighted, which makes it easy for players to track high-value threats.

When the bow is fully charged, Bounce damage and Crit Rate are increased. Then, when Bounce hits a target, it deals additional Bounce DMG equal to the number of Echo stacks on that target multiplied by a fixed factor. There is a cooldown for triggering this on the same target, and after the effect triggers, a certain number of Echo stacks are removed. This creates a satisfying loop: build stacks, highlight the enemy, then cash out for bonus damage before the stacks drop off.

There is also a clever fallback for single-target situations. If there are no other Bounce targets around after an arrow makes a direct hit, the number of bounces is increased. That means the bow does not become useless when players are facing a lone boss or elite. It simply changes how the damage is distributed, keeping the weapon flexible in both crowd control and focused fire.

🛝 Slide Gear: Movement That Matters

The new gear changes the standard roll into a slide. After sliding, players gain increased Reload Speed and Movement Speed for a duration. That is already useful for keeping pressure on enemies while repositioning. But the real bonus comes for bow users. If a player is wielding a bow, sliding automatically loads one ammo and increases bow draw speed for a duration. This turns movement into an active part of the combat loop rather than just a defensive escape.

For aggressive players, this gear encourages a more fluid style. Instead of waiting behind cover to reload, they can slide into a better angle, get a free arrow, and keep firing. The movement speed bonus also helps them kite tougher enemies or rotate during chaotic fights.

🌪️ Magnetic Pull and Crowd Control

Power Surge also comes with a strong control effect. Units inflicted with Power Surge will continuously pull enemies within a certain range toward them. This can set up devastating combos, especially when combined with Electric Orbs or Bounce arrows. A player can mark one enemy with Power Surge, watch nearby enemies get dragged in, and then let the bouncing or electric damage hit multiple targets at once.

This kind of synergy is what makes the update feel so cohesive. The new weapons and gear are not just isolated stat boosts. They interact with each other in ways that reward creative play. A bow user who slides to reload can then trigger Bounce, build Echo stacks, and use Power Surge to group enemies together for even more ricochets. It is a loop that feels active and responsive.

📋 Quick Overview

That covers the major additions revealed so far. Since RaidZones will receive their own weapon and gear details later, players still have more to look forward to. For now, the May 13 update is shaping up to be a big one for anyone who enjoys fast movement, electric crowd control, or bow-focused builds. The new mechanics should give Metas plenty of reasons to experiment with different loadouts and find a style that feels both challenging and fun.

Once Human Development Team