Patch 1.0.3 targets the “one-shot Michael” melee meta: high-stat civilian melee is weaker (low-stat stronger), Heavyweight and Drunk bonuses are reduced, Michael has more damage resistance at every Bloodthirst level, and after being downed he gets a temporary buff — stagger immunity plus more damage resistance, melee damage, attack speed, health regen and daze resistance. Wood Axes and Pick-Axes hit slower and softer, heavy weapons, rifles and shotguns spawn less often, but shotguns do more damage up close.
Official 1.0.3 patch notes, cross-checked against the SteamDB mirror and MP1st · no exact values published. References and scope below.Note: balance was later changed in Patch 1.2.0
This page covers Patch 1.0.3 (September 22, 2026). Several areas were tuned again — Michael’s group-fight buff, Dazed, perk values and target discovery were all later changed in Patch 1.2.0 on October 27.
Civilian melee
Per IllFonic — Patch Notes 1.0.3 ↗: melee damage from the melee stat was lowered at high values and raised at low values; the Heavyweight trait now grants less melee damage and less Fear Resistance; the melee damage boost while Drunk is reduced; and Michael’s damage resistance is increased across all Bloodthirst levels. The notes frame this as addressing easy one-shot downs on Michael. MP1st — Version 1.0.3 / console Update 1.011 patch notes ↗
Michael after being knocked down
When Michael recovers from being downed he now gets a temporary buff: stagger immunity, plus increased damage resistance, melee damage, melee attack speed, health regeneration and daze resistance. No durations or percentages are published. This is the “harder to stagger after consecutive knockdowns” direction from the IllFonic — What’s Coming Next ↗, now shipped. For teams going for detention, the window after a knockdown matters more — see how to arrest Michael.
Weapons and spawns
- Wood Axe and Pick-Axe: combo attack speed and damage reduced.
- Fewer heavy melee weapons, Rifles and Shotguns spawn across all maps.
- Shotgun damage at close range increased.
- Melee weapon durability lowered overall; civilian stagger cooldowns increased.
- Fix: the Wood Axe no longer loses durability abnormally fast.
Source: IllFonic — Patch Notes 1.0.3 ↗.
Grabs, Pocket Knives and speed
Failed grabs hit civilians with less impact force; breaking free is easier at lower Stalk Tiers; the Pocket Knife minigame is slightly harder. On movement, high-Athleticism civilians are slower (walk and sprint) and low-Athleticism civilians are faster. Bugs fixed alongside: civilians being executed after appearing to break free, and losing the ability to move after escaping a grab. IllFonic — Patch Notes 1.0.3 ↗
Scoring
Special Target kills are worth less; saving or killing regular Residents is worth more. MP1st — Version 1.0.3 / console Update 1.011 patch notes ↗
What this likely means in matches
EDITORIAL, NOT A NEW FACT
Everything above is sourced; this box is our reading of it. The changes stack against coordinated melee rushes (often called “Bob squads”): fewer heavy weapons on the map, weaker top-end melee, and a Michael who is harder to chain-knock. Stealth, Resident saves and item play (Hourglass, Amulet) should matter relatively more. We have not measured any of this in-game.
Questions before you retry
Was Bob nerfed in 1.0.3?
No character is named. The changes hit what made melee squads strong: high melee-stat damage, the Heavyweight trait, Drunk bonuses, Wood Axes and Pick-Axes, and heavy weapon spawns.
Are shotguns weaker now?
They spawn less often, but close-range Shotgun damage was increased.
FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE
Sources & review notes
Reviewed September 10, 2026. This page summarizes the references below; it does not claim independent gameplay testing. Details may change with patches.
- IllFonic — Patch Notes 1.0.3 ↗Official patch notes · Sep 22, 2026
- SteamDB — Patch Notes 1.0.3 (mirror of the official Steam post) ↗Official patch notes, mirrored · Sep 22, 2026
- MP1st — Version 1.0.3 / console Update 1.011 patch notes ↗Press republication of official notes · Sep 22, 2026
- IllFonic — What’s Coming Next ↗Official roadmap update · Sep 17, 2026
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