update · September 24, 2025
Hunt: Showdown 1896 Update 2.5 Deploys Tarot Cards and Web of the Empress
Update 2.5 brings Bileweavers, single-use Tarot Cards, and a complete lobby overhaul to Hunt: Showdown 1896.
Hunt: Showdown 1896 Update 2.5 launches alongside the Web of the Empress live event, introducing new spider-like threats, map adjustments, and consumable Tarot Cards that drastically alter match conditions. The update also completely overhauls the game's lobby structure and progression screens.
Bileweavers and In-Mission Dangers
The Corruption brings Bileweavers to the bayou, spawning from massive web-covered nests in the new 17th Compound. While individual spiders are fragile, they attack in packs. The update also introduces the Powder Keg, a deployable barrel that acts like a small red barrel and detonates instantly upon taking fire damage.
Tarot Card Consumables
Twelve single-use Tarot Cards now spawn in Bileweaver nests and web-covered locations, offering powerful effects with potential drawbacks. The World reveals boss targets, The Tower clears monsters while setting your hunter on fire, and The Chariot swaps locked and unlocked extraction points across the map.
Weapon Balancing and Melee Adjustments
Melee reach has been increased across dedicated melee tools and weapons, with improved horizontal hit detection. In-world weapons can now be thrown by default without needing the Assailant Trait. Meanwhile, the Mako rifle features reduced vertical recoil, and the Vetterli Cyclone has a 10% lower muzzle velocity alongside a slower reload.
Lobby Rework and Trio Matchmaking
The home screen has been removed in favor of a streamlined Lobby that houses all game modes and active stats in one place. Duos can now queue for a random third teammate in trios, and cosmetic rarities have been simplified into Legendary and Mythic tiers.
Why this patch matters
Update 2.5 shakes up the bayou meta with high-risk Tarot consumables and fresh map objectives while heavily modernizing the game's UI and matchmaking options.