update · August 20, 2026
THE FINALS Update 11.6.0 Buffs Melee Weapons and Adjusts Engine Performance
THE FINALS Update 11.6.0 introduces major balance passes for melee options like the Dagger and Spear, tweaks numerous weapons and specializations, and upgrades the game to Unreal Engine 5.7. The patch also rolls out the Orbital Hitters limited-time mode and a new event wheel.
Update 11.6.0 for THE FINALS hits the arena with a hefty slate of weapon adjustments, specialization tweaks, and an engine upgrade to Unreal Engine 5.7. Alongside the new Orbital Hitters space brawling mode and Deep Signal event, developers at Embark Studios have targeted underperforming melee choices and fine-tuned gunplay across the board.
Melee Weapon Buffs
Melee loadouts receive substantial attention to make closing distance more reliable. The Dagger gets base and precise hit damage increases for primary and secondary attacks, alongside extended lunge durations. The Spear sees a 60% larger damage sweep box, a 50% faster lunge speed, and an increased lunge distance of 6.5m. The Riot Shield's primary attack damage rises to 60 for base hits and 86 for precise hits, while its shield bash damage climbs to 50. Dual Blades gain a wider precision zone angle of 12 degrees on primary strikes to prevent missed precision hits on follow-ups.
Gunplay and Gadget Adjustments
Ranged weapons see targeted adjustments to rein in outliers or lift lagging options. The AKM damage increases from 20 to 21 to better align with the FAMAS and FCAR. The ARN-220 gains faster fire rate at 750 RPM and quicker reloads. The Cerberus 12GA increases pellet damage to 9, offsetting recent quick melee nerfs. Conversely, the M11 receives heavy recoil and dispersion penalties to curb its performance outside its intended close-quarters range, and the KS-23 suffers reduced damage falloff and shorter effective range. The Lockbolt reload animation duration drops to 1.75s for smoother handling.
Specialization Rebalances
Medium specializations receive cooldown and responsiveness buffs. The Dematerializer cooldown drops to 15 seconds per charge and its raise time is removed entirely, bringing it back into the meta conversation. Evasive Dash cooldown decreases to 6 seconds per charge. The Guardian Turret activates faster at 3 seconds, gains 300 health, and drops its remote retrieval cooldown to 10 seconds.
Engine Upgrade and Technical Fixes
The game shifts from Unreal Engine 5.3 to Unreal Engine 5.7, bringing underlying technical improvements. Matchmaking party invites can now be sent and accepted simultaneously. Anti-cheat software received a fix to automatically reverse false bans issued to gyro controller players, and a driver conflict message tied to Windows update KB5121003 is addressed with guidance for players.
Why this patch matters
Update 11.6.0 provides meaningful quality-of-life adjustments for melee mains and precise tuning for dominant SMGs, backed by a foundational engine upgrade that sets the stage for future performance stability.