The April 22nd patch dropped overnight and it is one of the biggest balance updates in months. Three fruits saw significant changes, one new mechanic was introduced, and the overall meta has shifted enough that you should reassess your current build.
What Changed in the April 2026 Patch
๐ฅ Dough โ Buffed Back to A-Tier
Dough's Z move hitbox has been increased by approximately 12% and the startup lag on its X move has been reduced by 0.3 seconds. This brings Dough back into serious A-tier PVP viability. Players who shelved Dough after the last patch should dust it off โ the change is noticeable immediately.
If you have an awakened Dough already, now is a great time to use it. The hitbox change makes combo extensions significantly more consistent.
๐ง Ice โ Nerfed, Still Viable
Ice's freeze duration in PVP was reduced from 2.5 seconds to 1.8 seconds. This is a meaningful nerf โ that 0.7 second window was the difference between a full combo and your opponent recovering. Ice drops from the top of A-tier but remains a solid B-tier pick for players who like the elemental playstyle.
If you were using Ice specifically for the freeze extension in PVP combos, you will need to adjust your combo timing or consider switching to Blizzard, which was not nerfed.
โ ๏ธ Venom โ Significant Buff
Venom is now genuinely scary. Poison pool damage increased by 15% in PVP and pool duration extended from 6 to 8 seconds. The Venom Demon form also received a hitbox improvement on its ground slam. Venom was already S-tier for PVE โ it is now a credible S-tier PVP threat as well.
๐ฆ Kitsune โ New Mythical, Confirmed S-Tier
Kitsune was added in patch 2.1.4 and is now the highest-value fruit in the game. Our AI has analyzed thousands of matches since the release and the verdict is clear: S-tier across both PVP and PVE. The spirit fox kit combines massive AoE with strong mobility and a devastating ultimate form.
Updated Tier List โ April 2026
Other Changes in This Patch
- โSea Beast spawning rate increased by 20% in Sea 3 โ better for Beli farming routes
- โCastle on the Sea Elite Pirate spawn timer reduced by 15 seconds
- โKen Haki V2 dodge window extended slightly โ PVP feels more responsive
- โSeveral bug fixes to Leopard's dash collision detection
- โNew cosmetic items added to the in-game store
What This Means for Your Build
If you were running Ice for PVP, consider switching to Blizzard or keeping Ice but adjusting your combo timing. If you have Venom, this is a great patch for you โ start using it in PVP more aggressively. Dough players: welcome back, your fruit is good again.
Check our updated Value List and Trade Calculator โ Venom's value has gone up post-patch. If you're holding Venom, now may be a good time to trade if you were planning to anyway, as values typically peak shortly after a buff announcement.