This Azure Latch ULTRA SADIST + NEL Update is big in the way Azure Latch updates usually are. Not just new content, but the kind of patch that quietly shifts how matches actually play out once people adapt. Between Yo Hiori finally arriving, NEL Isagi getting reworked again, and a pile of balance tweaks across half the roster, the game doesn’t feel the same after this one.
Below is a full breakdown, written from a player perspective, not patch-note reading mode.
New Style: Yo Hiori (Quest)
Yo Hiori is introduced through a quest, not a straight unlock, and the kit is clearly designed around flexibility and reactions rather than raw dominance.
Hiori Kit Overview
- 4 Base Moves
- 1 Flow Move
- 5 Variants
- 1 Chemical Reaction
- 1 Special Interaction
This already tells you what kind of character he is. He’s not a press-buttons-and-win style. He’s built around chaining, timing, and reading the field. If you like styles that reward positioning and decision-making more than raw hitbox abuse, Hiori fits that lane perfectly.
Important note:
Earlier versions of the quest were bugged. That is now fixed.
Quest Fixes (Very Important)
- Portion 3 of Hiori’s Quest (NEL Isagi section) is now properly completable
- Direct Shot in Hiori’s quest now works
- Hiori quest NPC is now much easier to find
- Side quests are no longer infinite
- Infinite Flow bug fixed
If you dropped the quest earlier because it felt broken, it wasn’t you. It actually was broken.
NEL Isagi Rework (Again)
NEL Isagi keeps getting tuned because he sits right on the edge of being either oppressive or useless depending on numbers. This update nudges him toward consistency rather than raw burst.
What Changed
- Twin Gun Volley cutscene reworked
- On The Ball Flow cutscene reworked
- Added T Special: Special Senses
- Overtime awakening replaced with Off-the-Ball awakening
This is a philosophical change. Isagi is being pushed harder into awareness, positioning, and flow control rather than last-second hero ball.
Gameplay Tweaks
- Meta-Burst Point (Trap) hitbox is bigger and lingers longer
- Trap can no longer stop ground shots
- Feinting Neo Direct Shot now gives iframes to the next Neo Direct Shot (5 seconds)
- Counter distance after feint is reduced
- Rebirth On Ball variant no longer ends flow
- Rebirth cooldown increased
The big takeaway:
Isagi is smoother, more reliable, but less forgiving if you spam brainlessly.
Commentators Added
Yes, actual commentators.
During matches, you’ll now hear commentary reacting to what’s happening. It’s not game-changing, but it adds life to matches that previously felt quiet.
Current Commentators
- MaxGoneBed
- ChunkySeals
It’s mostly flavor, but it makes long matches feel less empty.
Quality of Life & Cosmetic Changes
This update also touches a lot of small but noticeable things.
New Additions
- New Shidou Overtime Awakening
- Don Lorenzo now has dub voice lines
- Changed Finest Clown MVP song
- Updated ball texture
- New emotes and MVPs
- New paid MVP: Brother
New Emotes
- Dare
- Pardon
- Night
- Clone
Nothing here breaks the game, but it all adds polish.
Balance Changes
This section is where the meta shifts.
Don Lorenzo
- Defensive Stance hitbox reduced
- Zombie Walk buffed heavily (faster wind-up, bigger hitbox, longer duration)
- Price Check now slows movement more instead of shot debuff
- Ace Eater stages now have clearer timing windows
- Defensive tools are stronger, but less brainless
Lorenzo players are rewarded for timing now, not just existing.
Isagi (Base)
- Volley hitbox slightly increased
- Flow timer technically reduced, but effectively unchanged
This is more about keeping him balanced with the new tools rather than nerfing him.
Aiku
- Faster Reflex Tackle
- Slightly less linger on Reflect Tackle
- Ultimate Defense hitbox increased
- Ultimate Defense can no longer trap ground shots
Aiku becomes more reactive and less cheesy.
Shidou
- Backheel Shot can now be volleyed
- Big Bang Drive hitbox heavily nerfed
- Backheel Autogoal no longer locked to overtime
Shidou is still dangerous, just not free anymore.
Chigiri
- Flow Steal now works like Aiku’s (proximity-based)
- Hard capped to 1 use
- Golden Zone miss recovery reduced
This is a clear attempt to stop Chigiri from snowballing uncontested.
Nagi
- More endlag on Ground Control into ZRT
- Air Control linger reduced
- Roulette Volley hitbox nerfed
- Fake Volley autogoal requirement increased (11v11 only)
Nagi still works, but sloppy play gets punished harder.
Kurona
- Fetch mark wears off after distance
- Flow activation hitbox increased
Small buffs, but they help consistency.
Kunigami
- Hero’s Instinct stun changed to knockback
- Victims gain brief iframes
- Justice Header On Ball buffed
- Off Ball Justice Header can’t be self-volleyed
- Demon’s Contract hitbox nerfed
This removes a lot of frustrating interactions while keeping him viable.
Kaiser, Rin, Sae
- Kaiser Lightning Strike cooldown increased
- Rin Crash Shot hitbox nerfed
- Sae Nutmeg Flow Steal works in air
- Magic Pass prediction limited to reflex mode
These are mostly tuning changes to stop extremes.
Bug Fixes
- Sae Autogoal no longer breaks AI goalkeeper
- Crash Shot movestacking fixed
- Servers bricking issue resolved
- Infinite Flow fixed
The game is noticeably more stable after this patch.
Codes
Current Working Codes
- ULTRASADIST
- HIORIUPDATE
- NELISAGIREVAMP
- stephex
- THEGAMEBREAKSONCEAGAIN – 12.5k cash
If you skip the codes, you’re just slowing yourself down for no reason.
This update isn’t about one broken style dominating everything. It’s about tightening the game across the board.
- Yo Hiori rewards smart play
- NEL Isagi feels cleaner, not stronger
- Defensive styles are more skill-based
- Cheese mechanics are slowly being trimmed
If you only skim patch notes, you’ll miss how much smoother matches actually feel now. This is one of those updates that matters more after ten games than after one.