Once Human 2.2.4 Update: New Player Experience, Combat Deviations, and More

The long-awaited Version 2.2.4 update for Once Human went live on December 23, 2025, after a brief maintenance. Players who logged in after the update were greeted with a generous care package: 1,000 Starchrom, 100 Mitsuko's Marks, 300 Starwish Tokens, a Butterfly Dye, and two Wish Strike Tickets. The Butterfly Dye allows everyone to test the newly optimized hair coloring system, and it's now also available for exchange with Colorful Badges. So, what else does this massive update bring? Let's break it down.

A Fresh Start: Revamped New Player Experience

If you've been living under a rock, Once Human has completely redesigned its new player tutorial. After months of confidential and live beta tests, the revamped experience is now official. New characters created after the update will dive straight into a mysterious and captivating journey through Nalcott. The story begins with a seemingly ordinary bus ride that quickly turns chaotic: the bus morphs into a many-legged Biomechanical monster, passengers reveal themselves as Deviants, and you awaken as a Meta-Human guided by the enigmatic girl Mitsuko. Your mission? Dispel the distortions brought by calamitous beasts and save worlds on the brink of collapse.

Veteran players aren't left out. Those with existing non-beginner characters can skip the tutorial and create new characters immediately. Characters still stuck in the old tutorial will transition to the new one. Completing the revamped experience rewards the Rare (blue-grade) Fashion "Distant Memory," which veterans can claim directly via mail. Additionally, V's visual design has been refreshed.

Combat Deviation Skill System: A Game-Changer

The update introduces a brand-new Combat Deviation Skill System that revitalizes every Deviation. Upon synchronizing with a Combat Deviation, you unlock two active skills: a Battle Skill and an Ultimate. This enriches combat rotations and expands tactical options. Controls are straightforward: on PC, press E for Battle Skill and X for Ultimate; on mobile, tap the respective pins; on controller, use LB+X and LB+Y. You can switch active Deviations directly from the Secure Pod or the Gear Backpack interface, though switching resets Deviant Power and puts Battle Skills on cooldown.

Server Merge Pre-Selection: Team Up Easily

The new [Permanent Server Merge Pre-Selection] feature is now live, ensuring seamless coordination with friends and Hive members. You can pre-select a permanent server individually or as a Hive (initiated by the Hive leader). After pre-selection, your spot is reserved for 14 days; log in within that period to keep it. If you don't pre-select, you'll be auto-assigned to a server with the most capacity. Note that you can only pre-select a permanent server of the same scenario type as your current server.

Festive Events: Starwish Parcel Station & Lucky Bazaar

The holiday season is in full swing with two new events. The Wish Tree has been decorated, and the [Starwish Parcel Station] event lets you pack gifts for others. Visit the event island, interact with the Christmas tree, and select up to 8 non-bound items from your backpack to gift. In return, you'll receive a random gift from another Meta plus 3 Wish Strike tickets. Exchange opportunities refresh daily, so don't miss out.

Meanwhile, the new mall feature [Lucky Bazaar] offers daily discounts. Mr. Wish sets up a bazaar stall with three types of discounted items: exclusive furniture formulas (up to 40% off), festival-themed cosmetics (up to 70% off), and common items from a year ago (up to 70% off). The prize pool refreshes daily at 6:00 server time, and you can earn extra refresh chances by purchasing items.

Lightforge Loot Crate: Aureate Gala

The [Aureate Gala] Lightforge Loot Crate arrives with a treasure trove of cosmetics. Featured items include the Legendary territory material pack "Windspeak Realm," the Legendary Fashion Set "Stellar Elite," the Legendary weapon skin "Stellar Ovation - KAM," and the Hype-tier Duo Action "Snowy Waltz." Lightforge Canvas Customized Dyeing also debuts, with special bundle discounts for the Stellar Elite sets.

RaidZone Overhaul: Back to Survival Basics

The update brings a comprehensive overhaul of RaidZone's tech, crafting, and resources. Memetic tabs are reclassified into Construction, Combat, and Survival. Many basic items (nail gun, bronze pickaxe, steel ingot, etc.) are now unlocked by default. A new Reverse-Engineering feature lets you learn formulas by consuming finished items and RaidZone chips. Material adjustments include the removal of copper ore and the addition of Sulfur Crystal and Waterproof Plastic. Stack sizes for all materials have been reduced, making survival more challenging and rewarding.

Weapon Balance and Other Optimizations

Several weapons have been tweaked for balance. The Recurve Bow's non-charged damage was reduced, while the Rustic Crossbow's unlock order changed. The Nail Gun got better initial spread, and the MPS5, Medium-Caliber R500, SKS, G17, S870, DB12 - Backfire, Compound Bow, PDW90, KAM, MG4, KVD, and RPG all received adjustments. Sniper rifles can now equip 2x and 3x scopes, and the default 4x scope for SN700 and AWS.338 - Black Panther was removed. Additionally, wooden crates in the wild now have a blue outline, and placed blueprints slowly restore durability.

Other notable changes include hair dye optimizations with a broader color spectrum, improved building logic (no more building above secure facilities), new navigation modes, and a custom server upgrade with over 140 customizable options. The Meta Pass now includes trial access to five popular Fashion items and exclusive mobile app pins.

Final Thoughts

Version 2.2.4 is a massive update that touches nearly every aspect of Once Human. Whether you're a new player experiencing the revamped tutorial or a veteran diving into the new Combat Deviation system, there's plenty to explore. The festive events add a seasonal cheer, and the RaidZone overhaul brings survival back to the forefront. So log in, claim your rewards, and embark on your next adventure in Nalcott!