Test Features are major and minor features that are undergoing development and are currently being considered for addition to Brawlhalla. Most of Brawlhalla's new features are first added through the test features option, such as Dashing, Chase Dodges, the Cannon rework, and visual effect improvements. Once a feature is added to test features, it is improved upon until the feature either graduates to the main game or is removed from Brawlhalla entirely.
There are two ways to access test features:
- Enable test features in the settings of custom or local lobbies.
- Queue for Experimental 1v1, where test features are always enabled
Current Test Features
The following are features that are currently available in test features and being considered for the main game:
- Handicap Settings - Per player settings to strengthen or weaken players, including their lives, damage dealt, and damage taken (available in Custom and Offline lobbies).
- Modified Weapon Spawns - Weapons now spawn lower to the ground and closer to the center of the map.
Affects the following maps: Twilight Grove, Small Kings Pass, Small Thundergard Stadium, Small Blackguard Keep, Small Mammoth Fortress, Small Great Hall, Small Fangwild, Plains of Passage, Small Galvan Prime, Crystal Temple, Shipwreck Falls, and Small Turtles’ Lair. - Post-Hitstun Dodge Consistency - For 4 frames after getting out of hitstun, any attempt to dash will cause a dodge instead (previously, this could be bypassed by holding diagonally). This is to prevent getting out of combos through dashing.
- [Undocumented] Global Signature Cooldown Changes - Hitting a non-projectile signature will no longer activate the 10 frame signature cooldown.
- Hold to Dodge - While stunned, holding the dodge button will cause a dodge to be inputted at the earliest frame out of hitstun.
- New Sentinel Hammer Side Signature - The signature now has a charge variation, that does a second swing.
- Perfect Dodge - Dodges that are performed on the first frame out of stun have their cooldown reduced by 20 frames. Because of buffer, this is a 4 frame window. Players are prevented from doing Perfect Dodges while using Hold to Dodge or while mashing dodge (two dodge inputs in a 30 frame window). A succesful Perfect Dodge is indicated by the legend flashing blue.
- New Crumbled Chasm map - The smallest map ever added to the game. This map is not marked as a test map, so it is not affected by test features being on or off. Instead, it is part of the Experimental 1v1 map pool.
Removed Test Features
Not all features graduate from test features into the main game, with some being removed and never returning to test features. The following are notable features that were removed after being tested:
- Dash Deflect - If a player dashes into a weapon or gadget throw, the item will be deflected upwards and not damage or stun the player.
- Double Gravity Cancel - A second gravity cancelled attack can be performed given the second attack is not the same as the first. This was added to simplify a bug that allowed double gravity cancels, but was removed as few weapons or Legends benefited from the change.
- Signature Jumping - The player can jump while charging a Signature to perform an aerial Signature attack.
- Stale Move Negation - Damage and force are reduced based on how many of the last six attacks that hit were the same as the one being used. Hitting with a weapon (including unarmed) that was not used in the last six attacks also grants a slight damage/force bonus.
- Jumping off a wall being treated as your first aerial jump (resulting in one less potential jump when on walls).
- Invulnerability during the startup frames of a Dodge Cancelled attack.