Hey there, Slap Battles enthusiast! If you’re looking to master the latest and greatest addition to the glove roster, you’ve come to the right place. The November 14, 2025 update brought us the incredible Automaton glove, and I’m here to break down everything you need to know about this mechanical marvel. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or just starting your slap journey, this comprehensive guide will give you all the tools, strategies, and insider knowledge to dominate the arena with your new gear-powered arsenal.
| Feature | Details | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| New Glove | Automaton (64,500 slaps) | Game-changing mechanical abilities |
| Mastery Added | Stalker Mastery | Enhanced invisibility combat |
| Hitman Updates | Office expansion + Trophy displays | New progression system |
| Balance Changes | Leash, Joust, Riftshot nerfs | More competitive gameplay |
| New Codes | None available | Check back next update |
The latest Slap Battles update isn’t just about adding another glove to the collection – it’s a comprehensive overhaul that introduces new mechanics, progression systems, and balance changes that affect every aspect of gameplay. As someone who’s spent countless hours testing these new features, I can tell you that this update fundamentally changes how we approach both casual and competitive play.
Let’s dive deep into the main attraction – the Automaton glove. This mechanical masterpiece isn’t just another slap tool; it’s a complete gameplay system that rewards strategic thinking and resource management.
Basic Stats & Requirements:
What makes the Automaton glove truly special is its dual-resource ability system. Unlike most gloves that rely on simple cooldowns, Automaton uses two separate resources: gears and saws. Here’s how it works:
Resource Generation:
This resource system creates an interesting risk-reward dynamic. Do you go for safe slaps to build resources slowly, or do you play aggressively for kills to stockpile faster? I’ve found that the most successful Automaton players balance both approaches.
The Gearbug is your primary offensive tool, and mastering it is crucial for Automaton success.
Basic Gearbug:
Pro Tips for Gearbug Usage:
Gearbug Ultimate:
The Gearbug Ultimate is both an offensive tool and an escape mechanism. I’ve used it countless times to:
If Gearbug is about area control, Buzzsaw is your direct damage tool.
Basic Buzzsaw:
Strategic Buzzsaw Applications:
Buzzsaw Ultimate:
The Buzzsaw Ultimate is incredibly versatile. I’ve found it particularly effective for:
After extensive testing, here’s my honest assessment of the Automaton glove’s strengths and weaknesses:
Area Control Mastery: The Gearbugs can be spawned in quick succession, allowing for incredible area control. I’ve successfully locked down entire sections of the arena by strategically placing multiple Gearbugs, making it impossible for opponents to safely navigate.
High-Speed Projectiles: The Buzzsaw travels across the entire platform at high speed, catching players off guard. This is especially effective against slower gloves or players who aren’t paying attention to their surroundings.
Resource-Based Strategy: Unlike cooldown-based abilities, the resource system allows for strategic depth. You can choose to burst multiple abilities or space them out based on the situation.
Versatile Ultimate Abilities: Both ultimates serve multiple purposes – offense, defense, and mobility. This versatility makes Automaton adaptable to various playstyles and situations.
Speed Vulnerability: Speedrun and other fast gloves can easily outrun Gearbugs. If you’re up against players using these gloves, you’ll need to adjust your strategy and rely more on direct Buzzsaw attacks.
Flight Counter: Any glove that can fly can avoid Buzzsaws entirely. This includes gloves like Cloud, Jet, and others with flight capabilities. Against these opponents, focus on Gearbug placement and regular slaps.
Resource Management Pressure: The resource system, while strategic, creates pressure. If you mismanage your gears and saws, you can find yourself defenseless at crucial moments.
Learning Curve: Automaton has a steeper learning curve compared to simpler gloves. New users might struggle with resource management and ability timing initially.
The November update didn’t just bring us Automaton – it also introduced the highly anticipated Stalker mastery. As someone who’s put significant time into mastering this shadowy glove, I can tell you the mastery completely transforms how Stalker plays.
Earning the Stalker mastery isn’t for the faint of heart. Here’s what you need to accomplish:
Primary Objectives:
What Counts as an Ambush:
The Stalker mastery is more than just stat boosts – it fundamentally changes the glove’s identity.
Visual Transformation: Upon mastering Stalker, you transform into a cube creature with darkness oil inside and glowing eyes. This isn’t just cosmetic – it strikes fear into opponents who know what’s coming.
Enhanced Speed Boost: The mastery extends the speed boost duration when emerging from invisibility. What was previously a 3-second boost now lasts significantly longer, giving you more time to capitalize on your ambushes.
New E Ability – “Stalkin’ Time”: When the speed boost is available, you can activate the E ability to enter first-person mode with special stalking mechanics:
The Grab Mechanic: This is where the mastery truly shines. When you successfully grab a player:
Ambush Positioning:
Resource Management:
Team Play Considerations:
The update also brought significant changes to Hitman’s Basement, expanding the progression system and giving collectors more to strive for.
New Accessibility: The office can now be entered from behind the desk, making it more accessible for players who want to check their progress and display their achievements.
Eggler Teleport Relocation: The Eggdog (Eggler Teleport) has been moved into the office on a shelf. This centralization makes it easier to access teleports for future Hitman quests.
Future-Proofing: The office now displays teleports for future Hitman quests, indicating that more content is planned for this system.
For collectors and achievement hunters, the new trophy system is a game-changer.
Trophy Unlocking: Players who collect Hitman-related badges now unlock Display Trophies inside the office. There are 9 trophies total, each representing different achievements and milestones.
Visual Customization: The trophies allow you to decorate the office based on your achievements, creating a personalized space that showcases your dedication to the Hitman progression line.
Progression Tracking: The trophy system serves as a visual progress tracker, letting you see at a glance which Hitman-related achievements you’ve completed and which ones still need work.
No major update would be complete without balance changes, and this one brings several significant adjustments that affect the competitive meta.
Leash has been toned down to make it less dominant in competitive play:
These changes make Leash more balanced and less frustrating to play against, while still maintaining its strategic value.
Joust received several nerfs to bring it in line with other gloves:
Riftshot saw changes to its teleportation mechanics:
Several existing masteries received adjustments:
Ready to add this mechanical marvel to your collection? Here’s exactly what you need to do:
The Automaton glove requires 64,500 slaps to unlock. Here are the most efficient methods I’ve found:
Best Gloves for Slap Farming:
Optimal Farming Strategies:
Before you even unlock Automaton, start practicing resource management:
This might seem obvious, but it’s crucial:
Once you’ve unlocked the Automaton glove, it’s time to master it. Here are the advanced strategies I’ve developed through extensive playtesting.
The 2:1 Rule: Maintain a 2:1 ratio of gears to saws for balanced offense. This gives you flexibility in both Gearbug and Buzzsaw usage.
Burst vs. Sustained:
Resource Banking: Always keep at least 5 gears and 5 saws in reserve for emergency situations. You never know when you’ll need a quick escape or damage burst.
High Ground Advantage: Use the Gearbug ultimate to gain high ground positioning. This gives you better visibility and makes it harder for opponents to reach you.
Choke Point Control: Identify and control map choke points with Gearbugs. Areas like bridges, narrow paths, and spawn points are perfect for this.
Escape Routes: Always have an escape route planned. The Buzzsaw ultimate can serve as both an offensive tool and a quick getaway mechanism.
1v1 Situations:
Team Fights:
Edge Guarding:
Even experienced players can fall into bad habits with Automaton. Here are the mistakes I see most often and how to avoid them.
Overextending: Don’t use all your resources at once. I’ve seen countless players blow their entire load only to be defenseless when counter-attacked.
Underutilizing Ultimates: Some players save their ultimates for too long, missing opportunities to use them effectively. Don’t be afraid to use them when the situation calls for it.
Poor Priority Targeting: Focus your resources on high-value targets rather than spreading them thin across multiple opponents.
Predictable Movement: Don’t become predictable with your positioning. Vary your locations and movement patterns to keep opponents guessing.
Poor Escape Planning: Always have an escape route. The Automaton glove’s ultimates are great for this, but you need to plan ahead.
Overcommitting: Don’t overcommit to fights you can’t win. Sometimes retreat is the better option, especially when low on resources.
Poor Timing: Timing is everything with Automaton. Don’t use abilities when opponents are expecting them or when they’re easily avoidable.
Wasting Resources: Don’t use abilities just because they’re available. Make sure each use has a purpose and contributes to your overall strategy.
Ignoring the Environment: The arena environment plays a huge role in Automaton effectiveness. Use walls, edges, and obstacles to your advantage.
The Automaton glove costs 64,500 slaps to unlock in the normal game mode. It’s a slap-required glove, meaning you need to earn slaps through gameplay to purchase it. There are no alternative methods or gamepasses to obtain it instantly.
The best strategies involve proper resource management, controlling key areas of the map with Gearbugs, and using Buzzsaws for direct damage and edge guarding. Focus on maintaining a balance between gears and saws, and don’t be afraid to use your ultimate abilities when the situation calls for maximum impact.
To get the Stalker mastery, you need to complete two main requirements: ambush 10 players in a row without dying, and complete a total of 1,000 successful ambushes. An ambush counts as becoming invisible and then slapping a player before reappearing. The mastery significantly enhances Stalker’s abilities, adding new mechanics and transformations.
Unfortunately, there are no new codes in the November 14, 2025 Automaton update. The developers focused on adding new content and balance changes rather than promotional codes. Keep checking back for future updates, as codes are typically released during special events and holidays.
Hitman’s Basement received significant updates including office expansion, the addition of a trophy display system with 9 unlockable trophies, and the relocation of the Eggler Teleport to the office. The office can now be entered from behind the desk, and future Hitman quest teleports are displayed there as well.
The Automaton glove has two ultimate abilities. The Gearbug ultimate requires 15 gears and creates a giant Gearbug that lifts you high into the air for gliding. The Buzzsaw ultimate requires 15 saws and creates a giant buzzsaw that travels out then returns to you, persisting until it reaches you again.
Fast gloves like Speedrun can outrun Gearbugs, while flying gloves like Cloud and Jet can avoid Buzzsaws entirely. Gloves with strong area denial abilities can also be effective against Automaton. The key is to exploit the resource management aspect and force the Automaton user to waste their abilities.
Slap Battles typically releases updates every Friday at 17:00 UTC, though sometimes updates come on weekends or other weekdays for bug fixes or minor changes. Major content updates like the Automaton glove usually come with the regular Friday update schedule.
Looking for more Slap Battles content? Check out these helpful guides:
The Automaton glove update represents one of the most significant additions to Slap Battles in recent memory. With its unique resource-based ability system, the introduction of the Stalker mastery, and the comprehensive balance changes, this update has breathed new life into the game.
As someone who’s spent countless hours testing and mastering these new features, I can confidently say that Automaton is worth the grind. The strategic depth, versatility, and sheer power of this mechanical marvel make it a must-have for any serious Slap Battles player.
Remember to bookmark this guide and check back regularly for updates. The Slap Battles meta is always evolving, and I’ll be here to keep you informed with the latest strategies, balance changes, and new content releases.
Happy slapping, and may your gears always be plentiful and your buzzsaws always true!
