LogFAQs > #972754108

So the reason we're doing it this way is threefold.

A) Gordon isn't a great 4/week. He got 3.5/week respect as it was, making him a feelbad pickup. Compare him to Zagreus if you want an example of a true 4/week gunner (though Zag can do other shit obv) and he looks real bad in comparison.

B) The helmet is kind of a necessity to make him reliably beefy but it's also dubiously canon. HEV suits have one in general, but Gordon's historically depicted without one. His iconic look is worth retaining, even if it makes him weaker.

C) Seriously did we want to have 'but do he got a helmet tho' arguments ad infinitum

It's not a choice we've made lightly. We don't like nerfing characters when everyone around them gets stronger. We do think Gordon gaining free lowbie deployment ends up being an extremely powerful compensatory buff because there's very strong reasons to say, buy him over Jinx or BJ, compared to something like an eventual, say, Bill Rizer or JC Denton. We'd rather someone as foundational as Gordon get to look cool and be strong in at least one tier than be the butt of every joke about battleworth in mid. Same principle as why Leon got an upkeep downgrade -- it's all about making mercs look good and not awful.