Updated: April 12, 2026
Mad City Update April 2026 — Archer Hero, Rykou Villain & Airport Revamp
Mad City just dropped one of its most feature-packed updates in recent memory. The Week 4 update brings a new hero, a new villain, a complete airport overhaul, two air vehicles, criminal customization, weapon balance changes, and a seasonal map refresh that finally melts the snow. Whether you main heroes, villains, or criminals, there is something in this patch that changes how you play. Here is everything you need to know about the April 2026 Mad City update.
New Hero: Archer
The headline addition on the hero side is Archer, a ranged hero who brings a bow-and-arrow playstyle to Mad City's roster. Archer fills a gap that has existed in the hero lineup for a while: a mid-range damage dealer who can kite enemies effectively without relying on traditional firearms. The power crystal for Archer can be found at the Hero Base, and once equipped, it completely changes your combat toolkit.
Archer's primary weapon is the bow. Arrows deal solid damage at medium range and require leading your shots since they have travel time, unlike hitscan weapons. This makes Archer a skill-expressive hero that rewards players who can predict enemy movement. In open areas around the city, a good Archer player can dominate engagements before opponents even close the distance.
Archer's Abilities
| Ability | Input | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Bow & Arrow | LMB / Click | Fires arrows with travel time. Strong mid-range damage with unlimited ammo. |
| Sprint Boost | Shift / Sprint | Temporary speed boost for repositioning. Recharges after depletion, similar to Vanta. |
| Super Jump | Double-tap Jump | Launches Archer high into the air. Useful for gaining rooftop positions or escaping melee range. |
The sprint boost is not infinite. Once the stamina bar drains, you need to wait for it to recharge before activating it again. This creates a rhythm to Archer gameplay where you sprint to a vantage point, fire arrows, then reposition once enemies start closing in. The super jump pairs perfectly with this approach since you can leap to rooftops when your sprint is on cooldown.
Compared to existing heroes like Proton or Inferno, Archer occupies a more tactical niche. You are not rushing into fights. You are controlling space with arrows and using your mobility to stay at the range where your bow is most effective. For players who found the existing hero options too close-range or too reliant on abilities, Archer offers a refreshingly different approach.
New Villain: Rykou
Rykou is the third villain-specific power added to Mad City, and it brings a ninja-inspired moveset that is arguably the most mechanically complex villain kit in the game. While previous villain powers focused on raw destructive ability, Rykou rewards precise timing and aggressive play with a suite of tools designed for close-quarters dominance.
Rykou's Full Ability Kit
| Ability | Input | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Sword Melee | LMB / Click | Fast-swinging melee weapon dealing 20 damage per hit. Very high attack speed. |
| Bullet Deflection | Q | While sword is equipped, deflects incoming bullets. Redirects them toward your crosshair. |
| Kunai Throw | Hold RMB + Click | Fires 3 kunai knives at once. Each deals 20 damage. Unlimited range but slower than bullets. |
| Super Jump | Double-tap Jump | Launches Rykou into the air. Shared mechanic with Proton and Archer. |
| Invisibility Dash | While holding sword | Quick dash that renders Rykou invisible during the movement. |
The bullet deflection is the standout ability. By pressing Q with the sword equipped, Rykou can deflect most incoming bullets and redirect them wherever your crosshair is aimed. This means a police officer or hero shooting at you can effectively damage themselves or their teammates if you time the deflection correctly. In a game where firearms are the dominant combat tool, having a reliable counter to bullets is enormously powerful.
The kunai throw gives Rykou a ranged option when closing distance is not viable. The three kunai fire simultaneously and each deals 20 damage, so landing all three on a single target delivers 60 damage in one burst. The trade-off is that kunai travel slower than bullets, making them easier to dodge at long range. They work best at medium range where opponents have less reaction time.
The invisibility dash ties the whole kit together. Rykou can dash toward a target while invisible, land a burst of sword hits at 20 damage each, then dash away if the target survives. Combined with the super jump for vertical repositioning, Rykou plays like a high-skill assassin who picks fights on favorable terms and disengages when outgunned.
One important note: the update also fixed a bug with Rykou's melee attack that was causing hit registration issues. If you tried Rykou before the fix and found the sword unreliable, give it another shot now. The melee should connect consistently after the patch.
Criminal Customization
Criminals have historically been the least visually distinct team in Mad City. Heroes have their power-specific appearances, police have uniforms, but criminals all looked roughly the same. The new Criminal Customization system changes that entirely.
When you spawn as a criminal, you now have access to a customization menu that lets you modify your character's outfit and appearance. This includes clothing options, accessories, and visual modifications that persist across sessions. The system lets criminals finally have a visual identity that reflects their playstyle and personal preference.
The customization options are earned through gameplay rather than exclusively through microtransactions. Playing as a criminal, completing heists, and leveling up all contribute to unlocking new customization items. Some premium options exist for players who want to skip the grind, but the core wardrobe is accessible to free-to-play players.
This feature has been a community request for a long time. Having visual variety among criminals makes the game feel more alive, especially on crowded servers where dozens of players are running around the city. It also makes it easier to identify specific players during chases, which adds a subtle tactical layer for police and heroes trying to track high-value targets.
Airport Revamp and New Air Vehicles
The MCX Airport has received a complete overhaul. The old airport was functional but visually dated compared to newer areas of the map. The revamp updates the entire location with new interiors, a redesigned layout, improved lighting, and a top-secret mission area that gives players a reason to visit the airport beyond just grabbing a vehicle.
The revamped airport is more than a cosmetic refresh. The layout changes affect how players navigate the space during combat encounters. New cover positions, updated sight lines, and reworked entry points make the airport a more interesting location for fights between all three teams. If you have not visited the airport since the update, it is worth exploring just to learn the new layout before you get caught in a firefight there.
Warhawk Fighter Jet
The Warhawk is a fighter jet that can be purchased at the Aircraft Carrier for 4,000,000 in-game cash. Visually inspired by the Mikoyan MiG-29, the Warhawk is the fourth-fastest aerial vehicle in the game and brings serious firepower to the skies.
| Stat | Details |
|---|---|
| Price | 4,000,000 cash |
| Location | Aircraft Carrier (near BRRT and Raptor) |
| Speed Rank | 4th fastest aerial vehicle |
| Missiles | Press F or LMB to fire |
| Missile Damage | 60 to players, 180 to vehicles |
| Lock-on Time | 1.6 seconds |
| Missile Cooldown | 6 seconds |
The Warhawk's lock-on missiles are its defining feature. After holding your crosshair on a target for 1.6 seconds, the missile locks on and tracks the target. The 60 damage to players is enough to eliminate most targets in two hits, while the 180 vehicle damage can shred ground vehicles in a few passes. The six-second cooldown between missile shots prevents the Warhawk from being completely oppressive, but a skilled pilot can still dominate the airspace.
Scout Helicopter
The Scout is a more accessible air vehicle priced at 500,000 cash and located at the revamped MCX Airport. Based on the Composite-FX XET, the Scout is the third-fastest helicopter and the sixth-fastest aerial vehicle overall, sitting behind the Cobra, UFO, Falcon, Warhawk, and Nighthawk in the speed rankings.
The Scout is positioned as an affordable entry point into air vehicles. At 500,000 cash, it costs a fraction of the Warhawk's 4,000,000 price tag while still offering solid speed and maneuverability. It does not have weapons like the Warhawk, but its agility makes it an excellent getaway vehicle for criminals escaping heists or a fast transport for police responding to crimes across the map.
For newer players who have been saving up cash, the Scout represents a meaningful progression milestone. Owning an air vehicle fundamentally changes how you navigate Mad City, and the Scout's price point makes that accessible without requiring months of grinding.
Weapon Balance Changes
The Week 4 update also delivered a round of weapon and vehicle balance changes that affect every team in the game.
Weapon Buffs
Three weapons received damage increases in this patch:
| Weapon | Change |
|---|---|
| AA-12 | Slight damage increase |
| Shotgun | Slight damage increase |
| RPG | Slight damage increase |
The AA-12 buff is the most impactful of the three. The automatic shotgun was already popular for close-range fights, and the damage increase makes it even more lethal in confined spaces like building interiors and the prison. The standard shotgun buff helps it compete with the AA-12 at point-blank range, while the RPG buff makes it more effective for destroying vehicles and dealing area damage during large-scale fights.
Vehicle Speed Increase
All land vehicles now have a higher base speed. This is a universal change that affects every car, truck, and motorcycle in the game. The increased speed makes ground-based chases more exciting and reduces travel time across the map for players who have not yet unlocked air vehicles.
This change also indirectly buffs the Dominator, which recently received a 4-seat upgrade. With four players and faster base speed, the Dominator becomes a genuine team transport option rather than just a solo vehicle.
Quality of Life Changes
Beyond the major features, the Week 4 update includes several quality-of-life improvements that address long-standing community feedback.
Forced Animations Removed
Mad City previously overrode player animations with its own set, which frustrated players who had purchased or equipped custom animations through the Roblox website. The update removes forced animations entirely, allowing players to use their preferred character animations from their Roblox profile. This is a small change with a big impact on how the game feels, especially for players who have spent Robux on custom animation packs.
Casino Converted to Resort
Due to Roblox age guideline restrictions, the Casino has been converted to the Resort. The location received a visual upgrade alongside the name change and includes a hidden easter egg for players to discover. The gameplay function of the location remains similar, but the theming has been updated to comply with platform guidelines.
Additional Changes
The update also includes horn sounds for vehicles, the daily spin relocated to the park, and various bug fixes including turret fixes on certain vehicles and Prize Wheel corrections. The snow has also melted from the map, signaling the transition into the spring season with a refreshed visual aesthetic across the city.
How Archer and Rykou Change the Meta
The addition of Archer and Rykou simultaneously is a deliberate design choice that creates a natural counter-play dynamic. Archer excels at range with the bow, while Rykou's bullet deflection and invisibility dash are designed to close gaps against ranged opponents. When an Archer and a Rykou meet, the fight becomes a chess match of positioning and timing rather than a simple damage race.
For heroes, Archer adds a much-needed option for players who prefer methodical, positioning-based gameplay over the aggressive dive-in playstyle of heroes like Inferno. The sprint boost and super jump give Archer enough mobility to compete with the game's fastest characters, while the bow rewards accuracy over spray-and-pray approaches.
For villains, Rykou introduces a high-skill ceiling option that can outplay opponents mechanically. The bullet deflection alone changes how police and heroes should approach fights against villain players. Shooting at a Rykou player without checking whether their sword is drawn can result in taking your own damage back. This forces gunfight dynamics to change fundamentally when a Rykou player is in the lobby.
The weapon balance changes support both new additions. The AA-12 and shotgun buffs give close-range fighters better tools to punish an Archer who gets caught without sprint available. Meanwhile, the land vehicle speed increase helps all teams reposition faster, which matters more now that Archer can control long sight lines from elevated positions.
Tips for Getting Started
If you are jumping back into Mad City for the Week 4 update, here are the most efficient ways to experience the new content:
Try Archer first. The hero power is immediately accessible at the Hero Base and does not require any currency to unlock. Spend a few rounds getting comfortable with arrow travel time and the sprint-boost rhythm before diving into competitive situations. Practice on rooftops near the bank where you have clear sight lines.
Save up for the Scout before the Warhawk. If you do not own an air vehicle yet, the Scout at 500,000 cash is a far more realistic short-term goal than the Warhawk at 4,000,000. Having any air vehicle transforms your gameplay experience, and the Scout is fast enough to be competitive.
Explore the revamped airport. The new layout changes combat dynamics in the area significantly. Learning the new cover positions and sight lines before you get into a firefight there gives you a real advantage over players who are encountering the changes for the first time under pressure.
Experiment with Criminal Customization. Head to the criminal spawn and open the customization menu. Even if you main hero or police, having a distinct criminal appearance ready for when you switch teams adds to the experience.
For active codes that can help you get started faster, check our dedicated Mad City codes page which we keep updated with every working code.
Play Mad City Now
Jump into the Week 4 update and try the new Archer Hero, Rykou Villain, and revamped Airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Archer Hero is a new hero power added in the Week 4 update. Archer wields a bow and arrow as the primary weapon and has a sprint speed boost that recharges after use, plus a super-jump ability activated by pressing the jump button twice quickly. You can unlock Archer by finding the power crystal at the Hero Base.
Rykou is a villain power with a full ninja-inspired kit: a sword melee weapon dealing 20 damage per hit, bullet deflection by pressing Q that redirects bullets at your crosshair, kunai throwing knives (3 per shot, 20 damage each with unlimited range), super-jump via double-pressing jump, and an invisibility dash that renders you invisible during a quick dash.
Two new air vehicles were added. The Warhawk Fighter Jet costs 4,000,000 in-game cash and is available at the Aircraft Carrier, featuring lock-on missiles that deal 60 damage to players and 180 to vehicles. The Scout Helicopter costs 500,000 cash and is located at the revamped MCX Airport.
The MCX Airport received a full visual revamp with updated interiors, a new layout, improved lighting, and a top-secret mission area. The Airport now serves as the spawn location for the new Scout Helicopter. The redesign also introduces new cover positions and sight lines that change combat in the area.
Criminal Customization is a new feature that allows players on the Criminal team to personalize their character appearance with outfit options and visual modifications. Items are earned through gameplay such as completing heists and leveling up. Unlocked items persist across sessions permanently.
The AA-12, Shotgun, and RPG all received slight damage increases. All land vehicles now have a higher base speed. Rykou's melee attack was also fixed. Additionally, forced animations were removed, letting players use their preferred character animations from the Roblox website.
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