Hero Balance Changes in Overwatch 2

Initially, Blizzard had indicated that hero balance adjustments for Overwatch 2 would not arrive until multiplayer season 2. However, they have now revealed that a significant patch is scheduled for November 15, 2024.

While Blizzard previously claimed that “no hero’s overall power level is far out of line with our goals,” it appears that the situation has shifted, prompting an earlier patch. Community manager AndyB has shared insights on the Overwatch 2 forums, detailing that several heroes will be nerfed due to their dominance in the current meta. The heroes affected include Genji, Zarya, D.Va, Sombra, and Kiriko, each of which will face specific adjustments.

Genji

Genji’s maximum ammo count will drop from 30 to 24, and his Shuriken damage will decrease from 29 to 27. A developer commented, “Genji has significantly profited from the transition to 5v5. The switch to a single tank and reduced crowd control has lessened the barriers he faces, but he hasn't undergone tuning updates since he wasn't a part of the meta until the game's launch.”

Zarya

Zarya’s barrier duration will be shortened from 2.5 seconds to 2 seconds, with an increased cooldown period from 10 seconds to 11 seconds. A developer noted, “Early player feedback suggested Zarya might be one of the weakest solo tanks in 5v5; however, her high damage potential and barrier duration have proven quite effective.”

D.Va

D.Va will see an increase in her fusion cannon spread from 3.5 to 3.75, while her booster impact damage will reduce from 25 to 15. A developer stated, “D.Va has felt overly powerful after the last changes, especially with her improved Defense Matrix. Feedback from both stats and high-level players indicated she was less effective compared to other tanks prior to those updates.”

Sombra

Sombra’s hack duration will be reduced from 1.75 seconds to 1.5 seconds. Hacked enemies will no longer be targetable for hacking during that time, and the damage multiplier from hacking will decrease from 40% to 25%. A developer remarked, “Sombra’s rework provided her with increased damage to compensate for the reduced ability lockout duration of Hack. This has made her too lethal as a flanker with easy access to enemy backlines.”

Kiriko

Kiriko’s swift step invulnerability duration will decrease from 0.4 seconds to 0.25 seconds. A developer explained, “This invulnerability window was meant to prevent players from dying instantly due to unseen threats after teleporting, but it turned out to be slightly excessive and led to confusion when engaging Kiriko.”

After a rocky launch for Overwatch 2, the “far out of line” power levels of these heroes added to the challenges faced. Fortunately, Blizzard has begun to address these issues with free items and XP events. The new Halloween content also adds a welcomed layer to the game.

The anticipation of these hero balance changes is exciting, and I hope they contribute to a more equitable gameplay experience for everyone involved.

In this video, developers discuss hero reworks and future balance changes, providing insights into what players can expect.

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