Blizzard Entertainment’s newest season for Overwatch 2 goes live today, offering an overhaul of Competitive Play (but also requiring 38 GB of free space). Placement matches are returning; Skill Modifiers provide details on how your rank will progress after each match; and there will be a new top tier, Champion. However, that’s not all, as overall hero balance is being overhauled.
For instance, many projectiles that deal damage are getting bigger, like Tracer’s Pulse Pistol shots increasing by an additional 0.05 meters or Pharah’s rockets increasing by 0.15 meters. The cost of Ultimates is increased by 10 percent, and Damage dealers have a new passive, which reduces healing received by 20 percent for two seconds to affected targets.
Several heroes are also receiving health, armor and damage increases. Check out some of them below and full details here. Head here for more information on Season 9: Champions and the new content it introduces, including the Cosmic Crisis co-op event, Hero Mastery: Gauntlet and a teased Cowboy Bebop collaboration.
HERO UPDATES
GENERAL
Developer Comments: Season 9 features changes to the fundamentals of Overwatch 2 gameplay that affect every hero. We’ve heard the community feedback around some gameplay pain points, and these changes are in response to many of those.
Most damage-dealing projectile sizes have been increased by a new global modifier added to their base size.
- +0.05 meters for hitscan projectiles with a high rate of fire or spread (e.g., Tracer’s Pulse Pistols or Reaper’s Hellfire Shotguns).
- +0.08 meters for hitscan projectiles that are more precise (e.g., Cassidy’s Peacekeeper or Soldier:76’s Heavy Pulse Rifle).
- +0.05 meters for travel time projectiles that are shotguns or have a very high rate of fire (e.g., Roadhog’s Scrap Gun or Ramattra’s Void Accelerator).
- +0.10 meters for travel time projectile with a speed greater than 50 meters per second (e.g., Zenyatta’s Destruction Orb).
- +0.15 meters for travel time projectile with a speed less than or equal to 50 meters per second (e.g., Pharah’s Rocket Launcher).
- Very large projectiles with a base size greater than 0.5 meters have been excluded from these increases (e.g., Orisa’s Energy Javelin or Reinhardt’s Fire Strike).
Hero combined HP (base health/armor/shields) increased by 15-25%.
- 150-175 HP heroes increased by 25 HP.
- 200-300 HP heroes increased by 50 HP.
- 300+ HP (Tanks) increased by 75-100 HP.
Each hero’s precise health increases are listed in their patch notes below.
Ultimate Charge
- All Ultimate ability costs increased by 10%.
Regenerative Passive for All Heroes
- All heroes now regenerate 20 health per second after 5 seconds of not taking damage.
Support Role Passive
- Now reduces the delay before regeneration begins by half (2.5 seconds).
Damage Role Passive
- Reload speed bonus on elimination has been removed.
- New role passive: Dealing damage reduces enemy healing received by 20% for 2 seconds.
Quick Melee
- Damage increased from 30 to 40.
TANK
D.Va
- Pilot health increased from 150 to 175.
- Mech armor increased from 300 to 375.
Self Destruct
- Explosion maximum damage increased from 900 to 1000.
- Inner explosion radius (range for maximum damage before falloff begins) increased from 4 to 6 meters.
Doomfist
- Health increased from 300 to 375.
Rocket Punch
- Max impact damage increased from 50 to 75.
- Max wall slam damage increased from 30 to 40.
Junker Queen
- Health increased from 300 to 375.
Rampage
- Wound damage over time increased from 60 to 90.
Mauga
- Health increased from 300 to 400.
Orisa
- Armor increased from 275 to 350.
Ramattra
- Health increased from 200 to 275.
Reinhardt
- Health increased from 200 to 250.
- Armor increased from 250 to 275.
Rocket Hammer
- Damage increased from 85 to 100.
Charge
- Wall impact damage increased from 225 to 275.
Roadhog
- Health increased from 550 to 650.
Sigma
- Shields increased from 200 to 275.
Winston
- Health increased from 200 to 225.
- Armor increased from 200 to 250.
Tesla Cannon
- Damage increased from 60 to 75 damage per second.
Primal Rage
- Punch damage increased from 40 to 50.
Wrecking Ball
- Armor increased from 100 to 175.
Zarya
- Health increased from 100 to 175.
Particle Cannon
- Primary fire beam width increased from 0.15 to 0.2 meters.
DAMAGE
Ashe
- Health increased from 200 to 250.
B.O.B.
- B.O.B.’s weapon damage increased from 14 to 17.
Bastion
- Health increased from 200 to 250.
Cassidy
- Health increased from 225 to 275.
Deadeye
- Initial damage rate increased from 130 to 150.
- Damage rate increased from 260 to 300.