Over the weekend, a new patch arrived on Overwatch’s Public Test Realm server. Blizzard Entertainment had already revealed that it was playing around with changes for heroes Mei and Reaper and it can now be confirmed that these are indeed buffs.
To start with, Reaper’s Wraith Form now has 50 percent speed bonus as opposed to 25 percent. You can cancel it by either pressing Shift or firing, thus allowing for less predictability in some cases. Death Blossom will also reload Reaper’s shotguns after use, which should further increase his DPS potential. As for Mei, her Endothermic Blaster now pierces through enemies, allowing you to freeze multiple targets clumped together. This doesn’t allow her to freeze through barriers though.
Along with buffs there are nerfs for D.Va’s Micro Missile explosive damage and Zenyatta’s secondary fire rate. Moira has also received some quality of life changes that allow her moveset – Biotic Grasp, Fade and Coalescence – to increase in transparency the closer they are to a player. No more getting blinded by all those effects essentially. Check out all the other changes below including the new “Avoid as Teammate” feature.
Map Updates
Blizzard World
Moved the first payload checkpoint (Pylon Terrace) back 10 meters
Developer Comments: We moved the checkpoint back for two reasons. The original location swung the map’s balance too far in one direction (favoring the defenders). Also, once the payload reached the checkpoint, defenders returning from spawn could get pinned in this area, usually resulting in their death.
General Updates
General
Players can choose to “Avoid as Teammate” with a dropdown menu in the Career Profile
Developer Comments: The addition of the “Avoid as Teammate” option gives players the ability to craft their online gameplay experience. Up to two players can be selected with this feature. If you use the “Avoid as Teammate” option on a player, the matchmaker will no longer place you on a team with the avoided player for one week.
Report Menu
- The “Poor Teamwork” dropdown menu option has been removed
- The “Griefing” dropdown menu option has been renamed “Gameplay Sabotage”
Developer Comments: Due to player confusion about the most appropriate category to report players for poor or toxic gameplay, we are removing the Poor Teamwork option from the reporting system. Players should instead use the Gameplay Sabotage option when players actively harass or disrupt their own team with game mechanics or their actions. Players should not be reported simply for performing poorly, since everyone occasionally has a bad game.
Heroes
- Sombra: “Enemies Hacked” end-of-round card now also displays her offensive assists
- Brigitte: Golden Weapon variant will now also give her a golden shield
- Changed Mercy’s Valkyrie voice line
UI
Simplified Hero Select tips for roles
Hero Updates
D.Va – Micro Missiles
Explosive damage reduced from 6 to 4
Developer Comments: D.Va’s burst potential is a bit too high, and her Micro Missiles are a major part of that. Currently each missile deals 3 impact damage and 6 explosive damage. We’re reducing explosive damage from 6 to 4 but leaving the impact damage the same, the net result being 22% damage reduction.
Mei – Endothermic Blaster
Now pierces through enemies
Developer Comments: This change helps Mei combat multiple targets that are clumped up and also makes it easier to keep her freezing a specific target if another enemy gets in the way. In addition, this change helps her ultimate more consistently be able to freeze more targets, especially if they are near each other. Note: While her shots now pierce enemies, they still do not pierce barriers such as Reinhardt’s shield.
Reaper
- Death Blossom – Reloads Hellfire Shotguns after use
- Wraith Form – Move speed bonus increased from 25% to 50%
- You can now cancel the ability by pressing the Shift or Primary Fire hotkey
Developer Comments: These changes help Reaper use Wraith Form more consistently as an escape, but they also open up new options, such as chasing down key targets.
Moira
- Biotic Grasp – Transparency increased the closer you are to a target
- Coalescence – Now becomes more transparent the closer its visual effects are to a player’s camera
- Fade – Transparency increased the closer you are to a target
Developer Comments: Due to issues with visibility, we have made most of Moira’s visual effects fade away the closer they are to the camera. We have also made modifications to Coalescence to greatly increase the ability for foes and allies alike to see through it when facing it.
Zenyatta
Orb of Destruction – Secondary fire rate of fire reduced by 15%
Developer Comments: Zenyatta is meant to be able to deal a lot of damage, especially for a support, but his alternate fire burst damage was a bit too high. This change keeps the overall damage the same but lowers the DPS slightly and makes it harder to hit multiple shots at very long ranges.
UI Updates
General
- Heroes can now be selected by double-clicking the hero icon during Hero Select
- Added leaderboard information to the competitive information screen. This can be accessed by right-clicking the menu on the competitive card
Browser and Customer Games
General
Lockout Elimination cards in the Arcade are now just referred to as Elimination
Bug Fixes
Heroes
- Fixed a bug that prevented Bastion from firing projectiles immediately after going into Tank configuration
- Fixed a bug that prevented Bastion from being knocked back while transforming during Configuration: Tank
- Fixed a bug that prevented Brigitte’s impact effects from playing when hitting the environment
- Fixed a bug that caused Brigitte’s aim to be slightly offset after using Shield Bash
- Fixed a bug that caused a player’s camera to jitter when spectating Doomfist during his Meteor Strike
- Fixed a bug preventing Doomfist’s Meteor Strike from landing where telegraphed while standing close to a ledge
- Fixed a bug that allowed Doomfist’s Meteor Strike to access unintended locations
- Fixed a bug that caused Doomfist’s Meteor Strike to penetrate angled surfaces as he descended
- Fixed a bug that prevented Doomfist’s Rocket Punch from impacting enemies or
- Fixed a bug that prevented Junkrat from being knocked back while piloting his RIP-Tire
- Fixed a bug that allowed Orisa’s Halt! to sometimes affect enemy targets behind walls
- Fixed a bug causing McCree’s Peacekeeper to grow substantially during the hero select screen when certain skins were equipped
- Fixed a bug that allowed Moira’s Biotic Orb to pass through Mei’s Ice Wall
- Fixed a bug that caused Tracer’s Recall to activate differently based on the player’s latency
Share Your Thoughts Below (Always follow our comments policy!)