Overwatch 2’s latest balance patch ahead of the upcoming Le Sserafim collaboration event is hitting Support heroes hard. Blizzard said this was its plan in a developer update earlier this month, but looking at the actual patch notes, it definitely looks like medics are feeling the latest nerfs most.
According to Blizzard, these changes were meant to address criticism that Support characters had been enjoying a rise in power since Overwatch 2 launched last year, so almost everyone is seeing some tweaks, mostly in the form of nerfs. High-impact abilities like Ana’s Biotic Grenade and Kiriko’s Protection Suzu have been given increased cooldowns, while building abilities like Illari’s Healing Pylon and Baptiste’s Immortality Field now have reduced durability and can be more easily destroyed by the enemy team.
Zenyatta, meanwhile, has one of the more notable changes to his Orb of Discord ability. The ability increases damage taken on whichever enemy it’s attached to, giving Zen’s team a chance to focus on them and take them out quickly. Now, it can’t be reapplied to the same target for seven seconds after it’s removed. This means you can’t just keep spamming it on one high-priority target.
The full patch notes include a variety of changes to heroes in the Tank, Damage, and Support categories. While the goal of these changes is to add more counterplay and balance to the game, it remains to be seen how they will ultimately affect the overall gameplay experience.
In addition to the balance changes, Overwatch 2 is also introducing a limited-time collaboration event with K-pop sensation LE SSERAFIM. The event includes a new game mode called Concert Clash, which is a 3v3 capture-the-flag mode set in a K-pop themed Busan. Players can take on the roles of D.Va, Kiriko, Tracer, Brigitte, and Sombra, each with LE SSERAFIM-inspired skins.
The patch also includes updates to various social features, challenges, and customization options for heroes. These additions aim to improve the overall player experience and provide more options for players to tailor their gameplay.
With these balance changes and the upcoming collaboration event, Overwatch 2 continues to evolve and offer new content to its players. While some Support heroes may be feeling the brunt of the latest nerfs, it’s important to remember that these changes are ultimately meant to ensure a more balanced and enjoyable gameplay experience for everyone. As the game continues to grow and evolve, it will be interesting to see how the community responds and adapts to these changes.
