Update: Nov. 15, 2022 – 7 p.m. ET
Blizzard announced in a forum post it is delaying the November Overwatch 2 update to fix a “critical issue.” The dev team provided no estimated time for when the patch will go live.
Original Story: Nov. 15, 2022
The latest Overwatch 2 update brings Mei back from banishment with a properly functioning Ice Wall skill and nerfs some popular heroes Blizzard believed had a bit of an unfair advantage, including D.Va and Genji. Other affected heroes in the Nov. 15, 2022, update patch notes include Zarya and Sombra, though these changes fall outside the major balance adjustments Blizzard said it was reserving for Overwatch 2 season two, when new tank Ramattra joins the fight. They mostly include damage reduction and alterations to skill cooldown timers, except for Sombra, who Blizzard nerfed after accidentally overpowering her at the start of the multiplayer game’s first season.
Sombra nerfs
First up is a substantial set of changes for Sombra, who, after having her damage against hacked targets buffed, now poses a bit too much of a threat. Blizzard reduced the damage hacked targets take to 25 percent, where it was originally at 40 percent. Hacking’s lockout duration increased from 1.5 seconds to 1.75 seconds, and you can’t hack the same opponent again until the initial hacking period ends.
Zarya nerfs
Overwatch 2’s most popular tank also came under fire. Zarya’s particle barrier now lasts for two seconds instead of 2.5, and Blizzard increased the skill’s cooldown to 11, where it was originally 10. Bear that in mind when deciding who to shield and when. Zarya’s beam weapon remains untouched, though, so if you’re on the receiving end of it, don’t expect to last too long.
Genji nerfs
Genji also proved too powerful in Blizzard’s eyes, so they took some of his shuriken projectiles away. His maximum ammo is reduced to 24 from 30, which means you get two fewer throws before having to reload. Shuriken damage also received a slight nerf and is down to 27, where it was originally 29.
D.Va nerfs
Where Blizzard originally said D.Va posed less of a threat than some players might realize, the team now decided to reduce her combat prowess slightly. Booster impact damage is down to 15 from 25 and the spread of her laser fire is increased slightly. Blizzard said the nerfs should balance D.Va’s improved defense matrix.
Kiriko nerfs
Kiriko, Overwatch 2’s first new support hero, has the smallest change. Her Swift Step ability that lets her instantly teleport to the side of an ally in range normally lets her remain invulnerable for roughly half a second. Now, Kirko will only be invulnerable for 0.25 seconds after using Swift Step.
Mei returns
Once the update goes live, Mei is back and fully functional. Blizzard removed her after a glitch with the ice wall skill let players exit the map’s boundaries and even become invincible. Mei’s kit is the same as it was before Blizzard removed her, though, so unless you made use of the ice wall glitch, you don’t need to contend with any changes to your usual playstyle.
Written by Josh Broadwell on behalf of GLHF
