The new Overwatch 2 season has dropped, and with it comes many balance changes to fix the game.
As always with Overwatch updates, there is a new map hitting the scene to keep the rotation interesting, but there's also a map from Overwatch 1 being added to this title for the first time, making for a second new setting for those who didn't play the first game. Alongside this, you'll find a range of maps adjusted between day, night and evening time, which is a refreshing change.
Following big changes to Roadhog back in the last Overwatch 2 update, all tanks have been adjusted, mainly in non-role queue modes to put a stop to the five-tank stomp meta. This is the first time we've seen Blizzard implement changes to heroes in one queue type only, meaning meta's will now vary between queue types.
The thing everyone has been waiting for is changes to the ranked system, and they're finally here. Although you still won't be able to see SR, which is your specific skill rating like you could in Overwatch 1, updates to your rank are now displayed much quicker, after just five wins or 15 losses as opposed to seven and 20 respectively.
We've summarised all of the most important changes but you can find the full patch notes over at Blizzard's website.
Overwatch 2 season 3 update patch notes
General Updates
- Players can now endorse the opposing team
- All players can now be endorsed in Free-For-All game modes
- Players can view scoreboards from previous matches within the View Game Reports menu found in the history tab of the Career Profile
- Overwatch Credits, which were previously labelled "Legacy Credits" and were not earnable in Overwatch 2, can now once again be earned through progressing in the Season 3 Battle Pass. All players can earn up to 1500 credits as free rewards, and another 500 credits are available as premium rewards in the Season 3 Battle Pass
Pressing Ability 1 or Ability 2 when the ping wheel is open and when these abilities are on cooldown now prints these cooldowns in chat
Competitive Changes
- Skill tiers and divisions will adjust after every 5 wins or 15 losses and ties (formally 7 wins or 20 losses and ties)
- Players can select the "View Competitive Progress" button from the Competitive menu to view their progress toward receiving a rank update
Hero changes – Tank
D.Va
- Mech base health in non-Role Queue modes reduced from 350 to 200
Doomfist
- Base health in non-Role Queue modes reduced from 450 to 300
Fixed an issue where Doomfist would spawn with an empowered punch if killed by the environment while blocking
Junker Queen
- Base health in Role Queue modes increased to 450
- Base health in non-Role Queue modes reduced from 425 to 300
Orisa
- Base health in non-Role Queue modes reduced from 275 to 125
Augmented Fusion Driver: damage falloff range reduced from 25 to 15 meters
Ramattra
- Base health in non-Role Queue modes reduced from 450 to 300
- Annihilation: damaging enemies with the ultimate now slows the duration timer down instead of pausing it entirely. Lasts up to 20 seconds. Ultimate cost increased by 12%
Reinhardt
- Base health in non-Role Queue modes reduced from 325 to 175
Rocket Hammer: knockback impulse reduced from 10 to 6
Charge: cooldown reduced from 8 to 7 seconds
Fire Strike: damage increased from 90 to 100
Earthshatter: direct hit damage reduced from 250 to 170. Knockdown duration increased from 2.5 to 2.75 seconds. Ultimate cost increased by 7%
Roadhog
- Base health in non-Role Queue modes reduced from 700 to 550
Whole Hog: maximum duration increased from 6 to 8 seconds. Ultimate cost increased by 8%
Sigma
- Base health in non-Role Queue modes reduced from 350 to 200
Gravitic Flux: ultimate cost increased by 7%
Winston
- Base health in non-Role Queue modes reduced from 350 to 200
Barrior Projector: health reduced from 700 to 650
Wrecking Ball
- Base health in Role Queue modes reduced from 600 to 450
- Base health in non-Role Queue modes reduced from 600 to 300
- Shield health increased from 0 to 150
Pile Driver: cooldown reduced from 10 to 8 seconds
Minefield: Arming time reduced from 1.5 to 1 second. Ultimate cost increased by 9%
Zarya
- Base health in non-Role Queue modes reduced from 250 to 100
Graviton Surge: ultimate cost increased by 8%
Hero changes – Damage
Cassidy
- Peacekeeper: primary fire falloff range increased from 20 to 25 meters
- Combat Roll: movement is no longer blocked by enemy player collision
Genji
- Fixed a bug to make Genji's attack animations smoother
Junkrat
- Concussion Mine: Maximum damage reduced from 120 to 100
Mei
- Blizzard: ultimate cost reduced by 5%
Pharah
- Barrage: ultimate cost reduced by 5%
Reaper
- Death Blossom: ultimate cost reduced by 8%
Soldier: 76
- Heavy Pulse Rifle: the number of shots to reach maximum recoil increased from 4 to 6. Recoil reduced by 12%
Sombra
- Machine Pistol: damage per projectile increased from 7 to 7.5
- Hack: Health pack hacked duration increased from 30 to 45 seconds
Symmetra
- Photon Barrier: ultimate cost increased by 10%
- Symmetra can no longer fire her Photon Projector while casting Photon Barrier
Torbjorn
- Deploy Turret: turret base health reduced from 250 to 225
Widowmaker
- Base health reduced from 200 to 175
Hero changes – Support
Ana
- Biotic Grenade: effect duration reduced from 4 to 3.5 seconds
Brigitte
- Repair Pack: healing over time reduced from 55 to 50 per second. Applying a Repair Pack now instantly heals for 25 health on impact
Lucio
- Sound Barrier: ultimate cost reduced by 7%
Mercy
- Guardian Angel: cooldown increased from 1.5 to 2.5 seconds. Holding the backwards directional input and cancelling the ability with Jump now moves 20% slower
- Caduceus Staff: healing-per-second reduced from 55 to 45. Healing is increased by 50% for allies under half health
Regeneration (Passive): "Regeneration" Passive removed
NEW! Sympathetic Recovery (Passive): Mercy heals herself for 25% of healing done with the Caduceus Staff
Moira
- Coalescence: ultimate cost reduced by 5%
- Fixed an issue where Coalescence was not benefiting from Kitsune Rush
Zenyatta
- Orb of Destruction: ammo increased from 20 to 25
New maps
- Push - Havana - Night (returning from Overwatch 1)
- Control - Antarctic Peninsula - Night
