The Overwatch 2 Season 8 patch notes are here, and while they’re not quite as extensive as past season notes, they do make some important changes to a handful of heroes. These alterations should make tanks easier to play, though DPS and support heroes had a bit of the wind taken from their sails. Soldier 76 can’t heal as effectively, for example, and Baptiste runs out of ammo more quickly. This season also sees some new features introduced, including weapon skins and a fresh PvPvE limited-time mode, along with the brand-new tank Mauga.
Mauga nerfs and buffs
Blizzard outlined Mauga‘s changes from the new tank’s free weekend, and there are quite a few that should make him easier to play, including reduced fire spread when using both guns, longer fall-off range, and a reduced hitbox presence for his noggin.
- Base health reduced from 500 to 350.
- Base armor increased from 0 to 150.
- Head hit volume reduced 15 percent
Incendiary and Volatile Chainguns
- Spread for firing both guns reduced 15 percent.
- Fire rate multiplier for firing both guns reduced from 25 percent to 0 percent.
- Damage per shot increased from 4.5 to 5.
- Damage falloff range increased from 25 to 30 meters.
- Max ammo increased from 300 to 350.
- Movement speed penalty reduced from 20 percent to 15 percent per gun.
Overrun
- Can no longer be interrupted by Hack.
- Damage reduction increased from 30 to 50 percent.
Cardiac Overdrive
- Lifesteal increased from 60 to 70 percent.
Berserker (Passive)
- Overhealth conversion rate increased from 40 percent to 50 percent.
Doomfist buffs in Season 8
As Blizzard said previously, Doomfist’s ultimate now has a restorative effect, though it takes longer to charge.
Meteor Strike
- Now regenerates 75 health per second while in the air.
- Ultimate cost increased 16 percent.
Junker Queen buff in Season 8
Junker Queen gets another small buff this season, as Blizzard reduces the spread of her shotgun blasts by eight percent. It’s her primary method of dealing damage, so making it where you don’t miss at close range is a pretty welcome change.
Ramattra buffs in Season 8
Blizzard is also trying to make Ramattra more viable with a series of tweaks to his overall presence and how effective his projectiles are.
- Base health reduced from 300 to 200.
- Base armor increased from 0 to 100.
Void Accelerator
- Projectile size increased from 0.075 to 0.1 meters.
- Damage increased from 4.5 to 5.
Sigma nerf in Season 8
Sigma’s barrier shield won’t recover quite so easily in Season 8. Blizzard reduced its regenerative effects from 100 HP per second while inactive to 85 HP per second.
Winston buff in Season 8
Winston’s buff is a bit of a weird one. His Tesla Cannon ignores changes in enemy armor, which Blizzard said is meant to ease the disadvantage he faces against other tanks. However, he’s still not meant to face off against tanks, so I guess just… don’t do that.
Mei nerf in Season 8
Blizzard’s not done tweaking Mei yet. After switching back and forth with her crowd control abilities, the team’s reduced her ammo capacity in Season 8. Mei’s endothermic blaster has 120 ammo now, down from 150.
Soldier 76 nerf in Season 8
Soldier 76 was too good at surviving, so Blizzard made it harder. His biotic field cooldown timer takes three more seconds now – 18, instead of 15.
Sombra nerf and buff in Season 8
Sombra gets a few tweaks to her ultimate following her big rework a few months ago.
- Ability lockout duration increased from 1.5 to 3 seconds.
- Damage reduced from 30 to 25 percent of current health.
Torbjorn buff in Season 8
It turns out if you reduce a squishy character’s health, they die more. Blizzard is giving Torbjorn his overhealth back and bumped the extra HP value up to 100 again from its previous value of 75.
Tracer buff in Season 8
Tracer’s also getting a much-needed restoration. Her pulse pistols will once again deal six damage per hit instead of 5.5.
Baptiste nerf in Season 8
Baptiste was doing just fine – a little too fine, apparently. Blizzard reduced his primary fire ammo capacity from 45 to 36 and said they want his other tools to feel more important. His healing, alt-fire ammo remains the same.
Brigitte nerf in Season 8
Brigitte’s also getting a small nerf this season. Her whip shot will deal 70 damage instead of 80 now.
Kiriko buffs and nerf in Season 8
Blizzard gave Kiriko some helpful buffs in Season 8 and one small nerf.
Healing Ofuda
- Projectile speed increased from 14 to 18 meters per second.
Protection Suzu
- Invulnerability duration reduced from 0.85 to 0.65 seconds.
- Healing explosion increased from 40 to 80 health.
Mercy buff
Rounding out the list is a small Mercy buff. When you use her ultimate and enter Valkyrie form, her staff will remain connected with the ally it was targeting before the ultimate triggered.
Other Overwatch 2 Season 8 changes
Blizzard is introducing a new limited-time mode during Season 8, Battle of the Beasts. It’s a PvPvE mode where your team tries to protect your beast and take out the beast on the other side. You can play as Mauga for free during this mode.
Winter Wonderland is back, with holiday skins and the return of Mei’s Snowball Offense and Yeti Hunt.
Lucio, Mei, D.Va, Echo, and Genji have new Hero Mastery courses launching in January, and Blizzard is testing out weapon skins all season while taking feedback for how to improve them.
Written by Josh Broadwell on behalf of GLHF
