Tuning Hero Balance | Developer Blog #5

This is a summary of the Season 1 Hero Balance updates for Overwatch 2 from the fifth Developer Blog. Read on to learn about the range of changes and balance updates made to various heroes, as well as what developers have planned for future seasons.

Balance Updates Each Season

Fresh, Fun and Fair

In their latest Developers Blog, Blizzard reaffirmed its committment to making balance updates with each new season. Balance updates may also be made during a season if the need arises. This, in conjunction with new maps and heroes every alternate season, is intended to keep the game fresh, fun and fair.

Conclusions Drawn from the Beta

Based on the data collected during the Second Beta and community feedback, Blizzard has announced several changes to balance the heroes more evenly and create a more dynamic play environment. These updates will be available from Day 1 of Overwatch 2's release, as well as during Overwatch League's Countdown Cup starting September 22.
Official Developer Blog #5

Season 1 Balance Updates

General Hero Updates

• Temporary Health Adjustment
Temporary Health now grants 50% reduced ultimate charge instead of zero ultimate charge. This means hitting targets with temporary health (armor, shields) will charge your ultimate less effectively


• Hero Swap Adjustment
Hero Swaps now transfer 30% of your ultimate charge from your prevous hero, to the new one within matches.


• Damage Role Passives Adjustment
Eliminations now grant 25% increased reload and movement speed for 2.5 seconds. This does not stack, but will refresh the duration for every subsequent kill.

List of All Heroes

Tank Hero Updates

Junker Queen

Junker Queen's Commanding Shout ability has been nerfed after analysis of play data from the Beta and community feedback. Both the allied health bonus and duration have been roughly halved. The cooldown period has also been increased by roughly 36%.

There was however one buff added to the mix, with the temporary health that is granted no longer decaying over the duration.

Commanding Shout Balance Updates- Allied Health Bonus
Previous	Updated	+/- Change
100 HP	50 HP	- 50 HP (-50%)

Commanding Shout Balance Updates- Allied Duration
Previous	Updated	+/- Change
5 Seconds	3 Seconds	- 2 Seconds (-40%)

Commanding Shout Balance Updates- Cooldown
Previous	Updated	+/- Change
11 Seconds	15 Seconds	+ 4 Seconds (+36%)

D.Va

D.Va was buffed in three different areas.

1. Boosters now deal 25 impact damage. This is a 250% increase.
2. Micro Missiles cooldown period has had a one second reduction.
3. D.Va's Call Mech Ultimate now costs 12% less.

Boosters Impact Damage Update
Previous	Updated	+/- Change
10	25	+ 15 Damage (+250%)

Micro Missiles Cooldown Update
Previous	Updated	+/- Change
8 Seconds	7 Seconds	- 1 Second (-12.5%)

Call Mech Ultimate Cost Update
Previous	Updated	+/- Change
319.2	280.896	- 12% (-38.304)

Orisa

Orisa has also been buffed in three aspects.

1. Base Health has been increased 10% to 275.
2. Base Armor has been increased 10% to 275.
3. Orisa's Energy Javelin cooldown has been reduced by 25% (two second reduction).

Orisa Base Health Update
Previous	Updated	+/- Change
250	275	+ 25 Health (+10%)

Orisa Base Armor Update
Previous	Updated	+/- Change
250	275	+ 25 Armor (+10%)

Energy Javelin Cooldown Update
Previous	Updated	+/- Change
8 Seconds	6 Seconds	- 2 Seconds (-25%)

List of All Tank Heroes

Support Hero Updates

Brigitte

Brigitte has had a slight nerf. Her Inspire duration was reduced by one second from 6 seconds down to 5 seconds.

Inspire Duration Update
Previous	Updated	+/- Change
6 Seconds	5 Seconds	- 1 Second (-17%)

Baptiste

Baptiste's Biotic Launcher's primary fire damage and range have both had a slight buff. The damage has had a roughly 4% increase from 24 damage up to 25 damage. The minimum fall-off range has had a 25% increase from 20 metres up to 25 metres.

Biotic Launcher Primary Fire Damage Update
Previous	Updated	+/- Change
24	25	+ 1 Damage (+4%)

Biotic Launcher Primary Fire Minimum Fall-Off Range Update
Previous	Updated	+/- Change
20 Metres	25 Metres	+ 5 Metres (+25%)

Mercy

Mercy has had a few quality of life improvements to make the character easier to use controls-wise.

Quality of Life Improvements
Pressing the Crouch Button during Guardian Angel will now launch you upwards
By holding Crouch while in the air you can now activate Angelic Descent

List of All Support Heroes

Damage Hero Updates

Bastion

Bastion has had its Iron Clad Passive re-enabled, as the developers have felt that it doesn't make Bastion too unbalanced. This is a passive ability that grants Bastion 20% damage reduction.

Bastion Balance Updates
Iron Clad Passive	Previous	Updated
20% Damage Reduction	Disabled	Enabled

Reaper

Reaper's Hellfire Shotgun spread range has been reduced by 12.5% from 8 degrees down to 7 degrees.

Hellfire Shotguns Spread Updates
Previous	Updated	+/- Change
8 degrees	7 degrees	- 1 degree (-12.5%)

Sojourn

Sojourn's Railgun energy gains when shooting Non-Player targets has been reduced 50% further.

Sombra

Sombra's Hack Ability Lockout has been buffed. It has had a 75% duration increase from 1 second up to 1.75 seconds.

Hack Ability Lockout Updates
Previous	Updated	+/- Change
1 Second	1.75 Seconds	+ 0.75 seconds (+75%)

List of All Damage Heroes

Overwatch 2 Related Guides

List of All Developer Updates

All Overwatch 2 Developer Updates
Dev Blog #1: Support Changes and Ranked Overhaul	Dev Blog #2: Support Improvements and Planned Balance Changes
Dev Blog #3: Hero Balancing and Design Process	Dev Blog #4: Hero Updates and Junker Queen First Impressions
Dev Blog #5: Tuning Hero Balance	Dev Blog #6: Post-Launch Updates on Gameplay, Maps, and Competitive