Overwatch 2 Teases Tank Changes and Sombra Nerf

Overwatch 2 Teases Tank Changes and Sombra Nerf

Key Takeaways

  • Tank passives and armor nerfs are coming to Overwatch 2 in the mid-season update for Season 12.
  • Beam damage changes may come later on.
  • Sombra is also being looked at by the devs, with possible changes coming to her Stealth ability.

As a dedicated Overwatch 2 fan who’s been through countless battles and team compositions, I can’t help but feel a sense of relief and anticipation with these upcoming balance updates. The power shift between heroes has been noticeable, particularly with D.Va and Sombra, and it’s about time they receive the much-needed adjustments.


In the upcoming season of Overwatch 2, which starts on September 17, some heroes like D.Va and Sombra who have been performing too strongly are going to receive adjustments or “tone-downs” (nerfs). Additional balance changes for these characters might be implemented later on.

In Season 11 of Overwatch 2, an update was rolled out that significantly increased the power of every tank character in the game. This change made some characters, like the MEKA pilot D.Va, excessively tough to counterbalance. At the same time, numerous Overwatch 2 Damage Per Second (DPS) heroes, including Sombra who specializes in hacking, often took control of the battlefield with ease.

Starting soon, Overwatch 2 is set to make some adjustments to several characters, including the tanks, as mentioned by lead gameplay designer Alec Dawson in a recent Director’s Take. In the mid-season update for Season 12, the game will tone down the power of tank defensive passives and armor, with D.Va being particularly impacted by these nerfs. Additionally, the effectiveness of certain hero counters is set to be decreased at some point in the future, with beam damage against specific tank defensive abilities being a focus. Lastly, fans should anticipate Sombra receiving a nerf in the near future, including a change to her Stealth duration.

Upcoming Overwatch 2 Hero Balance Updates

  • Armor and defensive tank passive nerfs.
  • Tank abilities that don’t protect against beam damage might change (meaning possible nerfs for Mei, Symmetra, and Zarya).
  • Sombra nerfs, including changes to her Stealth ability’s duration.

The timing for these impending modifications, particularly those concerning D.Va and Sombra, couldn’t be more ideal. Players of Overwatch 2 have been clamoring for nerfs against these overpowering characters as of late. It’s reassuring to know that adjustments are on the horizon for them soon. As for the exact nature of these modifications, details remain scarce. However, some of these changes will be included in the mid-Season 12 update scheduled for September 17, so fans won’t have long to wait before learning about the specifics.

Interestingly, the fluctuation in tank power within Overwatch 2 seems to be a consequence of its shift to a 5v5 format. The persisting issue of tanks being either too weak or too strong individually is one of the main complaints leading some players to advocate for a reversion to the 6v6 team size. If fans are hoping for larger teams in the future, they will need to be patient as Overwatch 2 plans to conduct 6v6 tests down the line.

In addition to adjusting hero balance, the mid-Season 12 update for Overwatch 2 will also bring an exciting collaboration with World of Warcraft, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary soon. This crossover includes new skins inspired by WoW for Reinhardt, Torbjorn, Widowmaker, and Zenyatta. Players can anticipate enjoying this collaboration, along with the accompanying balance changes, in the near future.

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2024-09-14 01:13