Overwatch 2 Reveals Mid-Season 13 Update Patch Notes

Key Takeaways

Overwatch 2 introduced a mid-Season 13 update with hero balance changes and the Overwatch: Classic mode now live.
Tank, damage, and support heroes have received buffs and nerfs to their abilities to enhance gameplay.
The limited-time Overwatch: Classic event offers nostalgic 6v6 matches until December 3.

As a seasoned gamer with decades of experience under my belt, I must say that the latest patch notes for this game have left me quite intrigued. The adjustments to characters like Kiriko and Moira seem to be well thought out, aiming to enhance their playability without overpowering them.

Classic. This content update, including the temporary throwback game mode, is currently active within Overwatch 2.

The thirteenth season of Overwatch 2 kicked off on October 15 and will continue until December 10, heralding the start of Season 14. Notably, November 12 was chosen as the day for Overwatch 2 to roll out a mid-season update, aimed at rejuvenating the game during the latter part of its content duration.

As a devoted Overwatch 2 fan, I’m thrilled to dive into the latest content update that’s just been revealed! This time around, our favorite heroes from Overwatch 2 have received some well-deserved balance adjustments. For the tough-as-nails tanks and damage dealers, Doomfist’s Rocket Punch and Meteor Strike, as well as Mauga’s Overrun, are now even more formidable. Tracer’s Recall and Hanzo’s Storm Bow and Dragonstrike also got a boost!

Unfortunately, a few characters experienced some adjustments too: Junker Queen’s Jagged Blade projectile size and Adrenaline Rush self-healing multiplier have been decreased, while Junkrat’s Concussion Mine cooldown duration has been extended. Reaper’s lifesteal rate has also been diminished, and Juno’s Orbital Ray Ultimate now costs more to use, resulting in fewer instances of its activation during gameplay.

During regular Overwatch 2 games, players won’t have to fret about balance changes due to hero buffs and nerfs. On the other hand, these adjustments will matter in normal Overwatch 2 games. However, Overwatch: Classic, which is a temporary game mode introduced with this mid-season update and runs until December 3, offers a different experience. Here, players can enjoy intense 6v6 battles using old hero kits, maps, and game modes. What’s more, during the initial phase of the event, they can even field multiple copies of the same hero, resulting in amusing teams like the six-Winston “Gorilla Warfare” build that’s perfect for memes.

From November 15th to the 22nd, fans of Overwatch 2 will not only get to play the game but also receive Warcraft-themed prizes as a tribute to the franchise’s 30th birthday. Furthermore, the highly anticipated Mythic weapon skin for Soldier: 76 in Overwatch 2, named Deliverance, is now accessible in the Mythic Store. This skin comes with four levels that unlock extra reactive elements, user interface enhancements, and a weapon inspection animation. Lastly, from November 29th to December 2nd, Overwatch 2 will be hosting another Competitive Drive. This event offers challenge enthusiasts an opportunity to win the Season 13 Signature, which allows them to personalize their player name on the scoreboard, profile, and other places it appears.

Overwatch 2 Mid-Season 13 Patch Notes – November 12, 2024

Overwatch: Classic

Starting from November 12, this three-week event is open to all, whether you’re a fresh Overwatch fan or have been around since the beginning. It’s a chance to journey back to the past and relive the exciting origins of Overwatch. You can revisit classic maps, play with the original roster of heroes using their signature abilities, and immerse yourself in the unpredictable excitement of 6v6 matches with unrestricted team compositions.

Warcraft: 30 Anniversary

Celebrating three decades of Warcraft, log in anytime between November 15th and November 22nd to claim your complimentary gifts as part of our anniversary celebration!

Hero Updates

TANKS

Doomfist

Developer Note: Modifying the Rocket Punch slightly enhances the ease of executing the wall slam, leading to a potential decrease in enemies clinging to walls.

Rocket Punch
- Angle required for wall slam increased from 44 to 55 degrees.
Meteor Strike
- Ultimate cost reduced 8%.
- Healing per second while in the air increased from 75 to 90.

Junker Queen

Developer Notes: While Junker Queen isn’t the most frequently used character, she currently outperforms other tanks. The modifications we’re making aim to tone her down a bit by decreasing her self-healing ability and increasing the precision needed for her knife throw attack.

Jagged Blade
- Base projectile size reduced from 0.2 to 0.15 meters.
Adrenaline Rush
- Wound damage self-healing multiplier reduced from 2.5 to 2.25x.

Mauga

Developer Note: Due to Mauga’s recent underperformance, we’re considering enhancing what appears to be his most captivating skill – the Overrun ability.

Overrun
- Cooldown reduced from 6 to 5 seconds.
- Charge movement speed increased 15%.

DAMAGE

Hanzo

Developer Notes: With this update, Dragonstrike will no longer just target opponents but also damage non-player objects like barriers, turrets, traps, and mines. This means it’ll be more versatile, as it can now assist in clearing the battlefield of additional obstacles even when not directly defeating enemies.

Storm Bow
- Time to fully charge decreased from 0.87 to 0.80 seconds.
Dragonstrike
- Now damages enemy buildable objects.

Junkrat

Developer Notes: To decrease how often Junkrat can use his mobility and high-damage combination, we are extending the time between Concussion Mine detonations.

Concussion Mine
- Cooldown increased from 7 to 8 seconds.

Reaper

The durability boost provided by this passive is currently being adjusted because Reaper now has 300 health and improved mobility due to the decrease in the casting time of Shadow Step.

The Reapening
- Lifesteal reduced from 35 to 30%.

Tracer

Developer Note: We’re returning to the original state following the reduction in damage of Tracer’s Pulse Pistol, making her less intimidating.

Recall
- Cooldown reduced from 13 to 12 seconds.

SUPPORT

Ana

Developer Notes: The damage figure has been adjusted several times because it represents a crucial threshold for the number of attacks needed to defeat certain characters.

Biotic Rifle
- Damage and Healing increased from 70 to 75.

Juno

Game Developer Note: Last season, Juno, our premium support character, outperformed expectations, making her a top-tier hero. Her ultimate ability, Orbital Ray, has shown significant impact. To balance things out, we’ll adjust the frequency of this skill being available.

Orbital Ray
- Ultimate cost increased 10%.

Kiriko

Note for Designer: Due to the reduction in Kiriko’s health to 225 HP, making her a less potent support hero, we are slightly adjusting her ability cool-down times and weapon recharge rate to restore some of her combat effectiveness.

Kunai
- Recovery time decreased from 0.55 to 0.5 seconds.
Swift Step
- Cooldown reduced from 8 to 7 seconds.
Protection Suzu
- Cooldown reduced from 15 to 14 seconds.

Lifeweaver

Game Developer Note: LifeGrip is effective at repositioning allies and shielding them from danger, yet it predictably shows the destination, which might lead to further damage. To reduce this occurrence, we’re enhancing its healing capabilities. We’ll monitor the changes closely to ensure a balanced gameplay.

Lifegrip
- Cooldown reduced from 19 to 18 seconds.
- Healing increased from 50 to 75.
Tree of Life
- Time before Overhealth begins to drain when out of range increased from 2.5 to 6 seconds.

Moira

Developer Note: Despite the change to 225 HP, Moira didn’t suffer significantly. However, she might benefit from a minor increase in durability.

Biotic Grasp
- Self-healing increased from 24 to 30 health per second.

Bug Fixes

General

Fixed an issue with cosmetic voice effects being heard by other players.

Maps

Circuit Royale
- Fixed an issue where one of the Circuit Royale side rooms had super bright lighting.
Petra
- Fixed an issue with the Petra arena map and it is available to play again.

Heroes

Ana
- Lowered the combined damage and healing required to evolve the Midnight Sun Mythic weapon. Evolution 2: Reduced requirement by 40%, from 5,000 to 3,000. Evolution 3 (Final): Reduced requirement by 20%, from 10,000 to 8,000.
Ramattra
- Fixed an issue where Ramattra could recast barrier if he was stunned while casting the first barrier.
Zarya
- Fixed a rare issue where Zarya could avoid damage from a Reinhardt pin.

2024-11-13 00:36