Overwatch 2’s first big balancing patch takes aim at problem heroes

The nerfs are promising, but we’ll have to wait awhile to test them out.

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Overwatch 2’s next patch will target some of the strongest heroes currently in the game. In apost on the Blizzard forums, Overwatch 2 community manager Andy “AndyB” Belford outlined a selection of nerfs set to take effect on November 15. The changes target Sombra, Genji, Zarya, D.Va, and the new ninja-themed support, Kiriko. The full list of changes is as follows:

Sombra

Genji

Zarya

D.va

Kiriko

We’ve previously covered how all thebest tanks in North Americahave been playing Zarya. With Overwatch 2’s shift to a single tank meta, many feared damage-oriented secondary tanks like the Russian weightlifter would be left behind. It seems Blizzard overcorrected, as her new double bubbles have let her become a bit of a raid boss with near-constant invulnerability.

The uptime reduction seems like a smart shift to tone her down without undermining that fantasy. D.Va, meanwhile, retains her new and improved defensive matrix while simply having her damage and accuracy taken down a peg.

Support slayer Genji thoroughly benefitted from the shift to a single tank meta, so needing more shurikens to kill and having fewer of them in a clip (magazine? forearm?) could strike a better balance with the freer hand he has in the backline now. Sombra, similarly, will now have less potential as a solo assassin, especially with that massive hacking damage nerf (40% to 25%).

New heroes always need at least a little tuning after getting introduced, and Kirkio’s reduced invulnerability window will attach greater risk to wanton teleporting.

These all seem like sensible changes to balance a hero shooter that, despitesome progression and monetization issues, is stillthe game we’ve lovedsince 2016 at heart.

While we’re here, if Blizzard is taking balance comments, I would like to suggest some changes for Cassidy:

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Ted has been thinking about PC games and bothering anyone who would listen with his thoughts on them ever since he booted up his sister’s copy of Neverwinter Nights on the family computer. He is obsessed with all things CRPG and CRPG-adjacent, but has also covered esports, modding, and rare game collecting. When he’s not playing or writing about games, you can find Ted lifting weights on his back porch.

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