As a seasoned Overwatch player with countless hours spent on the battlefield, I must say that these recent map updates are nothing short of a game-changer. From Hill to Numbani, each map has been meticulously tweaked to provide a more balanced and dynamic experience for both attackers and defenders.
The thirteenth season of Overwatch 2, titled “Spellbinder,” has just started, and it introduces several notable changes to the game’s cast of characters.
According to the latest updates outlined in the official notes, the character undergoing significant modifications is Sombra. The Stealth function of this hero will now operate differently, as she’ll enter Stealth mode for five seconds immediately after using her Translocator. Unlike before, Sombro will no longer lose her Stealth by hacking enemies or taking damage; instead, these actions will momentarily expose her location. Additionally, Blizzard has reintroduced Sombra’s Opportunist passive ability, enabling her to spot wounded opponents behind walls and inflict extra damage on targets that have been hacked.
In an article discussing the recent update, game director Aaron Keller explained that modifications were made to ensure Sombra doesn’t have the freedom to assume any position during stealth maneuvers. Additionally, these updates introduce a fresh gameplay mechanic that enhances her ability to inflict damage, making her more formidable.
In the thrilling Season 13 update, I’ve noticed some tweaks on my beloved Tank heroes – Ramattra, Reinhardt, and Mauga. Notably, Ramattra’s Pummel ability no longer breaks through shields, but it now dished out a whopping 2.5 times more damage to them as a fair trade-off. According to the patch notes, the previous ability’s capacity to damage through shields was causing quite a headache for players trying to safeguard themselves or their teammates.
Regarding Reinhardt’s protective barrier, its strength has been decreased by 100, according to Keller, making it a tough decision for players whether to use the shield to deflect attacks or absorb them directly. In contrast, Mauga has received an enhancement, as his incendiary chaingun now inflicts damage over four seconds rather than three, which should boost his effectiveness against smaller, trickier targets, as stated by Blizzard.
In the latest update, Juno, the new Support character in the game, has undergone a balance adjustment affecting her healing capabilities. This adjustment reduces both the amount she heals and the range at which her Mediblaster’s healing effect falls off. To effectively compensate for these changes, players will need to strategically utilize Juno’s mobility skills to maintain an optimal positioning. Blizzard has also made minor tweaks to other characters, such as extending Brigitte’s Repair Pack cooldown and providing a slight health boost to Hanzo.
In Overwatch 2 Season 13, several modifications have been made to multiple maps. Specifically, four maps – Circuit Royal, Havana, Dorado, and Numbani – have undergone various alterations. These changes include the addition of cover, adjustments to lines of sight, the introduction of new pathways, and shifts in spawn locations. For a comprehensive comparison, check out the official patch notes where you can see the changes side by side.
Alongside numerous map and character alterations, during Season 12, Clash, the newest game mode in Overwatch 2, underwent modifications. Blizzard aims to decrease the occurrence of lopsided victories in this mode, leading them to adjust capture times and make it more feasible for Attackers to claim at least one part of the final objective point.
In the 13th season of Overwatch 2, a fresh PvP Halloween game mode was introduced, along with the return of some previous PvE event modes such as Junkenstein’s Revenge and Wrath of the Bride. Coming soon are skins themed after My Hero Academia. For additional information, please refer to the patch notes provided below.
Overwatch 2 Retail Patch Notes – October 15, 2024
Season 13 – Season of Spellbinders
In Season 13, terrorize your adversaries with the mythical Spellbinder Widowmaker, a witchcraft expert who exudes style and charm with mesmerizing animations and magical effects. Engage in combat during Junkenstein’s Laboratory, the thrilling Halloween Terror PvP game mode that introduces mutations transforming heroes into horrors! Also, witness justice clash between heroes and villains in the My Hero Academia collaboration, offering exclusive cosmetics inspired by the anime’s renowned characters. Prepare for a season brimming with magic, strength, and chilling encounters!
Overwatch 2 X My Hero Academia
Step into the world of Overwatch 2 and team up with your favorite heroes from My Hero Academia! Embrace justice as Tracer transforms into Deku, Reinhardt becomes All Might, or choose Juno as Uravity. On the other hand, if you’re more inclined towards villainy, switch to Reaper as Tomura Shigaraki and Kiriko as Himiko Toga to cause chaos! Don’t wait too long though – grab the Mega Bundle, featuring exclusive skins inspired by My Hero Academia, only available from October 17th to October 30th.
K. Horikoshi / Shueisha, My Hero Academia Project
Halloween Terror 2024
During Halloween this year, the Halloween Terror event promises a thrilling, spine-tingling time with both fresh and familiar game modes. Dive into the madness of Junkenstein’s Laboratory, an exhilarating Team Deathmatch where you can upgrade your characters using potent cursed talent cards. Then revisit the chilly cooperative adventure of Junkenstein’s Revenge, fending off waves of zombie robots and monstrous bosses. Lastly, explore the terrifying mysteries of Adlersbrunn in Wrath of the Bride, a suspenseful PvE experience brimming with puzzles, haunted castles, and startling surprises. Brace yourself for the fears and triumph over the terror!
Hero Mastery Mode – Cassidy & Brigitte
Beginning on Halloween, October 31st, and running until November 12th, you’ll get an opportunity to hone your abilities with either Cassidy’s Peacekeeper or Brigitte’s Shield Bash. During this period, you can take on unique challenges to win exclusive rewards and extra Battle Pass experience as you demonstrate your skills in these fresh arenas.
General Updates
Interactive Scoreboard
To enhance player interaction, particularly on controllers, we’ve incorporated a feature that allows users to engage with the Revamped Scoreboard. This Interactive Scoreboard is designed to simplify reporting and make it more efficient, while also enhancing your social gaming experience by facilitating communication in whatever preferred method you choose or opting for privacy. Here are some of the new features accessible through the Interactive Scoreboard:
- Adjusting Mic Volume of other players
- Adjusting your Mic Volume
- Reporting other players
- Joining/Leaving Team Voice Chat
- Joining/Leaving Group Voice Chat
- Muting Team Text Chat
- Muting Match Text Chat
- Muting Text Chat of other players
Matchmaking Updates
- Tuning changes to reduce queue times for Wide matches in Competitive Play.
- Loss Streak avoidance tuned down to prevent cases where it could increase worst case scenario queue times.
Team Note: The technology doesn’t seem to reduce loss streaks as expected, and there’s a possibility that it could extend wait times. Therefore, we’ll temporarily reduce its effectiveness for the time being.
- Role Delta tuning tightened, to try to match Ranks on the roles on each team more closely.
Developer Comment: It seems that the game quality rises noticeably when you’re paired with a player from the opposite team who plays the same role as you. We think we can refine this preference without causing major delays in wait times for matches.
- Role Delta has been updated to prioritize the Tank Role above other roles.
Developer Insights: We’re brainstorming strategies to enhance the Tank gameplay across all aspects, aiming to provide a fairer distribution of matches and minimize lopsided battles for the entire team.
- At higher Ranks the effects of MMR Decay, Winning Trend, Losing Trend, and Calibration have been reduced.
Developer Comment: High-tier players might find it fortunate to swiftly climb beyond their usual top rank on fresh accounts, as they do so without necessarily demonstrating the same level of skill or experience accumulated over time as other players.
- At higher Ranks the matchmaker now takes into account the benefits of grouping when constructing matches.
Developer Notes: For quite a while, groups have had significant advantages over teams made up solely of individual players in the top tiers. With this update, our goal isn’t to eliminate the advantage of being in a group completely in the higher ranks, but rather to reduce the excessive gap between the two.
Public Custom Games
- Hosting Public Custom Games now requires Endorsement Level 3.
Game Developers’ Note: A friendly reminder that we’ve been taking action against accounts posting disruptive content in our game browser, and we mean it when we say we’re committed to eliminating troublesome players who violate our Code of Conduct. If an account is penalized for social infractions, its endorsement level will be lowered to 0. This mechanism, along with our social actions, provides a single opportunity for the user to correct their behavior before receiving a permanent ban. Users below Endorsement Level 3 can still host games using “Friends” or “Invite Only” settings, but they won’t have access to the “Everyone” setting.
Streamer Protect
- Access to the “Hide My Name” function of Streamer Protect now requires completing the “Unrelenting Hero” Lifetime Challenge.
Developer Note: To address community suggestions and prevent misuse by troublesome players, we’re planning to restrict access to this feature for recently created accounts. However, please note that even if a player hides their name using the “Anonymous Mode,” they can still be reported and penalized, as our system recognizes their true battle tag privately.
Challenge Updates
- Select challenges are now visible in the Main Menu.
- Challenge Rewards can now be inspected in detail in the Challenges Menu.
Developer Comments: Challenges are now in the main menu to highlight their rewards, primarily for new Event Challenges.
SHOP UPDATES
- Mythic Skin Aspects Add-on Cosmetic is now added to the Mythic Shop.
- Overwatch League Store tab was removed and replaced by a separate button in the bottom of the main Shop tab.
COMPETITIVE UPDATES
The requirements to appear on the Top 500 Leaderboard have changed:
- Win requirement per season reduced from 50 to 25.
- The Seasoned Competitor challenge (750 lifetime wins in Competitive Play) is now required to be completed to be eligible for any Top 500 Leaderboard starting in Season 12.
Hero Updates
General
- Swapping your hero hides your selection on the enemy scoreboard for 15 seconds.
Developer Commentary: This modification increases the resistance to simultaneous hero swaps between opponents, particularly when both are initially positioned in their respective spawn areas, quickly exchanging characters based on one another’s selections on the scoreboard.
Tank
Mauga
Dev Note: Extending Mauga’s burn duration could enhance the incentive for aiming at trickier, less accessible targets by offering improved rewards.
Incendiary Chaingun
- Ignite damage over time duration increased from 3 to 4 seconds.
Ramattra
Developer Comments: Previously, Ramattra’s attacks could pass through defensive barriers, causing annoyance for players trying to safeguard themselves or their teammates. Now, these modifications let Ramattra inflict critical damage on barriers, making him an effective choice against barrier-based strategies. However, he won’t instantly harm players on the opposite side of the barriers anymore.
Pummel
Pummel
- No longer pierces barriers.
- Now deals 2.5x more damage to barriers.
Reinhardt
Developer Notes: I’m making a few adjustments to the durability and healing speed of the barrier since it was getting a bit hard to penetrate or heal.
Barrier Field
- Barrier Field health reduced from 1600 to 1500.
Damage
Hanzo
As a gamer, I’m thrilled to share that the developers are bringing Hanzo back to his original health status. This adjustment is made possible due to the recent tweaks in weapon damage, meaning that now, a well-timed headshot can effectively take down an opponent Hanzo. Let’s gear up and enjoy the gameplay!
- Base health increased from 225 to 250.
Sojourn
Developer Notes: Adjustments made to Railgun now allow it a longer duration before energy decay begins, reducing the need for immediate use of secondary fire. Furthermore, the Disruptor Shot will see an increase in damage, enhancing its functionality as an obstacle-creating tool. Additionally, it will now generate a modest amount of Railgun energy, expanding its versatility.
Railgun
- Energy no longer stops degenerating at 25 energy.
- Time before energy degeneration begins increased from 7 to 12 seconds.
Disruptor Shot
- Damage per second increased from 60 to 80
- Now generates 25% of damage done to enemy players as Railgun energy.
Sombra
Developer Comments: This is a significant change to Sombra’s playstyle in the hopes of making her more interactive for the opposing team and shifting some of her power from the utility of Stealth and Hack into increased lethality.
As a cunning gamer controlling Sombra, I’ve noticed that her stealth mode doesn’t last as long as the Translocator cooldown, creating moments of exposed vulnerability. However, this doesn’t diminish her ability to slip through treacherous zones unnoticed. To persist in enemy lines, it’s crucial to dart from cover to cover, much like other agile flankers do. Moreover, not losing the stealth speed when I take damage makes it a more effective getaway tool, adding a layer of versatility to my gameplay.
Hack
- No longer ends Stealth but does reveal Sombra.
- Hacked ability lockout effect duration reduced from 1.5 to 1.0 seconds (EMP duration unchanged).
- BOB hacked stun duration reduced from 10 to 3 seconds.
Translocator
- Cooldown increased from 5 to 7 seconds.
EMP
- Ultimate cost increased 12%.
Stealth
- No longer passive and now activates by using Translocator.
- Now has a 5 second duration.
- Added stealth timer around the reticle and removed ability icon.
- Taking damage now reveals Sombra for 1 second instead of ending stealth.
Opportunist
- The Opportunist passive has been added back in.
- Increases Sombra’s weapon damage versus hacked targets by 20%.
- See critically injured enemies through walls.
Support
Baptiste
As a devoted fan, I’m excited about this update! Instead of boosting Baptiste’s primary fire strength, it’s designed primarily to lessen the strain of managing recoil during prolonged gameplay sessions, making my experience more comfortable and enjoyable in the long run.
Biotic Launcher
- Primary fire recoil reduced by 30%.
Brigitte
Developer Note: To keep Brigitte’s healing rate consistent, we’ve made a minor tweak to balance it out.
Repair Pack
- Cooldown increased from 5 to 5.5 seconds.
Juno
Dev Comment: We’re reducing Juno’s healing range because her healing output is excessively high compared to her mobility. This adjustment will make it more crucial for players to strategically use her movement skills effectively.
Mediblaster
- Falloff range reduced from 30-50 meters to 20-35 meters.
- Healing per projectile reduced from 6.5 to 6.
Map Updates
CLASH
- Capture time on the final objective points A and E now increases for Attackers as segments get secured consecutively from 1x /1x / 1x to 0.7x /1.1x /1.4x, to make the first segment easier to capture for attackers but consecutive ones harder.
- Defenders now respawn instantly as the first segment and second segment get secured instead of when the previous objective points B or D get captured.
- Unlock time for final objective points A and E has been increased from 25 seconds to 27.5 seconds.
- Decay rate on final objective points A and E have been doubled for attackers to not lose their progress as quickly when stepping off the point.
- Capture time for defenders on objective points B and D has been increased by 10% to give attackers more opportunities to attack the point.
Developer Notes: To minimize the frequency of lopsided attacks in the Clash game mode, we’ve made adjustments. Additionally, we aim to simplify the task of capturing at least one segment on final objective points for attacking players. Therefore, we’ve increased the capture time slightly for the defending team, making the battle for objectives B and D a bit more balanced in favor of attackers.
Circuit Royal
1st Point
- New exit options from attackers initial spawn to reduce spawn camping.
- Initial high ground right flank brought in and access adjusted to reduce spawn camping.
- Cover options added.
- New far side flank option to contest defenders on the high ground by the bridge.
2nd Point
- Improved spawn protections for attackers leaving the second spawn area to reduce spawn camping.
- Additional cover added while pushing high ground for attackers.
- New flank added for attackers to take rear high ground by the chicane.
- Hill lowered slightly and road angled forward to make approach for attackers slightly more comfortable.
3rd Point
- Improved options for attackers leaving the third spawn area to combat spawn camping.
- Flank route to high ground pool area widened and additional cover added to increase play options in this space.
- Sightlines improved for attackers to poke at entrenched defender positions in the final area.
Experiencing Transformation: Then and Now
Dorado
1st Point
- Starting high ground cover and access has been adjusted to reduce spawn camping.
- Flank routes have been streamlined for attackers.
- Various geometry adjustments to provide more favorable gameplay opportunities for attackers in the market area.
2nd Point
- Staircase added for easier attacker access to the high ground.
- Added access to the courthouse for attackers.
3rd Point
- Cover added after the chokepoint on the main path.
Before and AfterBefore and AfterBefore and AfterBefore and AfterBefore and AfterBefore and After
Havana
1st Point
- Reduced sightlines into the attackers’ spawn.
- Added new options for attackers to exit their spawn.
- Reduced oppressive high ground vantage points for defenders.
2nd Point
- Widened doorways and certain routes for cleaner navigation and flow.
- Closed small holes through certain assets to block sightlines and projectiles.
3rd Point
- Redesigned attackers’ spawn interior and added additional routes for a safer attacker exit.
- Sightlines from the fort wall to spawn and main route have been reduced.
- Pathing into the fort has been consolidated on one side for cleaner flow and to give both teams more options while in combat around the final chokepoint.
Initially and Eventually
Numbani
1st Point
- Attackers’ initial spawn room has been pushed a lot closer to first point to reduce runback times.
- Lowered some high ground around first point.
- Easier access to flank routes around first point.
- Combined the paths in the building behind the payload on first point – one room that connects everything.
2nd Point
- Forward defender spawn points have been added to reduce runback times for defenders.
- A staircase has been added near attackers forward spawn for easier access to high ground.
- Added a connecting path past and above the choke into third point.
3nd Point
- Relocated a pesky sign.
- Removed a tree.
Initial State vs. Final State
Bug Fixes
General
- Fixed a bug that caused some players to be unable to purchase golden weapons.
- Fixed a bug where the Voice Chat Devices setting was unable to be changed.
- Fived a bug that caused Adrenaline Junkie achievement to sometimes not grant.
Heroes
Baptiste
- Fixed a bug with Baptiste’s Zombie Walk Emote.
Sigma
- Fixed a bug where Sigma would not gain Overhealth for Juno’s Mediblaster.
Reaper
- In a previous update, fixed a bug that caused exit sound enemy reaper’s shadow step to not play.
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2024-10-16 23:40