Patch Notes
Past Experiments
Overwatch Experimental Patch Notes – January 21, 2021
Experimental Hero Updates
The next experiment begins! This time we're hoping to get your feedback on some balance changes. We're using the 2-2-2 Role Queue ruleset so that you can get a feel for how these balance changes might affect the live game.
Echo
Echo's kit is designed around mobility and burst damage but she was performing too well against high health targets, such as tanks. Reducing the maximum firing duration of her primary weapon and Focusing Beam will lower her sustained damage output without impacting her burst damage potential against squishier targets.
- Ammo reduced from 15 to 12
- Duration reduced from 2.5 seconds to 2 seconds
Tracer
This new falloff range causes the damage to scale down faster when targets are outside of Tracer's optimal distance, making her less threatening at mid-range.
- Min-Max damage falloff rescaled from 13-23 meters down to 12-20 meters
Zenyatta
Zenyatta has been a bit too effective at enabling team-wide damage output lately so we're taking some power out of the Orb of Discord by reducing both its total damage amplification as well as the speed at which it can be applied over long distances. The new projectile speed now matches that of his primary fire, Orb of Destruction.
- Projectile speed reduced from 120 to 90
- Projectile speed reduced from 120 to 90
- Damage amplification reduced from 30% to 25%
Overwatch Experimental Patch Notes – January 7, 2021
Experimental Hero Updates
The next experiment begins! This time we're hoping to get your feedback on some balance changes. We're using the 2-2-2 Role Queue ruleset so that you can get a feel for how these balance changes might affect the live game.
Ashe
Ashe being able to eliminate 200 health enemy heroes with one headshot while assisted by 30% damage boost became too dominant, especially when combined with the other improvements to her weapon. We are lowering the maximum damage but also the shot recovery time to keep her overall damage output relatively the same.
- Aim-down-sights damage reduced from 80 to 75
- Aim-down-sights recovery time reduced from 0.7 to 0.65 seconds
Hanzo
This rate of fire change improves the feel and effectiveness of the Storm Arrows ability and though small, adds up over the course of firing 5 arrows.
- Shot recovery time reduced from 0.3 to 0.25 seconds
Sigma
We're increasing the cooldown of Sigma's barrier to require a higher commitment to its placement and open up additional opportunities for counterplay.
- Redeploy cooldown increased from 1 to 2.5 seconds
Wrecking Ball
Wrecking Ball's high mobility and potential for massive shield health have left him a bit too survivable after the overall damage and crowd control in the game have been tuned down. We are reducing the amount of additional shields he generates per target though the base 100 shields from the ability remains unchanged.
- Shield per target reduced from 100 to 75
Experiments
The Experimental Mode allows players to try out potential new balance updates, game modes, and rule changes. The content within this mode is not guaranteed to be released and the mode may not always be available.