Overwatch 2 Update Nerfs Zenyatta

Highlights

• Zenyatta’s dominance in Overwatch 2 has been potentially curbed with nerfs in the latest hotfix update.
• Other heroes like Widowmaker and Illari also received adjustments to balance the gameplay.
• Season 9 brought significant changes to Overwatch 2, shifting the meta and requiring players to adapt.

Overwatch 2 has released a new hotfix update with nerfs for Zenyatta and adjustments for 11 other heroes. Blizzard recently kicked off Season 9, introducing big changes for Overwatch 2 players. Among the main winners of the Season 9 update was Zenyatta, who has become a hot pick in Overwatch 2 matches.

Zenyatta now enjoys larger Orbs of Destruction after Overwatch 2‘s controversial projectile hitbox adjustment. Add this to the Orb of Discord and the new passive for DPS heroes that reduces healing by up to 20%, and Zen is now a true nightmare even for Overwatch 2’s tankiest heroes. As well as these changes, Overwatch 2’s ninth season increased Zenyatta’s health pool to 275, significantly boosting the omnic monk’s survivability. Zenyatta is possibly one of the strongest heroes in Overwatch 2, but Blizzard is bringing in measures to curb the hero’s dominance in the game’s meta.

A new Overwatch 2 hotfix update is out with nerfs for Zenyatta, and tweaks for D.Va, Roadhog, Zarya, Hanzo, Junkrat, Soldier: 76, Tracer, Widowmaker, Illari, Lucio, and Mercy. From now on, the monk will have a lower base health, dropping from 100 to 75. The Snap Kick, one of the tools in Zenyatta’s skill kit for dealing damage, has had its knockback effect nerfed by 25%. In an interview with Twitch streamer mL7, Overwatch 2 Lead Hero Designer Alec Dawson commented that the adjustments are aimed at reducing Zenyatta’s survivability, as he defines the hero as “too survivable.” In this way, the devs want to make Zenyatta feel like a “glass cannon,” making him less of a nuisance.

Some of the other adjustments in the newest Overwatch 2 hotfix include Widowmaker’s Kiss, reducing the size of the projectile to 0.05 meters. The minimum and maximum range of the scoped shot damage falloff has also changed, increasing from 40-60 to 50–70 meters. Illari, one of Overwatch 2‘s biggest balancing controversies, has received a new round of buffs. This time, her Healing Pylon has had its cooldown reduced from 8 to 6 seconds, and from 15 to 12 seconds when destroyed by enemies. The damage of Captive Sun’s Sunstruck explosion has been increased from 100 to 160, and the explosion now has falloff damage, which reduces the damage by up to 25%.

Season 9 brought big changes that altered the landscape of Overwatch 2 in many ways. Because of this, it’s understandable that it may take a while for players to get used to Overwatch 2‘s new state. With Zenyatta specifically, time will tell if this update will help to reduce his dominance, or if the hero will remain one of Overwatch 2‘s best heroes.

OVERWATCH 2 RETAIL PATCH NOTES – FEBRUARY 21, 2024 HERO UPDATES

TANK

D.VA

• Light Gun
  • Base projectile size reduced from 0.25 to 0.2 meters. Total projectile size is now 0.3 meters.

ROADHOG

• Take a Breather
  • Damage reduction increased from 40 to 50%.

ZARYA

• Particle Cannon
  • Primary fire minimum damage increased from 85 to 95 damage per second.
  • Primary fire maximum damage increased from 170 to 190 damage per second.

DAMAGE

HANZO

• Base projectile sizes reduced from 0.1 to 0.075 meters. Total projectile size is now 0.175 meters.

JUNKRAT

• Concussion Mine
  • Cooldown decreased from 8 to 7 seconds.
  • Maximum damage increased from 110 to 120.
  • Minimum damage increased from 20 to 55.

SOLDIER: 76

• Heavy Pulse Rifle
  • Now uses the smaller 0.05 meter hitscan projectile size modifier. Total projectile size is now 0.05 meters .

TRACER

• Pulse Pistols
  • Minimum falloff range reduced from 12 to 10.

WIDOWMAKER

• Widow’s Kiss
  • Now uses the smaller 0.05 meter hitscan projectile size modifier. Total projectile size is now 0.05 meters.
  • Scoped shot damage falloff min-max range increased from 40-60 to 50-70 meters.

SUPPORT

ILLARI

• Healing Pylon
  • Cooldown decreased from 8 to 6 seconds.
  • Cooldown when destroyed by enemies decreased from 15 to 12 seconds.
• Captive Sun
  • Sunstruck explosion damage increased from 100 to 160.
  • Sunstruck explosion now has damage falloff again, reducing damage by up to 25%.

LÚCIO

• Sonic Amplifier
  • Base projectile size reduced from 0.15 to 0.1 meters. Total projectiles size is now 0.25 meters.

MERCY

• Caduceus Blaster
  • Base projectile size reduced from 0.25 to 0.2 meters. Total projectile size is now 0.3 meters.

ZENYATTA

• Base health decreased from 100 to 75.
• Snap Kick