The following post is a list of changes that I think would help fix many of the problems in the game’s balance. Primary issues include buffing the strength of niche heroes, tanks and supports in particular, and redefining the roles that heroes are classified under from the present 3 to 5. The goal is to allow each role the ability to show their skill, and affect the outcome of matches more directly. The majority of the changes are buffs, however some nerfs are also applied.
Given that the Experimental Card has been added, it’s possible to try out many of these things directly (particularly numerical buffs to tanks and healers), which would help to prove that they aren’t as overpowered as some claim.
General
- Ultimate charge no longer resets when swapping heroes via the spawn room
- Roles are no longer locked
- If two tanks have been selected, no further tanks may be picked
Tank (4) / Bruiser (5)
D.va
General
- Adjusted armour to health ratio (Total health is still 600)
- Armour health pool increased from 200 to 600
- Base health decreased from 400 to 0
Self-Destruct
- D.va no longer resists her own explosion
Comment: D.va’s mech is now slightly more durable, especially given its large head hitbox.
Doomfist
General
- Health increased from 250 to 350
- Base health increased from 250 to 300
- Added 50 armour
The Best Defence
- Converts 25% of damage done into temporary shields (max. 150)
Hand Cannon
- Removed
Rocket Punch
- Now bound to primary fire
- Minimum charge time decreased to 1s (damage remains ~50)
- Maximum charge time increased to 3s (damage remains 100)
- Cooldown decreased from 4s to 3s
- Range decreased from 20m to 10m
Rising Uppercut
- Now bound to secondary fire
Seismic Slam
- Removed
New Ability: “Grapple”
- Doomfist grabs a nearby enemy for 2 seconds, preventing all movement
- 15 damage on the target per second
- Doomfist cannot move or attack while this ability is active
- Ability can be cancelled early
New Ability: “Impact”
- Operates in an identical fashion to Sigma’s old Accretion
Meteor Strike
- Now knocks away enemies within range at 45°
Comment: Doomfist suits the role of a bruiser nicely. By placing enemies out of position, his allies can more easily deal with them. Mobility has been sacrificed for being much more bulky.
Orisa
General
- Health increased from 450 to 500
- Base health increased from 200 to 250
Fortify
- Damage reduction reduced from 40% to 20%
- Provides 200 temporary armour
- 20% movement speed penalty
Protective Barrier
- Barrier health increased from 600 to 900
- Cooldown increased from 10s to 12s
- Duration increased from 20s to 30s
Comment: These changes aim to help Orisa lock down a position consistently, rather than rotating frequently. Mobility has been sacrificed in exchange for being significantly more bulky.
Reinhardt
General
- Health increased from 500 to 600
- Armour health pool increased from 200 to 250
- Base health increased from 300 to 350
Barrier Field
- Barrier health increased from 1600 to 2000
- Movement speed penalty reduced from -30% to -10%
Comment: Reinhardt was previously too sluggish to get into effective range, leading to “barrier wars”. Reinhardt can now advance much more quickly, letting his team get into position, and into a fight, more rapidly.
Sigma
General
- Health increased from 400 to 450
- Shields health pool increased from 100 to 150
Accretion
- Removed
New Ability: “Gravity Well”
- Sigma targets an enemy and draws them towards himself
- Not blocked by barriers
- 2s duration
- 10s cooldown
- 75% movement penalty
Comment: Sigma’s original kit is unfocused. His new ability allows him to control his enemies’ positions as a main tank.
Wrecking Ball
General
- Health decreased from 600 to 500
- Armour health pool increased from 100 to 450
- Base health decreased from 500 to 50
Quad Cannons
- Ammunition increased from 80 to 100
Grappling Claw
- Maximum speed damage increased from 50 to 70
- Wrecking Ball now takes 50/s damage while at maximum speed after 5 seconds
Comment: Wrecking Ball stalling should now be less effective.
Zarya
General
- Adjusted shields to health ratio (Total health is still 400)
- Shields health pool decreased from 200 to 150
- Base health increased from 200 to 250
Comment: No changes have been made to Roadhog or Winston
Damage (13)
Bastion
General
- Adjusted armour to health ratio (Total health is still 300)
- Armour health pool increased from 100 to 150
- Base health decreased from 200 to 150
Ironclad
- Removed
New Passive: “Siege”
- Increases damage against barriers by 30% while transformed
Configuration: Tank
- Increased health from 300 to 400 (150 health, 250 armour)
- Ammunition reduced from 8 to 5
- Maximum duration increased from 8 seconds to 10 seconds
- Direct hit damage increased from 205 to 255
- Splash damage reduced from 140/42 to 100/20
Comment: Bastion has lacked a significant place in the metagame since launch, since it required a lot of support from its teammates. This aspect has not been altered, but Bastion has been given a more specific niche as a “bunker buster”. Its ultimate has also been changed to reward more precise aim and methodical use.
Genji
General
- Health reduced from 200 to 150
Swift Strike
- Cooldown reduced from 8s to 6s
Deflect
- Cooldown reduced from 8s to 6s
Comment: Genji’s small hitbox and high mobility may make it too easy for players to avoid damage. In exchange Deflect has been buffed significantly, allowing for more frequent use of this unique ability.
Hanzo
Storm Arrows
- Removed
Lightning Arrow
- Fires a single arrow which pierces enemies and barriers
- Damage dependent on bow charge
- 6s cooldown
Comment: Hanzo previously excelled in both close and long range. Storm Arrows have been removed, and replaced with a unique ability which allows Hanzo to pick of valuable targets from range, taking care to keep away from close-quarters engagements.
Pharah
General
- Adjusted armour to health ratio (Total health is still 200)
- Base health decreased from 200 to 150
- Added 50 armour
Comment: Pharah has been made marginally more durable in the air. In addition, nerfs to Mercy’s Guardian Angel will reduce the desirability of the Pharmercy combo. This should prevent Pharah from becoming unstoppable in low ranks, while still allowing high-level players to demonstrate their skill.
Reaper
General
- Adjusted armour to health ratio (Total health is still 250)
- Base health decreased from 250 to 200
- Added 50 armour
Wraith Form
- Now allows flight. Vertical speed is 4m/s
Shadow Step
- Removed
New Ability: “Hellfire”
- Reaper’s next two shots are infused with a potent flame, adding a burn effect to barriers and shields.
- Deals 100/s for 5 seconds against barrier, shield and temporary shield health. No effect on base health or armour.
- 6s duration
- 10s cooldown
Comment: Reaper is now more able to deal with tanks, and his mobility is more practical.
Torbjörn
General
- Health reduced from 250 to 200
- Removed 100 health
- Added 50 armour
Comment: No changes have been made to Ashe, Echo, Junkrat, McCree, Soldier: 76, Tracer or Widowmaker
Support (5) / Control (5)
Ana
General
- Health reduced from 200 to 150
Biotic Rifle
- Healing increased from 75 to 80
Biotic Grenade
- Duration increased from 4s to 5s
- Damage decreased from 60 to 50
Sleep Dart
- Projectile speed increased from 60m/s to 120m/s
Comment: Ana will need to take care to avoid close-range engagements, or be protected by her teammates. In exchange her healing power has been increased, and the value of her sleep dart has been improved.
Brigitte
Repair Pack
- No longer provides healing to base health or shields
- Armour health is healed by up to 120 over 2 seconds
- Temporary armour increased from 50 to 75
Barrier Shield
- Barrier health increased from 200 to 400
- Movement speed penalty decreased from 30% to 10%
- Barrier now breaks after using Shield Bash
- Cooldown increased from 3s to 6s
Shield Bash
- Range reduced from 6.85m to 5m
Comment: Brigitte’s durability has been increased, and a new niche has been found for her in supporting her team’s tanks.
Lúcio
General
- Adjusted shields to health ratio (Total health is still 200)
- Base health decreased from 200 to 150
- Added 50 shields
Crossfade
- Self-healing reduced from ~12.3/s to 10/s
- Healing increased from 16/s to 20/s
Amp It Up
- Self-healing reduced from 40/s to 25/s
- Healing increased from 52/s to 60/s
Comment: Lúcio’s personal survivability has been slightly reduced in favour of boosting his supporting role. This ensures that he can hold his own as his team’s main healer, and also increases the difficulty of stalling with Lúcio.
Mei
General
- Health decreased from 250 to 200
- Base health decreased from 250 to 150
- Added 50 shields
Endothermic Blaster
- Secondary fire changed from icicle to snowball
- Damage reduced from 75 to 65
- Can no longer headshot
- Causes a 15% freezing effect for 1 second (capped at 70%)
- Armour health damage reduction no longer applies to frozen enemies
- Barriers can now be frozen, increasing received damage by 20% from all sources
Cryo-Freeze
- Ice block now has 1000 health
- Ice block passively loses 200 health/s
- Destroying the ice block ends the ability early
- Healing increased from ~38.46/s to 40/s
Comment: These changes seek to address many problems described by the community. Stalling using Cryo-Freeze has now been weakened, in exchange for a greater amount of healing when its full time is used. Mei’s long range damage potential has been greatly reduced, in exchange for more team-based utility. Mei’s slowing and anti-tank effects will allow her to hold both a front- or back-line position, dealing with tanks and flankers alike.
Mercy
General
- Health reduced from 200 to 150
Caduceus Staff
- Healing increased from 50/s to 60/s
Caduceus Blaster
- Removed
New Weapon: “Pacifier”
- Fires a slow moving projectile which jams the targets primary weapon for 2 seconds
Guardian Angel
- Cooldown begins upon landing
Valkyrie
- No longer an ultimate
- Grants flight for 10 seconds
- 10s cooldown begins on landing
- No longer provides chain healing
Ressurrect
- Now an ultimate
- No longer restores armour health
- Now requires line of sight
Comments: Mercy was intended as a pacifist healer. These changes aim to improve her supporting capabilities while scrapping her damaging ones. Mercy’s health has been reduced owing to her increased mobility, which combined with her regeneration might make her frustrating to deal with.
Moira
Biotic Grasp
- Healing increased from 65/s to 80/s
Biotic Orb
- Healing increased from 65/s to 75/s
- Damage decreased from 50/s to 40/s
- Cooldown increased from 10s to 12s
Comment: Moira’s role as a pure healer has been restored, with a slight nerf to her controversial damage orbs.
Sombra
General
- Health reduced from 200 to 150
Hack
- Cooldown decreased from 8s to 6s
- Turrets can now be hacked, causing them to target allies for the duration and preventing their manual destruction
- Teleporters can be hacked, allowing allies to use them for the duration and preventing their manual destruction
Stealth
- Movement speed buff increased from 50% to 75%
Translocator
- Cooldown decreased from 6s to 3s when destroyed manually
Comment: Sombra’s versatile nature has been expanded, focusing on her role as a disabler rather than a damage dealer. Unique interactions with buildings adds more depth to her primary ability. Sombra’s focus is towards weakening the enemy team, letting her team follow up.
Symmetra
- Adjusted shields to health ratio (Total health is still 200)
- Shields health pool decreased from 100 to 50
- Base health increased from 100 to 150
Photon Projector
- Primary fire now locks onto allies, giving them 20 temporary shields per second up to a maximum of 150.
- Temporary shields decay at 10/s after 3 second.
- Beam damage is unchanged.
Comment: Symmetra is once again changing roles. Symmetra will be a versatile supporter, providing her allies with shields, increasing their mobility, and wearing down enemy barriers. Shifting between these different focuses will be a large part of developing her skill.
Zenyatta
General
- Adjusted shields to health ratio (Total health is still 200)
- Shields health pool decreased from 150 to 100
- Base health increased from 50 to 100
New Passive: “Enlightenment”
- 20% movement speed buff for 3s after taking damage
Orb of Discord
- Damage boost increased from 25% to 30%
Comment: Zenyatta’s new passive ability will allow him to escape from enemy dives without amplifying his damaging capability.
Comment: No changes have been made to Baptiste