Overwatch Fan Patch

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

yeah no…

although I can see you put a lot of effort into this… its just a buff for hanzo and genji…

everything else is nothing…

its just a buff for hanzo and genji…

It’s not a buff for either of them, Hanzo got directly nerfed and Genji had his health reduced. I don’t care that you find it hard to beat them.

everything else is nothing…

You seriously think that nothing written here would have any effect on the game? Or are you just so desperate to attack me that you aren’t going to read it? You main Brigitte on this alt account and she got massive buffs…

1 Like

this is a forum not a school.
blizzard is not gonna do what you want cos all this chats are old. and this pointless attack fights.
genji and hanzo shimada was op and they nerf it. everyones gonna get mad again they get buff
wish someone end this. not like a forum teacher is gona come and stop it. like a school teacher

I read the whole thing, all I see are insignificant tank nerfs/buffs and a buff for genji/hanzo

your side grade for bastion is pointless

your changing doomfist into a tank wont work

you haven’t touched two of the most broken heros widow and tracer

and big whoop you took 50 of genji’s health… and gave him a shorter invulnerability cooldown… whats the point?

he’s hard to hit in the first place, why should be be able to be invulnerable ontop of that?

its not an attack, its my opinion, feel free to disagree, but you attack me regardless of whether I state facts, share experiences, or speak opinions…

this is your opinion, I rebutted with mine

yes, you put a lot of effort into it, that is to be commended, but the ideas wont do anything, you’re buffing heros that don’t need to be buffed, nerfing/ignoring heros that don’t need to be ignored, and side grading heros that is pointless

all I see are insignificant tank nerfs/buffs and a buff for genji/hanzo

Then I recommend an appointment with the eye-doctor of your choosing, I’m not going to engage with your silly nonsense any further.

that’s your prerogative, please observe it in all of my other posts as well if you would be so kind

“Insignificant”

This is insignificant, but this is a buff?

yep

20 characters…

Would you care to elaborate?

if you don’t already know why, you wont understand and will just flame me for it, so no, I do not

1 Like

Sure dude, keep living in your bubble

better than being attacked by nobodys over the internet when a discussion would be much more useful

shrugs

He thinks that Hanzo and Widowmaker are OP, which apparently means that anything short of deleting them from the game will have no effect on the meta…

he is not wrong you know? hanzos ult is scary good. widowmaker venom shots pretty op. he is not thinking he knows.

why do you think they are 2 of the most played DPS…

1 Like

No he’s definitely wrong.

It really isn’t unless you’re in Bronze, where people haven’t learned to look out for giant screaming dragons. It’s so weak that you HAVE to combo it with another ult.

widowmaker venom shots pretty op

Lol no. Anything with big flashing lights should be easy to avoid. idk what rank you’re playing in but this is a pretty silly thing to consider overpowered.

The top 2 DPS right now are McCree and Ashe. Then there’s Genji, Tracer, Junkrat, THEN Hanzo. Widowmaker is actually 4th worst, ahead of only Sombra, Bastion and Symmetra. Widowmaker hasn’t been relevant for almost a year. McCree has dominated in all ranks for that time, since he works in close range and at long range.

1 Like

most played DPS heros in my matches, Widow, Hanzo, Ashe, Mcree, Trace, Genji

everything else might as well not exist

any buff’s to these heros is not wanted, or warrented… if you don’t understand that well you obviously don’t play the same game as the rest of us

I can’t account for your personal experience, only for the statistics from the game as a whole.

any buff’s to these heros is not wanted, or warrented

It’s a good think I didn’t buff any of them then…

any buff’s to these heros is not wanted, or warrented

You being bad at the game is not a reason to leave the balance in a bad state. Have you tried using barriers to avoid getting shot, something that no one else seems to have trouble with?

1 Like

private profiles skew the statistics, there are more private profiles than public ones

genji/hanzo

im not, im plat rank, where the majority play, I am as “bad” as everyone else at my rank who isn’t a smurf, which is the majority of the player base, stop using this inaccurate slight against people who disagree with you

your “patch” wouldn’t change the balance because it doesn’t fix the underlying problems of smurfs, or the fact that a small number of DPS are grossly overpowered

have you tried using an umbrella to shield yourself from a thermonuclear detonation?

everyone else has trouble with it

1 Like