Summary
Overwatch 2recently teased some of the balance changes for the Season 14 6v6 tests, including cooldown adjustments, reversions to several hero reworks, and duration reductions for barriers and battlefield obstacles. These and more changes will be implemented in an effort to adaptOverwatch 2to the 6v6 format when the first test begins on or around December 17.
6v6 has officially returned toOverwatch 2in the form of Overwatch: Classic. However, this is only the beginning of a greater experiment with six-player teams, with two different 6v6 tests planned forOverwatch 2Season 14. To facilitate these tests, certain heroes will undergo changes specifically in this game mode.
During a recent interview withOverwatch 2content creator Spilo, lead gameplay designer Alec Dawson gave a few examples of these changes. Manytanks inOverwatch 2are receiving nerfs in the form of higher cooldowns on their abilities, such as with Ramattra’s Void Barrier and Reinhardt’s Charge. Others receive reversions toOverwatch 2changes – Zarya’s barriers are on separate cooldowns again, Reinhardt loses one Fire Strike charge and steering efficiency on Charge, and Roadhog’s rework has been completely reversed.
That said, some heroes – especiallysupports inOverwatch 2– are receiving buffs instead to help them juggle larger teams. For example, Zenyatta’s Orb of Discord has a bigger effect and no longer has a cooldown per target, and Ana’s Sleep Dart and Biotic Grenade both have their cooldowns reduced.
These balance changes may sound familiar, as they makeheroes play similarly to how they do in Overwatch: Classic. In general, the design philosophy of the 6v6 tests is to move power from the tanks, reduce visual clutter and complexity, but keepOverwatch 2’s “soft crowd control” approach. Obstacles like Lifeweaver’s Tree of Life and Mauga’s Cage Fight will have their durations reduced, tank passives will be removed, and the auto-healing factor will take two seconds longer to kick in. Not everything is being reverted toOverwatch 2levels, however – Winston keeps his alt-fire, and Mei does not get her Endothermic Blaster’s freeze back. It seems like the 6v6 tests will be an interesting intersection betweenOverwatch 1and2design philosophies.
Overwatch 2
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Overwatch 2 is an always-on and ever-evolving free-to-play, team-based action game set in an optimistic future, where every match is the ultimate 5v5 battlefield brawl. Power up your railgun and disrupt the battlefield as Sojourn, or yield your axe and command attention as Junker Queen. Battle to take control of a robot and move it toward the enemy base in the new Push Mode. Bring the fight to new destinations across the globe in iconic locations like New York, Rome, Monte Carlo and Rio. Daily challenges and frequent updates mean there is always something new to play.
