Overwatch 2 releases new update for October 2024

Important takeaways

• A surprise update for Overwatch 2 introduces hero balance changes for regular matches and Junkenstein's Laboratory.
• Buffs to Ramatra and Wrecking Ball, nerfs to Orisa and Juno, and tweaks to Sombra offer gameplay variety.
• Overwatch 2's new Rapid Balance Update technology hints at more frequent surprise patches for player enjoyment.

Overwatch 2 just released a surprise content update with hero balance for both regular matches and the Halloween Terror game mode Junkenstein's Laboratory. With buffs to Ramatra and Wrecking Ball, nerfs to Orisa and Juno, and even more changes to Sombra, this new patch promises to shake things up for Overwatch 2 mid season 13 patch.

On October 15, Overwatch 2 began Season 13: Spellbinder. In addition to a bunch of hero balance changes, the update introduced Junkenstein's Laboratory, a limited-time Halloween Terror game mode with customizable talents that improve and change how certain heroes play each round.

Now, Overwatch 2 has introduced a new content update with additional hero balance changes. Recent tweaks to Ramattra's Pummel have been restored, allowing him to smash through barriers once more, while Wrecking Ball's ammo and Grappling Claw's length have been increased. Juno and Orisa were both nerfed, with the former's ultimate healing now less health per second, and the latter having some of her armor converted to health, her Energy Javelin's damage reduced, and Fortify's heatsink feature removed. Finally, Sombra has received additional tweaks Overwatch 2with a slightly faster EMP charge and Stealth reaction when using the Translocator, but with Hack now revealing her from Stealth.

Interestingly, this Overwatch 2 patch also introduced changes to Junkenstein's laboratory. Some of the mutations used by Ashe, Genji, Kiriko, Mercy, Moira, Orisa and Reaper received buffs, while some of D.Va, Pharah and Zenyatta's selections were downgraded. The game mode will be available through November 4th, so players have a week from patch day to experiment with these new mutations.

Typically, Overwatch 2 implements hero balance updates every month, once for every major content update every two months, and again for the mid-season cycle. This update was a welcome surprise that came outside of the expected schedule, and with Overwatch 2s new Rapid Balance Update technology, this could become the norm for FPS.

Players can expect another hero balance update in just a few weeks. The mid-season patch for Overwatch 2 will likely release on November 12th or 19th, which will almost certainly bring even more buffs and nerfs to its character. Plus several new ones Overwatch 2 Quick Play: Hacked game modes are coming soon, leading to some exciting 6v6 tests when Season 14 rolls around in December.

Overwatch 2 Patch Notes – October 29, 2024

Arcade updates

Junkenstein's Laboratory

We've been excited to see everyone playing around and trying out the various Junkenstein's Laboratory mutations over the past few weeks. As we enter the final week of this limited time event, we will be making some adjustments to the different mutations each hero can receive before each round. Junkenstein's Laboratory will still be playable in Arcade through November 4th.

• Ashe
  • Trail by Fire
    • Damage to burning targets now deals an additional 30% final charge, previously 25%
  • Fire and fury
    • Viper's shot at burning targets now reduces Coach Gun and Dynamite cooldowns by 7%, previously 5%.
  • Demon's ward
    • We have increased the shield health from the deployed barrier projector to 600 from 300.
• D.Va
  • Anti-Boost
    • Fixed an issue where Booster impact caused extra damage on top of the anti-healing debuff.
  • No escape
    • Weapon damage increase is reduced to 75% every 100%.
• Genji
  • Terrifying speed
    • Shuriken critical hits now increase attack speed by 3%, up to 10 stacks, for 10 seconds, previously increased attack speed by 2%, up to 15 stacks, for 10 seconds.
  • Vampiric Deflection
    • Deflect now heals for 15% of your maximum health per second, previously 10%.
  • Bitter revenge
    • Deflect now causes the next Swift Strike to deal up to 75% more damage based on the damage prevented, previously 50%.
  • Master Department
    • Cooldown now increased by 3 seconds, previously 5 seconds.
• Kiriko
  • Not your time
    • Now grants 30% bonus healing to allies below 50% health, previously 25% bonus healing.
  • Together
    • After teleporting, grant the closest ally 75 Overhealth for 5 seconds, previously 50 Overhealth.
  • Unloaded
    • After casting a Protection Suzu, attack speed is increased by 20% for 10 seconds, previously 5 seconds.
  • Vindictive Vision
    • Damaging enemies longer than 12 meters now reveals them for 5 seconds, previously 3 seconds.
  • Gift of the spirit world
    • Protection Suzu now heals Kiriko for an extra 100 health and grants and 25% movement speed for 5 seconds, previously 80 health for 3 seconds.
• Mercy
  • Mend and Mar
    • Mercy now heals all allies within 20 yards for 150% of the damage she deals while not in Valkyrie, previously 100%. Healing for damage done while Valkyrie is active remains at 200%.
  • Power for a price
    • Caduceus Staff's damage boost now heals connected targets for 10% of their damage dealt to enemies, previously 7.5%.
  • Enduring servant
    • Cooldown reduced to 7 seconds, previously 10 seconds.
  • Witches never die
    • We have increased the shield health from the deployed barrier projector to 600 from 300.
  • Fall from grace
    • When using Angelic Descent, movement speed is now increased by 20%, previously 15%.
• Moira
  • Terrifying fascination
    • Secondary Fire now remains locked to target at a 40% narrow angle, previously from 50%.
  • Siphon Strike
    • Quick Melee now restores 15% of Max Biotic energy, previously 10%.
  • Equilibrium
    • Now reduces movement speed by 20%, previously 30%.
• Orisa
  • Fly at night
    • While casting Javelin Spin, Orisa gains free flight and 15% increased movement speed.
  • Mega monster
    • Gain 200% over health while being slowed by 20%, previously 35%.
  • Diminishing whirlwind
    • Spear Spin now instantly takes out 90% of Max Augmented Fusion Driver's overheat gauge, previously 50%.
  • Chilling blow
    • Energy Javelin now instantly drains 90% of Augmented Fusion Driver's overheat gauge, previously 50%.
  • Arcane Energy
    • Energy Javelin now has 20% reduced cooldown, previously 15%.
  • Violence occurred
    • Critical hits now increase attack speed by 8% for 5 seconds, previously 6%.
• Danger
  • Terrifying superiority
    • After using Jump Jets and Jet Dash, Pharah now deals 20% more damage for just 3 seconds, previously 5 seconds.
• Reaper
  • Swift Shadow
    • Shadow Step cast time is now reduced by 30%, previously 35%.
• Zenyatta
  • Holy speed
    • Harmony orb now buffs the target with 20% movement speed, previously 25%.
  • Master and disciple
    • Zenyatta now gains a 40% effective Harmony Orb on herself, previously 50%. Allied Harmony Orb effectiveness remains the same at 20%.

Competitive updates

As of Season 13 for games with Open Queue Competitive, we now match players in wide groups, narrow groups, and solo players in the same matchmaking pool. This change aims to help open queue groups of all sizes from having to wait extremely long wait times to find a match. We will be removing the Wide Group modifier and messaging interface in Open Queue Competitive in a future update.

Hero balance

TANK

• Orisa
  • Base health increased from 125 to 175.
  • Base armor reduced from 350 to 300.
  • Energy Spear
    • Damage reduced from 80 to 70.
  • Consolidate
    • No longer reduces heat generation in Fusion Driver.
• Ramatra
  • Punch
    • Back to piercing bars again.
    • No longer deals critical damage to barriers.
• Wrecking Ball
  • Four cannons
    • Ammo increased from 80 to 100.
  • Gripping Claw
    • Duration increased from 6 to 8 seconds.

DAMAGE

• Sombra
  • Hedge
    • Now goes out of stealth when hacking an enemy target.
  • Translocator
    • Delay before entering stealth reduced from 0.5 to 0.33 seconds.
    • Fade-in time reduced from 0.3 to 0.15 seconds.
  • EMP
    • Final cost reduced by 10%.

SUPPORT

• Juno
  • Orbital Ray
    • Healing reduced from 100 to 85 health per second.

Bug fixes

General

• Fixed an issue where auto-requeue for Quick Play was not working correctly.
• Fixed an issue that did not allow certain OWL players' icons to be purchased individually.
• Fixed an issue with the HDR setting that caused the game screen to go black.
• Fixed an issue where the first purchase attempt of a golden weapon would fail.
• Fixed an issue that caused the Gray Overwatch League Overwatch 2 skins to be missing from the hero gallery.
• In a previous update, fixed a crash in the hero gallery.

Maps

• Dorado
  • Fixed an issue where the payload could be contested from unintended locations on Dorado.

Heroes

• Mercy
  • Fixed a bug with jump/crouch cancel staying active longer than intended.
  • In a previous update, fixed an issue where players with Pink Mercy and Rose Gold Mercy skins equipped could not hear gun sounds in first person.
• Reaper
  • Fixed an issue where reaper would sometimes not play custom shadow step sounds in first person.
• Reinhardt
  • In a previous update, fixed an issue where the All Might Reinhardt skin would not play Ultimate sounds.