Overwatch 2 Reveals Mid-Season 13 Update Notes

Key things

• Overwatch 2 introduced a mid-Season 13 update with hero balance changes and the Overwatch: Classic mode is now available.
• Tank, damage and support heroes have received buffs and nerfs to their abilities to improve gameplay.
• The limited-time Overwatch: Classic event offers nostalgic 6v6 matches until December 3rd.

Overwatch 2 revealed the patch notes for its mid-season 13 update, which includes a bunch of small hero balance updates as well as the start of Overwatch: Classic. This content update, including a limited-time nostalgic game mode, is officially live Overwatch 2 right now.

Season 13 Overwatch 2 began on October 15 and will run until the start of season 14 on December 10. This marked November 12 as the date Overwatch 2 implement a mid-season update that revives the game for the second half of the content period.

Now, Overwatch 2 shares the patch notes that accompany this new content update. As always, that means playable heroes Overwatch 2 received another pass through balance adjustments. For tanks and damage dealers, Doomfist's Rocket Punch and Meteor Strike and Mauga's Overrun got some buffs, as did Tracer's Recall and Hanzo's Storm Bow and Dragonstrike. Additionally, several supports have received beneficial tweaks, with Ana's Biotic Rifle shots dealing more damage and healing, Kiriko cooldowns and Kunai cooldowns reduced, Lifeweaver's Life Grip and Tree of Life buffs, and Moira's self-healing buffs.

Unfortunately, a few heroes also caught some nerfs. Junker Queen's Jagged Blade's projectile size and Adrenaline Rush's self-healing multiplier have been reduced, while Junkrat's Concussion Mine's cooldown has been increased. Reaper's lifesteal has also been reduced, and Juno's Orbital Ray Ultimate has had its cost increased so that it appears less frequently during matchups.

While this hero balance will affect the normal Overwatch 2 games, fans won't have to worry about these buffs and nerfs while playing Overwatch: Classic. The limited-time game mode started at the same time as this mid-season update and will run until December 3rd. Players can engage in chaotic 6v6 matches with legacy hero sets, maps, and game modes, and in the first part of the event, they can even choose any number of duplicate heroes, allowing for the creation of fun meme teams, such as the “Gorilla Warfare” build for six Winstons.

From November 15 to 22 Overwatch 2 will also be received by fans who log into the game Warcraft-thematic rewards for the 30th anniversary of the franchise. Plus new Overwatch 2 Skin Soldier: 76 Mythic weapons, Deliverance, is officially available in the Mythic Shop and features four levels that unlock additional reactivity, UI elements, and weapon control animation. Finally, from November 29 to December 2 Overwatch 2 is hosting another competitive drive that gives those looking for challenges the chance to earn a Season 13 signature to customize their player's name on the scoreboard, profile and other places they appear.

Overwatch 2 Mid-Season Patch Notes 13 – 12 November 2024

Overwatch: Classic

For new and seasoned Overwatch fans alike, this three-week event starting November 12th offers a chance to step back in time and experience the exciting early days of Overwatch. Revisit iconic maps, enjoy the original roster of heroes with their classic abilities, and embrace chaotic 6v6 fun with unlimited team compositions.

Warcraft: 30th Anniversary

To commemorate three decades of Warcraft, log in anytime between November 15th and November 22nd to get free rewards as a celebration gift!

Hero update

TANK

Doomfist

Developer Comment: This Rocket Punch modification makes it a little easier to launch a wall punch, which should result in fewer enemies sliding down the wall.

• Rocket Punch
  • The angle required to hit a wall has been increased from 44 to 55 degrees.
• Meteor Strike
  • Final cost reduced by 8%.
  • Air healing per second increased from 75 to 90.

Queen Junker

Developer Comment: Although not the most played, the Junker Queen is currently the most powerful tank. These tweaks are aimed at tweaking her slightly by reducing her self-heal and making her knife throw require more accuracy.

• Serrated blade
  • Base projectile size reduced from 0.2 to 0.15 meters.
• Adrenaline rush
  • Self-healing wound damage multiplier reduced from 2.5 to 2.25x.

Mauga

Developer Comment: Mauga has been underpowered for a while, so we're putting some power into what might be his most eye-catching ability, Overrun.

• Occupy
  • Cooldown reduced from 6 to 5 seconds.
  • Charge movement speed increased by 15%.

DAMAGE

Hanzo

Developer Comment: Changed Dragonstrike to allow damage to non-player entities such as barriers, towers, traps, and mines. This should increase its usefulness even when not eliminating opponents, as it can now help clear the battlefield of other obstacles as well.

• Storm Bow
  • Time to full charge reduced from 0.87 seconds to 0.80 seconds.
• Dragonstrike
  • Now damages enemy buildables.

Junkrat

Developer Comment: We're increasing the cooldown on Concussion Mine to reduce the frequency of Junkrat's mobility combo and burst damage.

• Concussion Mina
  • Cooldown increased from 7 to 8 seconds.

Mower

Developer Comments The added survivability from this passive is now tweaked when Reaper has 300 health and more reliable mobility after reducing the cast time on Shadow Step.

• Rebirth
  • Lifesteal reduced from 35 to 30%.

Tracer

Dev Comment: This is a return to the previous nerf, now that Tracer is less threatening due to the Pulse Pistol damage that was recently reduced.

• Appeal
  • Cooldown reduced from 13 to 12 seconds.

SUPPORT

Ana

Developer Comment: This damage value has changed back and forth a few times because it's a significant breaking point for the number of shots to take down some heroes.

• Biotic rifle
  • Damage and healing increased from 70 to 75.

Juno

Developer Comments: Juno was the ultimate metadata support hero and had an above average performance last season. Orbital Ray has also proven to be one of the more impressive ultimates, so we're reducing how often it appears.

• Orbital beam
  • Final costs increased by 10%.

Kiriko

Developer Comment: Kiriko was heavily affected by the health drop to 225 HP and was already on the weaker side of the support heroes, so we're slightly reducing her ability cooldowns and weapon cooldowns to give her some effectiveness back.

• Kunai
  • Cooldown reduced from 0.55 to 0.5 seconds.
• A quick step
  • Cooldown reduced from 8 to 7 seconds.
• Protecting Suzu
  • Cooldown reduced from 15 to 14 seconds.

Lifeweaver

Developer Comment: Lifegrip is great for moving allies around to help save them, but it also telegraphs where they end up so they can take a lot of damage right after. We're adding a bit more healing to it to make it happen less often, but we'll keep an eye on it so we don't overdo it.

• Lifegrip
  • Cooldown reduced from 19 to 18 seconds.
  • Healing increased from 50 to 75.
• The tree of life
  • Time for Overhealth to start draining while out of range increased from 2.5 seconds to 6 seconds.

Moira

Developer Comment: Moira wasn't as adversely affected by the move to 225 HP, but she could use a little boost to her survivability.

• Biotic capture
  • Self healing increased from 24 to 30 health per second.

Bug fixes

General

• Fixed an issue with cosmetic voice effects being heard by other players.

Maps

• Circuit Royale
  • Fixed an issue where one of the Circuit Royale side rooms had super bright lighting.
• Peter
  • Petra arena map issue fixed and playable again.

Heroes

• Ana
  • Reduced the combo damage and healing required to evolve the Midnight Sun Mythic weapon. Evolution 2: Requirement reduced by 40%, from 5,000 to 3,000. Evolution 3 (Final): Requirement reduced by 20%, from 10,000 to 8,000.
• Ramatra
  • Fixed an issue where Ramattra could reshape the barrier if he was stunned while casting the first barrier.
• Zarya
  • Fixed a rare issue where Zarya could avoid damage from Reinhardt's pin.