Overwatch 2 Reveals Mid-Season 13 Update Patch Notes

Key Takeaways

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

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

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

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

Unfortunately, a few heroes caught some nerfs as well. Junker Queen’s Jagged Blade projectile size and Adrenaline Rush self-healing multiplier have both been reduced, while Junkrat’s Concussion Mine cooldown has been increased. Reaper’s lifesteal has likewise been lowered, and Juno’s Orbital Ray Ultimate has had its cost increase to make it appear less frequently during matches.

While this hero balance will affect normal Overwatch 2 games, fans won’t need to worry about these buffs and nerfs while playing Overwatch: Classic. The limited-time game mode began alongside this mid-season update, and runs until December 3. Players can engage in chaotic 6v6 matches with old hero kits, maps, and game modes, and for the first part of the event, they can even choose any number of duplicate heroes, allowing for hilarious meme teams like the six-Winston “Gorilla Warfare” build.

From November 15 through the 22nd, Overwatch 2 fans who log into the game will also receive Warcraft-themed rewards to commemorate the franchise’s 30th anniversary. Additionally, the new Overwatch 2 Soldier: 76 Mythic weapon skin, Deliverance, is officially available in the Mythic Shop, featuring four tiers that unlock additional reactivity, UI elements, and a weapon inspect animation. Lastly, from November 29 through December 2, Overwatch 2 is holding another Competitive Drive, giving challenge-seekers the chance to earn the Season 13 Signature to customize their player name on the scoreboard, profile, and other places where it appears.

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

Overwatch: Classic

For both new and seasoned Overwatch fans, this three-week event beginning November 12 offers a chance to step back in time and experience the thrilling origins of Overwatch. Revisit iconic maps, enjoy the original hero roster featuring their classic abilities, and embrace the chaotic fun of 6v6 with no-limit team compositions.

Warcraft: 30 Anniversary

To commemorate three decades of Warcraft, log in any time from November 15 to November 22 and receive free rewards as a celebration gift!

Hero Updates

TANKS

Doomfist

Developer Comments: This Rocket Punch adjustment makes it slightly easier to trigger the wall slam which should result in fewer enemies sliding along the wall.

• Rocket Punch
  • Angle required for wall slam increased from 44 to 55 degrees.
• Meteor Strike
  • Ultimate cost reduced 8%.
  • Healing per second while in the air increased from 75 to 90.

Junker Queen

Developer Comments: Although she’s not the most played, Junker Queen is the top performing tank at the moment. These adjustments are aimed at tuning her down slightly by reducing her self-healing and making the knife throw require more accuracy.

• Jagged Blade
  • Base projectile size reduced from 0.2 to 0.15 meters.
• Adrenaline Rush
  • Wound damage self-healing multiplier reduced from 2.5 to 2.25x.

Mauga

Developer Comments: Mauga has been underperforming for a while now so we’re putting some power into perhaps his most engaging ability, Overrun.

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

DAMAGE

Hanzo

Developer Comments: The Dragonstrike change enables it to damage non-player entities such as barriers, turrets, 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 fully charge decreased from 0.87 to 0.80 seconds.
• Dragonstrike
  • Now damages enemy buildable objects.

Junkrat

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

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

Reaper

Developer Comments The added survivability from this passive is being tuned down now that Reaper has 300 health and more reliable mobility after the cast time reduction to Shadow Step.

• The Reapening
  • Lifesteal reduced from 35 to 30%.

Tracer

Developer Comments: This is a revert to a previous nerf now that Tracer is less threatening due to Pulse Pistol damage coming down recently.

• Recall
  • Cooldown reduced from 13 to 12 seconds.

SUPPORT

Ana

Developer Comments: This damage value has gone back and forth a few times as it’s a significant break point for the number of shots to eliminate some heroes.

• Biotic Rifle
  • Damage and Healing increased from 70 to 75.

Juno

Developer Comments: Juno was the top tier meta support hero and was overperforming last season. Orbital Ray has also proven to be one of the more impactful ultimate abilities so we’re reducing how frequently it comes up.

• Orbital Ray
  • Ultimate cost increased 10%.

Kiriko

Developer Comment: Kiriko was heavily impacted by the health reduction to 225 HP and was already on the weaker side of support heroes, so we’re lightly reducing her ability cooldowns and weapon recovery to add some effectiveness back into her.

• Kunai
  • Recovery time decreased from 0.55 to 0.5 seconds.
• Swift Step
  • Cooldown reduced from 8 to 7 seconds.
• Protection Suzu
  • Cooldown reduced from 15 to 14 seconds.

Lifeweaver

Developer Comment: Lifegrip is great for repositioning allies to help save them but it also telegraphs where they’re going to end up so they may take a bunch of damage right afterwards. We’re adding a bit more healing to it to help this 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.
• Tree of Life
  • Time before Overhealth begins to drain when out of range increased from 2.5 to 6 seconds.

Moira

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

• Biotic Grasp
  • 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.
• Petra
  • Fixed an issue with the Petra arena map and it is available to play again.

Heroes

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