Overwatch 2‘s fifteenth season has been generally well-received, with its latest update launching on February 18. Alongside a fresh battle pass and Rainy Day cosmetics for Kiriko, Mei, and Mercy, Overwatch 2 is significantly altering the core gameplay of PvP with its brand-new Perks progression system. With four selectable Perks per hero, this update adds over 160 passive abilities to the hero-shooter.
Initially announced during February’s Overwatch 2 Spotlight Event, Perks are ushering in a new meta in Season 15. While there has been some criticism over some hero Perks being less desirable than others, the change has been welcomed overall. If Team 4 is adamant about continually updating the game in future seasons, Perks could become Overwatch 2’s golden goose.
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Overwatch 2’s Perks Have Vast Potential
Overwatch 2’s Perks Act As Mini Hero Reworks
Some players were initially uncertain about Perks, thinking they may change Overwatch 2‘s core gameplay too greatly. The main concern was that the already complex hero-shooter could become even more confusing, making it less welcoming to newcomers and casual players. However, combined with the fact that Overwatch 2 is committing to updating Perks, the abilities haven’t created as much chaos as fans thought they might.
On the contrary, Perks seem to be revolutionizing the game by giving heroes highly desired abilities, which are changeable based on player preferences. For instance, while Reaper’s once-promised overhaul has been abandoned, Reaper’s Perks are reminiscent of his rework. Players can opt for a tank-busting brawler playstyle or a stealthy, long-range assassin approach. These changes help modernize his kit, though some Reaper mains still feel it needs improvement, aligning it with Overwatch 2‘s fast-paced and ever-evolving standards.
Similarly, one of Lifeweaver’s Perks revives the Parting Gift ability from Overwatch 2 Season 4. Described as an ability that “on death, [dropped] a gift that heals the first enemy or ally to pick it up,” this feature was controversial. Blizzard swiftly removed Parting Gift after players realized it often benefited enemies more than members of Lifeweaver’s team. However, it has now returned in a reworked form as the Life Cycle Perk, which grants 10 health per second while alive and, upon death, drops a healing seed that restores 250 health to allies. It seems like most players are opting for the Cleansing Grasp Perk, which means that using Life Grip will cleanse negative effects, similar to Kiriko’s Suzu, but the return of a Parting Gift-like ability is compelling nonetheless.
Season 15 Kicks Off a New Era for Overwatch 2
As Blizzard continues to refine the game, it’s important to ensure that Perks don’t become stagnant. Perks in Overwatch 2 Season 15 are a shiny new feature garnering a lot of attention, but they need to be closely monitored. Fortunately, tweaks and balancing changes are already set to arrive in the midseason patch, in addition to a major refresh in Season 18.
The real value of Perks lies in their ability to refresh existing heroes each season rather than keeping the focus solely on brand-new maps and heroes. Despite the anticipation surrounding new Overwatch 2 heroes like Freja, slated for Season 16, and the hero code-named Aqua, set to debut in Season 18, refining and updating Perks is another excellent way to keep players engaged. This also ensures that even those who may not click with new heroes still have something to look forward to.
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.
- Released
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August 10, 2023
- ESRB
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T For Teen // Blood, Mild Language, Use of Tobacco, Violence