The Overwatch 2 Season 5 patch notes have been released, and some big hero changes are coming in tomorrow’s new season. Cassidy and May have received some ability reworks, while characters like Hanzo, Widowmaker, Moira, and Reaper have received some significant nerfs.
Starting the patch notes with Cassidy, Magnetic Grenade has been altered from a pure damage ability to have some utility. It no longer has that long chase sequence, but now only chases targets one and a half meters away for a second. Its damage has been reduced, but the big change is it will inflict a new Hindered status effect. The victim will be slowed by 30%, and movement abilities will be disabled. Tracer won’t be able to Blink, Genji can’t Dash, and Sombra can’t use her Translocator. Cassidy could very easily become the best defender against flanking enemies again with this change.
As for Mei, her primary fire has been changed again. Now, when you go to spray an enemy, the slow effect will scale between 30 and 50%. Keep the fire on the enemy to slow them up to 75% for one and a half seconds. If you shoot them with her icicle secondary, that effect will detonate for extra damage, giving Mei a slightly more interesting play potential in one-on-one duels.
Widowmaker has been one of the most controversial heroes in Overwatch 2 because of her ability to one-shot enemies from such long distances. From now on, her damage falloff range has been massively reduced. Anything beyond 50 meters and all heroes except Tracer and D.Va outside of her mech will require two shots to kill, regardless if the first was a critical shot.
For some quicker nerfs, Hanzo’s Sonar Arrow ability will now be seen and heard by nearby enemies when it activates, and his Storm Arrow’s damage has been slightly reduced. Reaper and Moira’s Wraith and Fade abilities now join everyone else’s in being disabled from moves like Graviton Surge, Junkrat’s Trap, and Cassidy’s new Magnetic Grenade.
Junker Queen, Tracer, Roadhog, and Lifeweaver are also getting various aspects of their gameplay adjusted, but none are as significant as the abovementioned changes. Watch for Cassidy to become a monster when attacking the enemy’s Support. Widowmaker will also be forced to come a little closer to the fight to be as lethal as she used to be. These Overwatch 2 Season 5 hero changes will be big going forward.
