Next Overwatch patch features buffs and nerfs preparing for 2-2-2

Fariha Bhatti Published 19/07/2019

A number of upcoming hero changes are now being tested on the Overwatch PTR server. 

The changes have been implemented to compliment the 2-2-2 role queue system that is due to hit live servers with patch 1.39. 

A total of 10 heroes have been adjusted in preparation for the new matchmaking system that will be introduced to Overwatch in the next month. 

Due to Brigitte’s dual nature as both a tank and support hero, developers at Blizzard have stated that they wish to “solidify her as a support hero.” Her passive healing ability, Inspire, can now heal up to 130 points instead of 100. In exchange, Inspire no longer enables self-healing as effectively. Her shield health has also been reduced to 200, down from 500. 

The next biggest change to her kit is to her armor packs. The ability now has three charges that can store before the cooldown begins, enabling her to throw multiple bursts of health to her allies. To prevent the ability from being overpowered, healing from each pack is now granted over two seconds, and each pack individually heals for less. 

Reinhardt has been given an additional ability called Steadfast. Theis a passive ability that reduces the knockback Reinhart receives, enabling him to more effectively assist with crowd control.

Tracer, Wrecking Ball, Doomfist, Moira, and Ashe have all received minor buffs as well. Tracer’s ultimate will now do 350 damage instead of 300, and Wrecking Ball’s ultimate Minefield will now have a higher spread for each mine. Doomfist will be able to melee without interrupting his reload, while Moira can use fade to escape stuns. Ashe’s reload time has been reduced. 

Symmetra has received a number of buffs to her teleporter functionality.

Orisa, Hanzo, and Sombra are the only heroes to be nerfed without any offsetting compensation. Orisa’s cooldown on her shield has been increased to enable the enemy team to make use of destroying the shield more effectively. Sombra’s hacking will take longer to execute and will debilitate heroes for less time. Hanzo’s Storm Arrow has been reduced by one shot to lessen the overall damage. 

As the patch is only on the PTR server, it’s currently unavailable to console users. All changes made to heroes are for testing purposes and are subject to further revision before going live.

Fariha Bhatti

About Fariha Bhatti

Fariha Bhatti is a long-time gaming writer who loves competitive FPS games and slots with particularly fun themes. She got her start playing classic games developed by SNK, from legendary fighting game series The King of Fighters to challenging platform franchise Metal Slug. She now spends most of her time playing Valorant and Counter-Strike 2 while working her way through new slot releases to find her next favorite. Fariha has been published at PCGamesN, TalkEsport and ONE Esports.

View full profile

Read Also

Twitch

MrBeast marries Thea Booysen: How it could affect the YouTuber’s career Khizar Mundia YouTube giant Jimmy “MrBeast” Donaldson has married his long-time partner and fellow creator Thea “TheaBeasty” Booysen in a low-key ceremony. MrBeast met Thea Booysen during a trip to South Africa in 2022, and the two started dating in the same year. Booysen is also a content creator known online as TheaBeasty. She is famous for gaming streams. That’s not all she does, though, as Thea Booysen is also an author ...

News

Kalshi had it right: Victor Wembanyama confirmed as NBA 2K27 cover star Zachary Roberts Victor Wembanyama is the latest NBA superstar to grace the cover of a video game, with the San Antonio Spurs star landing on NBA 2K27. This comes as little surprise, as Wembanyama cemented himself as one of the sport's best players last season. He really came on in the playoffs, carrying the Spurs from a lottery team to the NBA Finals. It also shouldn't be that surprising because for months, ...

Valorant

OBS Game Capture isn’t working on Valorant and League of Legends? Here’s why and how to fix it Khizar Mundia Several reports suggest that OBS Game Capture is broken, with Valorant and League of Legends streamers only being able to broadcast a black screen. OBS has responded to the issue, confirming that it exists and also provided a way to fix it. Valorant and League of Legends are two of Riot Games’ most popular titles, and they are being streamed on streaming platforms by creators regularly. On July 21, 2026, ...

News

Kalshi gives election forecasts a tradable market, launches US midterm 2026 prediction hub Khizar Mundia Election predictions have always been a numbers game, as metrics are used to forecast which party or candidate has a higher chance of winning, but Kalshi is giving it a trading angle with a new midterm prediction hub. Prediction markets are consistently gaining traction among traders. They have particularly become popular in jurisdictions where traditional gambling is banned or heavily restricted. An NBC News analysis reveals that Kalshi and Polymarket ...

Twitch

IRL Streaming: What Is It and Why Is It So Popular? Khizar Mundia IRL streaming has become commonplace on all major streaming platforms, and millions of viewers tune in every day to be a fly on the wall as streamers showcase their life. There are numerous IRL streamers, with some showcasing their everyday life and others producing large-scale content for their viewers, such as Darren “iShowSpeed” Watkins Jr. Regardless of whether you watch Speed broadcasting a World Cup match or a streamer walking ...

Dota 2

Oddin.gg’s head of risk helps explain how alleged match fixing during Dota 2 at EWC was flagged Michael Hassall The Dota 2 competition at The Esports World Cup 2026 was shaken to its core during the Survival Stage earlier in the week when Southeast Asian-backed, South American team PTime (better known as PlayTime) were removed from the event citing “integrity concerns.” While the case is still ongoing, and none of the accused confirmed to be guilty, one of the biggest questions behind the incident was just how these concerns ...

Twitch

Who is SuburbBaby? Here’s everything about Streamer University 2026’s breakout star Khizar Mundia Jacob “SuburbBaby” Ogunlade was already famous on YouTube and TikTok, but Streamer University 2026 has been the breakout moment for his career. Here’s everything we know about the streamer, including his background, dating life, and much more. Kai Cenat created Streamer University for smaller streamers to gain exposure, and SuburbBaby is going viral, seemingly the creator to benefit the most from the 2026 edition. SuburbBaby has been on Twitch for ...