Big Changes Coming to Roadhog in Season 9!

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Ult Charge Retention Change
3. Doomfist Changes
4. Tank Changes
   • Road Hog
   • Winston
5. DPS Changes
   • Sombra
   • Soldier 76
   • Tracer
6. Support Changes
   • Brigitte
   • Baptiste
7. Animated Short: Mission Success
   • Analysis of the Animation
8. Conclusion

Ultimate Charge Retention Change in Overwatch Season 8

Overwatch, one of the most popular competitive team-Based shooter games, is rolling out changes for its Season 8. One of the significant alterations is the adjustment in ult charge retention when swapping heroes. Previously, players would retain 25% of their ultimate charge when switching characters. However, in an effort to reduce the AdVantage of counter-swapping upon dying, the retention percentage has been lowered to 15%.

While the developers believe that this change removes friction and promotes hero swapping, there is a Perception that counter-swapping still holds an advantage. It remains to be seen if this new ult charge retention value will have a noticeable effect on swap rates. Despite the skepticism, many players agree that the reduction from 25% to 15% is a positive change, offering a more balanced gameplay experience.

Doomfist Changes and Enhanced Regeneration

Among the hero updates for Season 8, one that stands out is the revision to Doomfist's abilities. Previously, some players utilized his ultimate ability, Meteor Strike, purely as an escape mechanism, which led to disappointment for those anticipating an impactful play. To address this issue, a significant buff has been introduced. Doomfist will now regenerate 75 health per Second while in the air, resulting in a passive health boost upon landing.

Although the cost of the ult has been slightly increased to compensate for this buff, it is considered a significant improvement to Doomfist's survivability. The community has shown mixed opinions, with some highlighting the potential for a full heal upon landing, while others remain skeptical of its impact on the hero's overall viability in the meta. Nevertheless, the ability to passively regain health in mid-air is widely perceived as a valuable change.

Tank Changes: Road Hog and Winston

Road Hog, a tank hero who received a rework in the previous season, quickly became one of the top-performing tanks with a win rate of around 54%. Although there is extensive feedback regarding Road Hog's kit, the developers have decided to withhold any further changes for the start of Season 8. They want to observe how the meta settles, as other tank heroes may offer effective counters to Road Hog, such as Malga.

Similarly, Winston, another tank hero, is receiving adjustments in Season 8. Winston's Tesla Cannon will now ignore armor's damage reduction, making it more impactful against heroes with armor, such as Brigitte, D.Va, and Reinhardt. This change aims to alleviate the extreme disadvantage Winston currently faces when battling other tanks. It is expected to have a significant impact on countering tank compositions that heavily rely on armor.

Stay tuned for more tank-related changes as the season progresses.

DPS Changes: Sombra, Soldier 76, and Tracer

Several damage-per-second (DPS) heroes are also receiving notable adjustments in Season 8. Sombra, who has undergone multiple changes in recent updates, is finally considered to be in a much better state. Despite her win rate hovering between 45% and 48% depending on the rank, her ultimate ability, EMP, still lacks the satisfying impact it should deliver.

To address this, the ability lockout time of Sombra's EMP has been raised by 1.5 to 3 seconds, preventing enemy heroes from using their abilities after being hit by the EMP. Additionally, the damage dealt by EMP has been reduced from 30% to 25% of a hero's maximum health, aligning the ultimate ability better with Sombra's character fantasy. While some players find this change inconvenient for those affected by the EMP, others recognize the need for balance within the support-hero-dominated meta.

Soldier 76, on the other HAND, has been a consistently well-rounded DPS hero in Season 7, thanks to his self-sustain ability. Instead of reducing the effectiveness of his Biotic Field's healing, the cooldown for this ability has been increased from 15 to 18 seconds. This change offers more opportunities for counterplay against Soldier 76, as he will have less frequent access to his self-healing, making him more vulnerable.

Tracer, a hero that has undergone various changes to her pulse pistols in the past, is reverting back to her previous damage output. The damage per shot will return to six, making her burst potential more significant. This change is considered favorable among Tracer players, as the previous reduction was implemented to compensate for some bugs that have since been addressed.

Support Changes: Brigitte and Baptiste

Support heroes are also receiving adjustments in Season 8, targeting heroes like Brigitte and Baptiste. Brigitte, who has consistently been a top-performing support hero since the last patch, is considered a "must pick" in many team compositions. As a result, the damage value of her whip shot is being reverted to its previous state, aiming to bring her back in line with other support heroes.

Baptiste, known for his healing potential and immortality field, is undergoing changes to his ammunition count. The primary fire ammo count is being lowered from 45 to 36, reducing his damage potential. This adjustment aims to make Baptiste more cautious with his shots and prevent him from excessively spamming his abilities. It remains to be seen whether these changes will have a notable impact on the meta, as several players believe that the Core issues with Baptiste lie elsewhere.

Animated Short: "Mission Success"

Accompanying the Season 8 changes, Blizzard Entertainment released an animated short titled "Mission Success." This animated short showcases a covert operation involving various Overwatch heroes. The animation quality has been widely praised, with Attention to Detail and the incorporation of heroes' abilities into the action sequences.

The short film features Reaper, Sombra, Bap, Soldier 76, and Winston, among others. The narrative revolves around a mission to retrieve crucial data from a sinking ship, while a mysterious character named MAA may harbor ulterior motives. The animation received positive feedback from the community, with many expressing enthusiasm for further animated content related to the Overwatch Universe.

Conclusion

As Season 8 of Overwatch unfolds, players can expect a range of changes and adjustments to heroes across all categories. From ult charge retention modifications to specific hero updates, Blizzard Entertainment aims to enhance the gameplay experience and maintain a balanced meta. The community's response to these changes varies, with some welcoming the adjustments while others remain skeptical of their impact. The quality of the recently released animated short, "Mission Success," has further captivated players and ignited interest in potential animated series or expansions to the Overwatch universe.

While the exact outcomes of these changes remain to be seen, the Overwatch community eagerly awaits a more dynamic and engaging gameplay experience in Season 8.

Highlights

• Ult charge retention for hero swapping reduced from 25% to 15%.
• Doomfist receives a significant buff, regenerating 75 health per second while in the air.
• Road Hog and Winston undergo tank adjustments to enhance gameplay balance.
• Sombra's EMP ability receives an extended ability lockout time and reduced damage.
• Soldier 76's Biotic Field cooldown is increased from 15 to 18 seconds.
• Tracer's pulse pistols return to their previous damage output of six.
• Brigitte's whip shot damage is reverted to address her must-pick status.
• Baptiste's ammo count is reduced from 45 to 36 to curtail excessive spamming.
• Blizzard Entertainment releases the captivating animated short "Mission Success."
• Players express excitement and Curiosity about potential future animations or expansions in the Overwatch universe.

FAQ

Q: Will the ult charge retention change greatly affect the gameplay? A: While the reduction from 25% to 15% may not drastically impact swap rates, it contributes to creating a more balanced experience for players.

Q: How will Doomfist's regeneration buff affect his overall viability? A: Doomfist's increased health regeneration adds an element of survivability and may make him more resilient on the battlefield.

Q: Are the changes to Road Hog and Winston sufficient to address their respective issues? A: The adjustments aim to address specific concerns surrounding the heroes, but their impact on the overall meta and gameplay experience remains to be seen.

Q: Will the changes to Sombra's EMP ability significantly affect her playstyle? A: The extended ability lockout time and reduced damage of Sombra's EMP aim to align the ability with her character fantasy, but the community remains divided on its impact.

Q: How will the reduction in Soldier 76's Biotic Field cooldown affect his effectiveness? A: While the increase from 15 to 18 seconds may make Soldier 76 more vulnerable, it offers more opportunities for counterplay against him.

Q: Will the adjustment to Tracer's pulse pistols bring her back into prominence? A: The reversion to her previous damage output of six increases her burst potential and may make Tracer a more formidable threat.

Q: Are the changes to Brigitte and Baptiste sufficient to address their dominance in the support category? A: The adjustments aim to address specific concerns surrounding the heroes, but their impact on the meta and the community's perception of them remains to be determined.

Q: How was the community's response to the animated short "Mission Success"? A: The community reacted positively to the animation quality and the incorporation of heroes' abilities, expressing enthusiasm for further animated content within the Overwatch universe.