The mid-season patch for Overwatch 2 was recently unveiled, and it appears that players are in for more than just Halloween treats. Referred to by some as the “global support nerf,” this update has introduced substantial ability changes to several support heroes in the game.
While this mid-season patch encompasses more than just modifications to support characters, the fact that Ana, Baptiste, Illari, Kiriko, Lifeweaver, and Zenyatta have all been affected gives it a thematic feel. Each of these heroes has undergone nerfs, with the exception of Zenyatta, who received a couple of buffs, such as extending the line-of-sight timing on his Harmony Orb from three to five seconds.
As a support main who predominantly plays Ana and Baptiste, I initially felt disheartened by these changes. Ana had already received a recent patch that reduced the healing capacity of her Biotic Grenade and increased the cooldown of this ability from 10 to 12 seconds. These alterations left me with fewer defensive options while playing as Ana. However, upon closer consideration, I’ve come to realize that nerfing support heroes could potentially benefit the future of Overwatch 2.
Since the launch of the competitive first-person shooter sequel, the support class has experienced gradual buffs. Old heroes received enhanced abilities and passive healing capabilities, rendering some characters nearly invincible. More recent support heroes like Kiriko and Illari garnered a reputation for being overpowered and deadlier than certain damage-focused characters.
This newfound strength led to an increase in aggressive Moria and Kiriko players, with many prioritizing eliminations over healing their team. This is why I believed that the global support nerf could be beneficial for numerous players, irrespective of their chosen class. However, my optimism faded when I realized that Mercy was not included in the patch notes.
Every now and then, a glimmer of hope arises. It may be small, but before every mid-season balance change, I find myself crossing my fingers, hoping that Mercy will finally receive the much-needed reworking of her abilities.
For those fortunate enough to have never encountered or played against this specific support hero, let me share a brief tale of frustration. Mercy is one of the original heroes in Overwatch 2, introduced in the game’s 2016 launch. With her Caduceus Staff, she can heal or provide damage boosts to allies. Unlike other supports who may need to reload or recharge their healing abilities, Mercy can continuously provide healing. Her mobility is among the best in the support class, allowing her to swiftly move between teammates using the Guardian Angel ability, which boasts a mere 1.5-second cooldown and a movement speed of 17 meters per second, placing her in the same league as characters like Moira in terms of movement.
Mercy’s lack of aiming and ability management, coupled with her exceptional mobility, makes her one of the heroes in Overwatch 2 with the lowest skill ceiling and an equally low barrier to entry. This is not to say that there aren’t outstanding Mercy players who maximize her potential. Nevertheless, Mercy is generally considered one of the easiest heroes to master.
My primary concern with this hero lies in the fact that she can exert an immense impact on matches without requiring a high level of skill. Particularly, a Mercy focusing on a single hero and providing damage boosts can transform an average player into an unstoppable force. In most tiers of the game below the absolute top, a Mercy is often a necessity to counter the opponent’s Mercy.
This appeal may fall on deaf ears, and perhaps even trigger the ire of some. It sometimes appears that Mercy is one of the heroes least likely to undergo reworking in Overwatch 2, primarily due to her dedicated and vocal fanbase. For now, all we can do is hope and wish for a comprehensive rework for this hero in the future, or perhaps even an accidental deletion.
Fortunately, the rest of the support changes introduced in this season should contribute to an improved competitive experience by encouraging healers to exercise a bit more caution.
