Overwatch 2 S6 Mid-Season Patch Introduces Hero Mastery Mode and Hero Balance Changes
September 7, 2023 – The highly anticipated mid-season patch for Overwatch 2 has finally gone live on PC, Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch. This patch brings a multitude of changes to the game’s cast of heroes, introducing the new Hero Mastery Mode and making significant balance adjustments.
One of the key features of this update is the addition of the Hero Mastery Mode. In this new single-player game mode, players have the opportunity to test their skills with individual heroes on custom obstacle courses. They can compete for high scores and compare their results on a global leaderboard. The Hero Mastery Mode launches with exclusive rewards and courses for heroes like Tracer, Reinhardt, and Mercy. Additional courses for other heroes will be released in the coming weeks.
In addition to the Hero Mastery Mode, Overwatch 2 also brings back the Anniversary event with unique challenges and returning game modes. Players can participate in the Battle for Olympus, Catch-A-Mari, and Mischief and Magic modes starting from September 19. These events will offer Overwatch Credits as rewards, which can be used to purchase Legendary skins from the in-game shop.
On the hero balance side, this patch brings several adjustments to ensure a more balanced and fair playing experience. Orisa, the dominant tank in the S6 meta, is receiving significant nerfs to her Fortify ability. The cooldown will increase, and her overhealth will decrease by 25, weakening her dominance in the game.
Furthermore, Zarya, one of Orisa’s counters, is being buffed with improvements to her Protective Barrier. The ability now has increased HP, a decreased cooldown, and a larger size, making Zarya more effective in countering opponents.
Other hero adjustments include Bastion receiving a decrease in damage for his A-36 Tactical Grenade, and multiple support heroes receiving a global passive nerf to their self-healing, which will now take effect after 1.5 seconds.
The full patch notes for the Overwatch 2 S6 mid-season update can be found on the game’s official website. Players can now enjoy the new Hero Mastery Mode, participate in the Anniversary event, and experience the various hero balance changes.