Overwatch Update Adjusts New Heroes, But the Cat Remains a Frustration

Introducing five new heroes in a single update was always going to be a tricky balancing act, but Blizzard has rolled out some nerfs and buffs for all five of Overwatch’s newcomers just days after their debut. While the adjustments are typical tweaks, it’s unlikely to appease those who are already frustrated by the chaotic presence of Jetpack Cat.

The patch notes are relatively concise, primarily addressing specific issues within the kits of Domina, Anran, Emre, Jetpack Cat, and Mizuki. Vendetta, being the last hero added before the major overhaul, also sees some adjustments. Not everything is a nerf, as Anran and Mizuki receive a few buffs as well. Here’s the complete change log:

– Barrier Panel Health reduced from 250 to 225
– Impact damage increased from 20 to 22
– Impact damage now applies beam damage against armor mitigation (only reduced by 30% when hitting armor)
– Can now be canceled with a quick melee
– Burning build-up linger time increased from 3 to 4 seconds
– Falloff range increased from 30-45 to 35-50 meters
– Explosion damage minimum radius increased from 1.25 to 2 meters
– Regeneration rate reduced from 30 to 25
– Cast time reduced from 0.1 to 0.025 seconds
– Recovery time increased from 0.7 to 0.75 seconds
– Range increased from 25 to 30 meters
– Default soft targeting range increased from 8 to 10 degrees
– Ultimate cost increased by 7%
– Now heals for 100 instant healing on cast
– Siphoning Strike – Minor Perk: Lifesteal reduced from 40% to 30%