If there is a single ability which a lot of Overwatch players have grown to dread, it is Hanzo’s Scatter Arrow. When you spot Scatter Arrow coming your way, you basically are screwed. Your chances of not being taken down with a single shot are minuscule.
So some competitive players might initially feel relieved at the thought of Hanzo being reworked; those detested Scatter Arrows are now history. But don’t heave a sigh of relief yet—because Hanzo may now be harder to beat than ever.
Now Hanzo has a new ability. Storm Arrows have taken the place of Scatter Arrows. The hero has also been augmented in some other respects. Check it out:
Storm Bow
• The speed of projectiles has jumped from 85 to 100.
Sonic Arrow
• The cool-down period has dropped from 20 seconds to 12 seconds.
• The radius has dropped from 10 meters to 7 meters.
• The duration has dropped from 10 seconds to 6 seconds.
Lunge
• Hanzo can now leap horizontally if the jump key is pressed while in the air.
Storm Arrow
• This replaces the Scatter Arrow.
• Up to 6 arrows may be fired in rapid succession at full power. The damage they inflict has been reduced.
Storm Arrow seems to be quite similar to Scatter Arrow, but thanks to the damage reduction, they should no longer be as overpowered. Overall though, Hanzo’s abilities have been improved. So rather than nerfing him, Blizzard has balanced him out in such a way that hopefully will satisfy players who choose him as well as those who are tired of fighting his Scatter Arrow ability.
It is also noteworthy that the new Storm Arrow ability is similar to McCree’s Fan the Hammer. So even though Hanzo still plays as a projectile hero, in some respects he handles like a hit scan hero. Aiming the Storm Arrows is not too tough, and a broader range of players should now find that he fits with their play styles.
The Lunge ability is pretty cool, and is a nice complement to Hanzo’s wall-climbing ability (a vertical double jump would have been a bit superfluous).
The big question is whether Hanzo is still overpowered. Being as his abilities seem more balanced, we’re going to be cautiously optimistic and say that this rework looks like an improvement all around. But we’ll just have to see how he performs.