Overwatch’s new payload map, Rialto, has arrived to the game alongside the anticipated Hanzo rework. The Venice-themed map is available now on PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, but will be disabled from Competitive Play until a future patch.
Though the latest patch sees adjustments to a few other heroes, the biggest changes are seen on the game’s archer and defense hero, Hanzo.
- Storm Bow: Projectile speed increased from 85 to 100
- Sonic Arrow: Cooldown decreased from 20 seconds to 12 seconds, duration decreased from 10 seconds to six seconds, radius decreased from 10 meters to seven meters
- Lunge: Press jump while in the air to leap horizontally
- Storm Arrows: Rapidly fire up to six full power arrows that deal reduced damage (replaces Scatter Arrow ability)
“The goal of these Hanzo changes is to allow him to have new options and maintain his high damage output, while removing the frustration of fighting against the old Scatter Arrow,” Blizzard wrote in the patch notes. “Hanzo is now much more mobile with his new Lunge ability, and with the combination of the bow projectile speed increase and the new Storm Arrows ability he can now deal his high damage more consistently than ever before.”
This patch also features some nerfs to Tracer and Brigitte, as well as a buff to Lucio’s Wall Ride.
Next up on Blizzard’s horizon are adjustments for support heroes Ana and Brigitte, according to Overwatch game director Jeff Kaplan. The changes Kaplan talked about aren’t confirmed yet – all of them could make it onto an upcoming PTR patch, or none of them could.
The latest support hero to join Overwatch, Brigitte, has been dominating the game’s meta as a tank since her armor-dealing abilities can make everyone on her team stronger. The tweak Kaplan mentioned would bring Brigitte’s maximum armor for her ultimate from 150 to 100.
“We’re also discussing some other changes that might make it onto the PTR when it goes live or might go live next week, if at all,” Kaplan wrote.
Blizzard also wants to make some adjustments to Ana. Because of the rise of Mercy, Zenyatta, and now Brigitte, Ana’s been edged out of the game’s meta. But if she gets a change and Brigitte sticks to the tank meta, Ana could see some more playtime soon.
“We’re interested in making some minor improvements to Ana, but they may or may not make this PTR cycle,” Kaplan said. He went on to add that some of the new changes to Ana required Blizzard to create new technology, meaning the team isn’t in a huge rush to push the changes live.
Overwatch’s latest PTR patch is currently offline, but in the meantime players can enjoy pushing the payload on Rialto and the other hero rebalances today’s patch brought to the game.