Today’s Overwatch patch brings out Ashe and more balance changes

Roadhog is under the microscope again

After a stint on the PTR, the gunslinger Ashe has now properly joined the Overwatch roster.

You’re probably up to speed on Ashe’s repertoire given her recent debut at BlizzCon, but just for kicks, here’s the short of it. She has a headshot-friendly semi-automatic rifle. Her Coach Gun can give enemies a nudge off a cliff or help launch her up for better sightlines on, say, shield users. Ashe can chuck dynamite and shoot it mid-air, causing foes to combust for damage over time. Finally, her ultimate ability is Bob, a temporary AI damage dealer and absorber. Bob’s fantastic.

Beyond Ashe, Blizzard has also issued balance changes for several of the usual suspects.

Mercy: Valkyrie cost reduced 15 percent and its healing per second increased from 50 to 60.

Reaper: Shotgun spread randomization reduced 50 percent and spread pattern adjusted. Reaper’s passive life-steal has jumped from 20 percent to 30 percent of damage dealt.

Symmetra: Photon Projector primary fire beam now charges 20 percent faster.

Roadhog: A lotta tweaks:

Chain Hook – Decreased the delay before pulling a hooked target from 0.5 seconds to 0.3 seconds. Now greatly reduces the target’s momentum upon being hooked. Cooldown now begins immediately, instead of after the target has been pulled.

Scrap Gun – Spread pattern adjusted for both primary and secondary fire. Spread randomization reduced by 50%

Whole Hog – Knockback maximum velocity increased by 25% (from 8 to 10 meters per second). Horizontal recoil decreased slightly.

A couple of timing-related changes for Assault, Escort, and Assault/Escort maps made it into the patch too. The setup timer has gone from a full minute down to 45 seconds. Additionally, the “Assemble Your Team” timer has grown from a mere 10 seconds to a less-rushed 25 seconds in the second round.

I’m so stoked to try out Ashe, though I’m unsure I have the reflexes needed to reliably land shots.

As a reminder, you’ll need to reinstall Overwatch with today’s update. Blizzard included “some pretty fundamental changes to the game client” and couldn’t just “patch over the current content.”

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