Overwatch 2: All the hero reworks in the beta

Overwatch 2’s first beta is now live, giving players a taste of substantial changes coming to Blizzard Entertainment’s hero shooter. The changes include an entirely new structure for the five hero teams, as well as a new hero and a modified ping system. There are also significant improvements to several characters.

You can find the Overwatch 2Players will be able to choose from many different Bastion versions, Doomfists, Orisas, Sombra and Orisas. Others heroes like Reinhardt and Zarya have received ability modifications that allow them to update their kits in important ways. There are less ways to stun enemy, and every role type offers its own passive perks. Tanks get less knockback and damage characters receive a speed boost. All support characters also automatically heal over time.

Here’s a breakdown of the hero changes in Overwatch 2’s beta test — and presumably going forward.

Bastion

Some of the most dramatic changes are being made to Bastion, the terrifying turret. Overwatch 2. The Self-Repair ability that he had is no more, so he cannot now heal himself. Bastion can switch between Assault mode (his tank-form) and Recon mode (his mobile form), but this mode allows Bastion to move, while the former is currently on cooldown. Bastion has an alt-fire attack called the A-36 Tactical Grenade. This fires a bomb which bounces off walls, explodes when it hits enemies, or the ground.

Bastion’s Ultimate ability has also been redesigned. Bastion is no longer able to transform into a mobile cannon-equipped tank, but instead enters Artillery mode. Bastion fires three heavy artillery shells at its targets.

Doomfist

Image: Blizzard Entertainment

Doomfist switches from being a damage-oriented character to one that is more tanky. He also gains a boost in his health and a Power Block ability which can protect him from the front. It also allows him to unleash Rocket Punch. Doomfist’s Hand Cannon, Rocket Punch, and Seismic Slam abilities have been tweaked, and his shoryuken-style Uppercut ability has been removed completely. Meteor Strike, Doomfist’s Ultimate, will now activate faster and slow enemies upon impact.

Sombra

Sombra’s rework makes her a deadlier hacker and more of a damage dealer. While her Hack ability now disrupts enemy abilities for a shorter period of time, it also exposes a hacked enemy’s location to Sombra and the rest of her team. Hacked enemies are also more likely to be hacked by Sombra.

EMP, Sombra’s Ultimate, now deals 40% damage to enemies caught in the pulse’s radius, in addition to disrupting barriers, like Winston’s protective energy dome.

Orisa

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Orisa the centuaur-like defense robotic Orisa is revolutionizing in Overwatch 2This will include the removal of her Protective Barrier shield as well as her Halt! The graviton charge ability. Energy Javelin is a projectile that can stun and knock back enemies. Javelin Spin blocks projectiles, pushes back opponents, and gives Orisa an extra speed boost.

Terra Surge is the new Ultimate that Orisa has been using to replace her Supercharger. Orisa will be able to hunker down and sweep in enemies nearby, before unleashing a sudden surge of damage following a short charge. She’ll be boosted by the effects of Fortify as well during Terra Surge.

Orisa’s primary fire, Augmented Fusion Driver, is also changing. This fire now provides infinite ammo but it is controlled by a heat mechanical.

Reinhardt

As part of Blizzard’s plan to make tanks more capable brawlers, Reinhardt now has two charges of his Fire Strike projectile. Reinhardt also enjoys greater control over his Charge attack and can cancel it out.

Winston

Image: Blizzard Entertainment

Winston’s Tesla Cannon now has a secondary fire mode: He can charge it up and release a ball of focused electricity.

Zarya

Zarya’s personal Particle Barrier and teammate-targeted Projected Barrier are now on a shared cooldown, meaning she could apply back-to-back bubbles for herself or simultaneously for two teammates, if necessary.

Cassidy

Cassidy the Overwatch cowboy loses Flashbang stun for Magnetic Grenade. That short-range grenade will home in on nearby enemies — hence the magnetic descriptor — and can stick to enemies, dealing additional damage on explosion.

Mei

Image: Blizzard Entertainment

Mei’s days of freezing players with her Endothermic Blaster are over. While her ice gun deals damage to slow down enemies but does not turn you into an Ice sculpture, it is no longer able to do so. Only Mei’s Ultimate, Blizzard, will completely freeze opponents now.

Brigitte

Brigitte’s Shield Bash no longer stuns enemies, either. They will be knocked back by it, causing damage.