Overwatch 2 Season 17 patch notes and Stadium changes

The seventeenth season of Overwatch 2 has arrived, introducing a relatively smaller assortment of updates to hero abilities in both regular and Stadium game modes. Some key modifications include rearranging Stadium-specific items, enhancing the rarity of scarce items, tweaking advantages, and resolving issues with characters such as Reaper. Additionally, Lucio is undergoing further adjustments to control Crowd Pleaser, primarily due to enhancements made to his Crossfade healing in standard Overwatch 2 play.

Here are my thoughts on the changes from the Overwatch 2 Season 17 update, focusing on adjustments to heroes in both Stadium and standard game modes, as well as any tweaks that involve nerfs or boosts.

Overwatch 2 Season 17 patch notes: Hero buffs and nerfs

The majority of adjustments made this season are relatively small, focusing on tweaking abilities, but there are notable exceptions such as Tracer’s power boost returning following several seasons of toning her down, and Lucio receiving a significant enhancement to his Crossfade healing.

Junker Queen buffs and nerfs

The Junker Queen’s modification primarily concerns her Commanding Shout ability, which now has a stronger impact but drains faster when she uses it.

Commanding Shout

Junker Queen overhealth increased from 175 to 200.
Allied overhealth increased from 50 to 75.
Duration for self-reduced from 5 to 4 seconds.
Allied duration increased from 3 to 4 seconds.

Mauga buff

Mauga’s chances of survival slightly increase whenever he lands a critical hit, an event that occurs more often if you effectively handle his dual-gun configuration.

Berserker passive

Overhealth conversion rate increased from 40 percent to 50 percent.

Ramattra buff

Not much new here for Ramattra, except his Nanite Repair perk getting even better.

Nanite Repair perk

Healing per second increased from 50 to 75.

Zarya buffs

A couple of Zarya’s perks are a bit stronger now, too.

Spotter perk

Movement speed increased from 15 percent to 25 percent.

Graviton Crush perk

Damage dealt over time increased from 30 percent to 40 percent of maximum health.

Bastion buff

In their earlier announcement, Blizzard mentioned that they would be reducing the size of Bastion slightly, making it less conspicuous and harder for opponents to quickly identify.

Model and hit volume size reduced by 10 percent.

Echo buff

The spread of Echo’s Tri-Shot, a potent skill of hers, was narrowed down, as per Blizzard, making it more effective and dependable in long-range situations.

Tri-Shot

Spread decreased from 1.4 to 1.1 degrees.

Pharah buff

Phara’s shield perk helps keep her shields active when she lands hits now.

Helix Shields perk

Shield health regeneration triggers when landing direct hits with rockets

Reaper buff

Reaper’s damage nerf days are over, for now at least.

Hellfire Shotguns

Damage per pellet increased from 5.4 to 5.75 (108 to 115 per volley)

Soldier: 76 Stim Pack change

This isn’t really a buff or a nerf, just an effort to make dealing with Stim Pack less of a pain.

Stim Pack perk

On PC, Stim Pack default button changed from “Next Weapon” to “Equip Weapon 1.”

Tracer buff

Tracer deals 0.5 more damag enow.

Pulse Pistol

Damage increased from 5.5 to 6

Venture buff

As a dedicated follower of their game, I’m thrilled to share that Blizzard is tweaking the recovery times on Venture, which have traditionally been longer than average. Now, these recovery times are set to be slightly shorter, adding more fluidity and action to the gameplay experience!

Smart Excavator

Recovery time reduced from 0.7 to 0.6 seconds

Lifeweaver buff

Life Grip gets a welcome boost, but only if you use it under the right circumstances.

Cleansing Grasp perk

Life Grip cooldown is reduced by 4 seconds if a debuff is cleansed

Lucio buff

In a more simplified manner, Crossfade now recovers at a rate of 20 per second, which in turn led to modifications in the way his Stadium abilities function as well.

Crossfade

Base healing increased from 16 to 20 health per second

Moira buff

Moira’s healing is also a bit more potent now.

Biotic Grasp

Healing per second increased from 70 to 80.

Zenyatta buff

Good news for folks who deal lots of damage with Zenyatta.

Duality perk

Increased converted damage from 30% to 40%.

Overwatch 2 Season 17 Stadium patch notes

In Season 17, the Stadium undergoes relatively small adjustments, primarily focusing on tweaking item functions, rectifying significant bugs, and fine-tuning power levels. For instance, Reaper’s mini-Death Blossom now functions more effectively due to bug fixes. While most of these changes may not significantly impact your preferred build, they create opportunities for exploring novel combinations to enhance your gameplay experience.

Ana

Not much for Ana other than a slight adjustment to one of her powers.

Double Dosage – Rare Ability Hero Item

Redesigned to work only on enemies, only up to 30 percent. Does not stack.
Decreased cooldown to 30 percent (Down from 35 percent).

Juno

The Boosted Rockets from Juno come at a higher price, but they also provide some shielding against damage now.

Evasive Glide – Hero Item

Removed.

Lock-On Shield – Rare Survival Hero Item.

Changed Item category from Ability to Survival.
Changed Item stat from 10 percent Ability Power to 25 Health.
Decreased Overhealth scalar to 25 percent (Down from 50 percent).

Boosted Rockets – Epic Survival Hero Item.

Changed Item rarity from Rare to Epic.
Changed Item price from 4,000 to 12,000.

Medicinal Missiles – Power

Removed additional 30 Healing

Kiriko

As a devoted admirer, I can share that by tweaking Swift Step, Kiriko’s healing abilities receive a modest enhancement, allowing her to not only dish out more recovery but also maintain her own vitality more efficiently.

Soothing Step – Power

Increased Healing to 120 (Up from 80).
Replaced stat: From 10 percent Ability power to 10 percent. Cooldown reduction.

Triple Threat – Power

Spread reduced by 50 percent.

Self-Care

Redesigned to: When you use Healing Ofuda, each Ofuda thrown heals you for 3 percent of max life output.

Lucio

With Lucio, there’s a significant shift as Crowd Pleaser’s Crossfade healing is no longer used due to an increase in healing amount and its boost being linked to Amp It Up. The specifics of how this interacts with ability power enhancements are yet to be understood, but the main idea is to focus on timing your Amp It Up for optimal performance.

Crowd Pleaser – Power

Healing adjusted from 100 percent of Crossfade Healing to 20 Healing that is doubled while Amp It Up is active.

Vivace – Power

Removed “While you are Wallriding, Soundwave cooldown refreshes 25 percent faster and adds 1 Max Ammo every 1s until you reload”.
Added “Every 1s Wallriding, you gain 3 percent Move Speed and 1.5% Attack Speed for 5s, stacking up to 10 times”.

Sonic Boom – Power

Healing now also triggers on Quick Melee damage.

Mei

For Mei, avalanches are no longer present, but she gains an enhancement when she’s within a Blizzard, which aligns well with her abilities that generate mini-Blizzards.

Avalanche – Power

Removed.

Cold Blaster – Power

New Power added.
Endothermic Blaster’s primary fire does 20 percent increased damage to enemies within Blizzard.

Permafrost – Power

Increases Mei’s size by 15% when above 30% ability power.

Himalayan Hat – Epic Weapon Hero Item

Increased attack speed to 15% (up from 10%).

Reaper

The Reaper will gain advantages from several bug corrections, and moreover, the casting time for Shadow Step will be quicker when you employ the Strangle Step ability rather than linking it to a specific item.

Strangle Step – Power

Now also has +30% Shadow Step Cast Speed.

Wraith Renewal – Power

Reduced healing to 7 percent (down from 10 percent)
The Reaping – Hero Base Passive
Health restored from Lifesteal granted by The Reaping was unintentionally granting Stadium Cash.

Nightcreeper – Rare Weapon Hero Item

Moved to Rare (from Epic).
No longer has +30 percent Shadow Step Cast Speed.
Cost: 3,750.
Now Provides: 5 percent Weapon Power, 5 percent Move Speed, and after using an ability, nearby enemies are Revealed to you for 3s.

Crowd Control – Rare Ability Hero Item

Moved to Rare (from Epic).
Replaced Ability Power stat with 10 percent Ability Lifesteal.
Now grants 4 percent Ability Power per target (down from 5 percent).
Cost: 4,000.
Fixed a bug where the effect of this item was not affecting Death Blossoms triggered by Death Step.

Wreath of Ruin – Epic Ability Hero Item

Fixed a bug Where the Move Speed increase was not affecting Death Blossoms triggered by Death Step.

Crimson Cloak – Epic Ability Hero Item

Moved from Survival Items to Ability Items
Changed effect to: “When Death Blossom starts, gain Overhealth equal to 5% of your max Life for each enemy within its range.”
Reduced cost to 9500.

Devastation – Rare Survival Hero Item

Replaced Ability Lifesteal stat with 25 Health.
Reduced effect cap to 75 Health (down from 100).
Cost reduced to 3,750 (down from 4,000).

Soldier: 76

Utilizing a Soldier’s Frontline power enhances the effectiveness of Biotic Fields, and it also improves the efficiency of various power combinations overall.

Frontline – Power

Overhealth now stacks when multiple Biotic Fields are active at once.
Overhealth based on Max Life reduced to 25% (down from 30%).

2025-06-24 22:29