Overwatch 2 Season 16 mid-season patch notes, hero nerfs, and Stadium changes

The details for the mid-season update in Overwatch 2 Season 16 have been released! This latest patch includes some tweaks, particularly focusing on the core mode and Stadium. Most changes are relatively small, like enhancing Reinhardt’s secondary ability to serve a more significant purpose and simplifying the use of Soldier 76’s stim pack. As for Stadium, the updates are rather modest, with the main alterations being price adjustments for various items and the introduction of Freja as an option to play among the damage characters.

Our summary of changes, released during Season 16 of Overwatch 2 for its main gameplay mode and Stadium, details all updates introduced in the mid-season patch.

Overwatch 2 Season 16 mid-season patch notes: All hero nerfs and buffs

Hazard buffs

In the game, a blizzard is helping Hazard ascend quicker, making him harder to spot as he navigates an obstacle, thereby enhancing his survival chances. Additionally, using the Anarchic Zeal perk has made him more resilient.

Vault – Passive

Ledge climb animation time reduced from 0.6 to 0.4 seconds.

Anarchic Zeal – Major Perk

Spike Guard’s Lifesteal is increased from 25% to 40%

Reinhardt buff

Reinhardt’s fire strike ability is being slightly modified to allow it to reach farther distances and enable him to recuperate faster following its use.

Fire Strike – Ability 2

Projectile speed increased from 25 to 30 meters per second.
Recovery time reduced from 0.63 to 0.45 seconds.

Freja nerf

Experienced gamers have been able to consistently make Freja float, attacking her with precise strikes, seemingly forever – but that could change due to recent updates. Blizzard has slightly increased the cool-down time for Quick Dash to provide a more balanced gameplay experience.

Quick Dash

Cooldown increased from 3.5 to 4 seconds.

Genji buff and nerf

Genji fires fewer shuriken with each go now, but they move more quickly.

Shuriken – Primary and Secondary Fire

Ammo reduced from 30 to 24.
Projectile speed increased from 60 to 75.

Hanzo buffs

Hanzo draws his bow more quickly now, and his least-used minor perk is a little more desirable.

Storm Bow – Primary Fire

Draw time reduced from 0.8 to 0.72 seconds.

Sonic Disruption – Minor Perk

Health pack hack time increased from 12 to 30 seconds..

Pharah nerfs

In typical fashion, Pharah is excelling too much, prompting Blizzard to tweak her most frequently used advantages to reduce her destructive potential slightly.

Drift Thrusters – Minor Perk

Movement speed while using Barrage reduced by 20%.

Concussive Implosion – Major Perk

Distance pulled reduced by 50%.

Reaper buff

Reaper’s getting a slight buff for his Dire Triggers perk by reducing his recovery time.

Dire Triggers – Major Perk

Recovery reduced from 0.7 to 0.5 seconds.

Soldier: 76 stim pack change

The soldier’s stimulation device will operate with some alterations, due to an essential adjustment in its activation method and a modification concerning its adverse effects.

Stim Pack – Major Perk

Anti-heal removed. Now deals 75 self-damage on use.
Is now activated by using Weapon Swap

Sombra nerfs

Folks still struggle to tag Sombra effectively, though it might be a little easier now.

Translocator – Ability 2

Fade in time increased from 0.15 to 0.3 seconds.
Stealth reveal duration on taking damage increased from 1 to 1.3 seconds.

Widowmaker buffs

In other words, Blizzard is working on making Widowmaker more effective during situations where she doesn’t have a clear shot or line of sight.

Widow’s Kiss – Primary Fire

Maximum spread reduced from 3 to 2 degrees.
Damage increased from 13 to 14.

Deadly Deux

Venom Mine’s bonus damage increased from 50% to 100%.

Illari buff

Illari’s healing range is, finally, getting a much-needed extension.

Solar Rifle – Secondary Fire
Range increased from 15 to 20 meters.

Lifeweaver buffs

It might not appear so when facing an experienced Lifeweaver player, but Lifeweaver still lags behind other support heroes in terms of performance. Now, his main healing skill will recharge faster, and it’s simpler to trigger Superbloom.

Healing Blossom – Primary Fire

Auto-Charge rate increased by 25%.

Superbloom – Major Perk

The number of hits to trigger reduced from 20 to 16.

Overwatch 2 Stadium Season 16 mid-season patch notes

Mercy Rule change

In the original version by Blizzard, a team would be declared the winner after three straight rounds if they had a lead of 15,000 or more Stadium Cash over their opponent. However, with the mid-season update, this cash gap requirement has been lowered to just 10,000 Stadium Cash.

Reinhardt nerfs and adjustments

This update brings some modifications to Reinhardt’s Fire Strike, tailored to fit the new rules for core mode. Blizzard continues to fine-tune his melee build’s potency as well.

Smashing – Power

Reduced Move Speed per stack to 1% (down from 2%)
Reduced Life Steal per stack to 3% (down from 5%)
Increased maximum stacks to 10 (up from 5)
Reduced duration to 2s (down from 3s)

To Me, My Friends! – Power

Increased healing based on Max Life to 4% (up from 3%)

Wilhelmwagen – Power

Decreased healing from damage mitigated to 5% (down from 15%)

Rocket Strike – Epic Hero Ability Item

Decreased Fire Strike Projectile Speed to 25% (down from 50%)
Decreased Ability Power to 10% (down from 20%)
Chimera’s Maw – Rare Hero Ability Item
Decrecsed Ability Power to 5% (down from 10%)

Soldier: 76 nerfs

If you’ve ever found it frustrating when Soldier 76 can take you out with just one Helix Rocket, know that you’re not the only one feeling this way. To reduce such occurrences in the future, Blizzard has adjusted the Crater power’s effectiveness.

Cratered – Power

Reduced increased Explosion Damage to 15% (down from 25%)

Overwatch 2 Stadium Season 16 mid-season item changes

In simpler terms, many modifications made to Stadium’s items during mid-season are primarily price changes. The strongest and frequently used items become more expensive, while lesser-used ones are made cheaper to increase their appeal.

Champion’s Kit – Epic Ability Item

Increased cost to 14000 (up from 13500).
Decreased Ability Power to 35% (down from 40%).

The Closer – Epic Weapon Item

Increased cost to 14,500 (up from 13,000)

Eye of the Spider – Epic Weapon Item

Increased cost to 14,000 (up from 13,500).

Nano Cola – Rare Ability Item

Increased cost to 6,000 (up from 5,500).

Talon Modification Module – Rare General Weapon Item

Increased cost to 6,000 (up from 5,500).

Gloomgauntlet – Epic Survival Item

Increased cost to 10,000 (up from 9,500).

Icy Coolant – Rare Weapon Item

Increased cost to 5,500 (up from 5,000).

Multi-Tool – Rare Ability Item

Decreased cost to 4,500 (down from 5,000).
Decreased Cooldown Reduction to 5% (down from 10%).
Increased Ability Power to 10% (up from 5%).

Bloodbound – Epic Survival Item

Decreased cost to 9,000 (down from 9,500).

Geneticist’s Vial – Epic Survival Item

Increased Life after reviving to 250 (up from 200).

Electrolytes – Common Survival Item

Now gives 100 Overhealth every time you respawn (instead of just at the start of the round).
Increased cost to 1,500 (up from 1,000).

Adrenaline Shot – Common Survival Item

Increased Health to 25 (up from 10).
Increased cost to 1,500 (up from 1,000).

As a gamer, I find myself still rolling with the usual crew – Zarya, Reaper, Kiriko, and more – in our Stadium lineup. It’s worth mentioning that before recent hotfix adjustments balanced out some overperforming characters, these guys were really shining. Now, it’s a whole new ball game!

2025-05-20 21:28