Overwatch 2 is set to introduce several new heroes to the roster, shaking up the meta in a major way. However, while new Overwatch heroes are exciting, it is important to remember that there will still be plenty of fans of the older heroes. With some players having been waiting for their mains to be reworked for months or even years, Blizzard will have the opportunity to make some huge changes to the members of the cast that need them.
With Overwatch 2 already shaking things up via new modes, maps, and heroes to master, the sequel’s launch would be the perfect time to make some fan-requested reworks. Making niche heroes popular and allowing weaker heroes to put up a fight, many feel that certain characters are in desperate need of some adjustments. While it remains to be seen if Blizzard makes any alterations to the heroes’ kits, here are three Overwatch characters that could use a rework in Overwatch 2.
Soldier 76: Damage, Ultimate Changes
While Soldier 76 is one of the Overwatch heroes most likely to die in a future story, a fatal clash with Reaper would require that Blizzard fills Soldier’s position with another “tutorial-like” character. Offering the most basic mechanics out of every hero, Soldier 76 serves as a gateway for those familiar with traditional FPS games. As such, he should remain a simple character, with the changes to Soldier 76 coming in the form of major damage boosts to the hero’s abilities.
With his pulse rifle outputting less damage that Baptiste’s biotic launcher (a support weapon) in various metas, improving the rifle’s damage output is necessary. Beyond that, his Ultimate is weak as well, with just about every hero having a way to avoid and counter the aimbotting ability. A few changes could see the weakest heroes highlighted in a different color, with Soldier 76 doing double damage to those under half health — giving the Tactical Visor Ultimate a perk of the Focusing Beam wielded by the hero Echo.
Mei: Class, Alternate Fire Changes
The Overwatch team has shared an intriguing idea for a Mei rework in the past, which would see the character placed in the tank category as opposed to the damage class. Since the launch of the original Overwatch title, the character’s biggest strength has been her survivability. Boasting the ability to stay in a fight for as long as tank’s such as Wrecking Ball and D.Va, Mei has never felt quite right in the DPS category due to how strong her cryo-freeze ability is. As such, Blizzard should look at the tank rework once again, with the bold new approach to the hero making a debut in Overwatch 2.
With all the Overwatch heroes set to get new looks in Overwatch 2, Blizzard has a golden opportunity ahead of them to give Mei a new tank-like hitbox. How exactly this is done remains to be seen, but it could be as simple as Mei building herself a set of durable ice armor to walk around in. Aside from an obvious buff to health due to the tank status, much of Mei’s kit could remain the same. The only think needing a change would be her icicle ability, as it does far too much damage to be a tank weapon. A damage nerf or new ability would get the job done, and a bold new era for Mei players can begin.
Bastion: Speed, Movement Changes
While Soldier 76 being able to keep up with new heroes is nice, and Mei players filling the role they were finally meant to fill is welcome, Bastion is one of the heroes that is most in need of a rework. In early Overwatch metas and team compositions, Bastion was unstoppable when a Reinhardt shielded up in front of him. For the past several years, however, Bastion has remained one of the least-picked heroes in the game. With an incredibly low pick rate for regular players and a non-existent role in the Overwatch competitive scene, Bastion needs a major update.
While players love Ganymede’s pal enough to make cucumber Bastion models, controlling the adorable bot is a different story. Often feeling like a chore to play due to low speed and limited movement options, a major rework of Bastion could make him far less niche. First, Bastion’s transformation speed should be far shorter than it currently is. Beyond that, a bigger change would see Blizzard revisiting the hero’s scrapped helicopter form. Allowing Bastion to fly to new locations would help him find unique places to perch and gun down an unsuspecting team in sentry mode. Instantly giving the hero a more diverse play style while requiring even more coordination with his team, a movement related transformation mode for Bastion would be a great addition.
There are plenty of other Overwatch heroes that could be reworked as well, with even more Roadhog nerfs and a return to form for Symmetra often being discussed by fans. It will be interesting to see if any changes are made to the current cast of heroes, but if they are coming, fans should not have to wait much longer. With Overwatch 2 confirmed for BlizzConline, the showcase may hold details on reworks alongside new content.
Overwatch 2 is in development for PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.
