Some Overwatch 2 fans are calling for balance tweaks after a new video comparing weapons between different characters in Blizzard’s hero shooter shows Mercy’s Caduceus Blaster possessing a massive hitbox. This wouldn’t mark the first time that some gamers have claimed that Overwatch’s Mercy is overpowered, with the character facing some complaints in the original game due to her resurrection Ultimate.
Overwatch 2 is Blizzard’s sequel to their massively popular 2016 hero shooter, Overwatch. Featuring the return of characters from the original title alongside a roster of new heroes, Overwatch 2 had 35 million players in its first month of release despite receiving decidedly mixed reviews from many players. Controversies surrounding the free-to-play sequel range from complaints about the move to 5-v-5 format, a highly divisive reduction in team size from the original Overwatch, to delays in the release of the game’s PvE mode.
In a post on r/Overwatch, user almightycurator shared a video comparing the hitboxes for different characters’ weapons in Overwatch 2. As expected, most weapons don’t damage the unfortunate Tracer serving as a test dummy duty unless she is right in their sights. Mercy’s Caduceus Blaster, on the other hand, is able to damage Tracer even when aimed well beyond the limits of the character model. Some responses to the video cited it as evidence of Mercy’s weapon being overpowered and called for nerfs to the character, with one player sharing their experience of winning a recent match using only Mercy’s Caduceus Blaster.
Other players were decidedly less eager to tone down the damage dealt by Overwatch 2 healer Mercy, noting that her seemingly overpowered weapon could be a way to balance out her lack of other offensive abilities. Responses also pointed out that almightycurator moved towards and away from Tracer throughout the video as they switched weapons, which could potentially exaggerate the spread of Mercy’s weapon since hitbox size varies with distance. Some regular Mercy players chimed in with a light-hearted take on the video, joking that they needed such a large spread for the Caduceus Blaster because of their terrible aim.
For many fans of Overwatch and Overwatch 2, learning how to play around balance issues like this while waiting for patches has become second nature. Whether Mercy will see her Caduceus Blaster nerfed remains to be seen, but long-time fans of the series know that each fix seems to bring new issues of its own. Nerfed or not, Blizzard mega fans looking to get some new gear for their very own Mercy can now unlock Overwatch coins in World of Warcraft, ensuring they’ll be dressed to kill no matter the size of their hitbox.
Overwatch 2 is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
