Overwatch 2’s tank function has been in an ungainly spot because the sequel took one in every of them out of the combination. The place as soon as the function prioritized team-wide protection, Overwatch 2 has constructed and reworked tanks to be frontline brawlers. Since then, the function has been in fixed flux as Blizzard has tried to higher outline the function. In latest seasons, it’s struggled immensely, as adjustments just like the harm hero passive that weakens therapeutic have turned some tanks into big glass cannons. After months of complaints, Blizzard is now actively acknowledging the issue.
In a brand new Director’s Take weblog put up, recreation director Aaron Keller stated that the staff’s information confirms tank characters are struggling proper now. He says a lot of the issue boils all the way down to characters not feeling “tanky” sufficient, and it requires help heroes to focus all their therapeutic on them simply to maintain a combat. This implies help gamers are considerably tethered to tanks, so two of three roles are struggling, whereas he harm heroes mild everybody else up.
Because of this, the staff has began utilizing a brand new inner metric of “tankiness” that measures the variety of hero deaths a tank character has in comparison with what number of they “must expertise.” Keller says that he can’t go into element for what an anticipated dying charge entails, however says that gamers’ struggles with the tank function are backed up by the info Blizzard makes use of internally. A few of this was intentional and a results of latest adjustments, however most tanks (besides Wrecking Ball) moved “so much additional” down in survivability in comparison with different roles. The headshot harm discount for tanks helped, nevertheless it’s nonetheless not the place the staff desires it.
Now that the issue’s been recognized, Keller says the staff is seeking to see how they will deal with this, each with broad adjustments throughout the sport and focused tweaks for various heroes. Some concepts talked about within the weblog put up embody decreasing the affect of the harm function passive, and giving Reinhardt’s shields some buffs. Blizzard can be releasing a patch concentrating on tankiness throughout the board that can drop both mid-season 11 or at the start of season 12.
Finally, online game steadiness is in a continuing state of flux and it’s uncommon that everybody is glad, nevertheless it’s at the very least good to see a widely-regarded drawback getting the eye it deserves. I’ve just about stopped enjoying tank in my very own time, and whereas a part of that’s as a result of I’d fairly play my harm and help characters on most days, the function might use an overhaul if it’s going to get me again to enjoying Orisa and Ramattra.
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