New and Exciting Overwatch 2 Patch Notes with Anniversary 2023 Update

Overwatch 2 has been a roller coaster within the community as the game was released both in Battle.net and Steam. Although it has a rough reputation, Overwatch 2 is still a game that many players enjoy playing, either casually or competitively. As it is an online game, patch notes are required to inform the players about the changes the developers have made to make adjustments to the game for fair gameplay. The new Overwatch 2 patch notes has a very special update: The Overwatch 2 Anniversary.

The Overwatch 2 Anniversary celebration is in full swing as the game marks its first year of existence. Blizzard has brought back some fan-favourite event game modes and introduced exciting new features to keep players engaged and entertained. In this article, we’ll delve into the details of the latest Overwatch 2 patch notes for the Anniversary 2023 update.

Overwatch 2 Patch Notes: Anniversary Celebration

Blizzard has revealed when Overwatch 2's Anniversary 2023 event will take place.https://t.co/iOT8OoEUWc pic.twitter.com/WWrIktBZCk

— Forbes Games (@ForbesGames) August 8, 2023

The Overwatch 2 patch notes revealed something very exciting for players: The Overwatch 2 Anniversary event, set to kick off on September 19, promises a host of exciting activities and rewards for players. Among the highlights are the return of classic event game modes such as Battle for Olympus, Catch-A-Mari, Starwatch, and Mischief and Magic. Players can relive these memorable experiences and strive to conquer the challenges they present. But that’s not all; Overwatch 2 patch notes also revealed and introduced “Hero Mastery”.

Hero Mastery: Test Your Skills

“Hero Mastery” is a fresh single-player game mode, introduced in the Overwatch 2 patch notes, that allows players to put their skills to the test with individual heroes on custom courses. The challenge here is to push your expertise to the limit and dominate the leaderboards. Each hero in Overwatch 2 can be played on three unique courses, each increasing in difficulty. Your goal is to flex your skills and earn up to five stars on each course.

Hero Mastery courses are scored based on various factors, including time, eliminations, healing, and escorting. What makes this feature even more exciting is that each hero has individual stats that are tracked, providing a comprehensive overview of your performance. To showcase your prowess, collect all the Mastery Emblems available as rewards. This is one of the most anticipated event stated in the Overwatch 2 patch notes.

Related: Climbing the Ranks: A Guide to Overwatch 2’s Rank System in 2023

Overwatch 2 Patch Notes: Hero Updates

One notable change in the Overwatch 2 patch notes is an enhancement to the Ping System. Now, owned entities like Torbjörn’s Turret, Symmetra’s Teleporter, or Illari’s Healing Pylon have a lower priority as ping targets compared to enemy heroes. This adjustment should help streamline communication and improve overall gameplay.

Tank Heroes

Junker Queen

In the Overwatch 2 patch notes, Junker Queen’s Jagged Blade receives a boost to its impact damage, increasing it from 50 to 65. This change rewards players with better accuracy when using the Jagged Blade, without directly impacting Junker Queen’s self-healing abilities.

Orisa

The Overwatch team has adjusted Orisa’s Fortify ability cooldown to provide a more consistent experience. Now, the cooldown begins when the ability is activated, as opposed to when it ends. The cooldown has also been increased from 12 to 16.5 seconds, while the overhealth bonus has decreased from 125 to 100. These changes aim to make Orisa’s ability usage more strategic and less dependent on early cancellations.

Zarya

Zarya’s Projected Barrier has seen some improvements. Its health has been increased from 200 to 225, while the cooldown has been decreased from 10 to 8 seconds. Additionally, the size of the barrier has been increased by 15%. These changes encourage players to use the barrier more frequently on allies, promoting teamwork and coordination.

Damage Heroes

Ashe

Ashe’s Viper, her primary weapon, has received a slight adjustment to its reload time. The reload time has been decreased from 0.25 to 0.2 seconds, making the full reload from empty less punishing for players.

Bastion

A change to Bastion’s A-36 Tactical Grenade sees a reduction in its impact damage, from 30 to 15. This alteration comes as the grenade has become more reliable, and the Overwatch team wants to balance its impact accordingly. Additionally, Configuration: Artillery can no longer deal critical hits.

Mei

Mei’s primary fire has been buffed, with the damage per second increased from 65 to 70. Furthermore, the duration before the slow effect wears off between primary fire hits has been extended from 0.5 to 0.6 seconds. Players will also be pleased to know that Mei’s quick melee can now trigger the bonus damage from Deep Chill.

Support Heroes

Support Passive

Support heroes in Overwatch 2 have received individual improvements to their survivability, making them quite strong overall. As a result, the duration until the support passive activates has been increased from 1.5 to 2 seconds. This change helps balance the role-wide passive effect.

Baptiste

Baptiste’s Regenerative Burst has been adjusted to reduce its overall healing output. Instant healing has been decreased from 50 to 40, and the heal-over-time component has been reduced from 50 over 5 seconds to 40 over 4 seconds. These adjustments aim to fine-tune Baptiste’s healing abilities for better game balance.

Kiriko

A quality-of-life change has been introduced for Kiriko’s Protection Suzu. It now passes through enemy heroes, preventing accidental activations when thrown into groups with both enemies and allies.

Related: Mastering Mercy’s Flying and Super Jump in Overwatch 2

Conclusion 

As Overwatch 2 continues to evolve and celebrate its milestones, these Overwatch 2 patch notes reflect the dedication of the development team to maintain balance and enhance the overall player experience. Whether you’re a seasoned player or new to the game, there’s plenty to enjoy in this Anniversary 2023 update. Dive in, test your Hero Mastery, and experience the excitement of Overwatch 2’s ever-evolving world.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Overwatch 2 Anniversary 2023 Event, and When Does It Start?

Overwatch 2’s 2023 Anniversary event is scheduled to start on September 19 and will continue until October 3, providing players with several weeks to participate in challenges and earn exclusive rewards. While specific details about skins, limited-time cosmetics, and challenges are not yet available, players can anticipate the return of popular events like Winston’s Beach Volleyball and Lucioball. Past limited-time event skins, including the One-Punch Man collaboration, Roadhog’s Pachimari skin, and Hanzo’s Valentine skin, may also make a comeback, pending official confirmation.

What Is the New “Hero Mastery” Game Mode, and How Does It Work?

Overwatch 2 patch notes has revealed the Hero Mastery mode, offering specialised training courses for each character. These courses allow players to practice using a hero’s abilities in a stress-free environment, tailored to their unique playstyle. For instance, Reinhardt’s course teaches players how to effectively use his shield for defensive purposes. Moreover, Hero Mastery features a global leaderboard that tracks the fastest and most efficient completion of a hero’s training course, adding a competitive aspect to the mode.

What Are the Heroes Available in Overwatch 2 Hero Mastery?

Overwatch 2’s Hero Mastery mode currently has confirmed courses for five heroes based on past trailers. These heroes include Reinhardt, Mercy, Tracer, Sojourn, and Winston. Blizzard has stated in the Overwatch 2 patch notes that the launch that it will introduce the first courses for a selection of heroes, with plans to add more courses in future seasons, expanding the offering to further characters as the game evolves.