Overwatch 2’s season 16 midseason patch nerfs Sombra, buffs Reinhardt

It's somehow already midseason for season 16 in Overwatch 2, which means hero changes alongside some sweet new Street Fighter 6 skins.

As is the case with every midseason update in OW2, Blizzard Entertainment is setting out to tweak the meta by buffing up weaker heroes or nerfing those who have become a problem. In this update, the most notable changes are to heroes like Reinhardt, Hazard, Sombra, Freja, Genji, and Widowmaker.

For Sombra, Blizzard said that it's "increasing the windows for counterplay" against her since "invisibility is a frustrating mechanic to play against for many," and so she will take longer to exit stealth and to disappear again after taking damage.

Reinhardt, meanwhile, "generally does well across the game but falls off in effectiveness at high ranks," so the developer is supplying some solid buffs to his Fire Strike ability. And there's even a buff for Widowmaker, in case you really want to use her new Cammy skin.

Aside from hero changes, the update also adds Mercy's Mythic weapon, Merciful Magitech, and Overwatch Classic: October 2020. Below, you can find the full list of buffs and nerfs for OW2's update on May 20, straight from Blizzard.

Table of contents

• Overwatch 2 midseason patch notes: May 20
  • Tank
  • Damage
  • Support

Overwatch 2 midseason patch notes: May 20

Image via Blizzard Entertainment

This update includes changes for 12 heroes, including tweaks to existing abilities along with both Major and Minor Perks.

Tank

Hazard

• 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 percent to 40 percent.

Reinhardt

• Fire Strike - Ability 2
  • Projectile speed increased from 25 to 30 meters per second.
  • Recovery time reduced from 0.63 to 0.45 seconds.

Damage

Screenshot by Destructoid

Freja

• Quick Dash
  • Cooldown increased from 3.5 to 4 seconds.

Genji

• Shuriken - Primary and Secondary Fire
  • Ammo reduced from 30 to 24.
  • Projectile speed increased from 60 to 75.

Hanzo

• 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

• Drift Thrusters - Minor Perk
  • Movement speed while using Barrage reduced by 20 percent.
• Concussive Implosion - Major Perk
  • Distance pulled reduced by 50 percent.

Reaper

• Dire Triggers - Major Perk
  • Recovery reduced from 0.7 to 0.5 seconds.

Soldier: 76

• Stim Pack - Major Perk
  • Anti-heal removed. Now deals 75 self-damage on use.
  • Is now activated by using Weapon Swap.

Sombra

• 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

• 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%.

Support

Image via Blizzard Entertainment

Illari

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

Lifeweaver

• Healing Blossom - Primary Fire
  • Auto-Charge rate increased by 25 percent.
• Superbloom - Major Perk
  • The number of hits to trigger reduced from 20 to 16.

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