April Fools Day Patch Notes 2025
The list of alterations in character abilities and gameplay mechanics provides insights into a dynamic gaming environment, showcasing innovative approaches to character versatility and strategic depth.
Ashe and B.O.B.
Ashe's Coach Gun now delivers an enhanced knockback effect against enemy heroes, briefly limiting their ability to maneuver in the air. More significantly, B.O.B. has undergone a transformation. Instead of shooting, this companion now charges towards the closest adversary, effectively launching them upward, and the ultimate ability's energy cost has been cut by a noticeable 70%.
Bastion and Cassidy
Bastion's A-36 Tactical Grenade and Configuration Artillery introduce an explosive element with the capacity to deploy training bots that detonate. On the other hand, Cassidy's enhancements make his Peacekeeper capable of both primary and secondary fire rebounding up to three times, with increased damage for ricocheted shots.
Echo, Genji, and Hanzo
Echo has evolved with her Tri-Shot now releasing Sticky Bombs but with diminished damage. In contrast, her Sticky Bombs throw a barrage of Tri-Shot projectiles, boasting greater damage output. Echo perpetually engages in Flight, and activation allows for a distinctive dashing maneuver. Focusing Beam has been upgraded to inflict additional harm on opponents with more than half their health remaining.
Genji can recover health occasionally through a self-healing emote when asking for aid. Hanzo's variations introduce ricocheting arrows for both his Storm Bow and Storm Arrow. His newly found ability to anchor himself to walls provides strategic positioning, while the Samurai Kishu passive empowers collaboration with Orisa, boosting damage resistance and offering movement advantages during battle.
Junkrat, Mei, and Moira
Junkrat changes include five available Concussive Mines, with a reduced damage capacity and shorter cooldown. His RIP-Tire ability grants him invisibility and invulnerability, though destruction of the tire spells doom for him. Mei, with Cryo-Freeze, can summon a localized Blizzard and navigate during the freeze state, enhancing her tactical potential.
Moira transitions to a DPS role, losing her support capabilities. Her Biotic Grasp switches from healing to damage dealing, and Coalescence becomes damage-focused. The removal of the healing aspect broadens her offensive utility.
Pharah and Reaper
Rocket Launcher modifications for Pharah increase damage against airborne enemies. Her Jet Dash and Jump Jet now drag nearby foes, creating opportunities to disrupt enemy positioning.
Reaper faces notable changes where reloading is abolished, requiring him to pick up discarded shotguns to regain ammunition. The absence of ammo boosts movement speed, and retrieving weapons accelerates his attack rate temporarily, redefining his close-combat strategy.
Sojourn, Soldier: 76, and Sombra
Sojourn's Railgun charge escalates to 300%, enhancing secondary fire damage and providing an additional self-propelling knockback effect beyond 100% charge levels.
For Soldier: 76, the inability to view any health bars creates a more challenging playstyle, yet his passive healing features increased pace and magnitude. The Sprint ability doubles running speed, thereby rapidly advancing tactical maneuvers.
Sombra's Hack fosters a cumulative buff in speed and magazine capacity with each successful hack, though these boosts are reset on her demise, making sustainability crucial for maximizing benefits.
Symmetra, Torbjörn, and Tracer
Photon Projector in Symmetra's arsenal now calculates damage relative to the opponent’s max health. The enhancements to turret health and attachment options provide greater tactical diversity.
Torbjörn's turrets can gain added size and strength through Forge Hammer. When overcharged, these turrets present a formidable battlefield presence.
Tracer's alterations allow Blink to become an offensive tool when crouched, causing knockback and damage upon collision with enemies. Her agility receives a further dimension, expanding her ability to execute quick strikes.
Widowmaker
Finally, Widowmaker sees her Grappling Hook become an offensive ability, capable of striking foes to impart damage and gain temporary bonus health. Her subsequent melee strikes after grappling inflict increased damage, further refining her role as a lethal marksman.
This assortment of adjustments ensures that players engage with a diverse and evolving roster, enhancing strategic competition and player creativity.
