Overwatch Season 1’s mid-season update is now live, and you can expect targeted balance changes across several subroles. The patch adjusts Medic, Bruiser, and Initiator roles, shifts select perks, and delivers significant updates to Jetpack Cat to refine overall gameplay balance.
You also gain access to the final week of the Conquest event and a new arcade mode featuring Emre. Alongside these additions, the update rolls out a broad set of hero tweaks that shape how you approach matches during the second half of the season.
Overwatch Season 1 Mid-Season Patch Notes
Blizzard rolled out the March 10 update with a narrower balance focus. You see targeted adjustments to select tanks, newer damage heroes, and a few supports, along with refinements to the Medic, Bruiser, and Initiator subroles.
The subrole updates affect how you sustain and engage during fights:
| Subrole | Adjustment |
|---|---|
| Medic | Self-healing increased from 25% to 40% |
| Bruiser | Effect now activates when you fall below 50% health |
| Initiator | No longer activates at full health; healing reduced from 75 to 60 |
These changes shift survivability and timing windows, especially if you rely on passive sustain in extended fights.
Tank Hero Balance Updates
Several front-line heroes receive direct tuning. You will notice cooldown and damage adjustments that slightly alter tempo and pressure.
| Tank | Ability | Update |
|---|---|---|
| D.Va | Boosters | Cooldown increased from 3.5 to 4 seconds |
| Hazard | Subrole | Moved from Stalwart to Initiator |
| Ramattra | Void Barrier (5v5) | Cooldown reduced from 13 to 12 seconds |
| Annihilation | Damage per second increased from 30 to 35 | |
| Roadhog | Scrap Gun | Pellet damage increased from 6.5 to 7 |
D.Va’s longer Boosters cooldown slightly limits how often you can reposition or disengage. Hazard’s shift to Initiator encourages you to play more aggressively and commit earlier in fights.
Ramattra gains stronger presence in five-player modes with more frequent shielding and higher ultimate damage output. Roadhog’s small damage increase improves his close-range threat without changing his core playstyle.
Damage Hero Adjustments
The update also tweaks mobility, perk structure, and activation timing for select DPS heroes.
| DPS | Ability / Perk | Update |
|---|---|---|
| Anran | Inferno Rush | Now climbs small ledges automatically; jump height increased by 20% |
| Emre | Altered Vitals | Activation time reduced from 4.5 to 4 seconds |
| Vendetta | Raging Storm | Moved from major to minor perk; spin damage reduced from 35 to 30 |
| Siphoning Strike | Moved from minor to major perk; overhead lifesteal increased from 30% to 40% |
Anran gains smoother mobility, letting you maintain momentum across uneven terrain. Emre’s faster trigger window improves consistency in combat scenarios.
Vendetta’s perk restructuring shifts power away from raw spin damage and into stronger lifesteal, changing how you manage duels and sustain.
OW Patch Notes: Support Heroes
You will notice several balance passes aimed at lowering burst impact and refining perk value across the support lineup.
Illari receives multiple reductions tied to damage and tempo control:
- Solar Rifle (secondary fire) maximum energy lowered from 3.5s to 3s
- Summer Solstice attack speed bonus reduced from 30% to 20%
- Sunburn damage decreased from 70 to 50
These changes limit sustained pressure and reduce her ability to spike targets quickly during perk windows.
Jetpack Cat sees a perk reshuffle focused on counterplay and resource flow. The offensive-heavy Territorial perk has been removed. In exchange:
- Claws Out moves from minor to major perk
- Cooldown reduced from 8s to 6s
- Ulterior Motive added as a new minor perk
- Converts 15% of Biotic Pawjectile healing into fuel
You gain more consistent mobility uptime, but with less oppressive zoning potential.
Mizuki receives adjustments to Remedy Aura that improve team coverage while tightening timing:
- Radius increased from 10m to 12m
- Degeneration delay reduced from 2s to 1.75s
You can support allies from slightly farther away, though aura decay begins sooner after disengagement.
