You can expect targeted balance updates in the April 23 Overwatch patch, with adjustments focused on Roadhog, Sombra, and Vendetta. The hotfix also addresses a significant bug tied to Mizuki, aiming to stabilize gameplay and correct unintended behavior.
Alongside hero changes, you will also see updates affecting Stadium mode. These refinements reflect ongoing balance efforts as Season 2 continues to evolve.
Overwatch Season 2 patch notes: April 23
You see targeted balance updates in the April 23 hotfix, focusing on heroes whose performance dropped more than intended during Season 2. The team adjusts tanks and damage picks to keep matches competitive while monitoring mobility across modes like Stadium.
Roadhog gains more frequent playmaking potential. His Chain Hook cooldown drops from 8 seconds to 7 seconds, letting you engage or punish enemies more often.
Sombra becomes less restricted after taking damage. The movement speed penalty applied while she is revealed decreases from 50% to 33%, giving you better repositioning options when stealth breaks.
Vendetta receives a durability increase. Her base health rises from 175 to 200, raising her total health pool from 250 to 275.
These changes aim to stabilize win rates and maintain viable hero choices across the roster.
Overwatch resolves Mizuki teleport block issue
You can now rely on Mizuki’s Katashiro Return to function as intended. Before this hotfix, opponents could stand on the original cast location and stop you from teleporting back.
Blizzard removed that interaction. Enemies can no longer interfere with your recall by occupying the starting point.
| Hero | Ability | Issue | Update |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mizuki (Support) | Katashiro Return | Recall blocked by enemy positioning | Recall now triggers correctly regardless of enemy placement |
Overwatch Stadium patch notes
You see broad balance adjustments in Stadium, with several tanks receiving direct tuning. Ramattra gains meaningful buffs to key powers, while other frontline heroes lose some efficiency.
Tank Updates
| Hero | Ability / Upgrade | Adjustment |
|---|---|---|
| Hazard | Off the Wall | Damage lowered from 60 to 40 |
| Woof Woof! | Bonus Spike Guard resource reduced from 30% to 15%; Violent Leap energy gain cut from 15% to 10% | |
| Hit Me Again | Movement speed penalty reduction reduced from 90% to 50% | |
| Phreak Foil | Extra Spike Guard resource lowered from 50% to 25%; Jagged Wall energy gain reduced from 25% to 15% | |
| Junker Queen | Royal Bullets | Wound damage reduced from 40 to 25 |
| Orisa | Restortify | Healing lowered from 8% to 5% of max health per second |
| Enhanced Target Sensors | Bonus damage reduced to 10%; attack speed bonus lowered to 5%; cost increased to 5,000 | |
| Ramattra | Retaliation | Maximum damage increased to 150 |
| Void Blight | Damage increased from 20 to 30 | |
| Recursion Relay | Damage amplification raised to 15% | |
| R-7000 Powercell | Cost reduced to 10,000 | |
| Dreadknight | Annihilation duration bonus reduced to 1 second | |
| Conversion Protocol | Healing from mitigated damage reduced to 25% | |
| Voracious Maelstrom | Nemesis cooldown reduction per enemy reduced to 0.5 seconds | |
| Second Phase | Ravenous Vortex cooldown refund lowered to 75% | |
| Final Form | Healing reduced from 80 to 50 | |
| Nano-Mender | Restored to the mode | |
| Zarya | Currency gain | Healing and damage currency income increased by 7.14% |
You gain stronger offensive output with Ramattra through higher damage and amplification options, but you sacrifice some survivability and cooldown refunds in specific upgrades. Hazard, Junker Queen, and Orisa lose raw output or sustain, which tightens their overall efficiency in extended fights.
Damage and Support Changes
Freja stands as the only damage hero adjusted in this patch.
- Freja – Volley à Deux: Additional bolt damage now scales at 60% reduced damage instead of 50%, lowering burst potential.
Support heroes receive a mix of nerfs, buffs, and restored upgrades.
- Ana – Cluster Core: Re-enabled.
- Brigitte – Packstacker: Repair Pack duration bonus reduced to 25%.
- Juno – MediMaster: Critical damage increased to 200%.
- Juno – Long Range Blaster: Mediblaster falloff bonus extended to 15 meters.
- Juno – Heal Formation: Re-enabled.
- Wuyang – Water College Hat: Restoration Stream duration bonus reduced to 25%.
You deal more consistent ranged damage with Juno, while Brigitte and Wuyang provide shorter-duration sustain boosts. These updates shift Stadium builds toward more deliberate upgrade choices and tighter resource management.
