Blizzard has clearly recognized that the switch to 5v5 can only work if Tanks are fun to play in Overwatch 2, and fortunately, the community is loving the changes to the role. Doomfist becoming a Tank seemed like a bold move on paper, but he actually works very well in this new position. Characters like Reinhardt and Winston are more satisfying due to some changed and brand-new abilities, while Orisa has stolen the show.
Though the original Orisa played a crucial role and was usually a good pick for any team comp, most fans felt that she was a chore to play. In the sequel, Orisa can deal a lot of damage on her own and has some flashy abilities that make her far more appealing, with this rework being one of the most exciting Overwatch 2 changes thus far. Unfortunately, while Tanks are now exciting and Damage heroes remain fun, Support heroes have lost a lot of their appeal - meaning some Orisa-level reworks could be helpful.
Major Support Reworks Could Improve Overwatch 2
With the 5v5 meta, only half of the Support lineup excels. Ana being one of the only heroes with a stun makes her a solid choice, while Moira’s escape potential is useful and Baptiste remains well-rounded. Lucio does particularly well due to his maneuverability, but beyond that, the other healers are struggling. Looking at the roster, it is easy to see where changes are most needed.
Mercy is in an odd place due to her lack of a unique passive. Previously, her Regeneration passive was entirely unique to her kit, but that has changed in Overwatch 2. To help with survivability, all Overwatch healers can now regenerate, meaning that Mercy no longer has her own passive. She simply heals faster than the other Support characters, which is boring and uninteresting. As such, creating a whole new passive ability for Mercy could be worthwhile, something that Blizzard has already done with its major reworks.
Brigitte is one hero that is struggling greatly due to the removal of her stun, as it is hard to think of a reason to choose her with her current kit. Her healing output is lacking in comparison to other characters, and she does not excel in any area. Orisa’s major changes saw three abilities removed in favor of three new ones, so perhaps Brigitte should see something similar happen. If Blizzard does not want shield bash to stun enemies, removing it in favor of a completely different ability could be a good move.
Zenyatta’s new kick ability is a step in the right direction, with the knockback allowing him to protect himself and send enemies flying off the map. Despite this, the character still feels like a bit of a glass cannon, and he could benefit from some kind of way to restore his shields like Sigma or Doomfist. While Zenyatta has always had this downside, having less shield tanks on each team makes it more apparent than ever. With health changes already happening for a few heroes in Overwatch 2, this would be par for the course.
While Blizzard has teased more Support heroes for Overwatch 2, the existing ones could use some buffs to be on par with characters like Lucio. Nerfing the healers that are doing well in the beta would be a mistake, as heroes like Ana being powerful is hardly a bad thing. Instead, Blizzard should rework the healers in need of a buff so that all characters are viable, using the Orisa, Doomfist, and Bastion changes as a template. Whether it is a new passive for Mercy, a shield bash replacement for Brigitte, or a health change for Zenyatta, some beloved heroes are in desperate need of a boost.
Overwatch 2 is currently in development.