As Season 6 marks the introduction of PvE content, a new support hero, and a core mode, the update is set to be one of the game's most substantial ones yet. Naturally, with such a massive update, balance changes are also on the horizon, involving both buffs and nerfs for various heroes.
In a recent blog update, Game Director Aaron Keller shed light on the tweaks coming for several supports, with a special focus on Mercy and Kiriko.
Mercy's damage boost ability, a topic of contention, will see a slight reduction. Previously boosting an ally's damage by 30%, the ability will now be lowered to 25%. The goal is to maintain the ability's effectiveness while addressing damage spikes. Keller acknowledged the diverse opinions surrounding this change and assured the team's receptiveness to the community's feedback.
On the other hand, Kiriko's "Protection Suzu," a potent ability that can cleanse status effects like burns, will also undergo modifications. While it will heal slightly less, the ability will now deliver an additional burst of healing when cleansing negative effects. Additionally, the slight knockback on Suzu is being removed to make the ability more focused and situational, encouraging players to utilize it strategically.
The introduction of unique additional healing for allies with negative effects adds an intriguing dimension to Kiriko's toolkit and will undoubtedly be closely observed by players.
As Overwatch 2 Season 6 begins on August 10, support mains will have the opportunity to explore the changes to Mercy and Kiriko while also experimenting with the new hero, making for lively discussions and gameplay during the OW2 Invasion.