The current Overwatch 2 patch includes a slew of bug patches and hero modifications, including many significant enhancements to Soldier 76’s damage output and kit, which has resulted in the hero wreaking havoc in several matches.
Soldier 76 has always been one of the more straightforward and easier-to-learn characters in Overwatch 2. Still, with his damage output exceeding that of most of the game’s heroes, fans have started to lose faith in the game’s hero balancing.
The soldier is the first character new players will play after the brief tutorial. Soldier 76’s primary feature is his fully-automatic hitscan assault rifle, which is effective at most ranges. He’s also the only character in the game who can sprint without a cooldown and may periodically release a small canister that can heal both himself and his friends.
His Ultimate ability automatically allows him to aim at foes within view briefly. While the character was thought to be in a comfortable place in terms of balancing, the current Overwatch 2 update has made some adjustments that fans aren’t too happy with.
Soldier 76 and other characters benefited from a recent patch that increased his core fire damage output and his Helix Rocket damage and Biotic Field healing output.
While the increase in damage-per-bullet from 18 to 19 may not seem like much, it has been shown to significantly affect the hero’s total time-to-kill on enemy targets, to the point that Soldier has quickly become a popular selection for players who queue Damage.
The Overwatch 2 community has much to say about the game’s latest update, with many fans flocking to Reddit to analyze Soldier 76’s recent adjustments.
Below is a link to a post made by a gaming rant on Twitter:
The latest update for Overwatch 2 makes a number of bold character changes, including some massive buffs to nearly all of Soldier 76’s abilities. https://t.co/3W5jE9F6Y4
— Game Rant (@GameRant) July 15, 2023
- Overwatch 2 Players Find a Possible Hint About When Pve Will Start
- Overwatch 2 Season 4 Trailer Release and Countdown
- Overwatch 2 Character 37 Lifeweaver is Revealed!
Many people have been perplexed as to how such a minor increase in damage-per-bullet can have such a significant impact on gameplay. Still, considering the headshot multiplier and other damage-boosting effects available from heroes like Mercy or Zenyatta, it’s no surprise that the character is currently a top choice for Overwatch 2 players looking for raw damage output.
Even this minor increase in damage results in an additional 30 points of damage in every clip, each of which can be depleted quickly. Beyond Soldier 76, the latest Overwatch 2 update has modified various characters, with contentious changes aimed at Torbjorn and Symmetra.
The transfer of strength from these characters’ turrets to their guns has some fans worried that the characters’ gameplay identities might be lost in the future, and many gamers are now even less trusting in Blizzard’s balancing choices than before.
Overwatch 2 is available for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. You can follow us on Twitter to learn more about the games and their past.
