Overwatch 2's big midseason update hit the wrong target

Overwatch 2 Fans have been patiently waiting for the midseason update, looking forward to the game's much-needed story timeline as well as the usual buffs and nerfs. The story segment seems to be a big hit with fans Overwatch 2The lore, especially since Blizzard promised it would be updated with new story content before every season. For the latest balance pass, there are some legitimately positive adjustments, such as a Wrecking Ball HP nerf and a buff to Brigitte's Repair Pack speed, as well as a change to Lifeweaver's model size that should increase his survivability. However, one particular buff – that's for damage hero Ashe – and the lack of changes for Mercy stand out as some glaring disappointments.

Overwatch 2's Ashe Buff can make him a threat

One of the hardest things about balance Overwatch 2 And how different a game can feel on PC compared to its console predecessor. For this reason, there were times where a hero like Torbjorn was a threat on consoles while being extremely easy to deal with on PC, and heroes like Pharah remain even more terrifying on PlayStation and Xbox because reliable hitscan players are hard to find. Recently, the Overwatch 2 Hero Ashe has been a prime example of this problem, as while she's a decent B-tier pick on PC, she's proven too strong on console. After her latest transformation, she will be much stronger on console.

Overwatch 2The Ashe buff sees her fall off range increase significantly. Earlier it used to fall from 30 to 50 meters but now it has fallen from 40 to 60 meters. This change allows Ashe to play further back from the enemy while still dishing out the same amount of damage, meaning she can snipe enemies and really dominate lobbies as it will be harder to reach her. This power boost combined with Mercy Pocket could see Ashe become a real nightmare in the second half. Overwatch 2 Season 19. Since he's usable on PC and already strong on console, this kind of major buff is a bold decision that can be problematic.

Ashe received no other changes Overwatch 2’s midseason update, this means her other abilities like Dynamite and BOB have not been nerfed to compensate for her extra range.

On the damage front, there was a huge need for a nerf to focus on the series mascot Tracer, as she has been running lobbies for the past few weeks. His weapons, dealing 6 damage per shot, have proven unpopular Overwatch 2 community, as it made it difficult for characters like Echo to find value. While the global size increase is no longer applied to projectiles, players were hoping to knock Tracer down a peg, but that hasn't happened. Buffing Ashe while leaving Tracer un-nerfed is a strange slip-up, but even more absurd is that the hero players have been begging to see updated is once again gone without a change.

Overwatch 2's Mercy remains the weak link

Overwatch 2 Players have been constantly asking for a Mercy rework, with suggestions ranging from completely new abilities to making Flash Hill a part of her base kit and giving her a different perk. While she'll inevitably still be played because there's a passionate community of Mercy players, and because she'll be able to boost the now-dreaded Ashe for more damage, Mercy remains a big issue. He lacks playmaking ability outside of his frustrating ridge, which is difficult to pull off and always feels unfair to opposing teams.

Mercy's final changes were back at the start of Season 18 on August 26, and saw the Winged Reach perk replaced for Divine Momentum. It has been over 75 days since Mercy received any adjustments to her kit.

While a major rework for Mercy would make more sense for something like Season 20, which is being hyped by Blizzard as a game-changer for the hero shooter, there was still a chance for her to get some kind of buff or the aforementioned Flash heal change. For Mercy Men, it's disappointing to see heroes like Reinhart become big playmakers. Overwatchis a sequel, while Mercy is essentially unique, and it remains to be seen if that will ever change. Of course, there is plenty to admire Overwatch 2’s latest patch, but ignoring Mercy, buffing Ashe, and failing to turn Tracer stand out as missing the key this time around. Hopefully, Season 20's balancing act will hit any underpowered or overpowered heroes, as there are some red flags on paper that should be of concern for the rest of Season 19.