Overwatch 2 Mid-Season 14 Update Patch Notes Now Available

Overview of Overwatch 2 Mid-Season 14 Update

Season 14 introduces key hero adjustments, a new Mythic skin for Ashe, and various game modes enhancing gameplay.
The 6v6 experimental modes, featuring Min 1, Max 3 and Moth Meta, aim to offer both fresh and nostalgic experiences.
Players can anticipate a series of festive events and exclusive competitive rewards as Season 14 unfolds.

Overwatch 2 has just launched its highly anticipated mid-Season 14 update, enriching the gaming experience with significant hero balance changes, Ashe’s new Mythic weapon skin, and exciting game modes. This update is now available for players eager to delve into the game’s latest enhancements.

Season 14 kicked off on December 10, 2024, introducing players to the new Tank hero, Hazard, and marking the first official 6v6 experiment within the sequel. With Season 15’s commencement slated for February 18, players still have ample time to explore all that Season 14 has to offer.

The mid-Season 14 update highlights two striking 6v6 game modes: Min 1, Max 3 and Overwatch: Classic’s Moth Meta. The Min 1, Max 3 mode allows players to alternate between one and three heroes from each role, utilizing the hero balance established during the initial 6v6 experiment. This mode is available until February 3. Following this, the Moth Meta will take over from February 4 until the end of the season, featuring iconic abilities such as Mercy’s Resurrect and DPS from Doomfist and Symmetra.

Overwatch 2 Mid-Season 14 Update Lunar New Year Event

As Season 14 progresses, players can indulge in a continuous array of holiday events. The Year of the Snake celebration has commenced and runs until February 3, featuring game modes like Mischief & Magic, Capture the Flag, and Bounty Hunter, alongside various in-game challenges rewarding players with exclusive collectibles. Following this, the Valentine’s Day event will debut for two weeks, showcasing the Cupid Hanzo’s Love of Geometry mode.

Hero adjustments form a crucial part of this mid-season update. Ramattra, Echo, Tracer, and Illari received buffs, enhancing their effectiveness in battle, while Ana, Juno, and Hazard experienced some nerfs. Notably, Winston received a boost in ammo and Tesla Cannon charge range, yet his ultimate cost increased slightly.

As a treat for cosmetic enthusiasts, Ashe’s new Mythic weapon skin, Lead Rose, is now accessible through the Mythic Shop. This skin features various unlock levels, with players encouraged to acquire the Jade Weapon Variants from the 2024 Competitive year by February 18, as they will be retired in Season 15. Additionally, players can explore Maximilien’s Vault, which offers a rotating selection of premium cosmetics at discounted prices, enriching their collections with rare skins through Overwatch Coins.

Detailed Patch Notes for Overwatch 2 Mid-Season 14 – January 21, 2025

Year of the Snake Seasonal Event

Join the festivities for the Lunar New Year with the Year of the Snake event in Overwatch 2. Engage in the Mischief & Magic mode, complemented by game types like Bounty Hunter and Capture the Flag. Complete various challenges to earn exclusive Lunar New Year cosmetics that embody the essence of the season, and outplay your competitors!

Valentine’s Day 2025

Return to romance with the Love of Geometry game mode, a thrilling team deathmatch where teams of four Cupid Hanzos battle it out. Watch your back; the Scatter Arrow ability adds an unpredictable twist to combat. This delightful event runs from February 4 to February 18, providing a perfect opportunity to enjoy the festivities.

6v6 Experimental – Minimum 1, Maximum 3

Dive deeper into Overwatch’s roots with an innovative twist on the classic 6-player team format. The Min 1, Max 3 mode allows for dynamic gameplay and role-switching mid-match, fostering both nostalgia and strategy. By participating, players contribute to shaping future gameplay dynamics.

Heroes are picked on a first-come, first-served basis.
Each team must include at least one hero from each role but cannot exceed three heroes from any single role.
Players can adjust their roles while in the spawn area.
Hero balance mirrors that of the previous 6v6 2-2-2 Role Queue experiment.
This mode is accessible in Unranked from January 21 to February 3.

Overwatch Classic – Moth Meta

Overwatch Classic’s Moth Meta mode takes players back to one of the franchise’s most frenetic eras. Featuring Mercy’s revered “Moth” gameplay, where swift Resurrects can alter the tide of battle, this mode also welcomes heroes like DPS Doomfist and Symmetra equipped with her Shield Generator back into the fray. Participants can roam beloved maps such as Oasis, Eichenwalde, and Junkertown, each encounter promising chaotic excitement.

Included heroes: Ana, Shadow, Orisa, and Doomfist.
Maps featured: Eichenwalde, Oasis, Horizon Lunar Colony, and Junkertown.
Hero balance is based on September 2017 adjustments.

New Mythic Weapon – Ashe’s Lead Rose

Introducing Ashe’s Lead Rose, a Mythic weapon inspired by her challenging upbringing. Just as Ashe embodies both grace and danger, this weapon allows her to flourish as she secures eliminations. As players progress through the unlock levels, they gain unique visual effects and abilities, culminating in a breathtaking elimination animation surrounded by rose petals.

Competitive Updates

Competitive Drives

A new Drives signature will be available to win from February 11 to February 16.
Players can amass up to 6,000 Competitive Points by achieving Competitive Drive Stages, enough for two Jade or Golden Weapon Variants.

Competitive Rewards

Season 14 marks the final period to earn Competitive Points for Jade Weapon Variants. Following this season, all collected Competitive Points will convert to Legacy Competitive Points, usable for redeeming Golden Weapon Variants. Note that Jade Weapon Variants will no longer be obtainable starting in Season 15.

Hero Updates

These hero adjustments apply strictly to standard game modes and exclude experimental or classic play.

TANK

Ramattra

Developer Insight: Ramattra has faced challenges in matching the performance of other brawl tanks. By slightly increasing his armor, we aim to enhance his survivability without changing his core mechanics.

Base Armor: Increased from 75 to 100.

Winston

Developer Insight: Enhancements to enemy health have hindered Winston’s dive effectiveness. Adjustments to his Tesla Cannon will allow for greater damage output and resource management during combat.

Tesla Cannon
- Ammo: Increased from 100 to 120.
- Secondary fire max charge damage: Increased from 50 to 60.
Primal Rage
- Ultimate cost: Increased by 12%.

Hazard

Developer Insight: Hazard’s mobility has proven a bit excessive. By extending the cooldown of Violent Leap, we encourage more strategic dives into enemy territory.

Violent Leap
- Cooldown: Increased from 5 to 6 seconds.

DAMAGE

Echo

Developer Insight: Echo’s performance has dipped recently, warranting an increase in her Focusing Beam’s base damage to enhance its effectiveness.

Focusing Beam
- Damage-per-second on targets above 50% HP: Increased from 50 to 75.

Tracer

Developer Insight: Damage reductions to Tracer’s Pulse Pistols have rendered her less impactful. Decreasing the spread will stabilize her damage, making her more formidable at medium distances.

Pulse Pistols
- Spread: Decreased by 15%.

SUPPORT

Cave

Developer Insight: Recent buffs have made Ana increasingly effective in her role. Lowering the damage output of her Biotic Grenade addresses her capabilities while slightly affecting her self-sustain.

Biotic Grenade
- Explosion damage and healing: Decreased from 90 to 75.

Illari

Developer Insight: Illari’s healing potential has sometimes been limited by her Healing Pylon’s availability. Increasing her secondary fire’s resource capacity allows her to maintain support when needed.

Solar Rifle
- Secondary fire maximum resource: Increased from 3 to 3.5 seconds.

Juno

Developer Insight: The effectiveness of Juno’s ultimate has proven too strong when executed correctly. Reducing the duration and damage amplification will balance her effectiveness.

Orbital Ray
- Duration: Reduced from 10 to 8 seconds.
- Damage amplification: Reduced from 35% to 30%.

Bug Fixes

GENERAL

Resolved an issue with competitive titles occasionally unequipping after player logout.

MAPS

Circuit Royal
- Fixed an issue preventing turret placement inside sports cars.

HEROES

Bastion
- A fix was applied in the previous update, correcting the sound and visual effects for Bastion’s ultimate.
Hazard
- Fixed a bug causing Hazard’s Jagged Wall projectiles to bypass certain player-made structures such as Cryo-Freeze and Ice Wall.
Shadow
- Rectified an error where Sombra’s EMP could fail to hit opponents interacting with the Jagged Wall.
Zenyatta
- Fixed an anomaly causing Zenyatta’s T-Pose during the “Retro Hero”emote.

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