Blizzard has rolled out a new update on the Overwatch public test region that applies big changes to Reaper, McCree, and Roadhog.
The buffs to Reaper and McCree will likely increase their usage, while Roadhog mains will once again have to adjust their playstyle after another nerf.
Reaper Gains Lifesteal Passive Ability
The biggest change in the new Overwatch PTR update comes to Reaper and his passive ability.
Previously, Reaper regenerated 50 health points by picking up orbs that fallen opponents drop. With the change being tested in the Overwatch PTR, Reaper instead gains a lifesteal ability that allows him to gain 20 percent of the damage dealt back as health.
According to the Overwatch development team, the old passive ability of Reaper was only helpful to players in situations where they were already ahead. The new lifesteal ability will allow Reaper to gain immediate benefit from his passive skill, especially against tank heroes who have massive pools of health but deal lower damage. Players using Reaper will soon find themselves surviving longer in teamfights.
Some players, however, think that 20 percent lifesteal might be too high, and expect the percentage to eventually decrease to 15 percent or 10 percent. The new passive ability has received a mostly positive response though, with many players expecting Reaper to be played more due to the change.
McCree Buffed, Roadhog Nerfed
McCree also received a buff, with his Deadeye ultimate to start locking on after only 0.2 seconds from the previous time of 0.8 seconds. The accumulated damage over the first 1.0 second has also been increased from 20 to 80.
These changes increase the speed and damage dealt by McCree for his ultimate, which will allow the gunslinger to easily pick off several low-health opponents at once.
Roadhog, meanwhile, received a nerf, with his bullet damage decreased by 33 percent. Meanwhile, the size of his head hitbox is reduced by 20 percent, his fire rate is increased by 30 percent, and his clip size is increased from four to five to offset the lowered damage.
The decreased bullet damage significantly weakens his hook and primary fire combo, as Roadhog will now need to land a headshot to one-shot opponents with 200 health. The combo was already nerfed with the previous changes that pulled hooked heroes not as close as before, but this decreases the chances of one-shot kills even further.
Other Changes On 'Overwatch' PTR
In addition to the changes to Reaper, McCree, and Roadhog, the legendary skins Oni Genji and Officer D.Va have been added to the game through the latest Overwatch PTR update. The two skins were previously only attainable by playing in-game events in Heroes of the Storm.
The latest PTR update also introduced the new Horizon Lunar Colony map, set on the moon base that is tied to Winston's origin, along with custom game options of modifying gravity, knockback magnitude, and jump height.
The Horizon Lunar Colony map was recently teased by Blizzard in a report supposedly published by Overwatch in-game media outlet Atlas News. There is also speculation that a new hero is on its way, possibly another gorilla hero similar to Winston.
