Bastion, Mercy buffs live on Overwatch public test region

Big changes are coming to Overwatch with developer Blizzard’s latest public test region patch. It’s stuff that Overwatch fans have been begging for, too—Bastion is getting a rework, Capture the Flag is being added permanently to the Arcade, and a server browser is being implemented.

Capture the Flag

Introduced in late January as part of the Year of the Rooster event, Capture the Flag—called Capture the Rooster—has been wildly popular with players. Blizzard mentioned it had no plans to add the game mode to quick or competitive play in Overwatch. Instead, it’ll live in the game’s Arcade, playable on Nepal, Lijiang Tower, Ilios, and Oasis. Each map’s Capture the Flag version is playable now on the PTR.

Server Browser

If you want to play Capture the Flag with wacky settings, you can set up your own server in Overwatch’s new server browser feature. As an extension of the custom game mode, players are able to create different “rooms” wherein their custom games live, making it easy for friends—or the public—to test out different settings and modes. Want to remove cooldowns from all ultimates? This is where you’ll be able to test and play a bunch of weird and un-sanctioned settings.

Bastion

Though Bastion was once considered overpowered, the omnic hero is now easily countered in high level play. Sentry—where Bastion becomes an immobile turret—left it vulnerable. New changes are aimed at making its recon mode stronger and more flexible.

Configuration: Sentry

• Deploy time decreased from 1.5 seconds to 1 second
• Bullet spread increased by 50 percent
• Bullet spread is set at its maximum
• Magazine size increased from 200 to 30
• Headshot damage multiplier removed
• No longer deals critical damage

Configuration: Recon

• Bullet spread decreased by 25 percent
• Magazine size increased from 20 to 25

Self-repair

• Usable while moving
• Bound to secondary fire
• No longer interrupted while taking damage
• Resource meter added that depletes while ability is active and recharges when inactive

Configuration: Tank

• No longer grants bonus armor

New passive: Ironclad

• Bastion takes 35 percent less damage while in sentry or tank configuration

D.Va

D.Va was previously unable to block projectiles from enemies that were standing too close to her, as there was a minimum distance the projectiles had to travel before being blocked by the defense matrix. Now, D.Va will always destroy projectiles with her defense matrix regardless of the distance they’ve traveled.

Defense matrix

• Projectiles—like Roadhog’s hook or Tracer’s pulse bomb—no longer need to travel a minimum distance before they can be blocked

Mercy

Mercy has needed some buffs for a while now—she’s just not as effective as some other healers. This adjustment is a buff to Mercy’s survivability while using her ultimate.

Resurrect

• Mercy is now temporarily invulnerable while resurrecting her allies

Other hero adjustments involve being able to adjust targeting sensitivity in the control menu. Players can now adjust Ana’s nano boost targeting sensitivity; Mercy’s guardian angel and beam sensitivities; Sombra’s hack sensitivity; Widowmaker’s grappling hook sensitivity; Zarya’s projected barrier sensitivity; and Zenyatta’s orb sensitives.

Mei can also now be targeted by allies while in cryo-freeze, while Torbjörn will now reload his rivet gun earlier in the reload animation.

Eichenwalde

Blizzard found that after the offensive team pushes past the castle entrance on Einchewalde, the defensive team often gained an advantage. Overall map balance is targeted with this adjustment, allowing more entrances to the castle.

• A second gate no longer closes after the payload passes through Eichenwalde’s castle doors. Instead, rubble from the damaged doorway will partially block the entrance.

No word on when these adjustments will hit Overwatch’s live server, but when they do, we think a whole lot of Bastion players are going to be very happy.