First up, we’ve got Doomfist. The former damage-dealer will see a health increase (from 250 to 450) with his Uppercut now gone. Instead, Doomfist will have Power Block, an ability that lets him protect himself from attacks in front. Meanwhile, his former abilities, Rocket Punch and Seismic Slam are both coming back, albeit weakened, for balancing purposes. Geoff Goodman, Overwatch’s lead hero designer, explained that the team had no choice but to change Overwatch 2’s role. It was either that or reworking Doomfist’s entire kit to try and make him work as a DPS. On the other hand, while Doomfist’s kit will feel familiar, Orisa will feel like an entirely new hero. The way that the senior hero designer Brandon Brennan explains it is that the changes turn Orisa into an “engaging, brawly tank.” Orisa has lost Halt!, Supercharger, or Protective Barrier in favor of Energy Javelin, Javelin Spin, as well as a new ultimate, Terra Surge. For the first two abilities, the former lets Orisa push enemies back and take extra damage if they hit a wall. Meanwhile, the latter pushes Orisa forward and destroys enemy projectiles with a knockback effect. Perhaps the most interesting addition to Orisa’s kit is Terra Surge. The ability gives Orisa immunity to crowd control during the duration. She can also channel Terra Surge to funnel and attract enemies towards her. It’s a fitting ability for a hero that, as Brennan put it, is fondly referred to by the community as the “centaur horse lady.” With two new aggressive tanks and one less slot per team, Overwatch 2 is shaping up to be an entirely different game from the 2016 title. We’re curious how audiences will receive all these changes once Overwatch 2 goes public. For now, fans will have to settle with the Overwatch 2 closed beta on April 26.
