Overwatch 2’s lead hero designer, Alec Dawson, recently discussed the rework of Roadhog and the nerf to Zenyatta in a fan Q&A session. He revealed that the Roadhog rework also included changes to other heroes. Zenyatta has been a major frustration for tank heroes due to his Orb of Discord ability, which is often used exclusively on tanks. Blizzard decided to nerf Zenyatta before BlizzCon, which puzzled players considering his position in the meta. However, Dawson explained that the rework of Roadhog and the upcoming release of Mauga played a role in this decision.
Dawson stated, “The Zen changes in particular, we made those because we knew we were having back-to-back a Roadhog rework and a Mauga launch. With these big body tanks, it was like, ‘can we at least give them some way to protect themselves.’ A lot of tanks have a difficult time dealing with Zen, but at least they have a barrier or something that can get in the way there.”
Roadhog and Mauga are two tanks in Overwatch 2 that lack any shielding, making it even harder for them to avoid Zenyatta’s Orb of Discord. The recent Zenyatta nerfs were intended to complement these releases. In essence, the nerfing of Zenyatta is more about helping these two tanks become viable rather than punishing Zenyatta for being too powerful.
Looking ahead, Dawson mentioned that the team is closely monitoring how Roadhog and Mauga fare against Ana, specifically. Ana’s Biotic Grenade is another ability that can be frustrating for tanks to deal with. If it proves to hinder Roadhog and Mauga too much, there may be further nerfs to that ability as well.
| Time | Score |
|---|---|
| Nov. 13 | Roadhog rework and Zenyatta nerf discussed by Overwatch 2 lead hero designer Alec Dawson |
| Before BlizzCon | Zenyatta receives a significant nerf despite his position in the meta |
| Reason for Zenyatta nerf | Roadhog rework and upcoming release of Mauga |
| Impact on tanks | Difficulty dealing with Zenyatta’s Orb of Discord, lack of shielding for Roadhog and Mauga |
| Objective of Zenyatta nerf | To help Roadhog and Mauga become more viable |
| Future consideration | Monitoring how Roadhog and Mauga perform against Ana’s Biotic Grenade |
Source: DOTESPORTS
