Hey everyone! It’s been a bit since our last Director’s Take, and we’ve missed connecting with you. Today, let’s discuss the tank role in Overwatch and explore the changes on the horizon.
The Tank Dilemma
Tanks have been in a tough spot since Season 8 ended. While they weren’t perfect before Season 9, the issue now is that most tanks don’t feel as ‘tanky’ as they should. Often, both Support heroes need to focus solely on keeping the tank alive, limiting options for both roles. Our internal stats confirm this trend: almost all heroes have become less tanky since Season 9.
Measuring Tankiness
We’ve introduced a new metric called “tankiness.” It compares the actual number of deaths a hero experiences to the expected number of deaths. While I can’t dive into the nitty-gritty details here, the bottom line is that your experience aligns with our data.
Balancing Act
Our challenge lies in finding the right balance. We appreciate the game-wide changes implemented over the last few seasons, such as increased projectile size, headshot damage reduction on tanks, and passive health regeneration. However, we’re debating whether to focus on broad, systemic changes or individual hero adjustments.
Individual Hero Changes
We’re working on a patch to increase tankiness for several heroes. Rather than sweeping changes, we’re tailoring adjustments to each hero. For instance:
- Reinhardt’s shield health will be increased, reinforcing his tanky fantasy.
- Other heroes will receive similarly targeted tweaks.
Conclusion
As we fine-tune tank balance, our goal is to enhance hero fantasy while maintaining overall game integrity. Keep an eye out for these changes—they’re coming soon!
