Hanzo gets remade, Tracer gets nerfed on PTR

The Hanzo rework is finally available on Overwatch’s PTR server.

The update removes Hanzo’s Scatter Arrow and replaces it with Storm Arrow, formerly known internally as Rapid Shot.

“The goal of the changes in Hanzo is to allow him to have new options to keep his damage high, while removing the buggy version of Scatter Arrow,” Blizzard added. “Hanzo is now more flexible with his new Lunge, combining his increased speed with Storm Arrow, he can deal massive amounts of damage more consistently than before.

Hanzo’s Sonic Arrow is also buffed. Here are the full update details.

Hanzo

Storm Bow

• Projectile speed increased from 85 to 100

Sonic Arrow

• Cooldown reduced from 20 seconds to 12 seconds
• Duration reduced from 10 seconds to 6 seconds
• Working range reduced from 10 meters to 7 meters

Lunge

• Pressing jump while in the air will jump sideways

Storm Arrows

• Replaced Scatter Arrow
• Hanzo can now shoot 6 arrows in a row. Although the damage is reduced, always shoot when the bowstring is at its most tense

Tracer, Lucio, and Junkrat also made some changes to the Overwatch PTR server.

Junkrat

Frag Launcher

• Projectile size reduced from 0.3 to 0.2

RIP-Tire

• Tire movement speed reduced from 13 to 12

Developer comments: These changes are intended to improve the fatigue of those who have to deal with Junkrat. Decreasing the size of the Frag Launcher means that Junkrat needs to aim a bit more carefully for the bullets to hit and slowing the Tire will give enemies more time to destroy it before it is detonated.

Lucio

Wall Ride

• Wall running is now less interrupted when running on the same surface
• Can now go through corners (both in the outer and inner corners) without having to leave the wall
• Can now land on the same side of the wall after jumping off the wall, as long as the jump is far enough away from the original jump position.

Soundwave

Developer comments: Wall Ride has been heavily modified to help work smoothly in more areas of the map. Lucio players will notice a huge improvement in Wall Ride when used. Also, Soundwave’s Sonic Amplifier doesn’t need a cooldown or the effect of running out of ammo, so Blizzard has decided to remove this element.

Tracer

Pulse Bomb

• Max damage reduced from 400 to 300

Developer comments: Pulse Bomb is too strong when used to handle tanks, heroes easily attach Pulse Bomb due to its size. The damage reduction will make this move no longer a “tank killer”, but still lethal to the vast majority of other heroes.

Genji

Deflect

• Hitbox size has been reduced

Developer comments: Genji’s Deflect hitbox is too big, sometimes it can even reflect projectiles that are quite far away from the character. We’ve shrunk the hitbox to solve this but still protect Genji from projectiles flying in front of him.

Overwatch players can test these changes in the PTR server, but those on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One will have to wait until the official release. The official release date has not been announced yet.