Lifeweaver, the newest Support character in Overwatch 2, had a mixed reception upon release. He is much more viable than previously thanks to control adjustments and some much-needed boosts to his Ultimate and healing. The Blizzard Entertainment team is still looking at methods to make him worthwhile, though.
We have a support hero with one of the highest healing rates and one of the lowest death rates in the game, says game director Aaron Keller. That must be advantageous, right? Overwatch is more than just the arbitrary numbers given to a hero’s equipment and skills. To choose one hero over another, players need a good reason.
“Lifeweaver’s utility skills are designed to be those reasons. However inconsistent they are, Life Grip and Petal Platform have the potential to change the course of the game. When they function properly, they have the power to alter the course of a battle, but Lifeweaver and his team frequently leave them sitting about or just don’t employ them effectively.
The goal is to make switching to Lifeweaver more appealing when other options aren’t functioning. Future updates might bring Thorn Volley another buff, lower hit volumes, a new Passive, and perhaps a new advantage for his utility skills. The group is obviously cautious about overbuffing his undeveloped defensive and healing abilities because doing so could “negatively disrupt the overall flow of an engagement.”
The crew wants to have any alterations ready when Season 5 premieres, no matter what they may be. Keller hinted at his upcoming blog article on the future of the hero shooter, so perhaps some PvE information is forthcoming. In the interim, keep reading.