Overwatch season 5 midseason patch brings buffs and nerfs, Stellar Blade collab, and Mythic Roadhog skin

Winds of change have arrived in Overwatch yet again, and not just because Doomfist has returned to defeat Vendetta in the Reign of Talon storyline.

One final season drop awaits in 2026 before a new narrative begins in February, but before we get there, there’s a hefty midseason patch arriving today that we highlight below including a number of new hero changes, like buffs for Junker Queen and nerfs for Jetpack Cat and Doctrine.

Overwatch Reign of Talon season 5 midseason patch notes

Stellar Blade collab skins

OW’s latest collab is with Korean-made Stellar Blade, featuring these costumes soon appearing in the in-game shop.

• Widowmaker as EVE
• D.Va as Lily (Ultra skin)
  • Mech is based on the Stellar Blade final boss, Providence
  • Custom kill effects and reactivity
  • Unique “Hello” emote
• Freja as Raven
• Vendetta as Tachy
• Soldier: 76 as Adam

Roadhog Mythic skin

It’s finally the big boy’s time. Necrotic Knight is Roadhog’s first Mythic skin, and it’s an ugly beauty. Here’s how it shakes out as you level it up with Mythic Prisms:

• Level 1: Rise as the Necrotic Knight in Roadhog’s base Mythic form, complete withcustom effects worthy of the curse.
• Level 2: Put a new face on death with Skull, Knight, and Plague Doctor-inspired
  helmet options.
• Level 3: Change the complexion of your corruption with additional color palettes.
• Level 4: Let the curse loose with ethereal skulls, claws, spectral flames, smoke,
  and transformative ability effects.

Hero nerfs and buffs

This is what you’re here for. Read on below for all of the balancing changes in this midseason patch.

Tanks

• D.Mon
  • Power Barrier
    • Recovery increased from 0.2 to 0.3 seconds.
    • Now has a 0.25-second minimum deploy duration.
      Propulsors
    • Impact damage reduced from 15 to 0.
  • Overstrike – Major Perk
    • Lifesteal reduced from 150 percent to 125 percent.
• Junker Queen
  • Base health increased from 375 to 425.
  • Base health increased from 450 to 500. (6v6)
  • Carnage
    • Cooldown reduced from 9 to 7 seconds.
  • Commanding Shout
    • Added a new UI element that tracks allies within range and allies currently
      affected by Commanding Shout.
• Mauga
  • Base armor increased from 125 to 150.
  • Incendiary Chainguns
    • Burning damage over time increased from 15 to 20.
• Ramattra
  • Void Accelerator
    • Ammo increased from 100 to 125.
• Winston
  • Revitalizing Barrier – Major Perk
    • Healing per second reduced from 35 to 30.

Damage

• Anran
  • Zhuque Fans
    • Damage increased from 22 to 24.
  • Inferno Rush
    • Knockback removed.
    • Can no longer hit the same target multiple times per use.
  • Ultimate – Vermillion Ascent
    • Cast time reduced from 1.2 to 1 second.
      
• Echo
  • Aerial Munitions – Minor Perk
    • Now additionally refills ammo on use.
      
• Emre
  • Added Rotation reticle setting for default reticle.
  • Removed Thickness reticle setting for default reticle.
  • Fixed visual inconsistency regarding default reticle crosshairs not using Outline
    Thickness and Outline Shift values.
  • Updated default reticle preview in Options to more closely reflect in-game reticle.
  • Cyber Frag
    • Detonation time reduced from 0.6 to 0.5 seconds.
• Genji
  • Deflect
    • Duration reduced from 2 to 1.5 seconds.
• Hanzo
  • Sonic Disruption – Major Perk
    • No longer overrides Sombra’s hacked health packs.
      
• Reaper
  • Base health increased from 275 to 300.
    
• Shion
  • Execution
    • Starting spread reduced from 8.5 to 5.7 degrees.
  • Satsuriku Spree
    • Cast time/move time per volley reduced from 0.6 to 0.5 seconds.
• Vendetta
  • Palatine Fang
    • Overhead leap speed reduced from 11 to 9.5.
    • Initial swing delay increased from 0.15 to 0.2 seconds.
  • Whirlwind Dash
    • Raging Storm perk horizontal knockback reduced from 8 to 4.

Support

• Ana
  • Biotic Grenade
    • Explosion damage reduced from 90 to 60.
• Baptiste
  • Regenerative Burst
    • Added a new UI element that tracks allies within range and allies currently
      affected by Regenerative Burst.
• Brigitte
  • Inspire
    • Internal cooldown reduced from 1.25 to 1 second.
    • Instant healing increased from 12 to 15.
• Doctrine
  • Shrouded Momentum
    • Cooldown increased from 8 to 10 seconds.
  • Infuse
    • Cooldown increased from 8 to 9 seconds.
• Illari
  • Solar Rifle
    • Time to maximum charge reduced from 0.65 to 0.575.
  • Healing Pylon
    • Heal per projectile increased from 40 to 50.
      
• Jetpack Cat
  • Base health reduced from 225 to 200.
  • Frenetic Flight
    • Acceleration increased from 25 to 28 meters per second.
    • Fuel regeneration rate reduced from 25 percent to 20 percent per second.
• Sombra
  • EMP
    • Now overrides enemy hack effects on health packs.

Taking Reign event

A new event that runs from Nov. 3 to Dec. 7, players can play games and complete challenges to earn exclusive rewards like a new Legendary Doomfist skin and Vendetta’s Mythic weapon.

Excavation Initiative event

Want more loot boxes? Log in and win a game from Nov. 3 to Dec. 7 throughout multiple weeks for the free prizes.

Junkrat’s Loot Hunt event

Junkrat’s back with double XP and free loot boxes for all players who play matches from Nov. 19 to 23, with “flexible challenges that let you go all-in or pace yourself.”

Gameplay Sabotage Detection update

With this update, Blizzard says it’s improved its tools to “combat gameplay sabotage,” such as “current detection tools that allow us to more accurately detect players engaging in disruptive behaviors, and we’ve already taken action against many players detected by these systems.”

Gameplay sabotage consists of “consistently and intentionally failing to contribute to team fights, repeatedly jumping off the map, and intentionally blocking team progress.” The game will now post a “Thank You” message for reporting players who use disruptive behavior.

Black Friday Vault Sale

Everyone loves a good firesale on Black Friday. From Nov. 3 to Dec. 7, several skin bundles will go on sale including a number of fan-favorite skins and returning skins, like the StarCraft Mega Bundle.