Overwatch has released another hotfix update that includes buffs for Anran, Emre, and Mizuki, as well as nerfs for Domina, Vendetta, and Jetpack Cat. These balance adjustments for the most recent six heroes to arrive in Overwatch are live in the game right now.
On February 10, Overwatch dropped the massive Season 1: Conquest update. Featuring year-long storylines, a revamped UI, and five new playable characters, Blizzard’s hero shooter has seen massive success since its soft relaunch. Then, on February 13, Overwatch released a hotfix that introduced some changes for the five Season 1 heroes, along with Vendetta, who arrived in the season prior.
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Buffs for Anran, Emre, and Mizuki in Overwatch
Now, Overwatch has rolled out a second hotfix update that targets the same heroes with another set of balance adjustments. On the buffed side of things, the fiery Overwatch agent Anran received a reduction to the cooldown of Inferno Rush and an increase to the distance she can move while Dancing Blaze is active. This added mobility should help reduce the high death rate of the fragile-but-dangerous damage hero.
Who’s That Character?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Emre likewise received a substantial buff, with an additional 2 damage per shot of his Synthetic Burst Rifle, which is basically Overwatch's version of Halo's Battle Rifle. The hero already packs a punch, but this should help make his primary weapon’s damage output comparable to full-auto hitscan heroes, like Soldier: 76 and Sojourn.
Last on the buff list is Mizuki, one of the two new Support heroes from Overwatch Reign of Talon Season 1. Kekkai Sanctuary, his ultimate ability, now lasts an extra second, making it more effective in teamfights. The Overwatch team is discussing further changes for the hero, which could include an increase in his Healing Aura range or the ability for Kekkai Sanctuary to absorb projectiles trying to leave the field as well as those that enter it.
Nerfs for Domina, Vendetta, and Jetpack Cat in Overwatch
On the other side of the balance scale stands Domina, the only new tank from the Reign of Talon Season 1 hero drop. Domina has been dominating Overwatch with her high damage and area control. To cut her down to size, her ultimate ability, Panopticon, had its cost increased by 12%, which should slow down how frequently she can launch the devastating attack.
Vendetta is the only hero on this list who wasn’t introduced in Reign of Talon Season 1, instead having arrived in Season 20 late last year. The melee damage hero has been a terror on the battlefield, with high damage and mobility. This most recent nerf reduces the damage of her overhead swing and fixes a bug that made her immune to knockbacks while launching downward with this finishing attack. This is the latest in a string of nerfs the Talon leader has received, so players will have to see if Overwatch will have to hit her again in the future.
Though Vendetta was not released in Overwatch Reign of Talon Season 1: Conquest, she plays a major role in its story, having taken over Talon and begun an offensive against Overwatch.
Lastly, Jetpack Cat – arguably the most bizarre hero Overwatch has ever released – has performed a little too well, with high damage, mobility, and aerial superiority. To compensate, the Claws Out minor perk has had its cooldown increased, and the Territorial Major Perk has had its damage bonus reduced from 50% to 33%. This is only the beginning of Jetpack Cat’s nerfs, as the Territorial Perk is expected to be completely removed in the Overwatch mid-Season 1 patch in a couple of weeks, to be replaced with something else.
This midseason update is expected to arrive on or around March 10 or 17, with Season 2 kicking off on April 14. There could be more hero balance hotfixes between now and then, but fans shouldn’t expect any more significant changes until then.
Overwatch Reign of Talon Season 1: Conquest Hotfix Patch Notes – February 24, 2026
Hero Balance Changes
-
Domina
-
Panopticon
- Cost increased by 12%
-
Panopticon
-
Anran
-
Inferno Rush
- Cooldown reduced from 8.5 to 8 seconds.
-
Dancing Blaze
- Increased the distance you can move while active from 1.5 to 2.25 meters.
-
Inferno Rush
-
Emre
-
Synthetic Burst Rifle
- Damage increased from 20 to 22.
-
Synthetic Burst Rifle
-
Vendetta
-
Palatine Fang
- Overhead swing damage reduced from 130 to 120.
- Bug fix — Overhead swing can now be affected by horizontal knockback while launching downward.
-
Palatine Fang
-
Jetpack Cat
-
Minor Perk – Claws Out
- Cooldown increased from 6 to 8 seconds.
-
Major Perk – Territorial
- Damage dealt reduced from 50% to 33%.
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Minor Perk – Claws Out
-
Mizuki
-
Kekkai Sanctuary
- Duration increased from 6 to 7 seconds.
-
Kekkai Sanctuary
Bug Fixes
-
General
- Fixed an issue with missing textures on the Charming: 76 skin.
- Fixed some minor issues with Jetpack Cat and the tether animation for various heroes.
- Fixed an issue that hid Jetpack Cat’s aim‑assist strength and threshold settings.
- Fixed an issue with Vendetta’s sword‑throw animation in third person.
- Fixed an issue where Mizuki could still perform Katashiro Return while stunned.
- Fixed an issue where Mercy's passive displayed incorrectly in the Advanced Info Panel.
-
Stadium
- Fixed an issue causing the Stadium UI to disappear after a round transition.
- Fixed an issue where Vendetta could spam her ultimate power without a full charge.
- Fixed an issue where Vendetta would not receive ultimate charge while using the “Overloaded” strike power.
- Fixed an issue where Vendetta's Primary Fire would not trigger Gloomgauntlet or be increased by Melee Damage.
- Fixed an issue where the VFX for Bola Shot when using Freja’s “So Cooked” power were incorrect.
- Fixed an issue with Ana’s “Dreamy” power that incorrectly canceled the benefits of Artsy Daisy and Tactical Rifle.
- Fixed an issue where Mercy's Self Healing from healing allies with missing health was incorrectly reduced to 15% instead of the intended 40%.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 77 /100 Critics Rec: 65%
WHERE TO PLAY
OVERWATCH®, A FUTURE WORTH FIGHTING FOR! Overwatch® is an always-on and ever-evolving free-to-play, team-based action game set in an optimistic future.
Overwatch® is an always-on and ever-evolving free-to-play, team-based hero shooter game set in an optimistic future, where every match is the ultimate 5v5 or 6v6 battlefield brawl featuring new heroes and maps, different ways to play, and unique cosmetics! Lead the charge, ambush your enemies, or aid your allies as one of Overwatch’s 40+ distinct heroes. Team up with friends, take them into battle across 25+ futuristic maps inspired by real-world locations, and master multiple unique game modes.
Reign of Talon - Season 1: Conquest
The Next Big Story Begins
The world shifts as 2026 begins a year-long narrative arc where Overwatch and Talon face off in the fight for the future, joined by five new Heroes at once. Step into the story and shape what comes next!
After ten years, Season 1 opens the first chapter of Overwatch's next big story, where your choices will put you right into the fight for the future!
For the first time, five new Heroes hit the roster together, bringing new playstyles, new dynamics, and new voices into the fray all at once. Jet Pack Cat, Anran, Domina, Emre, and Mizuki arrive just in time for Reign of Talon: Conquest, launching a year-long narrative where conflict takes center stage and you contribute to how it unfolds.
Choose where you stand as Overwatch and Talon collide in a faction-driven event with outcomes that will leave visible marks on the world and your legacy. Along the way, Competitive gets a refresh and Core gameplay evolves, changing how things feel across the board.
This season sets a fresh tone for how the Overwatch story is told and how you play it.
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op
- Cross-Platform Play
- Full
- Cross Save
- yes
- Prequel(s)
- Overwatch
- Franchise
- Overwatch
- Number of Players
- Single-player
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Playable
- Early Access Release
- October 4, 2022
- PC Release Date
- August 10, 2023
- Xbox Series X|S Release Date
- August 10, 2023
- PS5 Release Date
- August 10, 2023
- Nintendo Switch Release Date
- August 10, 2023
- Genre(s)
- Shooter, FPS, MOBA, Multiplayer
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
- How Long To Beat
- 35 hours
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
- File Size Xbox Series
- 85.1 GB
