Summary
Building upon the success of Season 10,Overwatch 2’s eleventh season introduces a plethora of engaging new content. For instance, players can now enjoy a new map for Push, hone their skills in fresh Hero Mastery obstacle courses, and acquire a diverse array of cosmetics in the latest battle pass. Significantly, thoughSeason 11 ofOverwatch 2boasts several new features, some aspects haven’t resonated as well with the player base.
Furthermore, despite a steady stream of exciting additions, some players are already looking ahead to Season 12. First teased at BlizzCon 2023, the next season ofOverwatch 2promises to introduce a new support hero codenamed “Space Ranger.” Expected to have a highly versatile and mobile kit with an emphasis on upward mobility, her abilities already sound enticing. However, Blizzard should take measures to ensure she doesn’t contribute to one of the game’s long-standing issues.
Overwatch 2’s Space Ranger Could Be A Double-Edged Sword
Space Ranger’s Kit Will Be Incredibly Versatile
Primed to beOverwatch 2’s 11th support hero and 41st overall, Space Ranger is already sparking discussion about her abilities. Given the emphasis on her verticality, some players theorize that she might have movement capabilities similar to Mercy, Lucio, or perhaps a blend of both. Intriguingly, afterLead Gameplay Designer Alec Dawsonmentioned in June that Space Ranger will “bring some utility that only one character has at the moment,” fans quickly pointed to a bug in which D.Va said, “My speed ring is here,” despite no such ability existing in the game at that time.
“[Space Ranger] will bring some utility that only one character has at the moment.”
The speed ring ability was first highlighted by Twitter user mixedmoira, who noticed the pingable ability during a quick play game in April. While some dismissed it as a simple bug and others speculated it might be related to May’s Porsche collaboration, the idea that it could be connected to the support hero’s utility is gaining traction. Coupled with therocket pods on Space Ranger’s suit, these hints suggest a focus on mobility, a point underscored by Dawson’s hint that “[Season 12] is going to be a lot of fun, the game is going to be really fast.”
Overwatch 2 Should Steer Clear of Making Space Ranger a Pharah Clone
Apart from the potential speed ring or speed boost, the prospect of Space Ranger having aerial abilities poses a significant balancing challenge for developers, particularly as Season 11 progresses. Recently,Overwatch 2players have been clamoring for balance adjustmentsdue to the overwhelming dominance of Pharah, a DPS hero whose pick rate has soared since her Season 9 rework. This isn’t the first time flying heroes have posed issues in the team-based shooter, but Pharah’s current effectiveness has heightened frustration among players.
According to Overbuff, Pharah holds the third-highest win rate among DPS heroes, thanks to her enhanced speed, powerful Rocket Launcher, and effective use of Concussive Blast. These abilities allow her to quickly dispatch squishy targets without necessarily needing to be in the line of sight of them. Additionally, her improved horizontal movement enhances her ability to use cover effectively, boosting her survivability. AlthoughPharah is less reliant on a Mercy pocket now, having the winged support hero by her side only makes her presence all the more threatening due to the damage-amplifying beam and potential for resurrection.
Should the new support hero possess exceptional vertical mobility, as speculation suggests, then Team 4 must prioritizeeffective counter-play options for Space Ranger. With some players exhibiting fatigue towards flying heroes like Pharah and Echo, Space Ranger’s design should avoid exacerbating this issue.
One potential solution could be to balance her kit by keeping her healing output lower, similar to Lucio’s, thereby limiting the effectiveness of a Mercy pocket. Though Lucio and Mercy compositions can be viable, their relatively low healing output, among other factors, can pose challenges in securing a victory. Regardless, as Season 12 approaches, hopefully, Blizzard will unveil more details about Space Ranger’s kit that will help its player base prepare for any potential meta shifts.
Overwatch 2
WHERE TO PLAY
Overwatch 2 is an always-on and ever-evolving free-to-play, team-based action game set in an optimistic future, where every match is the ultimate 5v5 battlefield brawl. Power up your railgun and disrupt the battlefield as Sojourn, or yield your axe and command attention as Junker Queen. Battle to take control of a robot and move it toward the enemy base in the new Push Mode. Bring the fight to new destinations across the globe in iconic locations like New York, Rome, Monte Carlo and Rio. Daily challenges and frequent updates mean there is always something new to play.
