“Every hero is getting at least one new perk, and we focused on making them more fun, more impactful, and more aligned with each hero’s identity.”
Overwatch 2 Season 18 kicks off on Aug. 26, but ahead of the launch date, Blizzard Entertainment revealed information about what to expect in terms of perks. Read on for details plus all of the new Overwatch 2 Season 18 perks.
Torbjorn's new Hammer Time perk in Overwatch 2 Season 18 lets him run 20% faster (Image via Blizzard Entertainment)
Overwatch 2 Season 18 perks
In Overwatch 2, perks refer to hero ability upgrades that you can get throughout a match. According to Blizzard Entertainment, Season 18 will feature more than 50 new hero perks, and every hero will get at least one new perk to try out. Heroes such as Winston, Pharah, and Lucio, meanwhile, will receive updated and rebalanced ones.
"Every hero is getting at least one new perk, and we focused on making them more fun, more impactful, and more aligned with each hero's identity," senior game producer Kenny Hudson also revealed in a developer update.
Hudson also went into how the Overwatch 2 team has learned a lot since perks debuted in Season 15. The team found that folks prefer cool perks that don't restrict gameplay. Therefore, in Season 18, the developers will focus on perks that feel rewarding and fun to use.
Moira's new major perk in Overwatch 2 Season 18 (Image via Blizzard Entertainment)
Related articles
What are the new Overwatch 2 perks?
Some of the team's favorite ones include Torbjorn's Hammer Time perk, Moira's Reversal, and Wrecking Ball's Adaptive Barrier. While Hammer Time lets Torbjorn run faster while he has his hammer out, Reversal lets Moira reverse her Biotic Orb's direction by activating it mid-flight. As for Wrecking Ball, he gets encased in a protective bubble when using Adaptive Barrier.
As for other updates pertaining to Overwatch 2 perks in Season 18, community manager Kaedi shared some patch notes about them via the Blizzard Forums.
Wrecking Ball's new perk (Image via Blizzard Entertainment)
Overwatch 2 Season 18 patch notes for perks
The table below goes over all of the updates to perks in Overwatch 2. You can also download the infographic featuring every single perk, courtesy of Blizzard Entertainment.
Hero | Perk | Major/Minor Perk | Patch Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| D.Va | Heavy Rockets | Major perk | Removed. |
| Precision Fusion | Major perk | New. Press Reload to reduce Fusion Cannon’s spread by 75% for 3 seconds. | |
| Doomfist | One-Two | Minor perk | Now updated to where hitting an enemy into a wall with Rocket Punch reloads Hand Cannon and overfills ammo by 2. |
| Seismic Empowerment | Major perk | Removed. | |
| Aftershock | Major perk | New. Enemies hit by Seismic Slam are slowed by 30% for 1.5 seconds. | |
| Power Matrix | Major perk | Damage absorbed during Power Matrix now provides equivalent Empowered Punch amount to Power Block. | |
| Hazard | Off the Top | Minor perk | Removed. |
| Deep Leap | Minor perk | Changed to a minor perk. Violent Leap’s range is now only increased by 15% (down from 20%). | |
| Anarchic Zeal | Minor perk | Changed to a minor perk. Spike Guard’s spikes now only gain 25% lifesteal (down from 40%). | |
| Reconstitution | Major perk | Changed to a major perk. Now drains additional resource before base resource. | |
| Explosive Impalements | Major perk | New. Bonespur hits mark targets with spikes. Quick Melee and Violent Leap’s Slash detonate them for 40 explosive damage. | |
| Junker Queen | Rending Recall | Minor perk | Removed. |
| Rampant Change | Minor perk | New. Gain Unstoppable and refresh all cooldowns when using Rampage. | |
| Deep Wounds | Major perk | Removed. | |
| Mauga | Two Hearts | Minor perk | Removed. |
| Orisa | Heat Dissipator | Minor perk | Removed. |
| Fleeting Bulwark | Minor perk | Removed. | |
| Defense Protocol | Minor perk | New. Regenerate 100 health per second while charging Terra Surge. | |
| Mobile Fortification | Minor perk | New. While Fortify is active, Orisa has no move speed reduction and no heat generation. | |
| Ramattra | Prolonged Barrier | Minor perk | Removed. |
| Relentless Form | Minor perk | New. While Nemesis Form is active, eliminations extend the duration by 1 second and half that during Annihilation. | |
| Reinhardt | Crusader’s Resolve | Minor perk | Removed. |
| Barrier Re-Charge | Minor perk | New. Distance travelled while using Charge regenerates your Barrier Field by 150 per second. | |
| Crushing Victory | Major perk | Removed. | |
| Ignited Fury | Major perk | New. For each enemy you hit with Fire Strike, gain 2 seconds of 25% increased attack speed. | |
| Roadhog | Pent Up | Minor perk | Removed. |
| Shrapnel Launcher | Minor perk | New. Extend the range of Scrap Gun’s secondary fire by 50% and tighten its burst spread by 25%. | |
| Hogdrogen Exposure | Major perk | Removed. | |
| Pulled Pork | Major perk | New. Gain overhealth based on how far you pull enemies with Chain Hook up to 250. | |
| Sigma | Massive Impact | Minor perk | Removed. |
| Hyper Regeneration | Minor perk | New. 50% of Hyperspheres’ damage restores Experimental Barrier’s health. | |
| Winston | Short Circuit | Minor perk | Removed. |
| Barrier Toss | Minor perk | New. Winston now throws his Barrier Projector forward when used. | |
| Wrecking Ball | Transfer Efficiency | Major perk | Removed. |
| Zarya | Graviton Crush | Minor perk | Removed. |
| Energy Converter | Minor perk | New. Hits with Particle Cannon’s secondary fire generate 3 energy. | |
| Ashe | Rapid Fire | Minor perk | Removed. |
| Remote Detonator | Minor perk | New. After using Dynamite pressing E again causes it to detonate after a 0.5 second delay. | |
| Bastion | Smart Bomb | Minor perk | Removed. |
| Configuration Reload | Minor perk | New. Refresh the cooldown of A-36 Tactical Grenade when changing configurations. | |
| Cassidy | Quick Draw | Minor perk | Removed. |
| Bang Bang | Minor perk | Changed to a minor perk. Now reduces the damage from both Flashbangs by 40% (up from 30%). | |
| Silver Bullet | Major perk | New. Peacekeeper’s secondary fire is replaced with a piercing shot that inflicts bleeding. Combat Roll and Deadeye reset its cooldown. | |
| Echo | Friendly Imaging | Minor perk | Removed. |
| Enhanced Duplication | Minor perk | Removed. | |
| Focused Rush | Minor perk | New. Focusing Beam’s range is increased by 4 meters and movement speed is increased by 10% when active. | |
| Partial Scan | Minor perk | New. Duplicate starts with 50% of its ultimate charge. | |
| Full Salvo | Major Perk | The damage reduction has been removed from all sticky bombs fired. | |
| Freja | Frost Bolts | Minor perk | Removed. |
| Tracking Instinct | Minor perk | Removed. | |
| Hunters Instinct | Minor perk | New. Direct hits with Take Aim reveal enemies to Freja for 3 seconds. | |
| Momentum Boost | Minor perk | New. Quick Dash distance is increased by 20%. | |
| Ready to Hunt | Major perk | Removed. | |
| Aerial Recovery | Major perk | New. After using Updraft, heal for 30 health per second until Freja touches the ground. | |
| Genji | Acrobatics | Minor perk | Removed. |
| Swift Cuts | Minor perk | New. Quick Melee reduces the cooldown of Swift Strike by 3 seconds. | |
| Blade Twisting | Major perk | Now Swift Strike deals 25 additional damage over time if the enemy is below half health. | |
| Hanzo | Swift Lunge | Minor perk | New. Arrow hits reduce the cooldown of Lunge by up to 1 second based on charge. |
| Yamagami Technique | Major perk | Removed. | |
| Scatter Arrows | Major perk | Changed to a major perk. Now on first ricochet Storm Arrows split into 5 shots dealing 33% damage and bounce 1 extra time. | |
| Junkrat | Aluminum Frame | Minor perk | Removed. |
| Mine Recycling | Minor perk | New. Killing blows with Concussion Mine restore one charge. | |
| Tick Tock | Major perk | Removed. | |
| Bomb Voyage | Major perk | New. After launching with Concussion Mine, Junkrat gains 35% increased attack speed for 3 seconds. | |
| Mei | Biting Cold | Minor perk | Removed. |
| Permafrost | Minor perk | Removed. | |
| Skating Rink | Minor perk | New. Allies within Blizzard gain 25% increased movement speed and heal for 50 health per second. | |
| Glacial Propulsion | Minor perk | New. Double jumping creates a small ice pillar that launches Mei into the air. | |
| Pharah | Concussive Implosion | Major perk | Removed. |
| Sky Spy | Major perk | New. Concussive Blast reveals targets to Pharah for 3 seconds. During this, the next direct Rocket Launcher hit per target deals 30% extra damage. | |
| Reaper | Death’s Shadow | Minor perk | Removed. |
| Shadow Blink | Minor perk | New. Shadow Step’s cast time and cooldown are 25% faster but the range is reduced by 25%. | |
| Sojourn | Extended Mag | Minor perk | Removed. |
| Deceleration Field | Minor perk | New. Enemies hit by Disruptor Shot are slowed by 25%. | |
| Adhesive Siphon | Major perk | Removed. | |
| Friction Generators | Major perk | New. While sliding, Power Slide generates up to 50 energy. | |
| Soldier: 76 | Field Emergency | Minor perk | Removed. |
| Tactical Salvo | Minor perk | New. Helix Rockets cooldown is reduced by 80% during Tactical Visor. | |
| Stim Pack | Major perk | Now changed so that Stim Pack replaces Biotic Field and now heals Soldier: 76 for 30 health per second and gains 20% increased attack speed for 5 seconds. | |
| Sombra | White Hat | Major perk | Removed. |
| Adept Hacker | Major perk | New. Hacked health packs provide up to 50 overhealth to Sombra. | |
| Symmetra | Advanced Teleportation | Minor perk | Removed. |
| Perfect Alignment | Minor perk | Changed to a minor perk. Now only increases the range of Photon Projector’s primary fire by 20% regardless of the charge level of the beam. | |
| Hovering Barrier | Major perk | New. Teleporter gains the option to create a forward moving barrier instead. Pressing E again slows down the barrier’s movement. | |
| Torbjorn | Craftsman | Minor perk | Removed. |
| Hammer Time | Minor perk | New. Move 20% faster while Forge Hammer is equipped. | |
| Tracer | Blast From The Past | Minor perk | Removed. |
| Kinetic Reload | Minor perk | New. Melee hits grant 20 ammo. | |
| Venture | Seismic Sense | Minor perk | Removed. |
| Deep Burrow | Minor perk | New. Drill Dash distance is 50% longer while burrowed. | |
| SMART-R Excavator | Major perk | Removed. | |
| SMART Extender | Major perk | New. Empower SMART Excavator with E to increase its maximum projectile range by 100% for 4 seconds. | |
| Widowmaker | Focused Aim | Minor perk | Removed. |
| Sniper’s Instinct | Minor perk | New. Scoped shots charge 100% faster for 2 seconds after using Grappling Hook. | |
| Deadly Deux | Major perk | Removed. | |
| Seeker Mine | Major perk | New. Vemon Mine now fires poison darts at enemies within 10 meters and remains active after triggered. | |
| Ana | Speed Serum | Minor perk | New. Nano Boost grants a 40% movement speed boost to both Ana and her target. |
| Shrike | Major perk | Removed. | |
| Biotic Bounce | Major perk | Changed to a major perk. Now deals 60 damage and healing (up from 25). | |
| Baptiste | Field Medicine | Minor perk | Removed. |
| Biotic Reloader | Minor perk | New. Hitting an entire three-round burst reloads a healing projectile. Healing projectile direct hits reloads 3 primary fire ammo. | |
| Automated Healing | Minor perk | Changed to now using any ability triggers Baptiste’s Shoulder Turret periodically firing up to 3 shots at allies each restoring 25 health. | |
| Brigitte | Barrier Restoration | Minor perk | Removed. |
| Combat Medic | Minor perk | New. Melee attacks reduce the cooldown of Repair Pack by 0.5 seconds. | |
| Quick Fix | Major perk | Removed. | |
| Inspiring Strike | Major perk | New. Shield Bash grants 30% increased movement speed for 2 seconds. Inspire’s healing is instant when activated by Shield Bash. | |
| Illari | Solar Power | Major perk | Removed. |
| Solar Flare | Major perk | Press Primary Fire while using Solar Rifle’s healing beam to consume all energy healing allies in front of Illari for up to 120 healing. | |
| Juno | Re-boots | Minor perk | Removed. |
| Locked On | Minor perk | Changed to a minor perk. Cooldown reduction now 1 second (down from 1.5 seconds). | |
| Master Blaster | Major perk | Removed. | |
| Lift Off | Major perk | New. Martian Overboots can now triple jump. | |
| Faster Blaster | Major perk | While Glide Boost is active, Mediblaster fires continuously. | |
| Kiriko | Shuffling | Major perk | Removed. |
| Ready Step | Major perk | New. Swift Step grants Kiriko 40% increased attack and reload speed for 2 seconds. | |
| Foxtrot | Major perk | Projection Suzu now only grants 30% increased movement speed for allies (down from 40%) but now grants 100% increased cooldown recovery. | |
| Lifeweaver | Life Cycle | Minor perk | Removed. |
| Lifeweaving | Minor perk | Changed to a minor perk. Rejuvenating Dash now only adds 20 healing to the next Healing Blossom (down from 40 healing). | |
| Petal Power | Major perk | New. Allies gain 25% attack speed while standing on a raised Petal Platform. | |
| Lucio | Bass Blowout | Minor perk | Removed. |
| Soundwave Rider | Minor perk | New. Wall Riding empowers your next Soundwave increasing its knockback by 25% and damage by 50%. | |
| Mercy | Winged Reach | Minor perk | Removed. |
| Divine Momentum | Minor perk | New. Increases Mercy’s travel speed by 15% after cancelling Guardian Angel. | |
| Moira | Vanish | Minor perk | Removed. |
| Uprush | Minor perk | Removed. | |
| Destruction’s Divide | Minor perk | New. Coalescence can be toggled between pure healing or pure damage with 25% greater effect. | |
| Ethical Nourishment | Minor perk | Changed to a minor perk. The instant healing is reduced to 30 (down from 50 healing). | |
| Contamination | Major perk | Removed. | |
| Reversal | Major perk | New. Reactivating Biotic Orb reverses its direction. | |
| Phantom Step | Major perk | New. Fade lasts 0.5 seconds longer and boosts jump height by 50%. | |
| Zenyatta | Zenith Kick | Minor perk | Removed. |
| Transcendent Condemnation | Minor perk | New. While using Transcendence, apply Discord Orb to all enemies within range. | |
| Duality | Major perk | Removed. | |
| Dual Harmony | Major perk | Gain a 2nd Harmony Orb but they both heal for 70% effectiveness. |
That's all for now. Are you ready for Overwatch 2 Season 18? Stick around on esports.gg for more news and updates!
