Summary
Blizzard is ushering in numerous transformations forOverwatch 2in Season 9, which indicates a deliberate shift in focus for the hero-shooter. With new features such as passive health regeneration for all heroes, Champion rank, and a Pharah rework on the way,Overwatch 2’s future is subject to various changes. At the least, it seems that the player base will have to adjust to the latest patch notes and how it will affect a team’s composition.
In the same vein, when the Support hero code-namedSpace Ranger debuts in Season 12, her impact on the meta could be game-changing. When she touches down in the competitive scene, she has the power to upend the established tank meta. As such, for better or for worse, Space Ranger’s mere existence could make a particular tank necessary.
Space Ranger’s Arrival Promises Change
Overwatch 2 Needs To Introduce A Long-Range Tank
According to the developers at BlizzCon 2023,Space Ranger is designed to be incredibly versatile and mobile, with an emphasis on upward mobility. Though no concrete details on her kit have been revealed, there’s been speculation that the rocket pods attached to her shoulders mean she’ll have aerial abilities. This could mean she’ll be able to soar through the sky, akin to Pharah or Echo, or perhaps she’ll take to the skybox in a completely different way.
Space Ranger’s kit is subject to change before she officially launches in Season 12.
With Space Ranger being touted as a highly mobile hero, rumor has it that she’ll be able to maneuver through the air quickly. With her Season 12 arrival imminent, Blizzard needs to balance the battlefield. This includes crafting a tank that is resilient enough to counter her aerial assaults. If the leaks from BlizzCon 2023 are to be trusted, theunnamed tank featured in theOverwatch 2hero select screenduring Venture’s gameplay footage could be the answer.
Regardless of whether this mysterious tank will be able to oppose Space Ranger,Overwatch 2is in desperate need of a tank that can counter squishies with flying abilities. This includes, but isn’t limited to:
Overwatch 2 Needs a Tank That Can Counter Aerial Heroes
While there are various reasonswhy the tank experience inOverwatch 2is so miserable, being restricted against compositions like Pharah-Mercy can be extremely discouraging for some tank players. Though characters like D.Va or Sigma can fend off an oppressive sky duo, there aren’t any tanks that can deal enough consistent long-range damage to assist their team. As a workaround, tanks are usually encouraged to dive the opposing team’s backline.
However, withSpace Ranger joining the ranks ofOverwatch 2’s airborne heroes, that crucial gap is becoming all the more apparent. The current tank roster simply lacks an effective ground-to-air unit. Limited flight like D.Va’s could be an option, but other approaches might be more effective. An anti-air tank could either have a weapon that does solid long-range damage or a disruptive ability meant to neutralize aerial threats. Hopefully, Blizzard will present a solution around the same time as Space Ranger’s launch.
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.
