The Frustration of High-Mobility Heroes in Overwatch 2
Overwatch 2 has always been known for its dynamic and fast-paced gameplay, but recently, the game’s high-mobility heroes have been causing a stir among players. These characters, with their ability to zip across the battlefield at lightning speed, can often make countering them feel like an insurmountable challenge. When you factor in their strong damage output, tiny hitboxes, and powerful defensive abilities, the frustration is palpable. This has led to a growing debate within the community about whether these heroes should have their health reduced to balance out their overpowered capabilities.
A Reddit Debate on Hero Health
The debate reached a fever pitch on Reddit, where players argued that heroes with high mobility should have their health nerfed to compensate for their ability to escape fights so easily. One player suggested, “All heroes with high mobility skills should be 225 HP tbh, Genji included. (With the exception of Tracer due to recall).” This idea resonated with many other players, who agreed that mobility is a significant advantage and that heroes with high movement abilities often have more opportunities to evade danger compared to their slower counterparts. Tracer, for instance, is already balanced around this, with only 150 HP in exchange for her Recall and Blink abilities. But why should other mobile heroes get to be tankier while still dashing, rolling, and climbing their way out of trouble?
The Focus on Sojourn
One hero, in particular, has become the focal point of this discussion: Sojourn. A thread titled “Sojourn should be a 225 HP hero” sparked over 200 comments, with players explaining their reasoning. One user argued, “If we won’t tone down the lethality of railgun, the hitbox on it, her own tiny hitbox, or her mobility, then lean into making her a glass cannon instead of just a cannon.” This sentiment was echoed by others, who pointed out that her quick movement combined with her powerful weapon makes her too strong. “I think that’s fair. It’s always fun having her pop ult and slide dash delete my entire backline,” said one player, seemingly sarcastically. Another user agreed, saying, “She has a high enough mobility and her damage output can be absolutely ridiculous. She can melt you as fast as a Tracer or Sombra from twice the range.”
The Range and Mobility Advantage
This last point is particularly telling. Tracer and Sombra are known for being slippery and hard to pin down, but their range limitations force them to play smart. Sojourn, on the other hand, gets to play from much safer distances while still zipping around the battlefield. Some players went even deeper into the argument, pointing out how inconsistent hero balancing has been in the past. One user noted, “She needs some sort of balance check with the insane buffs she got from perks. If they don’t want to numbers tune her (as always), this is at least one way to give other characters an edge. Their original justification for 225 HP was a drawback for high-mobility characters, and, at the time, to balance Hanzo’s one-shot nerf. Now that the one-shot changes have been reverted, it’s odd they haven’t revisited this.”
The Broader Implications
The comment raises an interesting question: If Hanzo’s balance changes were reconsidered, why haven’t the Overwatch team looked at Sojourn’s? Especially when other mobile heroes, like Genji, are also benefiting from high mobility without any real drawbacks; though that’s a separate argument. But some players want to make them the same argument, reasoning that Genji should be nerfed, too. “If Sojourn has to be 225, then Genji has no excuse. Other heroes like Moira and Tracer are range-limited too—if they don’t get 250, neither should Genji,” one user pointed out. It’s a fair point. Genji’s two movement abilities, plus Deflect, make him incredibly slippery, yet he still enjoys the same 200 HP as more grounded heroes.
A Call for Fairness and Balance
The discussion isn’t just about Sojourn anymore—it’s about fairness across the board. If mobility is such a huge advantage (which, let’s be honest, it is), then shouldn’t all high-mobility heroes be balanced accordingly? Whether that means adjusting health pools, tweaking damage numbers, or adding new counters, one thing is clear: Overwatch 2 players are ready for some changes. The community’s demand for a more balanced and fair game environment is a testament to their passion and investment in the game. As the developers at Blizzard continue to monitor and respond to player feedback, the hope is that they will take these concerns seriously and make the necessary adjustments to ensure that all heroes are enjoyable and competitive.
