A new Overwatch patch was uploaded to the test server last night, bringing one change that Reaper mains will be happy to see. The accidental nerf uploaded last week has been fixed.
Blizzard adjusted the spread pattern for Reaper’s Hellfire Shotguns, which is expected to act as a nerf this time around. “This is the second component of Reaper’s Hellfire Shotguns adjustment (the prior one reduced spread randomization by 50 percent),” a Blizzard representative wrote in the PTR patch notes. “This change brings a couple of Reaper’s pellets from the outer ring into the middle ring and reduces the amount of empty space between rings when firing from further distances.”
Related: Reaper’s nerf wasn’t intended, according to Blizzard
The earlier patch decreased the randomization of Reaper’s bullet spread by 50 percent, but it ended up as an accidental nerf as overall damage was decreased. Reaper’s Life Steal ability was also increased from 20 to 30 percent during that patch, but the DPS hero still felt weaker overall. According to Overwatch game director Jeff Kaplan, it was all unintended. The changes were made with the intention of making Reaper “more reliable,” despite it not ending up that way.
Elsewhere in the patch notes, Blizzard wrote that the majority of the update is simply to make the game more stable. “We’re primarily targeting some stability and bug fixes with this PTR update,” game producer Dan Maas said on the forum. “As always, let us know if you see issues.”
Fans are speculating that this update is in preparation for BlizzCon 2018, which is scheduled to take place in Anaheim, California this weekend. The event kicks off on Nov. 2. Nothing’s been confirmed for the event, but fans are expecting an introduction of more content, including a new hero.
