New Tricks for an Old Dog: Roadhog's Rework in Overwatch 2

Overwatch 2’s Roadhog, a fan-favorite character known for his hook and tank abilities, has undergone a significant rework. This rework, detailed in a recent Blizzard livestream, introduces changes that affect nearly every aspect of Roadhog’s gameplay, promising a fresh experience for both seasoned players and newcomers to the hero.

Changes to Roadhog’s Arsenal

Scrap Gun Modifications: The primary weapon, Scrap Gun, loses its secondary fire ability. The primary fire now emits fewer pellets, but each pellet inflicts more damage, especially for shots that hit the target’s center. This change increases the potential damage from a single shot, rewarding players who can precisely aim their Scrap Gun blasts.
Revamped Take A Breather Ability: Previously operating on a cooldown, the Take A Breather ability now uses a resource meter. It remains active as long as the assigned hotkey is held or until the meter is depleted. This ability’s healing amplification post-use is removed, and the damage reduction it offers has been reduced from 50% to 30%. The ability’s resource meter takes 12 seconds to fully recharge from empty.

Introducing Pig Pen: A New Tactical Advantage

https://twitter.com/PlayOverwatch/status/1724127724262875313

Pig Pen Ability: The most notable addition to Roadhog’s toolkit is Pig Pen, a trap ability. When placed on the ground, it activates upon enemy contact. Instead of immobilizing enemies like Junk Rat’s trap, Pig Pen slows them by 40% and deals damage to those within its blast radius. Additionally, it inflicts damage over time for three seconds post-activation. Pig Pen has a cooldown of 12 seconds.
Strategic Gameplay Enhancements: This new ability aligns with Roadhog’s aggressive playstyle, allowing players to hook enemies into the Pig Pen trap, thereby punishing opponents who are out of position and aiding the team in securing kills.

Roadhog Rework Launch and Future Updates

The revamped Roadhog will become available on November 14, with detailed patch notes expected to accompany the release. This rework is part of Overwatch 2’s ongoing efforts to refresh and balance its roster of heroes, with Roadhog being the second hero to receive a significant update in Season 7.

Blizzard’s recent announcements include the introduction of a new hero, Mauga, wielding dual gatling guns. Mauga will join the Overwatch 2 lineup in the upcoming Season 8, offering players a glimpse of the hero during a special hands-on event following his reveal at BlizzCon 2023.

Tags: Blizzard Entertainment First-person shooter Multiplayer video game Overwatch Overwatch 2