Overwatch 2 Releases New Update for December 18

Overwatch 2 just rolled out a patch for December 18 that included nerfs to Vendetta, hero balance changes in Stadium, and adjustments to Winter Wonderland and Aim Assist. This update is separate from the Overwatch 2 mid-Season 20 patch, and is likely going to be the last one of the year.

On December 9, Overwatch 2 released Season 20, which introduced Vendetta, changes to the Aim Assist feature for controller and console players, and the Challenger system for Competitive. It also marked the beginning of the Winter Wonderland holiday event, where fans can unlock Loot Boxes, Battle Pass Tier Skips, and cosmetics by completing challenges and spending earned Winter Wonderland Cookies.

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Overwatch 2 Releases the Last Update of 2025

Though it isn’t quite time for the mid-season update, Overwatch 2 has still released a surprisingly big patch for the holiday season. One of the core changes from this update comes to Vendetta, the new hero from Season 20. The first melee DPS hero in Overwatch 2 has been dominating with a win rate of about 58%, so the damage of her horizontal primary slashes is being reduced by 5 to bring her under control.

Image via Blizzard

Stadium is seeing a bunch of changes to Hero Powers and Items as well. Doomfist and Ana are both getting buffed, with the former getting some significant improvements to help him keep up with the competition following his debut in Season 20. Meanwhile, Sigma, Winston, and Brigitte all received some nerfs, with the two tanks receiving the most adjustments. Lastly, the Maritan Mender general Item also received a nerf to make Cooldown Reduction harder to access.

Image via Blizzard

Both the new Challenger Competitive Play system and the Aim Assist adjustments from Overwatch 2 Season 20 are also being changed. The Challenger points awarded between Diamond and Champion ranks have been adjusted to ensure higher ranks are more rewarding, while the Aim Assist for several hitscan heroes like Bastion, Mauga, and Ana has been reduced by about 50%.

Image via Blizzard

Lastly, for the remainder of the Winter Wonderland event, players who complete daily challenges will now earn three Winter Wonderland Cookies per challenge, rather than the former two. This buff will make it much easier for fans to unlock more tiers from the three holiday reward tracks, especially when combined with the new set of event challenges coming to Overwatch 2 on December 23 with the Mischief & Magic Winter Wonderland game mode.

What to Expect From Overwatch 2 in 2026

Image via Blizzard

This is likely the final balance update of 2025, but more changes will be coming shortly after the new year. The mid-Season 20 patch will probably arrive on January 6 or 13, bringing with it even more hero balance changes. Vendetta remains on the chopping block and is likely to have her power further reduced if this small nerf does not even out her win rate. Additionally, during a recent developer livestream in which game director Aaron Keller was discussing this patch, the idea of adding sound effects to Vendetta in Overwatch 2 while she is in the air using Soaring Slice to make her less stealthy was brought up, though this change would take longer to implement if Blizzard decided to make it.

During the same livestream, Keller confirmed a few other things coming in 2026 as well. Updates to the Loot Box pool will be arriving early next year, and players can also expect several new core Overwatch 2 maps to be added to the game, ostensibly beyond even the Atlantic Arcology and Tokyo maps that were teased earlier this year. Multiple maps will also be reworked, including Antarctica, which was removed from the roster in Season 20 to be returned in Season 22. With 2026 also being the 10-year anniversary of Overwatch, Blizzard has been teasing some huge stuff for the hero shooter next year, so fans should look forward to seeing what’s coming next.

Overwatch 2 Retail Patch Notes – December 18, 2025

Hotfix Gameplay Update

This is a gameplay and bug fix update. Replay codes are still available.

Winter Wonderland Updates

We’ve heard your feedback and for an extra special, holly jolly holiday, we’re updating our Winter Wonderland Event and you can now get 3 COOKIES per challenge instead of the previous 2 cookies.

Console Aim Assist Updates

• Aim Assist reduced to 4% down from 8% for the following heroes:
  • Damage
    • Ashe, Bastion, Soldier, Tracer
  • Tank

  • Support

Core Competitive Gameplay Update

New Challenger points are as follows:

• Diamond 5: 20
• Diamond 4: 22
• Diamond 3: 24
• Diamond 2: 26
• Diamond 1: 28
• Master 5: 32
• Master 4: 36
• Master 3: 40
• Master 2: 44
• Master 1: 48
• Grandmaster 5: 60
• Grandmaster 4: 78
• Grandmaster 3: 102
• Grandmaster 2: 132
• Grandmaster 1: 168
• Champion 5: 208
• Champion 4: 268
• Champion 3: 348
• Champion 2: 448
• Champion 1: 568

Damage Hero Updates

Vendetta

Vendetta’s win rate has continued to rise as players grow more familiar with her kit, so we’re making a small adjustment prior to midseason. This change shifts key breakpoints while preserving the intended flow of her abilities.

• Palatine Fang
  • Horizontal swing damage reduced from 50 to 45.

Stadium Updates

• Martian Mender – Epic Survival General Item
  • Reduced Cooldown Reduction to 5% (Down from 10%).

We’re tuning back how much Cooldown Reduction is easily accessible in the general items, so there’s more of a sacrifice to gaining high amounts of Cooldown Reduction.

Stadium Tank Hero Updates

Doomfist

Doomfist has been underperforming in Stadium since his release. We’re increasing the consistency and power of some of his powers, as well as his currency gain, to help him be a more reliable option without increasing his power ceiling or one shot capabilities too much.

• Currency gained from damage and healing increased by 25%.
• Aftershock — Power
  • Increased secondary shockwave damage to 60% (Up from 50%).
• Asteroid Smash – Power
  • Now grants ultimate charge.
  • Cooldown reduced to 12s (Down from 15s).
• Block Party — Power
  • Block Party has been disabled at this time due to an issue.
• Jab Cross – Power
  • Increased Melee Attack Speed after using an ability to 75% (Up from 50%).
• Jetforce Jab – Power
  • Increased Burn Damage on Rocket Punch to 20% (Up from 15%).
• Slam Wham – Power
  • Increased Seismic Slam Range per meter traveled to 6% (Up from 4%).

Sigma

With Sigma’s recent updates to his primary fire, he has been beyond the intended power ceiling. Zero Gravity offered too much uptime and safety, allowing Sigma to disengage or reposition with minimal risk. At the same time, some weapon items were providing strong value for their cost, accelerating his damage curve. These adjustments rein in his mobility and early scaling while rebalancing item costs to better reflect their impact. The Harness receives a small cost reduction to keep ability power builds competitive as other options are tuned down.

• Zero Gravity — Power
  • Decreased duration to 1.5s (Down from 4s).
• Antimatter — Epic Weapon Hero Item
  • Increased cost to 12000 (Up from 10000).
  • Decreased weapon power to 10% (Down from 15%).
• Velocity Vector – Rare Weapon Hero Item
  • Increased cost to 6000 (Up from 4500).
• The Harness – Epic Ability Hero Item
  • Decreased cost to 10000 (Down from 11000).

Winston

Rampaging Winston has been tearing things up, and after a long look at the data, we’re dialing back how quickly his Jump Pack build comes online. Several of these items were delivering a lot of value for their cost, letting Winston chain jumps with very little downtime and stay safer than intended during aggressive dives. We want Winston to feel powerful when he commits, but that commitment should come with real risk and clearer windows to punish. Primal Slam remains a fan favorite and something we’re keeping a close eye on. Rather than trimming away the fun or removing gameplay, this update focuses on adjusting surrounding costs and survivability levers first, giving us room to bring the overall build back into line without taking away what makes rampaging Winston exciting to play.

• Primal Punch – Power
  • Decreased melee damage to 3% (Down from 5%).
• Premium Peanut Butter – Rare Survival Hero Item
  • Increased cost to 6000 (Up from 4000).
• Zero-G Suit – Rare Ability Hero Item
  • Increased cost to 6000 (Up from 4000).
  • Removed cooldown reduction.
• Horizon Expander – Epic Ability Hero Item
  • Increased cost to 12500 (Up from 11000).
• Fortified Jump Pack – Epic Survival Hero Item
  • Increased cost to 12500 (Up from 10000).
  • Decreased damage reduction to 20% (Down from 35%).

Stadium Support Hero Updates

Ana

These changes are aimed at sharpening her playmaking potential and rewarding proactive, skillful shots. By significantly speeding up Artsy Dartsy, Ana can better contest mobile and airborne targets, while Falconer now provides stronger sustained pressure and more reliable access to Nano Boost. Now tell your Genji that your ultimate is ready!

• Artsy Dartsy — Power
  • Increased projectile speed to 300% (Up from 150%).
• Falconer
  • Increased attack speed to 30% (Up from 20%).
  • Increased ultimate charge to 25% (Up from 15%).

Brigitte

Scavenged Steel has been an outlier in enabling her Rally-oriented builds, so we’re tuning it down to be more in line with her other build options.

• Scavenged Steel – Epic Ability Hero Item
  • Reduced Ultimate Charge gain on Ability Damage to 2% (Down from 3%).

Bugfixes

• Fixed an issue where Aquajet amplifier wasn’t granting weapon power to Wuyang.
• Fixed an issue where Thick skin was giving constant armor healing to Winston.
• Fixed an issue where players were earning too much currency from Damage and Healing in Quick Play.
• We’ve released a fix to resolve an issue where some players were unable to exchange Cookies in the Winter Wonderland event.

Released

August 10, 2023

ESRB

T For Teen // Blood, Mild Language, Use of Tobacco, Violence

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