Overwatch 2 has efficiently run three differently-themed Seasons of content material because the sport’s launch, with Season 4 quick approaching early April 2023. Whereas there are but to be any official particulars revealed from Blizzard concerning the seasonal themes, modifications, and cosmetics that might be included within the upcoming Season 4, one very vital issue has already caught the eyes of gamers throughout the globe.
After all, I’m speaking about none apart from the most recent addition to the Help roster, Lifeweaver. The Overwatch group dropped a sneak peek reveal for this new Hero on April 3, 2023, and followers instantly confirmed their love and admiration in direction of the floral-inspired particular person.
I used to be just lately given the chance to discover an Early Entry construct for Overwatch 2‘s Season 4 and playtest Lifeweaver’s hero equipment and talents for myself. And boy, oh, boy, after I say there’s a lot to debate, effectively, there’s no higher method than to dive into the small print.
Let’s begin with the plain — his look. If it wasn’t obvious by the overly-enthusiastic response from followers of the sport, Lifeweaver has an excellent character design, and to place it bluntly, effectively, he’s completely lovely. In truth, he places a few of the most notoriously ‘handsome’ Heroes to disgrace, even throughout the restricted materials launched so far.
Lifeweaver additionally steps into the world of Overwatch as the primary Hero originating from Thailand. This can be a welcome addition to the sport that has sparked emotions of inclusion and illustration among the many fan base, and it’s nice to see Blizzard head in new instructions by way of Hero origins, all whereas nonetheless tying them into the principle lore of the sport.
Lifeweaver, for probably the most half, sounds and performs like a usually constructive and upbeat particular person. His heal-savvy Help stance is supported with relaxed, calming voice performing and a nurturing presence. Nevertheless, Lifeweaver additionally has a reasonably sassy, easy streak that pops up within the occasional voice line, comparable to when efficiently eliminating an enemy with melee. That is reasonably amusing and pleasant to witness, and I discovered myself giving the plant fanatic a slight chuckle right here and there in response on multiple event.
Whereas it’s clear that by way of traits, Lifeweaver might be reasonably endearing, it’s in his utility and talent equipment that he really shines as one thing totally new and noteworthy. All 4 earlier hero additions — Junker Queen, Ramattra, Sojourn, and Kiriko — can every profit from fairly an aggressive playstyle and have the potential to fully flip a struggle on their very own when utilized in the correct state of affairs/fingers. In truth, I anticipated Lifeweaver to additionally fall into this class, however this isn’t so. As an alternative, he takes a wholly new and distinctive method.
Lifeweaver’s skills are one in every of a form and completely different from another present Hero within the sport. Whereas his skills sound spectacular on paper, getting an opportunity to expertise how they work within the sport gave me much more readability on the strengths, weaknesses, and general potential of Lifeweaver.
First, he has two completely different skills linked to his major fireplace, that distinction each other on the subject of providng therapeutic and doing injury.
The primary potential linked to Lifeweaver’s major fireplace is his Therapeutic Blossom, which can generate between 10 and 65 heals per burst relying on how lengthy you click on and maintain his fireplace. This potential is a superb burst heal that may present fast HP regeneration to your group. This may very well be efficient when used alongside one other huge burst healer like Baptiste, Moira, or Ana. Nevertheless, that presumes that your teammates know when to drag again and use pure cowl, as there’s a slight delay between Therapeutic Blossom’s burst prices.
The alternate fireplace, which may be accessed by hitting your shortcut key for weapon 2, is a brief click on of his major fireplace, which can activate his Thorn Volley, sending a fast unfold of projectiles to deal injury to your enemies. This potential appears to have a diffusion and management similar to Ramattra’s major fireplace while you maintain your click on, and may be helpful in shortly ending off opponents.
Subsequent is Lifeweaver’s secondary fireplace, Petal Platform, which creates a flower-shaped elevator activated upon an ally or enemy stepping onto it. Instantly I might see the worth in a talent comparable to this. It might increase Lifeweaver to excessive floor for escape throughout a misplaced group struggle or be utilized in concord with an ally to carry them for a greater line of sight throughout their Final. I’m positive we’ll all see loads of Cassidy Excessive Noons, Soldier Tactical Visors, and even Ashe’s B.o.B being lifted to wreak havoc from above.
Alternatively, Petal Platform might doubtlessly even be used to disrupt an enemy. With exact timing, I consider it may very well be doable to destroy an enormous Loss of life Blossom from an enemy Reaper or carry a Baptiste up and away from his Amplification Matrix. After all, there’s an excellent likelihood of threat and reward when utilizing this potential. You can additionally by chance grant your opponent entry to excessive floor or a extra punishing line of sight for the ally ultimates talked about above.
One other game-changing potential takes type in Lifeweaver’s E key. Have you ever ever been enjoying a Help and witnessed your tank cost into oblivion to die, or felt helpless as you watched your squishy DPS get cornered by the enemy? Now you’ll be able to pull them again into line with Lifeweaver’s Life Grip. This potential will pull an ally again in direction of you from hazard and works when pulling somebody from low floor to excessive floor and vice versa. It’s primarily a get-out-of-jail-free card.
Sadly, whereas the potential for this potential to clutch a save is simple, there’s additionally the huge risk for it to be reasonably crippling to your teammates if used unnecessarily, as it will probably very a lot disrupt huge performs if it had been for use as Rein Earthshatters, Hammond grapples, Pharah boosts into the sky, and so forth.
Parting Reward is Lifeweaver’s distinctive passive potential, which causes him to drop a flower on demise that grants a small burst of therapeutic to the primary ally or enemy that picks it up. Greater than something, this potential fits the botanist’s traits, creating a pleasant little contact of character concerning how he operates on the sphere.
Rounding out his equipment is an easy motion potential titled Rejuvenating Sprint. When activating this potential, Lifeweaver will carry out a quick sprint of motion within the course he’s touring and concurrently regenerate a small portion of his well being.
Final and positively not least is Lifeweaver’s Final potential, Tree of Life. Upon activating the Ult, he can place and construct a 1,000 HP tree ready of alternative that performs an preliminary burst of therapeutic to all allies inside AoE and a number of other extra waves of therapeutic for about one other eight seconds. This potential generally is a monster in turning a group struggle in your favor with further therapeutic boosts and serving to your allies survive pesky Ults comparable to Rammatra’s Annihilation or Genji’s Dragon Blade.
When these skills come collectively, there’s little question that Lifeweaver has the potential to be an especially viable decide. Nevertheless, he’ll rely closely on two issues: sport sense and communication along with your group. Recreation sense speaks for itself in that his skills have the potential to each save or damage your allies. You can use them to clutch out a group struggle and safe victory, however one unsuitable transfer might additionally give your opponent the benefit and advantages meant on your allies.
Communication is essential in making up for Lifeweaver’s greatest vulnerability, maybe probably the most vital weak point for anybody Hero within the sport. Regardless of his utility, Lifeweaver can’t do heavy injury. This leaves him extraordinarily susceptible to being swarmed by dive heroes, comparable to Winston, D.Va, Genji, and Doomfist, and flankers, comparable to Cassidy, Sombra, Tracer, and Reaper, if he had been to seek out himself out of place.
Due to this, you’ll must depend on your group to assist peel for you while you get separated from them and guarantee you’ve gotten good positioning always to reduce deaths. Voice comms are essential when enjoying a hero comparable to Lifeweaver. You’ll must shortly let your allies know you’re in hassle earlier than it’s too late and talk your skills to allow your group along with his sturdy arsenal of methods.
My preliminary ideas are that Lifeweaver will instantly do exceptionally effectively in excessive ranges of play, comparable to Grand Grasp, High 500, and Overwatch League, however show a problem for gamers in decrease ranks to make the most of to his full potential as a result of technicality of his equipment. There’s quite a bit to maintain your eye on, and your mind pondering of while you’re enjoying Lifeweaver, and studying the ropes could also be a steep climb for some.
There’s additionally part of me that’s considerably nervous he’ll grow to be a ‘throw decide’ to destroy possibilities of successful on goal when a salty participant doesn’t get their method in Aggressive, as a number of of his skills have the potential to do extra hurt than good to his group when used with ill-will. I’ve but to see a Lifeweaver leap off the map and pull a teammate with him to demise, however sadly, I’m positive it’s going to occur ultimately. Sadly, not a lot may be executed in opposition to these gamers aside from saying GG and shifting on to the subsequent match.
All hesitations apart, I’m totally thrilled for Lifeweaver to debut in Overwatch 2’s upcoming Season 4 and to see how gamers throughout all talent ranges use him. There’s a whole lot of room for big-brain performs, intelligent combos, and jaw-dropping saves along with his equipment in-game, whereas within the lore facet of issues, he brings a contemporary face to a well-recognized world, which means that something is feasible.