Overwatch 2 devs confirm Mauga buffs in time for Season 8 arrival
Blizzard EntertainmentOverwatch 2 Season 8 brings the new Tank Hero Mauga, and following his weekend-long trial, the game’s Lead Hero Designer, Alec Dawson, has confirmed the character will be receiving buffs for launch.
Overwatch 2 features a diverse lineup of Heroes, each with their own unique roles, backstory, and abilities. Since the sequel arrived back in October 2022, the devs have committed to releasing a new character every two seasons.
Following the arrival of Kiriko, Sojourn, and Junker Queen on day one, Ramattra, Lifeweaver, and Illari have since joined the roster. The next new Hero is scheduled for Overwatch 2 Season 8, with Mauga set to arrive as part of the update.
Unlike past characters, Blizzard gave fans the opportunity to try out the latest addition to the Tank category ahead of time, as Mauga was playable in Overwatch 2 during Season 7 for an entire weekend. Following this trial, the devs have confirmed that Mauga will be buffed before he makes his full debut at the start of Season 8.
Speaking in an interview with streamer 6Cyx on Twitch, Overwatch 2’s Lead Hero Designer, Alec Dawson, explained that they are “tuning up some of his survivability numbers,” following issues mentioned by fans during the playtest.
This is a common complaint about many of Overwatch 2’s Tanks, especially those that play more aggressively, which is why many of the Heroes in that category have abilities that allow them to heal themselves, such as Roadhog‘s Take a Breather.
Dawson didn’t go into specifics about which of Mauga’s abilities will be buffed in Season 8. The Samoan Hero has the Berserker Passive, which heals him whenever he’s inflicting critical damage, so it’s possible the amount of health restored by the skill could be increased.
Alternatively, Mauga could be given a flat health increase, allowing him to withstand more damage before being eliminated. However, this is all just speculation for now as we’ll have to wait for the Overwatch 2 Season 8 patch notes to see how Mauga’s kit will be adjusted.
For more on Overwatch 2, be sure to check out everything we know about the new DPS Hero Venture, as well as how to get a free Zenyatta Toybot skin.