Overwatch PTR Patch 1.29 features Torbjorn rework, explosive Pharah changes

Earlier today, Overwatch Game Director Jeff Kaplan discussed some changes coming to Blizzard's team-based shooter, including a major rework for Torbjorn. Changes were targeted for the latest PTR update and it appears that update has arrived.

As noted earlier, the big changes involve Torbjorn and the implementation of a new colorblind mode. The latter addition involves allowing users to customize how team colors are displayed in the UI, while also adding hero outlines in nine different colorblind-friendly colors.

Here are the specific changes for Torbjorn:

Torbjorn

General
- Reduced the size of Torbjörn’s head hit volume by 10%
Rivet Gun
- Primary Fire
  - Projectile speed increased from 60 to 70 per second
  - Reload time reduced from 2.2 to 2 seconds
  - Turret targets enemy hit by primary fire
- Alternate Fire
  - Recovery lowered from 0.8 to 0.6 seconds
  - Damage per shot lowered from 150 to 125
  - Reload time reduced from 2.2 to 2 seconds
  - Spread randomization readjusted
- Forge Hammer
  - Radius increased to align with Quick Melee
- Deploy Turret
  - Now a thrown projectile
  - Automatically builds over three seconds
  - No longer has different levels
  - Same damage output as previous level 2 turret
  - Maximum health reduced from 300 to 250
  - Now incurs a 5 second cooldown when deployed
  - Now incurs a 10 second cooldown when destroyed in combat
  - No longer able to deploy a new turret if it’s in combat
  - While the turret is firing
  - If the turret has taken damage within three seconds
  - Now able to destroy turret using the Interact input
  - Now will complete self-building once deployed, even if Torbjorn is eliminated
- New Ability: Overload
  - Replaces Armor Pack
  - Lasts for 5 seconds (12 second cooldown)
  - Temporarily grants 150 armor
  - Increases attack, movement, and reload speed by 30%
- New Ultimate: Molten Core
  - Switches weapon from Rivet Gun to his claw arm
  - Lasts 6 seconds
  - Fire up to 10 molten globules that create damage pools where they land for 10 seconds
  - Bounces off walls and ceilings until coming into contact with the ground
  - Base damage is 130
  - Damage increases from 130 to 190 against enemies who have armor
  - Heroes affected by armor: Bastion, Brigitte, D.Va, Orisa, Reinhardt, Torbjorn, Winston, Wrecking Ball
  - Heroes who can grant armor to their allies: Brigitte

While Torbjorn's rework is the big story of the day, Pharah players may want to take a look at today's update, because their hero looks to have been significantly changed for both better and worse.

Pharah

Concussive Blast
- Cooldown reduced from 12 to 9 seconds
Rocket Launcher
- Attack speed increased
- Lowered recovery between shots from 0.9 to 0.75
- Damage redistributed between explosion and impact
- Explosion damage reduced from 80 to 65
- Impact damage increased from 40 to 55
- Explosion knockback reduced by 20%
- Self-knockback range increased by 25%

Other changes include a Combat Roll cooldown reduction for McCree, shield health reduction for Brigitte, and visual tweaks for Mei. The 1.29 PTR patch is up and running now. For the full path notes, visit the Blizzard forums.