📝 February 24 Overwatch balance update

Following the new hero balance update that was released on February 13, 2026, Blizzard Entertainment released another balance update on February 24, 2026. The changes affect the Live version of Overwatch and are a follow-up to the initial February 13 update, further tuning the six new heroes.

The main ongoing Overwatch esports competition at the time of publication is the OWCS Open Qualifiers. Phase 1 has already concluded, and with Phase 2 set to begin on Saturday, February 28, these changes may affect the competition. Especially considering the high pick-rates of both Vendetta and Domina.

The February 24 balance update changes:

Domina

• Panopticon
  • Cost increased by 12%

Anran

• Inferno Rush
  • Cooldown reduced from 8.5 to 8 seconds
• Dancing Blance
  • Increased the distance you can move while active from 1.5 to 2.25 meters

Emre

• Synthetic Burst Rifle
  • Damage increased from 20 to 22

Vendetta

• Palatine Fang
  • Overhead swing damage reduced from 130 to 120
  • Bug fix - Overhead swing can now be affected by horizontal knockback while launching downward

Jetpack Cat

• Minor Perk - Claws Out
  • Cooldown increased from 6 to 8 seconds
• Major Perk - Territorial
  • Damage dealt reduced from 50% to 33%

Mizuki

• Kekkai Sanctuary
  • Duration increased from 6 to 7 seconds

It’s unclear what significance these changes will have on the ongoing competition; however, with OWCS qualification on the line, every minor change matters.