Overwatch Kicks Off Season 7 Of Competitive Play, Nerfs Mercy On PTR

overwatch torbjorn beer mugLet’s face it, not everyone has the skills to be Overwatch e-sports material, but you can still show your competitive side in-game with the start of Season 7 of Competitive Play earlier this week. If you’re still dreaming of making it into the big leagues, the Overwatch Open Division might be a good place to start.

“For those who have tested their metle in Competitive Play and want a bigger challenge, the Overwatch Open Division will help you become a true contender. This entry-level program for aspiring professionals is an excellent proving ground where players can test their strengths as teammates and face off against other regional teams in a structured weekly format.”

Season 3 of the Open Division kicks off on November 6th and will run until December 10th with the top eight regional teams vying for the top spot on December 16 and 17.

Meanwhile, Mercy is due for another round of nerfs which include an increase in Resurrect cast time and a 75% movement speed reduction while casting. These changes do not apply when Valkyrie is activated. Ana will also be getting a small damage boost to make her more “threatening.” PC players can now test out these upcoming changes in the PTR.

“We feel that Mercy’s recent rework has been successful, but her Resurrect ability still feels too strong and frustrating to play against. Now that it has a cast time, there is more room for enemies to counter the ability. However, casting Resurrect happens instantly when Valkyrie is active. This should make her feel powerful when she transforms on the battlefield.”

You can find the full PTR patch notes on the Overwatch dev blog.