Overwatch 2: Massive Pharah Rework in Season 9

In the upcoming Season 9 of Overwatch 2, players can anticipate a significant overhaul to the beloved hero, Pharah. The rework aims to redefine Pharah's playstyle, focusing on increased mobility and individual plays, according to recent announcements from Blizzard Entertainment.

The key changes to Pharah include a boost in health, a reworked Rocket Launcher, and new abilities to enhance her movement capabilities. Notably, Pharah's health has been increased to 250, providing her with more survivability in combat situations.

So without further delay, let's dive right into all the spicy developments surrounding Pharah's abilities. 

Reworked Rocket Launcher

The Rocket Launcher has undergone substantial modifications to encourage more dynamic gameplay. Projectile speed has been increased from 35 to 40 m/second, reducing the delay between firing and impact.

Additionally, self-damage from rocket explosions has been reduced to 25%, encouraging players to utilize rocket jumps more frequently.

New Ability: Jet Dash

A new ability, Jet Dash, has been introduced as a secondary fire ability. Jet Dash allows Pharah to quickly boost horizontally in the direction she's moving, with an 8-second cooldown. This addition aims to shift Pharah's movement from predominantly vertical to more horizontal, facilitating quicker traversal across the battlefield.

Adjustments to Existing Abilities

Further adjustments have been made to Pharah's existing abilities: 

• Jump Jets now restore 50% of hover Jet's Fuel, with the vertical boost height reduced by 20%. 
• Concussive Blast sees a cooldown decrease from 9 to 7 seconds, with adjustments to damage, radius, and knockback.
• Pharah's ultimate ability, Barrage, now instantly refills hover Jet's fuel, providing greater sustainability during its use.

Hover Jet Mechanics Update

The rework also includes changes to Pharah's hover Jet mechanics. Speed boost has been increased from 20 to 40%, requiring landing to recharge fuel. Importantly, hover Jets can now be activated without fuel to slow descent, offering more control over Pharah's aerial movement.

Developer Comments

According to developer comments, these adjustments aim to empower Pharah with more individual play opportunities while shifting her movement capabilities to prioritize horizontal mobility over verticality. This change is expected to make Pharah feel more akin to other agile heroes like Echo.

Related: Overwatch 2 Season 9 Leaks: Massive Projectile Size Increase.
While the rework has yet to be tested in live gameplay, initial impressions suggest that Pharah could become a formidable force on the battlefield. Players are encouraged to keep an eye on Pharah's performance in Season 9, as she may emerge as a prominent pick in team compositions.