In Apex Legends the new Voidwalker event has brought a patch with a significant nerf for the new legend Wattson. Many fans do not agree with this.
This is how Wattson was nerfed: With the introduction of the Voidwalker event on September 3rd, a new patch for Apex Legends was also released. This brought some changes to Wattson:
- Wattson now has the “low profile” attribute and therefore takes 5% more damage to her health points.
- The maximum number of standing interceptor pylons has been reduced to 1.
This is the effect of the nerfs: Due to the increased damage, Wattson is brought in line with other legends like Wraith, Lifeline, and Octane, who also take more damage.
For these legends, the increased damage comes from the fact that they are harder to hit due to smaller hitboxes.
The interceptor pylon is Wattson’s ultimate ability and blocks grenades within range, charges her tactical ability faster, and provides shields to team members. She can now only place one.
Fans are unhappy about the nerf
This is how fans react: In the corresponding reddit post about the Voidwalker event patch, players have shared their thoughts. Both the new event and the new unlockable items are well received. However, the nerf on Wattson is less so.
After Wattson’s nerf, “it wasn’t called for, damn it.”
Players suspect that the nerf is based on numbers that Wattson achieves in tournaments and at higher ranks, where she is often played, while she is hardly seen in matches with the majority of “normal” players.
Wattson fans defend their legend
This is being criticized: This decision to cater to top players instead of the majority is being criticized. But the nerfs themselves are also being criticized from different perspectives:
- Wattson is already a “headshot magnet” with her hitbox. Now that she takes more damage, she is an even easier target.
- Her size also does not match the fact that she now takes more damage, especially compared to other tanks, who even take less damage.
- Some fans find the “low profile” nerf acceptable, but cannot understand what her passive ability is good for if she can only place one pylon.
Generally, it seems that Wattson can no longer fulfill her role as a “tank” or be useful outside high-ranking matches. Whether the fears will be confirmed remains to be seen.
The balance in Apex Legends may change soon anyway. With Season 3 in October, a new legend is likely to be introduced:
