After several weeks of testing on the PTR, the new hero Baptiste now has a release date for Overwatch. On March 19, the new healer hybrid will be playable on PC, PS4, and Xbox One, and may bring changes to the game.
This is what Baptiste can do: His abilities and attacks consist of offensive and supportive skills. As a hybrid, he can deal damage well, amplify damage, and also heal:
- The Biotic Launcher (Weapon) fires in 3-shot bursts and throws healing grenades in alternate fire
- The Regenerative Burst heals Baptiste and nearby allies
- With the Immortality Field, Baptiste protects allies and himself from death
- with the Jump Jets, Baptiste jumps higher the longer he crouches
- the Amplification Matrix (Ultimate) amplifies all damage and healing projectiles from allies that pass through it
We have already compiled detailed information about Baptiste’s abilities in the patch notes regarding his appearance on the PTR.
When is Baptiste coming? According to an official tweet from Overwatch, Baptiste will be released on Tuesday, March 19.
Will Baptiste change the meta? With his abilities, Baptiste occupies a unique position in the current tank and healer meta of Overwatch. The currently strongest composition consists only of three healers and three tanks. DPS are almost completely ignored.
Baptiste could free Overwatch from this GOATS meta by negating the core of GOATS, the battles with Zarya’s Graviton Bomb, with his Immortality Field. However, professionals are still not quite sure if this will work.
It would be necessary, because GOATS is now even causing teams in the Overwatch League to be booed. The meta is apparently unpopular and urgently needs a change.
Who is Baptiste anyway? A particularity about Baptiste was that Blizzard released his backstory before other information about him. Lore fans are likely to be particularly excited about Baptiste.
The medic was one of the victims of the Omnic War, where he lost his parents. He became a part of Talon until he realized that the organization’s goals were not his own.
Through a previously released teaser for Baptiste, it became clear that he has distanced himself from Talon and is now following his own path.
Are you excited for Baptiste?
Another hero in Overwatch is apparently currently a bit too strong:
