### Overwatch’s Healing Challenge: The Effect of the Latest Universal Passive
In general, [Overwatch](https://kotaku.com/overwatch-2-spotlight-new-heroes-perks-stadium-returning-2000665736) is currently in a favorable position. The five new heroes introduced by Blizzard for the game are engaging, the [emphasis on narrative](https://kotaku.com/overwatch-cinematic-doomfist-vendetta-death-reign-talon-2000665013) has provided us with fresh lore weekly, and the plans for upcoming seasons look encouraging. However, like any ongoing service game, there’s inevitably something bothering the community, and players utilizing characters primarily meant for healing are struggling to keep afloat due to one subtle yet substantial alteration.
If you use a character like Mercy or Lifeweaver, whose main role is direct healing, you might have noticed that keeping your teammates alive has become somewhat more challenging. This is due to a [new universal passive effect for all heroes](https://overwatch.blizzard.com/en-us/news/patch-notes/) that diminishes incoming healing on players who were damaged within the last three seconds. Once limited to damage-focused characters, this reduction decreases healing by 30 percent for most heroes and 15 percent for tanks, given their greater durability and increased health bars.
In the past, you would have needed to be pursued by a damage hero and bombarded with bullets to experience this healing reduction. Now, each opposing hero can curtail your support’s healing capacity long enough that some characters, like Mercy, can no longer outpace incoming damage as they used to. Heroes like Winston and Moira, capable of delivering unending damage through their beam-like primary attacks, can now easily surpass Mercy’s healing, even when her ultimate is activated. As a result of her focus on single-target healing, her entire effectiveness has been significantly undermined.
While Mercy feels the brunt of this change, there are also severe implications for characters like Moira, who is facing difficulties in healing focused teammates.
Despite supports being in a tough spot currently, some [fans contend that this encourages players to take cover](https://www.reddit.com/r/Competitiveoverwatch/comments/1r90voc/how_do_we_feel_about_the_healing_reduction/) and avoid rushing into danger carelessly. This viewpoint holds merit, as there is a strategic factor to consider. Nonetheless, if Blizzard intends to maintain this universal passive across its heroes, characters such as Mercy and Lifeweaver may require some form of rework or boost to remain competitive. Blizzard has already suggested that [both heroes will have some of their previous abilities reintroduced into their kits](https://x.com/OWCavalry/status/2024984783084793974); we’ll find out if it’s sufficient for them to thrive in Overwatch’s era of healing suppression.
