The Countdown Begins: Overwatch 2 Introduces Illari to Competitive Play!

Highlights

Illari, the latest hero in Overwatch 2, has become incredibly popular among support players due to her powerful combat abilities and unique kit.

Illari will be playable in ranked PvP matches from Thursday, August 24, according to an announcement by Blizzard. However, it is anticipated that there will be some modifications to her abilities prior to that date.

Additionally, Overwatch 2's Invasion update introduces PvE content and a new PvP game mode known as Flashpoint. This mode aims to inject new excitement into the PvP experience and welcomes community input for future enhancements.

The latest addition to Overwatch 2, Illari, has quickly gained popularity among players. Blizzard has now announced the availability of Illari in ranked PvP matches. This support hero possesses impressive combat skills and a unique kit, making her a preferred choice among support players. Despite performing as expected by developers, Blizzard's recent blog post suggests that Illari might require some balancing adjustments.

Illari remained a mysterious figure for a long time but was officially revealed as Overwatch 2's 38th hero just before making her debut in Season 6. This season coincides with the massive Invasion update of Overwatch 2, marking a significant leap forward for the game's sequel. The update introduces highly anticipated PvE content, a new PvP game mode called Flashpoint, and of course, Illari. Armed with a potent rifle capable of dealing damage and healing allies, an automatic healing turret, and a devastating Ultimate ability, Illari is a support character that excels in leading powerful offensives when needed.

The latest Director's Take blog post from Blizzard has confirmed that Illari will undergo some adjustments in the near future. Additionally, the post reveals the date when Illari will be available in Overwatch 2's competitive matches. Starting Thursday, August 24, players will be able to play Illari in the game's competitive mode. However, the development team aims to make several tweaks to her abilities before that date, particularly focusing on her Healing Pylon and Ultimate abilities. Game director Aaron Keller states in the blog post that the team believes they have achieved their goal of making Illari feel powerful without being excessively dominant upon her launch. He further emphasizes that the hero's supportive and healing aspects ensure her damage output and positioning remain balanced.

In addition to the Invasion update and Season 6, Overwatch 2's developer blog post highlights the introduction of the Flashpoint mode. This new game mode includes two exclusive maps and aims to bring a fresh PvP experience to Overwatch 2. However, the community's focus has been primarily on other exciting features, resulting in less discussion about Flashpoint. Blizzard welcomes feedback from players regarding this mode and hopes to enhance it to make it more appealing. The blog post also mentions ongoing discussions about when to introduce Flashpoint to ranked mode, but no specific date has been announced yet.

Overwatch 2 is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.