Overwatch 2’s new hero Lifeweaver is getting a much-needed control overhaul

Overwatch 2’s new support hero Lifeweaver is already beloved for his style and lore, but there’s just one problem: Players hate how he controls. So, Blizzard is giving Lifeweaver a quick overhaul.

Game director Aaron Keller announced Tuesday that, after overwhelming feedback about Lifeweaver’s clunky inputs and players posting their own suggested keybindings, the hero will get an update. The changes sound like they’ll go a long way to making Lifeweaver feel better to play and be more in line with other Overwatch heroes.

Here’s what’s changing, according to Keller:

• Thorn Volley, Lifeweaver’s attack that fires a spread of projectiles, will now be his alt fire. The launch version of Lifeweaver requires players to swap (using the 2 key or right on a D-pad) to Thorn Volley from his primary fire, Healing Blossom, similar in the way that Mercy and Torbjörn swap their primary fire. It appears that Thorn Volley will now be mapped to the right mouse button/left trigger on a gamepad.
• The auto-reload timing of Thorn Volley has been slowed down to compensate for the above change.
• Petal Platform replaces Rejuvenating Dash on ability 1 (shift key/L1/left bumper), and the platform will be cancelable using the same button.
• Rejuvenating Dash has been moved to double jump, seemingly similar to how Hanzo uses his Lunge ability.

Keller says that these new controls will become Lifeweaver’s default layout, but that players will have options to use “the old style” if they want. It sounds like balance changes for Lifeweaver are also coming — Keller hinted at “a buff” for the new hero — and that lead hero designer Alec Dawson will share more later this week.

Lifeweaver was added to Overwatch 2 on April 11, as part of the game’s fourth season. Lifeweaver is available to play now through the game’s season 4 premium battle pass and in the limited-time BOB and Weave arcade mode, but he’s currently restricted from competitive play.