Here’s a look at Heroes of the Storms’ D.va and Gazlowe reworks

A long time coming

Overwatch‘s D.va was introduced to Heroes of the Storm in mid-2017 to a mixed welcome.

Although there are D.va fans out there and folks who can make her work, she’s slowly lost favor with the general playerbase due to a mixed-flavor kit that’s frankly outdated. A “D.va rework” has been in the cards for some time as a response, and now it’s hitting the game today in PTR (until “the week of September 7”), alongside of a surprise Gazlowe rework and some other changes.

D.va has become more of a “traditional bruiser” in the words of Blizzard, with an expansive talent selection that has some of her more important aspects baked directly into her kit. On paper, she should be a lot more formidable and fun to play (Big Shot now being available baseline is a huge change). We’ll see once she’s in the hands of players.

Gazlowe, one of the first-ever heroes to enter the fray, is also getting a much-needed second pass. The little turret-laying goblin now uses scrap instead of his mana bar: drastically changing his playstyle and allowing him to become more uniquely flavorful and thematic. Turrets are now less powerful overall but his other basic abilities (Deth Lazor, Xplodium Charge) no longer have any cost associated with him.

His Robo-Goblin Heroic (the old favorite) also has an unstoppable activation built into it, with Grav-O-Bomb seeing a reduced cooldown of 60 seconds. Even if those were the only changes he’d feel different, but Blizzard has now allowed him to embrace a more frontline role: which should hopefully result in more engaging teamfights and less “Gazlowe is playing his own game by himself” situations.

Oh, and the underutilized Brawl mode is now officially ARAM (no more private games via Discord servers!) and the new Nexus Anomaly is designed to combat hard stuns. You can find more info on that facet of the game here.

Heroes Rework: D.Va

Base

Mech Mode

• Health increased from 2150 to 2250.
• Health Regeneration increased from 4.48 to 4.69.
• Base damage reduced from 26 to 23.
• Added functionality: Enemies close to D.Va’s Mech take 50% bonus damage.
• Mechanized Walker [Z]
• New Functionality: D.Va’s Mech can move while attacking. While attacking or channeling an ability, the Mech’s speed is quickly reduced by 25%.

Boosters [Q]

• Cooldown increased from 9 to 10 seconds.
• Duration decreased from 2 to 1.75 seconds.
• Speed bonus decreased from 125% to 115%.
• Area reduced from 1.5 to 1.375.

Defense Matrix [W]

• Damage reduction reduced from 75% to 50%.
• Added Functionality: Can now be retargeted while active.

Self-Destruct/Call Mech [E]

• Charge earned per 100% maximum life damage taken reduced from 33% to 25%.
• Maximum damage reduced from 1,200 to 1,100.

Bunny Hop [R1]

• Cooldown reduced from 100 to 80 seconds.
• Damage reduced from 60 to 52.
• Radius reduced from 5 to 4.5.
• New Functionality: Every 4th consecutive hit deals 100% increased damage and stuns for .5 seconds.

Big Shot [R2]

• Ability now available baseline.
• Cooldown increased from 4 to 6 seconds.
• Call Mech cooldown reduction reduced from 8 to 5 seconds.
• Damage reduced from 200 to 150.
• Added Functionality: Enemy Heroes hit are slowed by 25% for 1.5 seconds.

(New) Micro Missiles [R2]

• After .375 seconds fire a stream of 12 missiles in a target direction. Upon impact, each missile
• deals a small amount of damage and slows in an area.
• Missiles deal 35 Damage and apply a 35% slow for 2 seconds.
• 12 range.
• Holds 2 Charges. 20 second charge cooldown with an 5 second cooldown between charge uses.

Talents

Level 1

• Rush-Down [Q]
  Moved to level 4.
  New Functionality: Boosters steals 4% of maximum health from enemy Heroes and deals 100% increased damage to non-heroic enemies.

o Hit the Nitrous [Q]

• Moved to level 7.
  New Functionality: The initial speed bonus of Boosters is increased to 300%, decaying to normal speed over .5 seconds. During this time, Boosters stuns for .5 seconds.

• Crash Course [Q]
  Removed.
• Pro Moves [Trait]
• New Functionality: Each time D.Va’s Mech takes damage, its movement speed is increased by 2% and gains 2 Armor, stacking up to 10 times. A stack of this effect decays every .5 seconds. Basic Attacks in Pilot Mode against enemy Heroes reduce the cooldown of Call Mech by 1 additional second.

(New) Liquid Cooling [Active]

• When used in Mech Mode, the cooldown of Healing Fountain is decreased to 50 seconds and it lasts 25% longer. Activate to gain Healing Fountains effects and incur the reduced cooldown. 50 second cooldown.

Level 4

• Diverting Power [W]
  Moved to level 16.
  New Functionality: Drastically increases Defense Matrix’s area and each time it reduces damage D.Va’s mech is healed for 35.

o Fusion Generator [W]

• Moved to level 7.
  Maximum Self-Destruct charge gained per cast increased from 15 to 20.
  Added Functionality: While at full Self-Destruct charge, Fusion Cannons’ bonus damage is increased to 75%.
• Bring It On [E]
  Removed.

Level 7

• Coming Through [Q]
  Removed.
• (New) Get On The Point! [Q]
  Casting Boosters grants nearby allies 20% movement speed for 2 seconds. After being out of combat for 3 seconds, Boosters’ cooldown refreshes 100% faster.

• Aggression Matrix [W]
  Moved to level 4.
  New Functionality: Basic Attacks against Heroes reduces the cooldown of Defense Matrix by .125 seconds. Enemy Heroes in your Defense Matrix receive 30% less healing.

• Dazer Zone [W]Removed.
• Nuclear Option [E]
• Moved to level 4.
• New Functionality
• [Passive] Each time Fusion Cannons deals bonus damage to a Hero, gain .25
• Self-Destruct Charge.
  Hitting your self-destructing Mech with Big Shot causes it to self-destruct 40% faster.

Level 13

• Ablative Armor [Passive]
  Moved to level 20.
  New Functionality: 45% of Ability damage taken by D.Va’s Mech is returned as Health over 4 seconds.
• o Emergency Shielding [Trait]
  Moved to level 16.
  Cooldown increased from 15 to 30 seconds.
  Shield increased from 210 to 280.
  Duration reduced from 6 to 4 seconds.
• Expensive Plating [Passive]
  Moved to level 1.
  Renamed to “Full Metal”.
  No longer increases the cooldown for Call Mech.
  Bonus Mech Health reduced from 20% to 10%.
  Added Functionality: Fusion Cannon bonus damage heals for 20% of the damage dealt.
• (New) Target Locked [W]
  Enemy heroes that remain in Defense Matrix for 1.5 seconds have their armor reduced by 15 and are slowed by 25% for 3 seconds.
• (New) Good To Go [Pilot Active]
  Unlock the Torpedo Dash and Concussive Pulse abilities while in Pilot Mode.
• Torpedo Dash [Pilot Mode Q]
  Travel distance decreased from 6.75 to 4.5.
  Travel speed reduced from 17.5 to 14.
  Now has a .75 second coolup when exiting Mech Mode.
  Cooldown reduced from 12 to 10 seconds.
• Concussive Pulse [Active]
  Cooldown increased from 7 to 10 seconds.
  Damage reduced from 141 to 120.
  Knockback distance reduced by 40%.

Level 16

• GG, WP [Trait]
  Removed.
• Nanoweave Suit [Trait]
  Removed.
• o Suppressing Fire [Trait]
  Removed.
• o (New) In For The Kill [Q]
  Casting Boosters grants a shield equal to 10% maximum health for 2.5 seconds. Each enemy Hero hit by Boosters increases your Basic Attack damage by 10% for 5 seconds, stacking up to 5 times.

Level 20

• Stop And Pop [R1]
  New functionality: While D.Va is stationary, Bunny Hop’s duration is paused.
• Pew! Pew! Pew! [R2]
  Moved to Level 13.
  Damage per shot increased from 50% to 75%.
• MEKA Fall [Trait]
  Removed.
• (New) Timing Attack [R2]
  Micro Missiles gains an additional charge. Each time Micro Missiles deals damage to a Hero, reduce its cooldown by .5 seconds and its charge cooldown by .25 seconds.
• (New) Headshot! [R2]
  Big Shot’s damage is increased by 75% and its cooldown is reduced by 2 seconds.

Heroes Rework: Gazlowe

Base

Vitals
o Uses Scrap instead of Mana, max of 10 Scrap.
o Base Health increased from 1826 to 2275.
o Health regen increased from 3.8046 to 4.74.

Basic Attack
o Damage from 95 to 100.

Trait
o Renamed to Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
o New Functionality: Regenerate 1 Scrap every 4 seconds. Destroyed Rock-It! Turrets drop 1 Scrap,
pick up dropped Scrap to regain it. Activate to destroy a target Rock-It! Turret.

Scrap
o Scrap pick up range increased from 1.25 to 1.5.
o Spawn pick up delay reduced from 0.45 to 0.0 seconds.

Rock-It! Turrets [Q]
o Costs 4 Scrap.
o Base damage decreased from 62 to 36.
o Base Health reduced from 593 to 510.
o Health scaling increased from 4% to 5%.
o Duration decreased from 30 to 15 seconds.
o GCD decreased from 2 to 0.5 seconds.
o Placement range increased from 2 to 3.
o Adjusted weapon range icons to be less noisy.
o Prioritizes nearest enemy Hero when first created.

Deth Lazor [W]
o No longer has a cost.
o Cooldown decreased from 12 to 8 seconds.
o Damage increased from 137 to 174.
o Range increase from 6 to 10.
o Width increased from 2 to 2.5.
o Adjusted Functionality: After 0.65 seconds, deal 208 damage to enemies in a line. Heal 25% of
damage dealt, this effect is increased to 75% against Heroes.

Xplodium Charge [E]
o No longer has a cost.
o Cooldown decreased from 20 to 12 seconds.
o Damage reduced from 233 to 155.
o Missile travel speed increased substantially.
o Search area reduced from 3 to 2.85.
o Range decreased from 9.5 to 7.
o Explosion delay decreased from 2.5 to 1.25 seconds.
o Stun duration decreased from 1.75 to 1 second.

Robo-Goblin [R1]
o New Functionality: Activate to become Unstoppable for 1.5 seconds. Passive: Basic Attacks deal
80 bonus damage over 5 seconds, stacks up to 3 times.

Grav-O-Bomb 3000 [R2]
o Cooldown decreased from 90 to 60 seconds.
o Damage reduced from 251 to 220.
o Added Functionality: Basic Abilities deal 30% more damage for 5 seconds after casting Grav-O-
Bomb 3000.

Talents

Level 1

o Extra TNT [E]
 Removed.
o Scrap-o-matic Smelter [Trait]
Removed.
o Break it down [Trait]
Removed.
o Goblin Repairs [Passive]
Removed.
o (New) Rocket Boots [E]
Increase the cast range of Xplodium Charge by 30% and its damage by 20%. Hitting a
Hero increases movement speed by 20% for 3 seconds.

o (New) One Man Wrecking Crew [Passive]
Casting Basic Abilities cause Gazlowe’s next Basic Attack within 6 seconds to deal 45%
more damage. Stores up to 2 charges.
o (New) Big Game Hunter [Passive]
Dealing damage with Basic Attacks to Heroes, Mercs or Monsters reduces the cooldown of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle by 2 seconds. Increase maximum Scrap by 2.

Level 4

o Clockwerk Steam Fists [Q]
Removed.
o Reduce, Reuse, Recycle [Trait]
Removed.
o Hired Goons [Passive]
Removed.
o (New) Rock It Sock It [Q]
Placing a Rock-It! Turret grants Gazlowe a 215 point Shield for 2.5 seconds.
o Hyperfocus Coils [W/E]
Moved from level 7.
Adjusted Functionality: Heroes hit by Deth Lazor and Xplodium Charge take an additional
2% of their maximum Health in damage. Gazlowe is healed for 150% the amount.
Crit kicker added.
o EZ-PZ Dimensional Ripper [Active]
Moved from level 13.
New Functionality:
Cooldown: 40 seconds.
Activate to gain 35 Armor for 3 seconds, reducing damage taken by 35%, and
reduce damage dealt of all nearby Heroes and Summons by 50% for 3 seconds.

Level 7

o Rock-It! Turret XL [Q]
Removed.
o Engine Gunk [Q]
Removed.
o Goblin Fusion
Moved from level 13.
Adjusted Functionality: Generate 3 Scrap for each Hero hit by Deth Lazor.
o (New) Overload [W]
Deth Lazor can now store up to 2 charges. Each enemy Hero hit by Deth Lazor reduces
the cooldown of Deth Lazor by 0.5 seconds.

o (New) Master Blaster [E]
Deth Lazor and Xplodium Charge Slow by 35% for 2.5 seconds. Rock-It! Turret Basic
Attacks extend the duration by 0.25 seconds.

Level 10

o Robo-Goblin [R1]
New Functionality: Activate to become Unstoppable for 1.5 seconds. Passive: Basic
Attacks deal 80 bonus damage over 5 seconds, stacks up to 3 times.

o Grav-O-Bomb 3000 [R2]
Cooldown decreased from 90 to 60 seconds.
Damage reduced from 251 to 220.
Added Functionality: Basic Abilities deal 30% more damage for 5 seconds after casting
Grav-O-Bomb 3000.

Level 13

o X-Tra Large Bombs [E]
Removed.
o (New) Positive Reinforcement [Q]
Primary Turret attacks against Heroes increase Gazlowe’s Attack Speed by 40% for 3 seconds.
o (New) Superior Schematics [Q]
Moved from level 16.
Adjusted Functionality: Rock-It! Turrets attack up to 2 additional target for 75% damage
and have 50% increased range.
o (New) Overcharged Capacitors [Q]
Gazlowe gains 5% Spell Power for each active turret, up to a maximum of 15%. Dealing
Basic Attack damage extends the duration of Rock-It! Turrets by 1.5 seconds.

Level 16

o Turret Storage [Q]
Removed.
o Kwik Release Charge [E]
Removed.
o Firin’ Mah Lazorz [W]
Moved from level 20.
Damage increased from 102 to 125.
o Ark Reaktor [E]
Moved from level 4.
Adjusted Functionality: Reduce the cooldown of Xplodium Charge by 3 seconds. Using
Xplodium Charge creates 3 Rock-It! Turrets that last for 3 seconds. These Turrets do not
drop Scrap or benefit from other Talents.
o (New) Overklock [Passive]
Hitting enemy Heroes grants 15% bonus Movement Speed for 2 seconds. Hitting enemy
Heroes with Basic Attacks causes them to take an additional 2.5% of their maximum
Health in damage.

Level 20

o Mecha-Lord [R1]
Adjusted Functionality: Basic Attacks increase Gazlowe’s Armor by 10 for 10 seconds, up
to a maximum of 30. Basic Attacks deal 50% more damage to Stunned or Slowed targets.
o Miniature Black Hole [R2]
Added Functionality: Each enemy Hero hit reduces the cooldown of Grav-O-Bomb by 12
seconds.
o It’s Raining Scrap [Q]
Adjusted Functionality: Reduce the Scrap cost of Rock-It! Turrets by 1. Regain 2 Scrap for
each Scrap pickup.
o (New) Bomb Toss [E]
 Xplodium Charge launches 2 more bombs when it detonates.