Overwatch 2 recently introduced its latest mode, “throwback,” which aimed to revive the nostalgic fun of playing Mercy as she was back in 2017. To everyone’s surprise, it instead brought back the challenging experience of playing just before she hit her peak.
When the new mode, Overwatch Classic: Moth Meta, launched on Tuesday, fans eagerly anticipated a return to the days when Mercy dominated the battlefield. Known as Moth Meta for her ability to swoop in and revive teammates instantly thanks to her reworked Valkyrie ultimate, the era is fondly remembered by many. However, rather than reviving Mercy in her prime, Blizzard chose a version from a few months prior, leading to some disappointment.
A Reddit user poignantly questioned, “If this is a Moth Mercy patch, why is this a nerfed Valkyrie?” highlighting the differences in this version of the hero. At her strongest, post the October 2017 patch, Mercy performed instantaneous revives, and Valkyrie granted an extra revive. The new mode, however, features a variant from September 2017 where Valkyrie merely reduced the cooldown on her revive, and her revives now involve a somewhat annoying cast time— a tweak made later in the game. Also missing is the bug that unofficially let Mercy players soar into the air, a mechanic Blizzard eventually embraced in Overwatch 2.
Consequently, Mercy finds herself far from her peak, undermining the nostalgia the mode sought to recapture. Interestingly, Doomfist players are relishing this update. Returning to his original role as a damage dealer, instead of the tank he became in Overwatch 2, he’s once again creating havoc on the battlefield. Mercy players hoping to evade him with swift maneuvers are often laid low by his power-packed gauntlet. The result? A shift from a Moth Meta to a Doomfist Meta.
Gamers are sharing videos of Classic Doomfist launching off rooftops, ambushing players like the old days. Known for his surprise attacks and resilience—gaining health with every successful strike—he’s as formidable as ever. Now, a new wave of players is experiencing firsthand the chaos of facing Doomfist, reviving both nostalgia and frustration in equal measure.
