Overwatch Classic's Mercy Mode Backfires as Doomfist Players Take Control
Overwatch 2's latest Classic mode has turned out quite differently from what players expected. Rather than recreating the infamous "Moth Meta" from late 2017 when Mercy dominated matches, the mode reflects an earlier, weaker version of the support hero.
The current Classic mode implements Mercy's September 2017 state, where her Valkyrie ultimate merely reduced resurrection cooldown, rather than the October 2017 version that featured instant resurrections and bonus rezzes. Adding to players' frustration, the mode inexplicably includes a cast time for resurrections—a change that wasn't implemented until later patches.
Mercy's classic Overwatch 2 highlight intro
Mercy in Overwatch classic skin pose
What's emerged instead is an unexpected "Doomfist Meta." The hero, who currently serves as a tank in Overwatch 2, returns to his original damage dealer role in Classic mode. Doomfist players are dominating matches with their ability to traverse maps quickly and ambush opponents, particularly vulnerable Mercy players who lack their modern super-jump escape mechanic.
The hero's original design, which allowed him to gain health through ability usage, makes him particularly difficult to counter. Players are sharing numerous clips of Doomfist's devastating rooftop ambushes and quick eliminations, giving newer players a taste of what made him such a feared opponent in Overwatch's early days.
This unexpected turn has effectively transformed what was meant to be a celebration of Mercy's golden era into a showcase of Doomfist's previous reign of terror, leaving Mercy mains frustrated and Doomfist players reveling in nostalgia.