7 Most Absurd Changes In The Totally Normalwatch Patch Notes (April 2025 Update)
The "Totally Normalwatch" patch notes have once again delivered a tidal wave of chaos and hilarity to the *Overwatch 2* community. This limited-time arcade mode, which traditionally launches around April Fools’ Day, is celebrated for its completely unhinged and ridiculous hero reworks that turn the competitive shooter into a playground of absurdity. The most recent iteration, tied to the April 2025 event, brought some of the most memorable and game-altering changes in the event's history, making it a must-play experience for both veterans and newcomers.
This deep dive into the latest "Totally Normalwatch" update, which was so popular it even saw a minor hotfix in December 2025, will break down the history of this fan-favorite event, explore the core philosophy behind the "totally normal" changes, and spotlight the seven most absurd and impactful hero reworks that defined the meta of this chaotic mode. The intention behind these notes is to make every hero feel simultaneously broken and hilarious, forcing players to relearn their favorite characters.
The History and Philosophy of Totally Normalwatch
The concept of "Totally Normalwatch" (or "Very Serious" patch notes in earlier iterations) originated as Blizzard Entertainment’s annual April Fools’ Day joke for the *Overwatch* franchise. Unlike simple cosmetic changes, this event introduces a separate game mode with radical, non-competitive balance adjustments that are often the opposite of what the community expects or requests. The event's philosophy is simple: throw all balance out the window and maximize player fun and curiosity.
The mode is instantly recognizable by the addition of comically large googly eyes to every hero model, adding a visual layer of silliness to the mayhem. Historically, the event has been a testing ground for concepts that are too wild for the main game, though a few "normal" changes from the April Fools' event have occasionally made their way into the live competitive environment, proving that even the most absurd ideas can sometimes have merit.
The 2025 iteration, which returned later in the year for a brief period, was arguably the most ambitious, featuring reworks for nearly every hero on the roster. The community engagement was massive, with players flocking to the Arcade to complete challenges like "Totally Regular Healing" and earn unique rewards such as the Rainy Ducky Orisa legendary skin.
Key Features of the Totally Normalwatch Game Mode
- Universal Googly Eyes: Every hero model features large, animated googly eyes.
- Absurd Balance Changes: Hero abilities are completely changed, deleted, or given new, often overpowered, mechanics.
- Unique Challenges: The event comes with its own set of challenges and rewards, separate from the main battle pass.
- Limited-Time Availability: Typically runs for two weeks, making the experience time-sensitive and highly sought after.
The 7 Most Absurd Hero Reworks from the Latest Patch
The latest "Totally Normalwatch" update was a goldmine of broken mechanics and hilarious interactions. These seven hero changes stood out as the most game-defining and absurd additions to the mode.
1. Mini D.Va: The Shrinking Mech
D.Va’s rework was one of the most visually and mechanically jarring changes. Her Pilot D.Va form (out of the mech) had its size reduced by a staggering 50%. This made her incredibly difficult to hit, essentially turning her into a tiny, high-damage threat when her mech was destroyed. Furthermore, her Pilot base health was drastically reduced from 175 to a mere 25, creating a high-risk, high-reward playstyle where she was either an unhittable pest or instantly eliminated. The mech itself received an increased rate of fire on its Fusion Cannons, but a 50% damage reduction, turning her into a massive, fast-firing pea shooter.
2. Sigma: The Free-Flight Tank
Sigma, the gravity-manipulating tank, gained a new level of mobility that defied all logic. His Kinetic Grasp ability, which normally absorbs incoming damage, now granted him "free flight" for the duration. This allowed the tank to soar across the map like a clumsy, shield-wielding bird, completely bypassing the need for a barrier tank to remain grounded. This change fundamentally altered his role, allowing for absurd flanking maneuvers and high-ground control previously impossible for the hero.
3. Wrecking Ball: The Health-Draining Hamster
Wrecking Ball, or Hammond, received a change that made him a terrifying presence in a team fight. His health was significantly decreased, making him squishier, but his Grappling Claw was given a new mechanic: it now drained the health of enemy heroes he impacted. This turned him into a high-speed, health-stealing vampire, rewarding aggressive, high-risk swings through the enemy backline. The patch notes also hinted at an additional, unlisted effect where he could briefly reduce the air control of heroes he knocked back, adding to the chaos.
4. B.O.B.: The Non-Shooting Dasher
Ashe’s ultimate ability, which summons her omnic companion B.O.B., was hilariously reworked. The patch notes declared that "B.O.B. no longer shoots." Instead of providing suppressive fire, B.O.B. would now "dash towards the nearest enemy hero and attempt to hug them." This change was purely for comedic effect, replacing a powerful combat ultimate with a non-lethal, high-speed embrace, much to the confusion and amusement of players.
5. Winston: The Body Slam King
Winston, the intellectual gorilla, gained a new, devastating ground-pound mechanic. His Jump Pack ability, which is his primary mobility tool, was enhanced. By pressing the Crouch button upon landing, Winston could now execute a powerful "body slam" that dealt significantly more damage than his normal landing impact. This turned his mobility skill into a high-burst damage tool, making him an even more terrifying dive tank capable of instantly deleting squishy targets with a well-aimed aerial strike.
6. Junker Queen: The Tri-Shot Volley
Junker Queen, the brutal tank, saw a complete overhaul of her primary weapon, the Scattergun. Instead of a standard shotgun blast, her weapon was changed to fire a "volley of Tri-Shot projectiles." The damage of these projectiles was increased from 17 to 20, but the rate of fire was reduced by 30%. This change transformed her from a close-range brawler into a mid-range burst-damage hero, requiring a completely different aim style and engagement strategy. Her ability to stack wounds was also subtly altered, making her a much more unpredictable threat.
7. Moira: The Unstoppable Bug
Moira, the enigmatic geneticist, was the subject of one of the most memorable—and likely unintentional—bugs of the event. While the official notes mentioned minor changes to her Biotic Grasp, a bug was quickly discovered that made her "almost unstoppable." This bug, which was widely discussed on social media and forums like Reddit, involved an interaction with her Fade ability that allowed her to maintain invulnerability or exploit a rapid-fire healing/damage state, turning her into a temporary, game-breaking terror until the hotfix was applied. The community reaction to "Normalwatch Moira" solidified her as a key entity of the 2025 event.
Topical Authority: The Totally Normalwatch Entity List
The depth of the "Totally Normalwatch" event extends across the entire *Overwatch 2* roster, generating a massive list of relevant entities and LSI (Latent Semantic Indexing) keywords that provide high topical authority for this subject. The following list includes some of the most prominent heroes and mechanics affected by the latest patch notes, proving the mode's comprehensive nature:
- Affected Heroes (Tanks): D.Va, Doomfist, Junker Queen, Mauga, Orisa, Ramattra, Reinhardt, Sigma, Wrecking Ball, Winston.
- Affected Heroes (Damage): Soldier: 76, Pharah, Torbjörn, Hazard, Cassidy, Sombra.
- Affected Heroes (Support): Moira, Baptiste, Lúcio, Zenyatta, Mercy.
- Key Abilities/Mechanics: Kinetic Grasp (Sigma), Jump Pack (Winston), Scattergun (Junker Queen), Biotic Grasp (Moira), B.O.B. (Ashe), Deflect (Genji), Tri-Shot Projectiles, Googly Eyes, Air Control Reduction, Turret Overheal.
- Event/Game Terms: Limited-Time Mode (LTM), Arcade, April Fools' Day Event, Totally Regular Healing, Rainy Ducky Orisa, Overwatch 2 Anniversary Event.
The Community's Reaction and Future of the Mode
The community's response to the latest "Totally Normalwatch" patch notes was overwhelmingly positive. Players praised Blizzard for its commitment to the annual tradition and for creating a space where game balance is irrelevant, and pure, unadulterated fun is the only goal. The mode is often cited as a refreshing break from the highly competitive nature of the main game, allowing players to experiment with builds and interactions that would never be approved for the live servers. The event serves as a hilarious reminder of *Overwatch 2*'s potential for creative and chaotic gameplay.
Given the success of the 2025 and subsequent December hotfix events, it is highly likely that "Totally Normalwatch" will remain a cornerstone of the *Overwatch 2* calendar. The developers have a near-endless well of ideas for absurd reworks, ensuring that the next set of "totally normal" patch notes will be just as shocking, hilarious, and game-breaking as the last. The mode continues to be the gold standard for April Fools' events in the gaming industry, consistently delivering on its promise of a truly chaotic and unique experience.
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