Blizzard Entertainment is moving fast to rein in one of Overwatch's most problematic new heroes. Alec Dawson, associate game director on Overwatch, confirmed in a recent interview with Twitch streamer Deemziestv that Jetpack Cat will receive substantial nerfs targeting two of her most-picked perks.
The Perks Getting Hit
Dawson singled out the 'Claws Out' minor perk and the 'Territorial' major perk as the main drivers behind Jetpack Cat's dominance in competitive matches.
The problem is straightforward: combining these two perks transforms a support-leaning hero into a threat far beyond her intended role.
- Claws Out turns Jetpack Cat's quick melee into a hard-hitting strike that deals 40 damage and slows enemy movement by 30% for one second.
- Territorial adds an offensive edge to Jetpack Cat's 'Purr' healing aura, letting it damage enemies caught in its radius while healing allies.
With both perks equipped, Jetpack Cat players can close distance with 'Frenetic Flight,' land a slowing claw strike, then activate Purr to deal sustained damage while healing themselves. The result is a hero who can win almost any 1v1, including duels against Overwatch's bulkiest Tanks.
The nerfs are rolling out in two phases. A hotfix targeting both Claws Out and Territorial drops this week, followed by a mid-season update that will remove Territorial completely and replace it with a new, less aggressive perk.
What This Means for Competitive Play
Since Reign of Talon Season 1 launched on February 10, Jetpack Cat has become one of the most frequently banned heroes in competitive Overwatch. Beyond her perk-driven lethality, she's also earned a reputation as a disruptive pick thanks to her Ultimate ability, which lets her grab an enemy and drag them off the map.
The Territorial perk won't just be weakened at mid-season. It will be pulled entirely and replaced with a new perk, though Blizzard hasn't revealed what that replacement will look like. If you play Jetpack Cat regularly, the mid-season patch notes are required reading.
A Massive Comeback Fueled by New Heroes
Jetpack Cat's debut is part of a bigger story. Overwatch entered the season with a concurrent Steam player count hovering around 40,000. When Reign of Talon Season 1 went live on February 10, that number spiked to 165,651, an all-time peak for Overwatch 2 since its initial launch in August 2023. As of February 22, the game's 24-hour peak player count sat at 126,640.
The season introduced five new heroes at once, a bold move that drew direct comparisons to Marvel Rivals' aggressive hero release cadence. Jetpack Cat herself has a storied history: the character originated as a scrapped concept during the original Overwatch's development, when Blizzard explored animal-themed hero designs before deciding the idea was too unconventional for the game at the time. Fans kept the concept alive for years, and the Reign of Talon rebrand finally gave Jetpack Cat her moment.
Even with one hero proving unbalanced out of the gate, the broader strategy appears to be working. Player numbers tell a clear story about what happens when Overwatch moves faster and takes bigger swings.
Source: Msn
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Which Jetpack Cat perks are being nerfed in Overwatch?
The 'Claws Out' minor perk and the 'Territorial' major perk are both being nerfed via a hotfix. Territorial will also be removed entirely and replaced with a new perk during the Season 1 mid-season update.
Why is Jetpack Cat being nerfed so quickly after launch?
The combination of her 'Claws Out' and 'Territorial' perks makes her capable of winning nearly any 1v1 encounter, including fights against Tank heroes, which Blizzard considers unintended. She also frequently tops competitive ban lists.
How many new heroes did Overwatch add in Reign of Talon Season 1?
Blizzard added five new heroes at once when Reign of Talon Season 1 launched on February 10, contributing to a record Steam peak player count of 165,651.
