Did Kiriko Get Nerfed? Examining the Season 6 Changes and Their Impact

Yes, Kiriko received nerfs in Overwatch 2 Season 6, alongside other hero adjustments. While she remains a viable and powerful support hero, the specific changes targeted aspects of her kit that were considered overtuned, impacting her overall healing output and damage boost mitigation capabilities. The most significant nerf focused on her Protection Suzu, altering its healing properties and emphasizing its role as a burst healing tool for removing negative effects, rather than a consistent source of sustain. These changes were implemented to bring her more in line with other supports and address concerns about her dominance in the meta.

Analyzing the Season 6 Nerfs

Let’s delve into the specifics of the Kiriko nerfs and examine their consequences for gameplay.

• Protection Suzu Adjustment: Previously, Protection Suzu provided both invulnerability and a substantial heal upon application. Now, while it still removes negative effects and grants temporary invulnerability, the healing component has been reduced. The updated Suzu primarily delivers a significant burst of healing specifically when removing negative effects. This means that using Suzu purely for healing, without a debuff to cleanse, yields a much lower healing output.
• Impact on Playstyle: This adjustment forces Kiriko players to be more strategic with their Suzu usage. Instead of spamming it for general healing, they must now prioritize using it to counter specific abilities like Ana’s Biotic Grenade, Junker Queen’s Rampage, or Zenyatta’s Discord Orb. Good timing and awareness of enemy cooldowns are now even more critical for maximizing Suzu’s value.
• Shift in Healing Role: The nerf pushes Kiriko slightly away from being a “main healer” and more towards an “off-healer” or “utility support.” While she can still provide substantial healing with well-aimed Ofuda, her healing output is no longer as consistent or reliable as heroes like Mercy or Moira. This means teams may need to adjust their compositions or strategies to compensate for Kiriko’s reduced healing sustain.
• Strategic Implications: These nerfs don’t invalidate Kiriko. Her mobility, damage potential, and powerful ultimate, Kitsune Rush, remain largely unchanged. Skilled Kiriko players can still excel by focusing on precise Ofuda aiming, intelligent Suzu usage, and strategic positioning. The change simply requires a more thoughtful approach to gameplay.

Kiriko’s Continued Strengths

Despite the nerfs, Kiriko retains several core strengths that make her a valuable asset to any team:

• High Burst Healing Potential: While the Suzu nerf impacted its overall healing output, it still provides a significant burst of healing when removing negative effects. This can be crucial for saving teammates from critical situations.
• Exceptional Mobility: Her Swift Step ability allows her to teleport to teammates, even through walls, providing unparalleled mobility and escape options. This allows her to quickly reposition herself to assist allies in need or escape danger.
• Significant Damage Output: Kiriko’s Kunai deal high headshot damage, making her a threat to enemies at various ranges. Skilled Kiriko players can contribute significantly to the team’s damage output while also providing healing support.
• Powerful Ultimate Ability: Kitsune Rush significantly boosts the movement speed, fire rate, and reload speed of allies who pass through it, creating opportunities for aggressive pushes or coordinated engagements.
• Cleanse Capability: Protection Suzu removes negative status effects, like anti-heal and crowd control, that can cripple the enemy team. This makes her a valuable counter-pick against heroes with such abilities.

Adapting to the Nerfs: Tips for Kiriko Players

Here’s how to adapt your playstyle to the Season 6 Kiriko:

• Prioritize Strategic Suzu Usage: Save Protection Suzu for crucial moments, like cleansing teammates from Ana’s Biotic Grenade or Junker Queen’s Rampage. Don’t waste it on minor damage.
• Focus on Accuracy with Ofuda: Make every shot count! Practice your aim to maximize your healing output.
• Utilize Swift Step for Positioning: Use Swift Step to quickly reposition yourself to assist allies or escape danger. Don’t be afraid to use it aggressively to close the distance and secure kills.
• Coordinate Kitsune Rush with Your Team: Communicate with your team to coordinate the use of Kitsune Rush for maximum impact.
• Be Aware of Enemy Cooldowns: Track enemy cooldowns to anticipate when you’ll need to use Protection Suzu to cleanse negative effects.
• Communicate with your team: Alert your team if you cannot heal them immediately and require other support resources.

FAQs About Kiriko After the Season 6 Nerfs

Here are 15 frequently asked questions about Kiriko after the Season 6 changes:

1. Is Kiriko still a viable hero after the nerfs? Yes, Kiriko remains a viable and powerful hero, but her playstyle has been slightly altered. Players need to focus on strategic Suzu usage and accurate Ofuda aiming to maximize her effectiveness.
2. Did Mercy’s damage boost get reduced as well? The article mentions Mercy’s damage boost being reduced, alongside the adjustments to Kiriko. Check the detailed patch notes for the specific numbers on Mercy’s nerf.
3. How does the Protection Suzu heal now? It heals for a smaller amount passively but provides a large burst of healing when removing a negative status effect.
4. Is Kiriko still a good counter to Ana? Yes, her ability to cleanse anti-heal effects with Protection Suzu makes her a strong counter to Ana.
5. What team compositions work well with the nerfed Kiriko? Compositions that include other strong healers or that prioritize burst damage over sustained damage can be a good fit for Kiriko.
6. Is Kiriko still considered an “off-healer”? The nerfs push her more towards the off-healer role.
7. How does Kiriko’s healing compare to other support heroes now? Her consistent healing is lower than some other heroes (like Mercy), but her burst healing potential remains high, and she brings a lot of utility.
8. What are the best strategies for using Kitsune Rush after the nerfs? Coordinate Kitsune Rush with your team to initiate pushes or capitalize on opportunities for aggression.
9. Are there any heroes that counter Kiriko particularly well now? Heroes with high burst damage or the ability to quickly eliminate her before she can use Protection Suzu can be effective counters.
10. Has Kiriko’s pick rate or win rate changed significantly since the nerfs? Check Overwatch 2 stats websites for the latest pick rate and win rate data to track her performance in the current meta.
11. How has the Overwatch 2 professional league reacted to these changes? Be sure to review the Games Learning Society’s website for an academic view of Kiriko.
12. Is Kiriko hard to play? While she’s far from impossible to master, Kiriko is one of the harder support characters to get your head around.
13. How old is Kiriko? According to the updated lore, Kiriko is 21 years old.
14. Does Kiriko heal faster than Mercy? If she lands all of her talismans, heals for an astonishing 72 health per second.
15. Can Genji deflect Kiriko heals? If you deflect an enemy kiriko’s healing, your deflected heals will still try to follow kiriko’s initial target.

In conclusion, while Kiriko has been nerfed, she’s by no means obsolete. Skilled players who adapt to the changes can still find great success with her. By prioritizing strategic Suzu usage, accurate Ofuda aiming, and intelligent positioning, Kiriko can continue to be a powerful force on the battlefield. Be sure to visit GamesLearningSociety.org for more on the learning and strategic elements of competitive gaming!