Wrecking Ball, also known as Hammond, has spent the last three weeks on Overwatch’s test server, where he experienced his first nerf. Now, the furry hero is ready to roll into battle in the live version of the game.
Blizzard announced on Tuesday that Hammond will be joining Overwatch’s live roster next week.
“Beware of small mammals,” Blizzard tweeted from the Overwatch Twitter account. “Wrecking Ball rolls into the fight July 24, 2018.”
Beware of small mammals. 🐹
Wrecking Ball rolls into the fight 07.24.18 pic.twitter.com/woK0saBlAq
— Overwatch (@PlayOverwatch) July 17, 2018
The post shows one of Hammond’s highlight intros, but if you look a little closer you’ll also notice the Summer Games logo on the beach flags. This could mean that Overwatch’s annual summer event may not be far behind Wrecking Ball’s arrival.
Overwatch’s 28th hero took fans somewhat by surprise – many knew Hammond was coming, but didn’t expect him to be a hamster. The general theory going around prior to the little guy being added to the PTR on June 28 was that Hammond was a monkey that lived on the moon with Winston.
But this battle hamster is not to be underestimated. He is a fearsome tank hero with unique mechanics and the potential to bring a new playstyle to the game. Blizzard called Hammond an “aggressive bruiser” that’s good for bullying the enemy’s backline.
“He excels at disrupting enemies’ positioning with his Roll and Piledriver abilities, while also posing a serious threat if he’s left alone to train his Quad Cannons on key targets,” Blizzard wrote.
However, it seems Hammond started out a little too powerful and already got his first nerf on the PTR. The movement speed for his Grappling Claw ability was reduced from 22 meters per second to 20 meters per second. This ability is a staple in the hamster’s movement kit, allowing him to swing around the map and propel himself into the heat of battle.
Here’s an overview of the rest of Wrecking Ball’s abilities.
Quad Cannons
Wrecking Ball fires machine guns.
Roll
Wrecking Ball transforms into a sphere with increased speed.
Grappling Claw
While in Roll mode, Wrecking Ball can launch a short grappling hook to attach to surfaces, swing around, clear gaps, and move upward. Using this ability allows him to gain momentum, dealing damage and knocking back enemies upon impact.
Minefield (Ultimate Ability)
Wrecking Ball litters the ground around him with damage-dealing proximity mines.
Adaptive Shield
Grants Wrecking Ball a number of temporary shields based on the number of enemies nearby.
Piledriver
Wrecking Ball slams down from the air, pulling enemies toward the center of impact and dealing damage.