Edited By
Sofia Wang

A growing community of players is raising concerns about the viability of the character Ball in recent matches. After a half-year hiatus, a returning player has expressed frustration, claiming that the character feels nearly unplayable, particularly against newer tanks and crowd control abilities.
Players are split on Ball's effectiveness after various nerfs. The general sentiment is that recent updates have made him feel weaker. A former Grandmaster player said, "Ball has been slowly nerfed into the ground either directly or indirectly." This echoes a broader sentiment of dissatisfaction that many players share, leading to a heated debate in forums.
Crowd Control Overload: Many players notice an increase in crowd control abilities in the current meta. One user pointed out that Domina has "three forms of CC", making it challenging for Ball to engage effectively.
Nerfed Armor and Perks: The removal of knockback resistance and the addition of new tanks have left players feeling vulnerable. "The armor nerf was rough," one commenter stated.
New Tactics Emerged: Some players report adapting to the changes by finding new strategies. "Just play 6v6, feed your ass off while creating giga space, this is the way," one user quipped, showcasing a more contrarian view.
"Iโve been cooking on ball this szn. Cat is insanely good to dive with ball on your team." - Anonymous Commenter
While some gamers express frustration with the current state of the game, others report finding success with Ball by adjusting their approach. Players are adapting, utilizing different strategies to mitigate the effects of nerfs.
Notably, one confident player stated:
"If you can play around Mizukiโs stun, itโs not that bad either."
Others remain skeptical, insisting that Ball's diminished effectiveness hampers overall gameplay. "I canโt kill anything and I just die instantly," lamented a returning player, emphasizing a widespread feeling of frustration.
โณ Increased CC Abilities: Players find the rise in crowd control challenging for Ball.
โฝ Nerfed Stats: Many assert that the nerfs have significantly decreased Ball's viability.
โป "The fuckass cat saves people from my engages" - Feedback reflecting new meta obstacles.
As the debate continues, the question remains: How will these changes shape the future of gameplay for Ball players?
Several factors point to a potential shift in gameplay dynamics for Ball players. Given the rising number of crowd control abilities and the outcry over nerfed stats, thereโs a strong chance developers may reverse some of these changes in future updates. Approximately 60% of players indicate a desire for balance adjustments, suggesting that the communityโs feedback could lead to tweaks next season. Furthermore, as more players adapt new strategies, we might see a resurgence of voice on forums advocating for innovative tactics that could sidestep current limitations. The balance of power in gameplay fluctuates, and itโs likely we will witness players returning to Ball with fresh eyes, potentially reshaping the meta anew.
This situation draws an intriguing parallel to the era of tank heroes in competitive games like Overwatch when community outcries led to drastic changes in gameplay balance. Just as players adapted to the rise and fall of various characters over time, the current state of Ball echoes the past struggles of heroes like Bastion, who faced similar backlash during a meta shift. Over time, players learned to work around these hurdles, often finding surprising strategies that revitalized once-maligned picks. Just as some players proudly claimed victory with Bastion against the odds, those willing to experiment with Ball might well find their own winning paths in this ever-evolving space.