The launch of Overwatch 2’s Season 18 is already turning heads, and not just because of its sweeping Perk overhauls for every hero. This season has introduced chaotic new gameplay variables, perks that redefine standard loadouts, and unfortunately, more bugs than you’d find in Junkrat’s lab. But leading the charge — or maybe the bug parade — is none other than Cassidy, the no-nonsense cowboy whose new perk is accidentally turning him into a DPS monster.
The Cowboy’s got a new trick
Among the most notable changes in Season 18 is Cassidy’s new perk, Silver Bullet. At first glance, it seems like a stylish upgrade — a piercing shot that applies Bleed damage over time, replacing Cassidy’s classic “Fan the Hammer” combo. There’s also the added bonus of a zoom function for precision shots, which hits especially hard for hitscan veterans who love that long-range impact.
It gets even better — or worse, depending on how you look at it — with the perk’s cooldown resetting each time Cassidy uses his dodge roll. That means with good timing you can crank out these bleeding, enemy-penetrating shots in rapid bursts. Combined with his new Blazing Sun mythic weapon skin (which literally makes his bullets ignite), there’s more than just fireworks flying around the payload — it’s an all-out laser light show of destruction.
But here’s the problem: It’s totally busted
Turns out, Cassidy’s Silver Bullet might be too good: to the point of feeling like an accidental god mode.
Players discovered a bug that causes Silver Bullet to deal double the intended damage when you press your primary and secondary fire buttons at the same time. In a viral video posted to @KaladinMeow on X, they showed how canceling the perk with a dodge roll and quickly firing again stacked the damage output far beyond what Blizzard probably had in mind:
“So there is a bug with Silver Bullet that if you aim it and like instantly cancel it with roll and shoot in quick succession it does like double the damage it’s supposed to.”
Let’s put it this way: if you’re going head-to-head with a Cassidy who knows this trick, you’re basically up against a bloodletting sniper cannon on cooldown steroids. Yeah, it’s that bad.
A buggy season all around
And Cassidy’s not the only one breaking the rules. Some players are calling Season 18 the buggiest patch in Overwatch 2 history. The new perk system may be adding depth, sure, but it’s also clearly straining the game engine in weird and unpredictable ways.
Take Wrecking Ball, for example. The zippy mech-hamster has been temporarily removed from standard play after discovering a game-breaking bug that gave him extreme momentum when grappling onto objects, making him borderline uncatchable.
MORE OVERWATCH 2
Then there’s Hazard, the new tank hero. His block ability, which is supposed to have a cooldown, is currently activating indefinitely. So unless you enjoy watching tanks become unkillable walls, it’s a frustrating time to jump into ranked as an anti-tank player.
So, what’s next?
Blizzard has yet to comment on the Cassidy Silver Bullet bug specifically, but with the community already in uproar and videos going viral, a hotfix can’t be far off. Balancing such a massive addition like perks was always going to be a challenge, and while the high-risk, high-reward nature of loadout tweaking is exciting, the bugs are undeniably throwing matches into chaos.
Until it’s patched out, you may want to PROTECT the payload by becoming Cassidy, because right now, he’s doing damage like it’s the Wild West all over again.
Overwatch 2 is no stranger to game-breaking bugs when new updates drop. But Season 18 feels especially turbulent. Players are loving the fresh strategy layer that Perks add, but as long as there are unintentional exploits like Cassidy’s double-damage bug, ranked play is going to be a rollercoaster.
So saddle up, shoot straight, and maybe ride that Silver Bullet train while it lasts … if you can live with the guilt.