[2021] Caustic's nerf is going too far

The devs have often spoken about the need for incremental changes when it comes to readjusting legends, which I can understand. We all have different playstyles, and it's important to remember the user experience on both sides of the game.

So why has Caustic now received 2 heavy hitting nerfs in the same patch?

5 ticks maximum damage? Caustic is now in a worse position than S1. It's effectively green Bangalore smoke that damages the same as an early Ring. Think about that, with 7 seasons of reworking on a character that dropped on release, they have stripped away his utility to become worse than he has ever been.

I'm sure there will be many who have died to a Caustic and see this as good news. Maybe his gas frustrates you as a player, or you've been caught short indoors one too many times. What you need to realise is these circumstances were Caustic's only strength. With this latest patch, he no longer has any of the utility that once cemented his own niche in the game, and God forbid you've spent money on skins related to his character. You can literally outheal his Ultimate. Can you outheal Gibby or Rampart's ult? Would they be effective if you could?

Apex has gone too far in listening to streamers and TTVs. If your response to a character's ability is to deconstruct his only strengths, your QA is broken. If your response to <1% of the streaming community is to give them everything they want, similar nerfs will bleed through to your other beloved characters once they complain about another barrier to their wins. (That is, unless you main Apex's beloved Horizon or Wraith).

I don't think we're likely to see Caustic make a comeback, and if we do, I imagine these "incremental changes" will be implemented as we come to buff him gradually over 3 seasons, while the "community's" complaints start to focus on another character capable of stopping their win streaks.

EDIT: And most incredibly of all - this happens at the same time as his Town Takeover?

I want to make something clear about Caustic's strength. I'm totally in favour of a nerf. I never asked for 12max damage and I don't really care about making a kill with the gas. The point is my fat-ass fridge-sized thiccboi has only one advantage, and I don't even get a gunshield. With no fear or deterrence factor, Caustic's size, mobility and kit is now ineffective entirely. Just take it back to S7 when no-one really mentioned him.