Summary
As one of the most popular heroes inOverwatch 2, it is no surprise that any adjustments to Mercy will instantly cause controversy. This was the case with a hugenerf to her Guardian Angel movementability a few months ago, with the changes being reverted due to community outcry. Now, Mercy fans are frustrated about her Damage Boost output being lowered by 5%. While many players who do not main Mercy feel like this was a good change, fans of the hero want some kind of buff to compensate. Regardless of whether Blizzard comes through on that front, it is time for it to address an aspect of Mercy’s lore.
While debates about Mercy’s viability in-game can be found all across the internet, players also seem divided about the hero’s personal life as well. This is not a surprise, as Blizzard has set up two candidates for a potential romance with the angelic doctor:Genjiand Pharah. Unfortunately, it is unclear which hero Mercy has interest in herself, leading fans of the hero - and by extension the two Damage characters - in an odd spot. Sooner rather than later, Blizzard should place Mercy into a relationship with one of these characters instead of continuing to tease its fans.
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Overwatch 2 Should Finally Pair Mercy Up So Her Story Can Move Forward
Plenty has been said aboutOverwatch 2finally moving the main narrative forward, which is a concept that the Invasion PvE missions have leaned into. However, this should also result in character development for the cast, including Mercy. While there are absolutely ways to develop a hero outside their relationships with other characters, fans have been teased about a romance between Mercy and another character for years - even her role inthe Loverwatch dating simcomes to mind. Naturally, players have been expecting something to come from these hints, so continuing to play with the idea instead of providing a proper answer would prove frustrating.
Hints at a romance between Mercy and Genji began several years ago. The two discussed exchanging chocolates as gifts, and Genji was shown writing a letter to Mercy in one ofOverwatch 2’s comics. With Mercy smiling as she read the letter, and the general vibe of the in-game conversations between the two, fans have always assumed that Blizzard was setting the stage for the pair to become partners. With Mercy helping to save Genji’s life, too, these heroes are deeply tied together - something that could certainly lead to a romance blossoming.
As for Pharah, a big part of the push to pair the two up came from how naturally her and Mercy work together in-game, as their abilities complement each other perfectly. Unsurprisingly, one of the best in-game pairings led to fan art, fan fiction, and a general shipping of the two heroes online. Not only did the sequel add a new interaction between them that can certainly be seen as flirtatious, but Baptiste’s “As You Are” shot story confirmed that Pharah identifies as lesbian and has feelings for Mercy. Additionally,Overwatch 2’s new lore codexshows that Mercy is happy to see Pharah, specifically name-dropping her in a journal entry.
Right now, fans are confused about which character Mercy will end up in a relationship with. Early signs certainly pointed to Genji, but more recent revelations undoubtedly lean toward Pharah. Perhaps Pharah’s feelings will be an unfortunate but realistic case of unrequited love, with Mercy not having the same type of feelings for her, or maybe Genji and Mercy were just good friends all along and the community read into things a bit too much. Considering that Mercy’s sexual orientation is currently unknown, too,Overwatch 2fans have been left to wonder how things will turn out.
Whether it happens during anOverwatch 2cutsceneduring the story missions, a novel, a comic book, or an animated short, one of these romances should be made canon soon. Though there have been plenty of teases at characters dating via in-game dialogue, these non-canon conversations have yet to result in anything. A proper couple comprised of two playableOverwatch 2heroes would be a lot of fun, and it could allow Blizzard to explore some fresh story concepts and cosmetic opportunities. There is valid evidence to justify Mercy being shipped with Genji and with Pharah, so hopefully an official reveal will happen soon.
Overwatch 2is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
