Overwatch 2Season 10 introduced several fresh updates to the game, including a novel new game mode where traditionally heroic characters found themselves aligned with evil, and vice versa. While theplayable roster in Mirrorwatchis limited to twelve heroes, each boasts a reworked ability set. These kits often retain elements of the character’s base game abilities, but Blizzard also introduced entirely new mechanics to the mix.
Intriguingly, with many of the never-before-seen concepts included in Mirrorwatch, it’s possible that some of these new ideas inOverwatch 2could make their way into the game’s core mode in the future. For example, Echo’s flight and Sombra’s reworked ultimate could be potential hints at the skillset of the upcoming support hero code-named “Space Ranger,” confirmed to be arriving in Season 12. Additionally, one character’s ultimate in particular has sparked rumors that a summoner hero is all but inevitable.
Overwatch 2 Has Yet to Introduce a Summoner Hero
Blizzard May Be Testing the Waters With The Mirrorwatch Event
Summoner heroes are a popular archetype, particularly withinMOBA games likeLeague of Legends,Smite, andDota 2. However, their presence isn’t limited to this genre seeing as games likeFinal Fantasy 14also feature a dedicated Summoner class where spellcasters can call upon monsters to do their bidding. Notably, each of these characters shares a core design principle: the ability to call upon entities or minions to fight alongside them.
ThoughOverwatch 2is classified as a hero-shooter, it shares similar features to MOBAs. As such, a summoner hero being added to the game could work quite well for several reasons:
Bastion’s Mirrorwatch Ultimate Would Be A Welcome Addition to Overwatch 2’s Base Game
In Mirrorwatch, Bastion keeps his tactical grenade, but his ultimate ability has undergone significant changes. Now called “Reinforcement”, the omnic can summon up to four Slicers to aid his team in combat. First featured inOverwatch’s Uprising eventand then inOverwatch 2’s Invasion missions, Slicers are small high-speed combat units with energy lasers attached to their heads. Not only are the Slicers particularly adept at contesting the point, but when positioned strategically, they can eliminate low-health enemies with ease.
While an argument could be made that the Slicers have excessive health in Mirrorwatch, this could be easily addressed inOverwatch 2’s core mode. The concept of a summoner hero opens doors for interesting character possibilities.Maximilian, a member of Talon’s inner council, seems like a perfect fit for someone who would utilize these bipedal robots for their benefit. Of course, “Space Ranger” could also benefit from an ultimate that allows them to summon entities that follow teammates and either heal, shield, or buff them.
“The concept of a summoner hero opens doors for interesting character possibilities.”
Overall, the potential for a future hero, or even an existing hero with reworked abilities, to gain summoner abilities is undeniably promising. By commanding powerful creatures alongside them, similar toAshe’s utilization of her robotic companion BOBfor objective control, such a hero would introduce a wealth of strategic possibilities for team composition and positioning. Furthermore, with “Reinforcement” appearing in Mirrorwatch, it seems likely that something similar will appear in the base game in the near future.
Overwatch 2
WHERE TO PLAY
Overwatch 2 is an always-on and ever-evolving free-to-play, team-based action game set in an optimistic future, where every match is the ultimate 5v5 battlefield brawl. Power up your railgun and disrupt the battlefield as Sojourn, or yield your axe and command attention as Junker Queen. Battle to take control of a robot and move it toward the enemy base in the new Push Mode. Bring the fight to new destinations across the globe in iconic locations like New York, Rome, Monte Carlo and Rio. Daily challenges and frequent updates mean there is always something new to play.
