GoKawiilRev up your bikes for Overwatch's season 3: Into the Tiger's Den. The new season of Blizzard's hero shooter adds a dual-wielding, motorcycle-riding Omnic crime boss to the damage hero roster, as well as a new map for the hybrid game mode, set in the hero's home turf. We have the usual suite of new season stuff, including a battle pass and mythic skins, but let's be honest, everyone's talking about the motorbike.
New hero: Shion
Shion is a leader in Japan's criminal Hashimoto clan, and she and her motorcycle seem poised to have a big influence on Overwatch's roster. Her primary fire shoots a burst from one of two semiautomatic pistols that deal instant (hitscan) damage, and her alternate fire allows her to charge up shots to release in a quick, X-shaped burst. The longer you charge, the tighter the spread, encouraging players to more skillfully plan their shots rather than use it as a panic button.
She also has a dash ability that provides overhealth, and the ability to just hop on a motorcycle and zoom around in the middle of a match. You can jump into the air on the bike and send it flying toward enemies, exploding as it hits them. That's a lot of mobility, which is designed to help Shion close the distance and maintain her ideal close-to-mid range.
Shion's ultimate gives her three charges to use in one of two ways. She can either dash forward and release a hail of bullets or she can unload the bullet vortex where she stands. I like the dynamics of that design, allowing you to close the gap against distant but immobile enemies, punish anyone caught nearby or a combination of both.
Shion's abilities set her up to be a lethal and mobile flanker. Blizzard
In a small group interview with media over Discord, Senior Game Producer Kenny Hudson showed off Shion's abilities in the practice range before taking questions alongside Narrative Lead Miranda Moyer.
Hudson said the team "wanted to lean more into heavy action" and acrobatics when they were designing Shion's play style. He described her as a build-your-own-combos character who lets players experiment with alternating gunfire, dashes and motorcycling to find the rhythm that works for them. He cited John Wick and other action movies as major inspirations for the hero.
I'm a bit worried that Shion fits the same high-mobility, high-burst pattern that made Vendetta a menace for several months. Her ability to trade and return to the fight faster than her victim seems strong on paper. That said, the hero balance team has been pretty good about quickly tuning new heroes this year, so if something's egregiously off, I expect them to make swift adjustments.
An exciting addition, but other roles need more love
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