We’ve come a long way since the original 21 heroes of 2016 in Overwatch. Fast forward to today, and Blizzard is gearing up to introduce Hero 51: Sierra.
If you’ve been keeping an eye on the lore, you’ll know the Deadlock Gang has been a fan-favourite corner of the universe, and Sierra looks set to expand that rough-and-tumble Western aesthetic in a big way.
It’s been a while since we bothered to do a feature on new a new hero or map, or anything in Overwatch! So it feels great to be interested and actively engaging with it again. It’s nice to feel like the game is almost independently growing from the shadow of the past few years.
Sierra
First things first: the design.
Sierra is sporting a massive, pink-braided ponytail and a rifle that looks like it means business. She’s heavily implied to be an ally of Ashe (or at least shares that same outlaw DNA), but with a more high-tech edge.
What really caught my eye in the teaser is her companion, a smal drone. It’s got a lens that suggests reconnaissance, which immediately makes me think of how Blizzard handles utility in the modern take on the game. Speed, height, reach. Things are about to get mixed-up a bit.
It’s a clean, striking look that fits perfectly into the Reign of Talon chapter we’re entering.
The Kit
Now we have a full character showcase as well, we can see just how Sierra is going to engage in combat. Agility and precision, combined with some homing bullets for good measure.
- The Long Game: That rifle isn’t just for show. Expect some serious range, though with a different rhythm than Widowmaker or Hanzo.
- The Drone: This looks to be her core gimmick, and one that can really shift the dynamic of a battle. Chokepoint got stuck? Now you have a new means of flanking and doing damage. It could really upset Jetpack Cat users.
- The Flow: Overwatch has been leaning into high-mobility and high-utility heroes lately, and Sierra seems to fit that mould. Using that drone for verticality or area denial, she’s going to be a menace in the right hands.
I’m no pro sniper, but I do love being annoying (Wrecking Ball and Mei are my favourites!). I can see capacity to really be a pain with Sierra, too.
Comparisons
The mobility is D.Va-esque. Being able to flank, get over obstacles, and create space is really handy.
A targeting and homing-bullet element, means that you’re able to really make an impact if you’re a dab hand with aiming. There’s a touch of Widowmaker (naturally with sniping and her grappling hook), too.
All in all, Sierra looks like a great addition and could be a great character to turn the tides in a stalemate. We’ll certainly see!
Overall
Is Sierra going to break the meta? Honestly, who knows. But Blizzard’s ability to keep the roster feeling fresh, even at 51 heroes, is impressive.
We’ve gone from a simple hero shooter to a dense, synergy-driven beast, and Sierra looks like another robust addition to the pile.
Now we have plenty of video to study, it’s time to get the glasses on, pour a coffee and have a look. All being well it’s another hero to get comfortable with and add to my rotation when things aren’t quite clicking with others.
Overwatch is in a great spot again, and it looks like the team at Blizzard are in a new groove. Hopefully this will last and we’ll be talking about it here for a long time. It’s almost a redemption arc after the disaster that Overwatch 2 became.
