Overwatch Jetpack Cat: Cutesy gimmick or stable support?

There has been plenty of hype surrounding Overwatch following the release of Overwatch Season 1. As well as rebranding back to Overwatch and dropping the 2 entirely, the game has undergone a restructuring and will focus more on narrative and hero releases. 

This was emphasised by the release of five new heroes when Season 1 dropped. Although all the heroes have caused discourse among players, there is one character in particular who has taken the Internet by storm: Jetpack Cat. We’re going to dive deeper into Jetpack Cat’s abilities and the fan reaction to her to see if she could become a standout Overwatch support or if she is more of a gimmick than a viable hero. 

Jetpack Cat is a stray who was found at Watchpoint: Gibraltar by Brigitte. Brigitte names her Fika, but she soon starts to imagine how Fika could become a valuable ally in Overwatch. Brigitte creates a functional jetpack for Fika that not only allows her to fly, but also lets her carry allies and enemies, and shoot projectiles that heal teammates and wound enemies. 

Before we get into the reaction to Jetpack Cat and whether she is a worthy Support, let’s look at her kit more closely. 

Jetpack Cat became an Internet sensation for a few reasons. Not only was she a cute cat joining the Overwatch roster, making her the third animal hero in the game (alongside Winston the gorilla and Hammond the hamster), but her ability to grab teammates and enemies and send them flying instantly made her a meme. From cute fan art to ridiculous clips, Jetpack Cat solidified herself as one of the most iconic parts of Overwatch’s rebrand. 

Jetpack Cat might be a fan favourite, but how is she viewed from a gameplay perspective? Well, if her ban rate is anything to go by, then it would seem that this kitty is causing quite a stir on the competitive scene. Jetpack Cat’s ban rate is – at the time of writing – sitting at more than 50% across all regions, all tiers, all maps, and for both console and PC. People hate playing against her, and it’s easy to see why. 

A good Jetpack Cat player can bolster their allies to great heights, literally. Heroes such as D.Va, Cassidy, or Bastion can elevate their ultimates or their regular abilities to an extreme extent with Jetpack Cat’s help. Flying characters can be frustrating if your teammates don’t look up as much as they should, so it’s no surprise that Fika is facing major bans across platforms.

Seeing as we already had a space gorilla and a giant hamster in a mech ball as part of the Overwatch roster, a cat in a jetpack is standard fare for the game. Blizzard has handled these odd characters well, making their animal heroes viable as characters in their own right rather than just gimmicks. Jetpack Cat is the same. While she certainly brings a lot of attention to the game in a way that might feel gimmicky to some, she is a unique and well-designed support hero.

All in all, Jetpack Cat does have an unserious vibe, because of course she does. She’s a cat in a jetpack. That being said, she has brought a whole new level of fun to Overwatch since her release. I’ve had such a good time playing around with the character in quick play. It’s the most fun I’ve had in Overwatch in years. She’s effective too, especially if you can maintain a steady balance between her movement abilities, her damage output and her healing. Some may see her as a ploy to get players back into Overwatch, but she’s got functional value as a support and plenty of potential overall.