Bastion has never really clicked in the Overwatch franchise. While the Omnic has changed some since Overwatch was released, he continues to carry a stigma around him and players that choose to utilize the rapid-fire turret character. Currently, he is not nearly as menacing as he once was and has quite a few counters, but that doesn't really change too much.
With Overwatch 2 on the horizon and the new game’s development looking to diversify content for fans, there is a good opportunity to deliver a reckoning for a lot of Overwatch characters. Some Overwatch characters may need reworks, while others might be fine. With the introduction of new roster members in the sequel, there are endless possibilities. While some may not like the idea, one of those possibilities may need to be the abandonment of a character or two, and Bastion is a great choice for retirement.
Counters to Bastion in Overwatch
While his abilities individually pave the way for unique ideas and sustainable play, Bastion has never really delivered on that. Bastion’s turret mode allows players to deliver unbelievable amounts of damage but cost the character his mobility. While to some this may be a perfectly fine trade, it is not worth it to many. On top of his immobility in turret form, Bastion’s critical hit spot changes to his blind spot directly behind him. This is something that can be combatted by characters like Baptiste, but it reduces the latter's usefulness.
This important critical spot is what helps to balance the character but is also what makes him an easy target to counter. Several of Overwatch’s highest-ranked characters are incredibly mobile DPS characters. Attack-oriented roster members like Tracer, Sombra, and Reaper feature abilities that allow them to maneuver around their enemies. Their damage output also means that they can quickly burst down an enemy Bastion from behind. The combined mobility and damage can make them a menace to any team that considers running Bastion.
Bastion's Resilience in Fights
Bastion’s ability to heal himself is less useful than most others in the game. Soldier 76, Reaper, Roadhog, Mei, and Moira are only a few of the characters that can heal themselves and they all do so better than Bastion does. The lack of key usefulness that this ability has is amplified by characters like Moira and Soldier 76 who can also heal their teammates. Soldier 76's ability in particular is more useful because he has an area of effect heal and fills the same DPS role that Bastion does.
Bastion’s heal does have some slight advantages when compared to his counterparts but not enough that anyone should view it as greater than others. While he can move, perform other actions, and does not need to damage opponents to gain its effect, Bastion’s heal feels weaker than most. In one-on-one situations, it is invaluable but this reverts to the discussion of which characters do it better. Characters with similar heal abilities generally control engagements more than Bastion.
Bastion's Ultimate Ability
Bastion’s ultimate ability might offer him more mobility than others like it, but he is incredibly outmatched by the likes of Junkrat and Pharah. Both characters also have explosive ultimate abilities, and while he might be more mobile than Pharah and have more ammunition than Junkrat, Bastion’s still pales in comparison. The primary function of firing rockets in Bastion’s tank mode feels reductive when a character like Pharah does that regularly as part of her base kit. The travel time may be shorter, but he still does not deliver as much devastation as others. Similarly, Bastion’s ultimate can lead to some combos, but so can pretty much everyone else’s.
Each character in the game has a counter to them in some form, but they also have ultimate abilities that feel unique to their playstyle. To his detriment, Bastion does not sport such an ability and it shows when players use him. His ultimate overall does not feel influential and generally seems to be just a reflection of what a transforming robot can do rather than a significant part of gameplay. For comparison, the heavily tattooed Hanzo launches an arrow that carries draconic energy that deals massive damage and is important to his lore beyond just function.
Overwatch 2's Lore and Story Missions
When addressing the idea of Overwatch 2 leaving a character behind, it is important to take the game’s PvE focus into account as well. While some slick redesigns for Overwatch characters have been shown off, there is still a lot to learn. How the story missions and overall PvE experience will play out is one aspect of the game that fans are waiting for. Bastion, however, might not fit easily or cleanly into the story that is told especially when considering factions in Overwatch 2.
In the first Overwatch’s lore, fans are presented with Bastion as a kind of stray Omnic. The sentiments presented around him are endearing especially when compared to the destructive potential he has. However, the revival of the Null Sector might change that. Bastion could quickly become a hostile enemy to all or even be killed off during the Null Sector’s invasion.
Bastion's Role in Overwatch 2
It can be hard to say that a character should be left behind. No matter which member of Overwatch’s roster is discussed, there will be a fan that has connected with them in some way. Bastion is not an exception. But as the discussion continues about the direction that Overwatch 2 might take, the more it feels as though other characters should receive priority when it comes to storytelling. Especially with other neutral heroes and the factions in Overwatch, there is ample room for new stories.
Leaving the character behind could be beneficial both for the health of the game and the story. While a rework may be possible, it would most likely require abandoning the essence of Bastion. If a rework of Bastion for the would require a completely changed character, it might be best to introduce a new character for Overwatch 2 that compliments the game’s lore better.
Overwatch 2 is in development for PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.