Overwatch has three playable heroes of Chinese nationality: Mei, Lucio, and the newest addition, Juno. Mei is a climatologist from Xi’an, Lucio is a musician and freedom fighter from Rio de Janeiro, and Juno is a Martian-born astronaut of Chinese descent. This article details their lore, abilities, and cultural significance within the game.
Mei: The Climatologist
Mei-Ling Zhou, known simply as Mei, was introduced in the original Overwatch launch roster. She is a scientist specializing in climate manipulation, working for the now-disbanded Overwatch organization. Her primary role is as a damage hero, but her kit provides significant utility and survivability, making her a versatile pick in many team compositions.
Her abilities revolve around ice and cryogenics:
- Endothermic Blaster: Her primary fire sprays a stream of frost that slows enemies and eventually freezes them solid. Her alternate fire launches a slow-moving icicle that deals high burst damage at range.
- Cryo-Freeze: Mei encases herself in a block of ice, becoming invulnerable and healing herself over time. This is used to survive ultimate abilities or to stall objectives.
- Ice Wall: Mei creates a large wall of ice that can block enemy movement, separate teams, or provide temporary elevation.
- Blizzard (Ultimate): She throws a drone that creates a large area of freezing wind, slowing and eventually freezing all enemies caught inside.
Mei’s lore ties her to the Ecopoint: Antarctica, where she was in cryosleep for several years after a catastrophic storm. Her return to civilization is a key narrative point, showing her as a determined survivor. She is voiced by Chinese-American actress Elise Zhang.
Lucio: The Freedom Fighter
Lucio Correia dos Santos is a Brazilian hero, not Chinese. He is included here because he is often mistakenly associated with Chinese heroes due to his name and musical theme, but he is canonically from Rio de Janeiro. Lucio is a support hero who uses sonic technology to heal and empower his allies. His backstory involves fighting against the Vishkar Corporation’s oppressive control of his home city.
His kit is based on music and speed:
- Sonic Amplifier: His primary fire shoots sonic projectiles. His alternate fire is a knockback blast, useful for environmental kills.
- Crossfade: He can switch between two songs: one that heals allies over time and one that increases their movement speed.
- Amp It Up: This ability boosts the effect of his current song for a few seconds, providing a burst of healing or speed.
- Soundwave: A melee-range ability that knocks enemies back.
- Sound Barrier (Ultimate): He creates a large area of sound that grants temporary shields to all allies in range.
Lucio’s design is a celebration of Brazilian culture, particularly the favelas and the Baile Funk music scene. He is voiced by Brazilian-American voice actor Jonny Cruz.
Juno: The Martian Astronaut
Juno, whose full name is Juno Teo, is the most recent addition to the roster, introduced in Season 10 of Overwatch 2. She is a support hero born on Mars, in a colony known as the Red Promise. Her parents are Chinese scientists, making her of Chinese descent, but she is not a Chinese national. Her kit is designed for high mobility and sustained healing.
Her abilities are inspired by space and gravity:
- Mediblaster: Her primary fire is a rapid-fire projectile that heals allies and damages enemies.
- Pulsar Torpedoes: She fires a volley of torpedoes that lock onto allies to heal them or enemies to damage them.
- Glide Boost: She can glide horizontally in the air, providing excellent mobility.
- Hyper Ring: She deploys a ring that grants a burst of speed to allies who pass through it.
- Orbital Ray (Ultimate): She calls down a beam from space that heals allies and boosts their damage.
Juno’s lore explores the relationship between Earth and its Martian colonies. She is voiced by Chinese-American actress Xanthe Huynh.
Chinese Cultural Representation
Overwatch has made a significant effort to represent Chinese culture through its heroes, maps, and cosmetics. The most prominent example is the map Lijiang Tower, set in China, which features architecture and aesthetics inspired by the real city of Lijiang. Additionally, the game celebrates the Lunar New Year with a special event, featuring skins and cosmetics based on Chinese mythology and traditions.
Mei is the primary Chinese hero in terms of nationality, and her design incorporates elements such as her snowboard and her love for dumplings, which are referenced in her voice lines and emotes. The game’s global appeal is partly due to its diverse cast, and the inclusion of Chinese characters has been positively received, though some have criticized the lack of a Chinese tank hero.
How to Play Each Hero
Choosing between Mei, Lucio, and Juno depends on your preferred role and playstyle.
- Mei (Damage): If you enjoy a methodical, zone-control playstyle, Mei is excellent. Her Ice Wall can split the enemy team, and her Cryo-Freeze allows her to survive dangerous situations. She is particularly strong on maps with tight chokepoints.
- Lucio (Support): Lucio is a passive healer who excels at keeping his team moving. He is great for players who like to stay in the middle of the action, booping enemies off the map, and enabling aggressive pushes with Speed Boost.
- Juno (Support): Juno is a more active healer, requiring good aim with her Mediblaster. Her mobility makes her hard to hit, and her Orbital Ray can be a game-changer in team fights. She is ideal for players who enjoy a fast-paced, high-skill support experience.
Common Misconceptions
A frequent misconception is that Lucio is Chinese because of his name, which sounds similar to the Chinese name ‘Lücio’ when romanized. However, his name is Portuguese, and he is Brazilian. Another misconception is that Mei is a villain because of her cryogenic freezing abilities, but she is a hero who uses her powers for science and defense. Finally, some players assume that Juno is Chinese, but she is a Martian-born astronaut with Chinese heritage, not a citizen of China.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the first Chinese hero in Overwatch?
Mei was the first Chinese hero added to the game, debuting in the original Overwatch launch in 2016. She is a damage hero from Xi’an, China, and is a climatologist by profession.
Is Lucio Chinese?
No, Lucio is Brazilian. He is from Rio de Janeiro and his design is based on Brazilian culture, particularly the favela music scene. His name is Portuguese, not Chinese.
Is Juno Chinese?
Juno is of Chinese descent, but she was born on Mars. Her parents are Chinese scientists, and she grew up in the Martian colony of Red Promise. She is not a Chinese citizen.
Are there any Chinese tank heroes in Overwatch?
As of the current roster, there is no Chinese tank hero. The tank heroes come from various countries, but none are Chinese. This has been a point of discussion among the player base, but Blizzard has not announced any plans for a Chinese tank.
What is the Lijiang Tower map?
Lijiang Tower is a control map set in China, inspired by the real city of Lijiang. It features a blend of traditional Chinese architecture and futuristic elements, and is one of the most popular maps in the game.
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