Overwatch 2’s Latest Mythic Skin is Pay-to-Lose

When Overwatch 2 first announced that there would be a second Mythic skin in Season 19, there was a mixture of excitement and concern. Now, with the Junkrat mythic officially available in Overwatch 2, those same feelings persist, only with something different causing them.

The initial mixed response to Overwatch 2 doubling up on Mythics came from frustrated players who complete every battle pass, but will no longer be able to earn every Mythic skin, as they will be stuck choosing between either Lifeweaver or Junkrat with their earnable prisms this Season. Some players don’t mind having the option, as they’d rather be able to choose which mythic skin they’re more likely to use, but it’s a bummer for collectors. However, it turns out that Junkrat mains are also split on his bonus Season 19 Mythic, as they’ve noticed that the skin is essentially pay-to-lose.

Why is Overwatch 2’s Junkrat Mythic Problematic?

The design itself has gotten tons of love from the Overwatch 2 community, as the Hazard-like hairstyle for Junkrat is a fresh direction, and the Phreak-inspired neon face that players get when reaching tier 4 is eye-catching. Other details, like the colorful explosion marks on the ground after a Rip-Tire has been detonated, are great touches. However, one big issue with this cosmetic is the reskin it gives his Steel Trap. Instead of the usual aesthetic, the pedal enemy players step on to get themselves trapped has been swapped out with a massive neon tongue. While this undoubtedly suits the punk aesthetic of the skin, it’s so noticeable that it makes Junkrat’s trap easy to avoid, as indicated by Reddit posts like the one below from black_chowder.

It’s obvious why this is such a big issue for the Overwatch 2 community, as Junkrat’s play style heavily relies on making clever use of his traps. Whenever a Junkrat isn’t spamming grenades into a team fight and hoping for some lucky picks, they tend to be picking off flankers caught in their traps. With so much to focus on in an Overwatch 2 match, it’s easy to forget to check the floor constantly when facing off against a Junkrat. And thanks to the default trap design, it’s possible be sneaky with the trap’s placement, too, as it can blend into certain terrain or be hidden behind rocks and other structures. Yet with the Junkrat Mythic skin equipped, no such crafty plays are going to be viable.

Fortunately, Overwatch 2 fans have been quick to point out a potential solution to Blizzard that will hopefully be implemented soon. Instead of scrapping the unique trap design and taking some value away from the Mythic, making it so that the enemy team only sees a traditional Junkrat trap while the Junkrat’s team sees the Mythic one could be an ideal workaround. Other suggestions would see the tongue size drastically decreased or the tongue colors being made less vibrant. In the meantime, Junkrat mains like CapableCondition5193 have recommended using the Los Muertos weapon skin if they own it, as the launcher matches the vibe and coloring of the Mythic and the trap is much less visible.

Blizzard has not yet commented on Junkrat’s Mythic skin controversy, but with how many players have shown concern, some kind of adjustment seems likely. On the bright side, the skin itself seems to be quite well received, so hopefully this problem is addressed and players can go back to appreciating it.

Released

August 10, 2023

ESRB

T For Teen // Blood, Mild Language, Use of Tobacco, Violence