The long-awaited Overwatch debut of Jetpack Cat is scheduled for the launch of the revamped hero shooter’s new season on Feb. 10, yet she is already establishing herself as a formidable force. Following the Overwatch Spotlight at Blizzard’s Irvine headquarters, a select group of streamers road-tested the five upcoming heroes. Without exception, Jetpack Cat redefined the flow of every match, successfully delivering on Blizzard’s mission to foster more nuanced and rewarding team strategies.
Much of this tactical disruption stems from her versatile tether ability, which grants her the power to transport an ally through the air with virtually no constraints. Playtesters quickly identified its potential for turning static, position-dependent ultimates into unstoppable aerial assaults. Highlights included dropping D.Va’s self-destructing mech behind unsuspecting defensive lines and hoisting Cassidy into the skybox for a lethal, unobstructed Deadeye.
Renowned Overwatch creator Frogger demonstrated this potential by utilizing Jetpack Cat to ferry his Reinhardt behind the opposition, landing an Earthshatter that caught the entire team off-guard. While a massive armored man flying overhead seems hard to ignore, the tether itself is remarkably discrete. With the skybox serving as the only true limit to her altitude, the maneuver often goes unnoticed until the impact occurs, allowing Frogger to execute several devastating ambushes.
The strategic permutations are boundless. Soldier: 76 can gain high-ground dominance during Tactical Visor, while Wrecking Ball can rain proximity mines from the heavens. New hero Wuyang can apply Tidal Blast to a tethered ally, allowing Jetpack Cat to deliver a “human bomb” into the heart of the enemy formation just as the wave triggers. Even Orisa’s Terra Surge becomes inescapable when mobilized vertically. Conversely, her ultimate—which allows her to tether enemy heroes—serves as a premier defensive tool. It can effectively neutralize an Annihilation-mode Ramattra by escorting him off the map or dragging a mid-Death Blossom Reaper away from vulnerable teammates. High-skill players can even intercept a charging Reinhardt to redirect his path entirely.
Beyond massive team-wiping plays, Cat excels in smaller skirmishes. Streamer SejFinn showcased her predatory potential on Circuit Royal, navigating through a casino window to execute a flanking maneuver on a lone target exiting spawn. A precise combination of laser fire and her “scratch” melee ability eliminated the opponent before they could react.
In a session captured by Aspen, an enemy Cat successfully plucked Domina from behind her own barrier, exposing the team to a direct assault. Aspen later reciprocated by tethering her team’s Domina from spawn directly into a chaotic objective fight, providing instant protection. In a crowning moment of creativity, Aspen hovered above the enemy exit with a fully charged Domina tethered; as the opponents emerged, they were instantly snared in a “trap from above,” effectively stalling their push.
Ultimately, Jetpack Cat functions as the supreme distraction. Her presence often forces multiple opponents to peel away from the objective to deal with her aerial harassment. While her raw damage output may not rival specialists like Tracer or Sombra, the sheer utility she provides creates a constant “risk-reward” dilemma for the opposition. Leaving her unchecked is rarely an option.
This new meta has skyrocketed the importance of crowd control and “hinder” effects. Mauga’s Cage Match provides a hard counter by severing the tether, while Cassidy’s flashbang and Mizuki’s Binding Chain are vital for grounding her. During the playtest, Jetpack Cat players appeared nearly invincible unless hit by these specific debuffs or challenged by a mirroring Cat. Even Emre, the hitscan specialist designed to counter flyers, found it difficult to track her erratic movement patterns.
Given Blizzard’s history of aggressively balancing heroes like Sombra, it is likely that Jetpack Cat will eventually face tuning adjustments. However, many hope these changes are minimal. Her chaotic influence acts as a catalyst for creative problem-solving, embodying the design philosophy that helped Overwatch regain its momentum in 2025. Fans can experience the mayhem firsthand when Jetpack Cat officially joins the roster on Feb. 10.
Source: Polygon
