Overwatch’s Blizzard World update is finally here and as with any major Overwatch update, fans are poring over all the new skins, emotes and highlight intros. Of course, new skins are the biggest addition to Overwatch’s cosmetic item catalog, and luckily Blizzard went all out with this latest update. Some are playful crossovers with other Blizzard franchises, while others are great skins for characters that sorely need them. Without further ado, here are the 10 best skins from Overwatch’s most recent update.
Butcher Roadhog
Pairing Overwatch’s massive hook-throwing pig man and Diablo’s massive hook-throwing demon is so natural it’s hard to see why Blizzard didn’t do it earlier. Roadhog has had some fun skins in the past, but this is the first one that feels like it really captures the silent but deadly tank’s more terrifying side.
The fact that both Roadhog and Diablo’s butcher demon have a hook on a chain might seem like Blizzard is recycling ideas, but why complain when the results are so metal? The piercings on his chest are a gruesome visual reference to the butcher demon’s scars and the helmet is perfect for Roadhog’s already Mad Max feel. It’s safe to assume that this butcher won’t be serving pork though.
This post was originally written by Cody Mello-Klein.
Nova Widowmaker
The Blizzard World update’s greatest gift might be all the cool parallels between the characters in Blizzard’s different worlds. Just like Roadhog’s cross-franchise hook up with the butcher demon, Widowmaker’s Nova Terra skin is spot on.
The whole outfit is taken straight from Starcraft’s deadly psionic sniper. The blonde hair, the Terran colors and high tech sniper blend well with Overwatch’s futuristic sci-fi setting. It’s also a nice change of pace for Widowmaker. Her skins are usually references to her past, so it’s cool to see Overwatch’s super assassin get a sleek, futuristic makeover. Magnifique!
Barbarian Zarya
Zarya has gone to the 80s to get physical. She’s gone to the frozen Russian tundra to battle machines. However, this might be her most impressive transformation yet. Going back to the stone age, Zarya’s latest skin is a crossover with Diablo’s barbarian class, but it’s so cool that even fans unfamiliar with Blizzard’s demonic loot-and-slash can find something to love.
Zarya as a tank is great because she can take a hit and keep on fighting. She shrugs off bullets with ease. The furs, warpaint and fiery red mane give Zarya a ferocious, tribal appearance. Combine that with her massive laser gun and you get a ferocious-looking warrior that no one will want to mess with.
Capoeira Lucio
Overwatch’s resident DJ hasn’t had many opportunities to represent his home country of Brazil. Sure, he got to play soccer for Overwatch’s summer games, but most of his skins have toyed with Lucio’s musical ability. Luckily, Blizzard once again strikes gold with some cross-cultural representation.
Capoeira, a style of martial arts unique to Brazil that draws from dance as much as it does fighting, is the perfect complement to Lucio’s exuberant energy and positivity. Lucio’s ripped shorts and arm wrappings make this skin a casual outfit. Perfect for Lucio’s beach days. But props go to whoever swapped out his metal roller skates for traditional carved wooden pieces. It’s a great touch that proves Lucio doesn’t need his high tech kicks to feel the vibrations.
Immortal Orisa
We might need to construct additional pylons for this Orisa overhaul. Although she’s received a few new skins since she first appeared, Orisa has been largely left out of Blizzard’s cosmetic updates. She got a puppy for the holiday season, but that’s about it. Fortunately, Orisa got a shiny new Protoss-themed paint job.
Many of Orisa’s other new skins have been functional over fashionable. The Immortal skin certainly isn’t guilty of that. The bright blue and gold Protoss color scheme is shiny and eye-catching, but the incredibly detailed gun is the best part. It’s like a Russian egg. Intricate etchings and massive blue “jewel” make it the centerpiece of the skin and Orisa’s crown jewel of Overwatch’s robot repertoire.
Magni Torbjorn
Torbjorn isn’t one of the most popular heroes in Overwatch, but that hasn’t stopped Blizzard from giving him some of the coolest skins in the game. The Magni skin, a reference to Warcraft’s Dwarven king Magni Bronzebeard, is one of the more intricate makeovers for an Overwatch character. Torbjorn finally becomes a full on Dwarven hero.
The long, braided beard, the iron wrought armor, the heavy iron hammer – it all works together to make Torbjorn a real Dwarven warrior. The sculpted golden rams on his beard and mechanical arm, along with the eye patch and crown, are great details that hammer home the Warcraft crossover and fit perfectly with this Dwarven engineer-turned-fighter.
Asp Pharah
Fans of Assassin’s Creed Origins know that Egypt is in and now Overwatch is getting in on the action. Although the rocket-power heroine came to the game with unlockable Anubis skins, she never got the truly Egyptian-themed skin she deserved. The Asp skin remedies that.
Pharah looks like she walked right out of an ancient hieroglyphic. Encased in gold armor, she’s more pharaoh than Pharah. The wings are pulled straight from Egyptian sculptures, while the snake heads that rest on either hip and her helmet pay homage to Cleopatra’s legendary death. Add in the blades on her gauntlets and the ankh held to her chest, and Pharah looks more regal than ever. She’s a winged warrior, and now her “fly like an Egyptian” voice line finally seems appropriate.
Blackhand Doomfist
Since he came out last year, Blizzard and fans alike haven’t shown Doomfist too much love. It’s a shame, considering all the buildup that came before the release of Overwatch’s most infamous villain. But maybe, based on how amazing this skin is, Blizzard will start to pay more attention to the melee-based hero. Doomfist has never looked so threatening.
Drawing inspiration from Warcraft’s orc warchief Blackhand the Destroyer, the Blackhand skin makes Doomfist look metal as hell. The orange eyes and pale skin give him a demonic afterglow. The metal plates on his massive metal hand and legs radiate with heat, which helps visualize Doomfist’s rage. Usually Doomfist’s hand is more cybernetic, but this skin finally captures the idea that it, like Doomfist himself, is a weapon of war.
Kabuki Hanzo
After all the hubbub over Hanzo’s most recent skin, it’s great to see Blizzard find its footing again with a standout look for one of its most memed heroes. Last year Hanzo went casual, and now he’s ready for the theater. The kabuki theater, to be precise.
Decked out in red and white, Hanzo’s latest skin draws inspiration from kabuki, a classical kind of Japanese theater with dancing, singing and face paint. Blizzard absolutely nails this one. From the traditional kasa hat to the stylized face paint, all the way down to the sandals, the kabuki skin is full of little details that remake Hanzo into an ancient Japanese warrior. It won’t make Hanzo any less of a pain in the butt to play against, but it will at least make the pain a little more tolerable.
Black Cat D.Va
The internet has already fallen in love with D.Va’s new skin, and it’s easy to see why. A mech suit with cat ears and a tail plus D.Va’s fancy new dress? What’s not to love?
D.Va’s status as a Korean pro gamer made her a fan favorite even before the game launched, and the black cat skin makes a much more obvious play for the internet’s heart. When the results are this cute it really doesn’t matter. D.Va’s mech gets a sleek black and pink paint job, some cute cat ears and a tail that gives the mech even more personality. Meanwhile D.Va herself sports blonde pigtails, a frilly dress and checkered stockings (as well as cat ears of her own) that make her look remarkably similar to Harley Quinn. The color palette keeps this skin from becoming too cutesy. Instead D.Va comes out looking sassier and more adorable than ever. The only thing missing from this adorable skin is nine lives.
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