In Overwatch 2, Cassidy is an outlaw. Coming from being one of the founding members of the infamous Deadlock Gang, this criminal organization hasn’t been messed with, nor has it been.
Cassidy wasn’t always this cowboy name. In the beginning, this outlaw was known as McCree. However, its name was changed following the departure of developer Jesse McCree, after whom it was named, from Blizzard following allegations of sexual harassment.
That’s not the only change we’ve seen Cassidy go through. There have been major and minor tweaks to his personality and abilities over the years, but in Overwatch 2, Cassidy was the same lovable outlaw we’ve always known. His basic abilities and fire are one of the simplest in the game; He has a gun. This is great for new players looking to get into Overwatch 2 for the first time.
Overwatch 2 Cassidy
Overwatch 2 Cassidy: Story and background
Ash isn’t the only one who can claim the gang’s infamy in Overwatch 2; In fact, her first partner was the outlaw Cassidy. Founding the Deadlock Gang together, Cassidy and Ash rule the Wild West. That is, until Cassidy was lured into joining Overwatch’s secret group Blackwatch and leaving Ash and the gang behind.
In Overwatch 2, Cassidy makes a name for himself as a gun for hire, but this time around he only chooses jobs he thinks are fair.
One such job even led to a new hero being added to the Overwatch 2 roster. In the animated short Reunion (Opens in a new tab) (which you can watch above), Cassidy can be seen battling Ash for control of a special package. After defeating his former partner and her ultimate BOB, Cassidy opens the package to reveal Echo, a versatile person who played an important role in Overwatch’s communication and strategy. Wake it up, he said, it was time to head back to Overwatch to join the fight.
Overwatch 2 Cassidy: Abilities
Primary Blaze: Peacekeeper
Describe: Accurate and powerful gun
In Overwatch 2, Cassidy’s Peacekeeper pistol can fire up to six consecutive shots that can reach 40 meters away. This is a great weapon for fighting shy heroes who tend to hide at the far end of the map.
The firing range is 0.5 seconds per shot which gives a great pace to his battles. If you click the right mouse button or the left trigger while using this pistol, you can cock the hammer and unleash the entire cylinder in one quick flash.
Some tips and tricks for this weapon:
- The hammer fan is great to use in close combat fights.
- Make sure to count your shots; There is nothing worse than being surprised by an empty room.
Ability: combat roll
Describe: Cassidy dives in the direction he’s moving, reloading his Peace Trooper in the process.
This lap is just a great ability to get the hell out of the way. While Cassidy’s simplicity is great it is also a handicap since he has no passive abilities or skills that help him move. Therefore, his Combat Roll is often the only way to effectively dodge incoming attacks or travel the map faster.
It is important to note that you are rolling in the direction you are moving, not the direction you are facing. This means you can keep your eyes on the enemy and dodge attacks simultaneously.
Some tips and tricks for this ability:
- This can be used when flying.
- Cassidy can roll off ledges, so be careful not to fall off the side of the map.
Ability: magnetic bomb
Describe: A short-range grenade that hits nearby enemies and deals extra damage if it sticks to them.
Blizzard chose to remove nearly all of the stun abilities from Overwatch 2 to promote more agile flights. This is why Cassidy’s original Flash Bang was replaced by a magnetic bomb. While his Flash Bang can stun people temporarily, his Magnetic Bomb takes a more direct route to killing his enemies.
If caught in an enemy, this bomb can deal a maximum total of 131 damage, which means all Cassidy has to do is hit the DPS before or after detonating with the Peacekeeper, and he’ll secure the kill.
Some tips and tricks for this ability:
- Placing this bomb on heroes with teleportation abilities can be a waste as they can phase out the blast.
- The bomb explodes at a maximum range of 10 metres.
Final: Deadeye
Describe: The ultimate hit can, after a few seconds, lock enemies in for a headshot.
In Overwatch 2, Cassidy’s finishing style is nothing to write home about; While it’s effective at creating space due to everyone having to hide out of sight, it’s very weak at securing kills.
The problem with this absolute is a combination of several things. First, this finale is very easy to avoid; It is also easy to fight it. There are many heroes that have direct counters to Deadeye. For example, Genji’s Deflect D.Va Defense Matrix, or Reinhardt’s Shield.
Unfortunately, this means that with Cassidy’s ultimate technique, you’re just as likely to die as compared to you are to be killed. Sometimes you may feel a slight pain when pressing and using Q.
Some tips and tricks for this ultimate goal:
- If you see an enemy tank racing toward you or a genji swerving, canceling this finale is your best course of action.
- You have to be creative when it comes to going behind the enemy team and finding an unexpected vantage point, as it will be hard to see and tackle afterwards.
Overwatch 2 Cassidy: gameplay breakdown
As the heroes progress in Overwatch 2, Cassidy is an easy character to get used to. Armed with a pistol and a homing grenade, as long as you get your shots right, you can do just fine with this character.
Among the heroes in Overwatch 2, Cassidy is one of the best accessible characters due to the simplicity of his gun and how easy it is to use. So if there are any pesky heroes up in the air like Pharah or Echo, Cassidy is a great counter to pick.
His only big downfall is his ending. Deadeye is arguably one of the worst endings in the game. Despite going on for so long, Cassidy is usually counting down to a head injury that may never come because it’s so easy to avoid. You just need to hide behind the wall for seven seconds.