Newcomers toOverwatch 2may not be familiar with all the lore Blizzard has been building for years. Each character has a distinct story that gives them their own motivation for fighting, and while some heroes get more lore than others - with Ana having far more thanZenyatta, for example - Blizzard has done its best to make the entire game’s cast stand out for more than their abilities and appearances. As the series’ mascot and the very first character designed forOverwatch, it is no surprise that Tracer has a lot of lore to delve into.
While fans can read some fun comics that feature her girlfriend Emily and her Omnic pal Iggy, Tracer’s origin story is scarier than one might think. Though there is a lot less talk about where she got her time-related abilities withinOverwatch 2’s conversations, as the universe has moved far beyond Tracer’s early years with the organization, it is worth learning about for new players. Once they realize where Tracer’s powers come from, they may be a lot more concerned next time they see her speeding into battle.
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The Constant Danger of Tracer’s Abilities in Overwatch 2
Eventually, Tracer reappeared, but the time travel had significantly altered her molecules and essentially transformed her into a ghost. Dubbed “chronal disassociation” by Overwatch’s scientists, Tracer could not maintain her physical form, with constant worries that she would disappear again. With strange dreams that seemingly threw her back in time occuring as well, her condition seemed dire, but thankfullythe genius gorilla Winstonwas able to come up with a solution.
Tracer’s chronal accelerator not only lets her maintain a physical form, but it gives her the time travel abilities that have been put on display inOverwatch’s animated shorts, comics, and gameplay. Tracer no longer ages in the same way as normal humans because of her condition, and thanks to her device, she is able to fight with her fellow members of Overwatch in the field. However, this terrifying disorder still exists, forcing Tracer to wear the device at all times.
This is whyTracer’s abilitiesare the opposite of fun, as they come with a terrifying cost if something goes wrong. If the device on her chest malfunctions or is destroyed in battle, she loses those abilities. This not only makes her vulnerable to attacks from her foes, but it also brings back her chronal disassociation, meaning she is in serious danger of disappearing completely again - possibly for good this time.
This was shown briefly in theDoomfistbackstory trailer that released shortly before the hero was added to the game, as during the fight sequence with Overwatch, the Talon leader destroys Tracer’s chronal accelerator. Not only does this knock her out of the fight, but her condition instantly returns. Though Winston rescues her again, she may not be as lucky down the road, as she could be fighting alone and have nobody to go to for help. Though it is great that Tracer has not lost her optimism, her chronal accelerator is a glowing weakpoint for her foes, as it is the only thing keeping her from fading away from reality.
Overwatch 2is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
