Even Blizzard's begging you to stop banning Overwatch's Jetpack Cat, and I promise shooting down the furball is easier than it looks

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"NO BAN JETPACK CAT PLZ"

Overwatch's Jetpack Cat hero, a ginger cat sitting on a floating blue vehicle, looks into the camera.
(Image credit: Blizzard Entertainment)

Jetpeck Cat - AKA Fika, AKA the flying feline support hero new to Overwatch - is easily one of the game's most banned characters at the moment, but I promise, shooting down the furball is a lot easier than it seems.

Blizzard Entertainment finally went back into its archives to revive the Jetpack Cat hero concept, first scrapped almost a decade ago, as part of the game's big rebrand from back into Overwatch, alongside four other new heroes.

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Jetpack Cat in particular has instantly become both a fan favorite and a favorite ban for some players. She's permanently airborne, can tether allies across the map, purr out area-of-effect heals, and has paw-shaped projectiles that deal damage and healing. Her tether has obviously led to some bonkers plays. Look up, and you might see a flying cat taxiing an exploding D.Va bomb, say, or a deadly sniper, but what makes her particularly troublesome is her ability to flank, solo kill an unsuspecting enemy, and fly out again before anyone has time to react. Think of her as a flying Tracer, only this time with an even smaller hitbox.

The Jetpack Cat bans have become so commonplace in competitive matches that Blizzard itself jokingly stepped in. "NO BAN JETPACK CAT PLZ," the company tweets alongside an adorable picture of the new support. How can you say no to that face, huh?

I'll admit the cat could use some nerfs to her 1v1 potential, and that's coming from someone who's been having tons of fun with her this week, but for now, there are a few things you could try if you're struggling to deal with her.

The main thing to remember is that Jetpack Cat is best dealt with from afar. Her best 1v1 tools, the purr and her claws, are both close-range health saps, so hitscan characters like Ashe or Emre will have an easier time than most. But, really, the best Jetpack Cat counter is another Jetpack Cat because whoever gets the first shot, or the first claw swipe, usually ends up as the victor. And, remember, you can still shoot her mid-air even when she's catnapped you with her ultimate ability.

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Kaan Serin
Freelance contributor

Kaan freelances for various websites including Rock Paper Shotgun, Eurogamer, and this one, Gamesradar. He particularly enjoys writing about spooky indies, throwback RPGs, and anything that's vaguely silly. Also has an English Literature and Film Studies degree that he'll soon forget.

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