Overwatch 2: Juno – The New Support Hero Tanking Queue Times
Not since Kiriko has a new Overwatch hero so significantly impacted queue times in Quick Play. Juno, the game’s latest support hero, has captivated players, leading to longer wait times as her trial continues through the weekend. Her engaging design and gameplay mechanics make her one of the best additions since Overwatch 2’s release.
Meet Juno
Juno is a purple-haired, giggly astronaut, drawing comparisons to healers like Ana, Lucio, and Baptiste. While her gun can both heal and deal damage, and she possesses high mobility similar to these heroes, Juno offers a unique gameplay experience.
Abilities
- Mediblaster Gun: Heals allies and deals damage to enemies.
- Double Jump: Increases vertical mobility.
- Glide Boost: A quick burst of horizontal speed with a short cooldown, aiding in escaping flanking enemies.
- Hyper Ring: Juno’s signature ability, creating a giant space portal that gives teammates a speed boost.
- Orbital Ray (Ultimate): Calls down a laser beam that heals and damage-boosts nearby teammates as it moves forward.
Gameplay Mechanics
Juno’s abilities emphasize mobility and team momentum. The Glide Boost helps her stay alive by dodging attacks, while her Hyper Ring can catapult the team towards objectives or help them retreat. Her Orbital Ray ultimate, when combined with Hyper Ring, can turn the tide of a battle by boosting the team’s damage output and healing them simultaneously.
Juno’s gameplay loop revolves around:
- Keeping allies healthy and weakening enemies with her Mediblaster.
- Using Hyper Ring to boost the team into or out of fights.
- Deploying Pulsar Torpedoes to heal teammates and disrupt enemies.
- Strategically using Orbital Ray to enhance team assaults.
Impact and Strategy
Juno introduces a new dynamic to the support role, blending strategy and teamwork. Her abilities require careful timing and coordination, making her a challenging yet rewarding hero to master. Unlike heroes with straightforward ultimates, Juno’s effectiveness relies on smart combinations of her abilities, emphasizing skillful play over raw power.
Conclusion
Juno’s introduction has sparked excitement and anticipation among the Overwatch community. Her trial period lasts until Sunday, and she will officially join the roster as a free hero when Overwatch 2’s season 12 starts on August 20. Players are eager to explore her potential and see how she reshapes the support meta in the game.
