Overwatch players have no shortage of ways to personalize their heroes. Gamers have grown attached to all the different looks they can assign to the cast, with many unofficial Overwatch skin concepts made by fans as well. Highlight intros before play of the game moments add an extra bit of personality to a player’s big moment, while fans are always on the lookout for some spray combinations to add a bit of humor before a match begins.
However, emotes remain the most entertaining Overwatch cosmetics, as Blizzard has paid extra attention to the poses it provides for its heroes. While each character has a sitting emote and a special dance, they all have their own emotes that are tailored to their distinct personalities. Some of these emotes go above and beyond, however, blowing players away with their cuteness and coolness on a regular basis.
McCree’s “Quick Draw” Emote
One of the newest emotes added to Overwatch, this addition came via the latest Archives event. The emote sees the cowboy McCree emptying the rounds from his trusty Peacekeeper revolver, reloading them slowly as he glances back at any onlookers. Once the gun is reloaded, he turns it to its side, spinning the weapon and returning it to a ready-to-fire position. While this would normally be another basic, straightforward emote for McCree, “Quick Draw” is special due to it being the first Overwatch emote to have an impact on gameplay. As shown by Redditor ArariboiaOverdrive, McCree reloading in the emote actually reloads his weapon in-game. Allowing players to stock up on ammo in a more stylish way, the trick is a lot of fun.
Orisa’s “Puppy” Emote
While McCree’s emote is unique due to its impact on gameplay, Orisa’s “Puppy” emote is as adorable as it gets. Doubling down on the character’s innate cuteness, her reaction to finding a small dog in a gift box is amazing to see. Shaking with joy as soon as it appears, the protective robot sits and watches the dog for a short time. She then grabs the puppy and lifts it into the air, with the dog licking her metal face and clearly having a blast with its new owner. While fans maybe frustrated with the Orisa buffs in Overwatch’s new experimental update, this emote remains a fan favorite, getting reactions like the one from Redditor palex00 years after its release.
Brigitte’s “Katt” Emote
Brigitte gets plenty of love from the Overwatch community, with several standout Brigitte cosplays and skin concepts shared in recent months. While she gets plenty of love due to her cheerful attitude and her relationships with Torbjorn and Reinhardt, one thing that has seen her getting even more love is her adoration for cats. Shown in several sprays, her status as a cat person was confirmed in the “Katt” emote. Overjoyed when a massive white cat rubs against her leg, Brigitte then picks up the massive feline and hugs it to her chest. The disinterested look of the cat only makes the emote even better, with Redditor Owlero's editing of the emote truly capture the joy it can bring to a match.
Roadhog’s “Secret Friend” Emote
The Roadhog emote “Secret Friend” shows off a softer side to the aggressive mercenary. One of Overwatch’s crueler figures, Roadhog pulling out a Pachimari stuffed animal instantly put a smile on the face of fans. Turning his back to the camera and giggling to himself as he squeezed the toy, the moment gives players a better look at who Mako Rutledge is behind the gas mask. With this emote inspiring Overwatch’s recent PachiMarchi event and Roadhog’s skin within it, it is safe to say that Reddit user Spectral_Spectre is right about this emote being top-tier.
Sombra’s “Marioneta” Emote
Finally, there is Sombra’s “Marioneta” emote, which sees her pulling out a small doll of Reaper. Wiggling its arms and legs and making a silly noise that sounds like a baby crying, the hacker is clearly having a good time trolling her Talon counterpart. With Sombra shutting the door in Reaper’s face during her Overwatch short, this fits with her usual behavior. It also lines up well with how she is using Talon for her own gains, with the real Reaper being a puppet in her own personal quest. Shown in action be Redditor Junkertown, Sombra's triumphant laugh at the end of her joke only adds to the emote's quality.
While there are other great Overwatch emotes, such as Zarya’s “Mystery Gift” which allows her to open three different presents, the above lineup showcases the game’s very best emote offerings. Hopefully, even more memorable emotes will come once Overwatch 2 finally arrives, as Blizzard has done a phenomenal job with the cosmetics thus far.
Overwatch is available now on PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.
