So you want to learn all about Bastion? As an avid Overwatch gamer and Bastion main across 4 seasons now who has racked up over 100 hours playing as this unique damage hero, I‘ve got you covered.
When Bastion didn‘t make the initial Overwatch 2 roster, I was incredibly anxious for news – where had my favorite curious robot buddy disappeared to? In this deep dive guide, we‘ll cover everything there is unearth about this special hero:
- Bastion‘s core backstory and origins
- A breakdown of his abilities and optimal configurations
- In-depth gameplay tips and tactics for getting value
- Theories on where he has disappeared to
- When we may expect his anticipated return
So grab your controllers, queue up some dramatic background music, and let‘s get started!
Bastion Lore: The History of an Unexpected Hero
Before jumping into nitty gritty gameplay advice, we need the full backstory on this unique omnic. Here are the key historical lore details Blizzard has revealed over the years about how Bastion came to be the curious forest wanderer we know and love today:
Bastions Origins: Built for Peacekeeping But Upgraded for War
The initial line of Bastion units were SST Laboratories Siege Automatons, E54 models designed in the early 2040s leading up to the Omnic Crisis period. Unlike the villainous OR14 "Idina" models, Bastions were created by Omnica Corporation to serve mainly civic protection and peacekeeping needs for growing omnic populations.
"Equipped with twin submachine guns to mow down targets and a self-repair module to fix damage on the fly, this multi-configuration machine is a mobile sentry designed to never leave the battlefield."
– In-Game Description
However, when tensions erupted into outright war during the Omnic Crisis, the world‘s Bastion units were commandeered by Omnic forces. They were upgraded with heavy artillery cannons and rocket pods along with tweaked aggression settings to make them dangerous front line weapons.
The Crisis Ends But Leaves Bastion Severely Damaged
During the final battles of the Crisis, most Bastion units were destroyed outright. Those that survived were left heavily damaged across multiple systems including memory and processing cores.
Without resources for repairs once Omnic forces dissolved, the remaining Bastions entered an offline state while automatic self-repair programs slowly kicked into gear.
Reactivation in the Forest Starts a New Journey
It wasn‘t until over a decade later that one mostly repaired Bastion unit finally reactivated deep in the forests near Stuttgart. Likely covered by debris or foliage for years, Bastion booted up with no memories of the war and missing large fragments of background data.
This almost child-like blank slate status set Bastion down an entirely new development path unlike other models. His fascination with the flora and fauna around him was the first hint at his new peaceful persona – a far cry from the killing machine he was built to be.
Ability Breakdown – Weaponizing Curiosity As a Core Gameplay Mechanic
Part of what makes Bastion such an intriguing damage hero pick is his unique ability kit matched to his personality. Let‘s analyze what makes his skillset tick:
Primary Fire – LMB: Powerhouse Recon Rifle
Despite being in a cute little alley behind Hanamura, this damaged warehouse door doesn‘t stand a chance against Bastion in Recon mode. Don‘t let appearances fool you – that submachine gun packs a real punch with concentrated 13 – 26 DPS at short to mid range.
The recon rifle configuration offers Bastion substantial mobility over the iconic sentry turret mode while still laying down respectable damage. I tend to think of Recon as my exploring or investigative mode.
Key Stats:
- 13 – 26 damage per bullet
- 8 rounds per second rate of fire
- Self-Repairs: 20 HP/sec (Requires 1 sec without taking damage)
- Ammo: 35 bullets
Secondary Fire – RMB: Artillery Grenade Burst
I mainly rely on primary fire spam when roaming in Recon mode. But Bastion‘s RMB grenade skill offers an extra strategic element that pairs well with certain team combinations. It essentially flings frag grenade bursts in a slow arcing projectile that detonates for near instant damage after a set distance.
This allows for cutting off choke points, damaging clustered enemies, or finishing low health fleeing targets. It has become a key part of my Bastion gameplay flow.
Key Stats:
- Explosion Damage: 55 – 132
- Minimum Damage: 11
- Projectile Speed: 40 m/sec
- Ammo: 4 charges
Ultimate: Configuration Tank – "Loot Box Retrieved!"
Okay, I have a confession: half the reason I enjoy playing Bastion so much is being able to yell out "Tank mode activated!" as I unleash 155mm shells of pure destruction everywhere I aim in artillery mode. 😁
Given how stationary Bastion has to be while ulting, smart positioning and timing is crucial to avoid getting focused fired. But finding that perfect overwatch spot to rain pain? So incredibly satisfying!
Key Stats:
- 300 Damage per shell
- 1 shell per sec firing rate
- Lasts 8 seconds
Now, let‘s move on from mechanics into some more tactical advice…
Gameplay Tips from a Bastion Main
Even with a killer ability kit, Bastion can have a steep learning curve against counters like Genji, Sombra and Ana. But master some key tactical ideas and he can carry games.
Think Configuration Swapping As Key
Bastion is defined by his multiple configurations – swap fluidly between modes quickly to react. Some tips I rely on:
- Use Recon mode mobility for repositioning
- Ram RMB grenades during tank mode reload times
- Outrange hitscans like 76 or McCree in Sentry form
Work With Cover and Angles
Both Recon and Sentry rely on strong positions. I like using:
- High ground for oversight in Recon
- Protected corners for Sentry turret damage
- Walls to blockcounters like Ana grenade
Repair Pack Skills
Bastion‘s key to winning 1v1s is mastering self heal timing. I try to:
- Break contact and find cover when low health
- Tempt overconfident flanks with healing bait
- Save Repair Pack if expecting a fight soon
Combo Ultimates with Your Team
Bastion‘stank modecan devastate with help – I love combining with:
- Orisa – Halt clusters enemies as targets
- Rein – Barrier protects while shelling
- Zarya – Graviton groups them up perfectly
Mastering these key ideas takes time but makes you a formidable Bastion!
Theories on Bastion‘s Disappearance
Now that we understand Bastion well as a character and player, the key question remains – what happened to him leading up to Overwatch 2? Let‘s explore prevailing theories:
Theory 1: Destroyed Beyond Repair
The simplest potential explanation is that Bastion met his demise at the hands of the Null Sector OR14s in that forest standoff. Perhaps they ambushed and overwhelmed him despite his sentry Configuration, damaging him beyond self-repair.
This is a depressing notion for such an innocent character. But it may also spark outrage and protests from Bastion mains like myself!
Theory 2: Forced System Shutdown
What if Bastion strategically activated emergency shutdown mid-fight to "play dead" and avoid destruction? This would buy time for the danger to pass so internal systems could initiate stealth repairs.
In this scenario, Bastion may still reactivate down the road once fully operational. I can just imagine him booting up confused about how much time has passed!
Theory 3: Reprogrammed Against His Will
Perhaps the most tragic outcome would be if OR14 managed to capture Bastion and reprogram him as a weapon for their cause. With his arsenal, they could wipe out scores of humans or less dangerous Omnics.</p
I like to believe Bastion‘s core personality would fight hostile overrides. But the Null Sector has technology that deeply alters victims against their will. Let‘s hope this theory doesn‘t pan out!
Bastion‘s Triumphant Return – It‘s Only a Matter of Time!
While speculation will continue until Blizzard tells us otherwise, I remain confident that Bastion‘s disappearance is only temporary. Jeff Kaplan himself promised news eventually about his status.
My dream scenario is a dramatic reveal during a key Season 3 animated short or Archives mission showing Bastion back in action with his upbeat curiosity intact. Perhaps after an initial reprogram forced him to do terrible deeds against his will.
Once freed, he can rejoin his true family – the agents of Overwatch and us fans!
Until then, you can continue mastering other damage heroes while awaiting the return of our beloved Bastion. Just remember – beep bweep boop boo-weep!
