I was in an overwatch forum about a week ago and a debate ensued about Cassidy’s gameplay and overall effectiveness. I tended to agree with the crowd saying he’s on the weak side and could use some adjustment.

One of the suggestions I saw that peaked my interest was a smoke grenade that he apparently used to have. I like the idea because it’s not necessarily a shield but it’s a unique ability that reduces the overall effectiveness of the enemy team particularly characters like Widow or Hanzo that only get countered by a better Widow Hanzo Ashe or Sombra. Personally I think the size of the smoke should probably span 6 meters.The smoke is definitely a good option against ranged characters since Cassidy’s falloff is horrible and can’t really compete with Ashe hanzo widow and even has a tough time with or loses to soldier Sojourn torb Mei illari Baptiste Ana and Zen in a 1v1 midrange firefight where he is supposed to be. The smoke grenade would replace his magnetic grenade but I felt that would leave him a little prone to dive characters since he’d no longer have hinder hence the following.

Another suggestion I really liked was giving Cassidy a whip. This would be an added ability giving Cass a separate CD totaling 3 CDs (1 roll, 1 smoke grenade, 1 whip). People had different takes about how it should work. Personally I think it should be used multiple ways. First I don’t think it should be like Widow’s grapple or like hogs hook. I do think it should be able to be used as a hinderence of sorts and give him more mobility. I liked the idea it would trip an enemy knocking them down similar to Sigma’s rock or stun like Doomfist slam. It should be on a short cooldown like 5-6 seconds but with a range similar to the length of the cart(about 3 meters). I don’t think it needs to do damage or no more damage than his melee.

Now I said whip could be used for mobility too. I think it should still have the same range (3 meters why would it change) and be used more like Balls grapple where he swings from it possibly enabling him to jump at the end of it to reach higher ground. I don’t think he should be able to get higher than one story per use. This ability would make him much better at getting in and out, take better angles and set up his ult as well the hinderence (if you will) of tripping/stunning and enemy makes him less dive prone and really able to hold his middle ground.

Some other things I thought would be interesting…

Whip also replaces melee but without any stun just the extra range giving him an advantage in a reload battle or against a fleeing enemy while reloading.

Whip CD as described earlier has stun/ trip and can take enemies out of ult but whip the melee has small amount of knockback.( If also add that if you can land it on an enemy that’s being pulled by LW it should pull them out of grasp but without the trip/stun effect)

As a third use for whip on CD can be used like LW pull to grab a teammate/ whip can be used to saddle up pulling you to your teammate to peel/ whip can be used to meet in the middle pulling your teammate half the distance back to you and placing you 1 meter in front of them.(1 of the 3 options not all 3 options)

An additional passive that allows Cassidy to roll without using CD whenever falling more than 3 meters such as at the end of a whip swing. Imagine being able to jump off a balcony, you’d smoke midair to cutoff los from enemy backline, roll forward on landing, wild fire, roll on CD, wild fire, whip swing away, jump at end of swing, roll on landing and normal shot as you back out to cover.

Those were ideas I thought were fun to think about. Obviously you couldn’t do all of those things or Cass would be op but what do you all think. What ideas sound like they would help balance his play/give him his own niche and unique play style?