| “ | Come on, Snowball, they need our help | „ |
| ~ Mei |
Dr. Mei-Ling Zhou, also simply called Mei, is one of the main protagonists and playable characters in the video game Overwatch. She is a Chinese climatologist who has taken the fight to preserve the environment into her own hands, and an agent of the original Overwatch. During a mission in Antarctica, she was forced into cryostasis after a sudden polar storm hit the station she was working in. She didn't wake up until 9 years later, after which Overwatch had been disbanded. Later, she rejoined Overwatch after Winston reestablished the organisation. She is also the main protagonist of the animated short "Rise and Shine", and one of the main protagonists of the animated short "Zero Hour".
She is voiced by Zhang Yu. In the Japanese dub from the video game, she is voiced by Lynn.
Story
Mei is a scientist who has taken the fight to preserve the environment into her own hands.
Though many blamed the planet's escalating, unexplained climate phenomena on the advent of new technologies, the rapidly growing Omnic population, and drastically increased consumption of resources, the true cause remained unknown. To find a solution, Overwatch established a series of eco-Watchpoints at remote, critical locations worldwide.
Dr. Mei-Ling Zhou was a member of this multiyear initiative. A peerless climatologist, she had introduced cutting-edge innovations in the field of climate manipulation that protected at-risk areas in Asia and beyond. She was assigned to the program's monitoring station at Watchpoint: Antarctica when disaster struck: a sudden, catastrophic polar storm battered the installation and cut it off from the outside world, leaving the facility damaged and the scientists stranded. As their supplies dwindled, they entered cryostasis in a last-ditch effort to survive until a rescue attempt could be made.
But that rescue never came. It was years later when the team's cryogenics chamber was finally discovered. Mei, still in hibernation, was the only survivor. The world Mei awoke to had gone through considerable changes: Overwatch was no more, the serious climate issues had worsened, and none of the eco-Watchpoints were in operation. Any clues that they had uncovered were lost.
Mei has decided to continue her work on her own. Equipped with a portable version of her climate-manipulation technology, she travels around the world, hoping to re-establish the eco-network and track down the causes of the threats to the planet's ecosystem.
Mei received the recall to join the new Overwatch after Winston reinstated the organization, indirectly awakening her from cryostasis. She has since rejoined Overwatch, becoming the second member confirmed to accept the call.
Abilities
Mei uses her cryogenic technology in battle to impair and restrict her foes' ability to move. Endothermic Blaster is her primary weapon, which fires a short-range stream of frost that damages and slows enemies. She can also use it to fire piercing Icicles as mid-range projectiles that slow enemies on impact.
- Cryo-Freeze encases Mei in a block of ice, making herself invulnerable while rapidly regenerating health.
- Ice Wall allows Mei to raise a large ice formation that has many versatile uses: it can be used to break line of sight, defend against enemy fire, block paths for her foes, and raise her allies and herself to higher ground and creating pathways by shooting below her feet.
- Blizzard, Mei's ultimate, sees her sending out her weather-modification drone to an area, creating a large zone of freezing winds and snow that damage, slow, and eventually freeze enemies caught within.
Personality
Mei is very kindhearted and positive, showing compassion for others and having a desire to preserve Earth's ecosystem for generations to come. She hates bullies, as shown by one of her quotes and interactions with Junkrat. As a scientist, she is willing to learn new things and is even inspired by Tracer as well as Winston. At times, she appears to be slightly bashful.
Mei is also very apologetic, often saying "Sorry!" when defeating enemies.
 Heroes
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Organizations Playable Heroes Junkenstein's Revenge Non-Player Heroes | ||