Guardian Tales CN Server Anniversary Character Sparks Controversy Over Alleged Zenyatta Plagiarism

Recently, the anniversary livestream for the Chinese server of Guardian Tales revealed a new character: a levitating, cybernetic monk who attacks with prayer beads and possesses defense-shredding abilities. Fans immediately noted the striking similarities to Zenyatta from Overwatch, including a line that translates to 'Experience Tranquility' with only one character difference. Combining the playstyle of Zenyatta, the lore of Genji, and the voice actor of Hanzo, the character feels like an obvious reference.

While the character is essential for strengthening the weak Light-element meta—leading players to jokingly compare it to 'pulling with a clothespin on their nose' due to the high strength but poor design—the character has faced heavy backlash and mockery in other regional servers.

Community reactions are split. Critics argue the design is simply 'ugly' and fails to meet the expectations of an anniversary limited character, noting that other games have managed to make 'monk' characters cool. Conversely, some defenders argue that 'referencing' pop culture is a core tradition of Guardian Tales and that as long as no assets were stolen, it isn't strictly plagiarism. For many, the real issue isn't the similarity, but the lackluster visual aesthetic.