A legitimate reason for Graves to have his cigar

ESRB doesn't exist in China

Its too much of a meme at this point to give it to him [zombie-nunu-bummed]

What's with you people and Graves having it anyways? Give it a rest already, it's getting so old.

http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/overwatch/images/8/8b/McCree.png/revision/latest?cb=20150306192712 This is McCree from Overwatch. https://wiki.teamfortress.com/w/images/thumb/e/e8/Soldier's_Stogie.png/250px-Soldier's_Stogie.png?t=20120816102500 And this is the Soldier from TF2.

Graves must be secretly jealous.

Gragas Esq. has a cigar. But that's a skin that you need to pay money for, so that can stay

I think the reaction is so strong because, despite the fact that he was only depicted with a cigar for a short time, it resonated SO STRONGLY with his character that it's removal seemed like an injustice. He's a gritty cowboy with a shotgun, cigar smoker is a logical extension of that trope.

I don't understand why they just don't have two splashes, used accordingly based on a country's rules. Yes, the cigar splash would still be banned in broadcaster and tournament play, but otherwise it would at least make people happy.

Maybe the reason Graves got so OP during the Marksmen rework was because he quit smoking.

The thing is though that China is a massive market and if you look at all the trouble technology companies are having selling their products in China it makes sense Riot make 110% sure everything kosher between them and the government