Everything to know about Hazard, the newest Overwatch 2 hero

Overwatch 2 continues to bring out new heroes to keep the game engaging. With the game in the spotlight again after several years thanks to the limited-time Overwatch Classic 6v6 game mode, now’s the perfect time to release a new hero, and it seems like Activision Blizzard thought the same thing.

Today, we’re here to go through everything you need to know about the upcoming Overwatch 2 hero Hazard. This includes this hero’s role, abilities, lore, and potential strategies players can utilize to consistently perform well. Naturally, we’ll also answer when this hero will officially become playable and whether players will have to purchase him.

So, without any more dilly-dallying, here’s everything you need to know about Overwatch 2’s Hazard. If you want to learn how to master this hero as soon as he comes out, you can always hire a professional booster from Eloking to show you how it’s done. Since we’re in a festive mood, you can also use the code “BoostToday” for an excellent 20% discount on your order.

Hazard’s role and abilities

Hazard is a new tank focusing on diving toward enemy teams like Doomfist or Winston. His kit allows him to be offensive or defensive, depending on what the situation calls for. These are Hazard’s abilities and weapons:

• Bonespur (Primary Fire): Hazard’s primary fireworks are like shotguns, firing bursts of spikes that deal consistent damage from a mid-range.
• Spike Guard (Secondary Fire): The Spike Guard is a barrier that reduces damage from opponents and fires homing spikes at them if they’re nearby. While Spike Guard is active, it slowly refills Hazard’s primary fire, eliminating the need to reload as often.
• Violent Leap (Ability 1): A lunge attack that makes Hazard slash at enemies with a blade sticking out from his arm. The ability deals damage and knocks enemies backward.
• Jagged Wall (Ability 2): Hazard places a spiky wall that damages and knocks back enemies that touch it. He can place the wall on floors, walls, or ceilings.
• Vault (Passive): The new tank’s passive lets him climb short walls and hold ledges, increasing his mobility and making him great for diving.
• Downpour (Ultimate): Downpour rains down numerous spikes in a targeted area. Everyone caught in the spikes gets damaged and stunned, leaving them vulnerable to more attacks.

Alec Dawson, Overwatch 2’s lead gameplay designer, describes Hazard’s kit as “versatile”. 

Potential strategies and combos

Hazard’s biggest strength lies in his ability to pressure enemies and create opportunities for his team. His Jagged Wall ability will work great in maps like Kings Row or Eichenwalde, where he can place walls in choke points to divide enemy teams and stop them from pushing too much. In maps like Circuit Royal, where there are a lot of vertical elements, his Vault and Violent Leap let him move through areas quickly, keeping enemies at bay whether they’re on high or low ground.

Hazard can work well with DPS characters like Tracer or Genji, who can pressure opponents. His Spike Guard allows him to protect characters with low defensive options or mobility, like Ana, to keep them alive while simultaneously fighting back.

Gameplay and background

Hazard was developed to be a very versatile tank. His abilities interfere with enemy formations and exert a lot of pressure. Blizzard calls his gameplay style “a brawl dive disruptor.”

While designing him, Blizzard ensured that Hazard’s offense and defense capabilities felt connected. For example, Spike Guard lets him deal damage while reloading his weapon and reducing damage dealt by opponents.

Hazard's lore and background

Hazard is a Scottish hero who grew up in poverty and lost his mother when he was four. He joined the military when he grew up, but he got numerous injuries that caused multiple amputations. Unhappy with the system that abandoned him, Hazard started working with the Phreaks, a punk faction with the Omnics.

The Phreaks gave Hazard new cybernetic enhancements to help him rebuild his body and find a new purpose in life. The Phreaks are known for their anarchist ideals and rebellions. For example, they hacked into the Oasis Ministry of Genetics to redistribute technology for society.

Hazard’s character design and personality resemble this, with a tough exterior look and a soft protector’s heart. Blizzard calls him “a charismatic and contrariant punk”. His punk vibe shows off how he was with the Phreaks.

Older design

Blizzard shared in their blog that Hazard underwent many changes during its development. His codename was Spiker, and early designs leaned towards a villain with a cyberpunk aesthetic, a toxic green color scheme, and a monstrous appearance.

Over time, Blizzard tried to make him more relatable and heroic. His final design still retained its cyberpunk aesthetic but with a softer and more approachable appearance. This development change meshes well with Hazard’s lore, where he transforms from a tough soldier to a protector.

Hazard’s voice actor, Conor McLeod, brings Hazard to life through in-game dialogue and other mediums, like the character’s accompanying animatic, Tear it Down. The comic showcases Hazard’s journey with the Phreaks and his fight for justice.

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When can players play Hazard in Overwatch 2?

Players can try out Hazard in Overwatch 2 during the hero trial period, which begins on November 22, 2024, and ends on November 25, 2024. After that, players won’t be able to play as Hazard until his launch on December 10, 2024, coinciding with the release of Overwatch 2’s 14th season.

It’s extremely likely that Hazard will be the last hero to come to Overwatch 2 in 2024. Not only will he come at the start of Season 14, but the season kicks off in December, suggesting any future hero will come in future seasons in 2025.

FAQs

How many tank heroes does Overwatch 2 have?

At the time of writing, Overwatch 2 has 12 tank heroes which are:

• Doomfist
• Wrecking Ball
• Winston
• Mauga
• D.Va
• Roadhog
• Junker Queen
• Sigma
• Reinhardt
• Ramattra
• Zarya
• Orisa

However, the addition of Hazard will make that number hit the 13 mark. Naturally, this number will likely change in 2025 when Blizzard releases new characters.

How much will Hazard cost in Overwatch 2?

The good news for fans is that they’ll acquire the new hero Hazard completely free of cost. After all, Overwatch 2 left the pay-to-win system and now every hero is automatically unlocked for every hero. This ensures the playing field is equalized, and those with more in-game currency don’t have an unfair advantage.