Overwatch 2’s New Hero Hazard Explained

Posted by By our-little-miss-is-home November 20, 2024 8 Views 6 Min Read
Overwatch 2’s New Hero Hazard Explained



Overwatch 2‘s newest tank character is officially confirmed to be Hazard. As the 42nd and 13th tank hero added to Overwatch 2‘s ever-expanding lineup, he’s garnering attention for his muscular build, Scottish accent, and affiliations with the Phreaks. Poised to launch at the start of Season 14, there’s much to learn about this cyberpunk-esque tank.




First teased at BlizzCon 2023, Hazard’s overall appearance has shifted from his earlier concept designs. Although he’s lost his spiky green hair, Hazard’s Hero Trailer, released on November 19, offered fans a glimpse of his fearless personality, abilities, and relationships. As a potential Brawl tank, this is a deep dive into Hazard’s possible kit and lore.

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Overwatch 2’s Newest Tank Hero Is Hazard

Hazard’s Backstory And Affiliation With The Phreaks

Though Hazard’s debut trailer is brief, it confirms previous hints that Hazard and Moira are connected via the vanadium isotope in Moira’s Lab. Initially discovered by Venture’s Wayfinder Society in Petra, it was given to Oasis University to study. After a series of events causes it to fall into Moira’s hands, Hazard and the Phreaks break into the Ministry of Genetics to steal a ferrofluid​​​​​​ sample.


“Hazard and the Phreaks break into the Ministry of Genetics to steal a ferrofluid​​​​​​ sample.”

However, it doesn’t appear that the theory that the Phreaks are mutants rebelling against experimentation by Moira holds. Rather, Hazard enrolled in a prestigious school in Scotland despite his family facing various financial issues. After enrolling in the military in hopes of paying for his tuition, an Overwatch jet is gunned down and crashes into a building, which results in Hazard being crushed beneath the rubble. In the accident, he loses both his legs and an arm, which are then replaced with cybernetics. Though Commander Morrison, better known as Soldier: 76, tries to reassure those affected, Hazard believes the system failed him and makes the decision to no longer put his faith in it.


Later, a mechanic, part of the criminal group known as the Phreaks, modifies his cybernetic enhancements. Hazard joins the organization in search of a new family and is driven by his new goal of dismantling the old system. In Hazard’s Hero Trailer, he’s seen injecting the vanadium into his cybernetics, which strengthens him enough to fight through the security and escape with his friends.

Hazard’s Potential Abilities

Considering that Overwatch 2‘s Hazard is set to be playable during a trial weekend, November 22 to November 25, Blizzard will likely reveal his ability kit shortly. From what players have seen so far, he is equipped with an arm cannon, a scythe, and amethysts that are likely used as projectiles. Some players speculate that his ultimate ability may involve the projectile rain seen around 1:43 in the trailer, which could take the form of an AoE ability that damages and knocks back those within its radius.


As a potential brawl tank, he could share similarities with other tanks in the roster, with a leaping slam similar to Doomfist, a melee ability like Reinhardt, and a slow-firing shotgun like Roadhog’s Scrap Gun. Based on the information, he appears to flourish in close combat situations, meaning Season 13’s meta compositions like Brigitte and Juno should pair well with him. Lucio’s Speed Boost ability would also likely immensely benefit Hazard.

Hazard will be a permanent addition to the line-up starting in Season 14. Players should expect to tweak Hazard’s kit between his Hero Trial and official introduction to the hero-shooter. Debuting on December 10, his arrival will coincide with Overwatch 2‘s 6v6 playtests, the Winter Wonderland annual event, balancing changes, and several more exciting additions.

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