Overwatch 2 is gearing up to welcome its latest tank hero, Hazard, who officially drops next month with the launch of the game’s 14th season. However, you don’t have to wait that long to test out his abilities. You can jump into the action with Hazard until November 25. Just ahead of this trial period, Blizzard treated fans to their first look at Hazard in action, along with a detailed breakdown of this Scottish hero’s arsenal. In some respects, Hazard seems to bring together elements from various characters, akin to Juno. But don’t worry, there’s enough uniqueness in Hazard’s design that sets him apart, promising a fresh experience rather than feeling like a mere blend of existing heroes.
Staying true to the role of tanks in Overwatch 2, Hazard’s abilities revolve around controlling space and throwing a wrench in the opposing team’s plans. His main weapon shoots a burst of spikes at medium range from the gatling gun attached to his right hand, perfect for a mobile, combat-ready tank akin to Winston or Doomfist. With a leap reminiscent of Winston’s, Hazard can follow up with a heavy melee attack using the distinctive purple spikes sprouting from his armor. But that’s not all—like Hanzo and Genji, Hazard can scale walls, letting him easily access higher ground and pursue foes that might otherwise elude less mobile tanks.
Once Hazard closes in on his targets, he can brawl effectively and hold his ground using his Spike Guard ability. This feature significantly cuts down on the damage he takes, replenishes his ammo, and launches a barrage of spikes from his back onto enemies just ahead. It’s useful for both advancing and retreating, though, unlike Ramattra’s comparable ability, it does have a finite duration.
One of the standout features in Hazard’s toolkit is his Jagged Wall ability. Drawing a parallel to Mei’s Ice Wall, Hazard can build a structure to fend off attacks. It isn’t as wide as Mei’s creation, but it’s got its own set of tricks. Its spiked facade can repel and harm anyone who dares touch it, and it can be mounted onto existing walls. This opens up tactical possibilities, like setting up a wall in unexpected spots or, with good timing, sending an opponent tumbling off the map’s edge.
Topping off Hazard’s abilities is his ultimate move, Downpour. This straightforward yet effective attack hurls down a torrent of purple spikes a fair distance ahead of Hazard, pinning any caught in the barrage. Although these trapped opponents can still fire their weapons, they remain immobile for a few moments, making them easy targets for elimination.
All in all, Hazard appears to excel in maintaining control of areas on the battlefield, potentially being a nightmare for more fragile heroes. I’m eagerly waiting to see how players respond to him once they’ve had time to grapple with his playstyle. With every Overwatch 2 hero release, we often see debates heat up about whether they break or underdeliver for the game. Where will Hazard land on this spectrum? That remains to be seen as players get more gameplay time under their belts in the coming days.
