Blizzard reveals details of Stadium mode in Overwatch 2: heroes, abilities and rewards
By ForGeeks The new Overwatch 2 Stadium mode will offer unique arena-style gameplay with skill upgrades, third-person, and a reward system – set for release on April 22.
Blizzard has unveiled a full review of the Stadium mode in Overwatch 2, a fresh PvP activity focused on dynamic team battles with pumping and an in-game reward system. The developers confirmed the roster of heroes at launch and revealed how the mode’s upgrades and internal economy will work.
Team roster and list of available heroes
The mode kicks off with 17 heroes, which will be available as third-person matches. Players will fight in squads of five people: one tank, two sapporters, and two damage characters. The list of heroes for the launch is as follows:
- Junker Queen
- Reinhardt
- Zarya
- Orisa
- Cassidy
- Ashe
- Mei
- Genji
- Reaper
- Soldier: 76
- Juno
- Kiriko
- Moira
- Mercy
- Ana
- Lucio
How enhancements and skills work
Each hero in Stadium is assigned special skills that aren’t in the main game – they modify or expand on familiar skills. For example:
- Reinhardt can collapse lava when struck with a hammer;
- Kiriko can create clones of herself;
- Moira produces three biotic spheres instead of one.
After each match (there are a total of seven in the series), players will be able to enhance their hero by choosing from available abilities, weapons, and items. Upgrades are purchased for Stadium Cash
- Improvements in Rounds 1, 3, and 5 are free
- Each match highlights the opposing player with the best stats – eliminating him gives additional reward
Blizzard will also add recommended builds to help newcomers with improvement choices.
New heroes and the future of the mode
The Stadium mode will launch at the same time as 16th season Overwatch 2. A new damage hero, Freja, will debut in the main game on the same day, but she is not available in Stadium yet. The developers promise that the list of heroes in the mode will be expanded regularly with future updates.
The developers promise that the list of heroes in the mode will be regularly expanded with future updates.
According to gaming publications, it’s Stadium mode that finally makes Overwatch 2 a truly new game, justifying the prefix «sequel». It combines competitive spirit with MOBA elements and role-playing progression, while staying true to the spirit of the original.
