Overwatch 2 Hints at Hero 42

Blizzard has officially teased the arrival of Hero 42 in Overwatch 2, set to debut in Season 14. The new character appears to be the Scottish leader of a rebellious group known as the Phreaks. Many players speculate that this hero will be a tank, with hints about their existence tracing back to the days of Project Titan and the original Overwatch.

At BlizzCon 2023, Overwatch 2 unveiled two new heroes, Venture and Juno, slated for release in 2024. Yet, eagle-eyed fans spotted an icon for an unnamed tank hero positioned between Sigma and Winston on the character selection screen—a subtle hint at the upcoming hero planned for Season 14 toward the end of the year.

Recently, Overwatch 2 treated its players to a sneak peek of this character ahead of time. As the Season 13 trailer draws to a close, the scene shifts to the spawn area on Oasis, now showing signs of destruction. Bright graffiti spelling out "Phreaks" can be seen on a wall, while a masculine voice with a thick Scottish accent declares, "It’s lookin’ like a revolution," hinting that Hero 42 might be the mastermind behind this rebellious group.

Hints from Overwatch's Past Connect to the New Hero

This new addition to the Overwatch 2 lineup isn’t a completely new concept. The idea for this character dates back to the early days of Overwatch, where an early hero design named Phreak was conceived. Phreak had a punk aesthetic, sporting a green mohawk and a leather jacket. Elements from this design later influenced the creation of Junker Queen, including the character's initial “Attract” ability. Interestingly, in the Overwatch cinematic trailer, a character resembling this concept was seen battling Parisian police alongside revolutionaries—one of whom had a jacket labeled with “Phreaks.”

During BlizzCon, the placement of this unnamed hero icon between Sigma and Winston suggested that the new hero’s name might begin with one of the letters S, T, U, V, or W. However, this could be based on their code name, similar to how Juno was initially referred to as Space Ranger. It's likely that the hero's actual name isn’t Phreak, as that title now appears to refer to the gang they lead.

Anticipating the Abilities of Hero 42 in Overwatch 2

While the full abilities of Hero 42 remain a mystery, they are almost certainly going to fill the role of a tank in the game. From what we’ve glimpsed, this character's design might include a bat resembling a pipe bomb and several prosthetic limbs, potentially shaping their combat style and abilities. More details about Hero 42 are expected to surface as Season 13 progresses, building up anticipation for their official release in Season 14, likely set for mid-December.

As Overwatch 2 fans eagerly await more information, it’s clear that Blizzard has big plans for Hero 42, possibly transforming them into a game-changing addition to the roster. Stay tuned as new details emerge about this rebellious tank hero and their fight for revolution.