Overwatch 2’s New Melee Hero Vendetta Hits Hard
▼ Summary
– Blizzard announced Overwatch 2’s Hero 45 as Vendetta (La Lupa), an Italian hero with Talon connections who wields a hard-light sword and debuts in December with season 20.
– Vendetta’s backstory involves overcoming her father’s legacy, and her introduction signals Blizzard’s increased focus on expanding Overwatch 2’s lore and story content.
– According to official lore, Vendetta rose to fame through arena combat in Colosseo and has ambitions tied to the original Overwatch conflict with Talon.
– Vendetta appears to be the game’s first all-melee damage character, capable of both close-range attacks and throwing her sword to engage distant enemies.
– Vendetta is the third new hero for 2025 and the second damage character this year, bringing the total damage hero count to 20 and breaking 2024’s pattern of one hero per role.
Blizzard has officially unveiled Overwatch 2’s Hero 45, a formidable new damage character named Vendetta, also known as La Lupa. This Italian-born fighter, set to join the roster in December with the launch of season 20, wields a massive hard-light sword and appears to have deep-seated family ties to the Talon organization. Her debut cinematic trailer showcases her in combat on the Colosseo map, hinting at a complex backstory involving her father’s unresolved legacy.
The weapon Vendetta uses is composed of hard-light, a technology within the Overwatch universe that creates solid objects from pure light energy. This same substance is utilized by Symmetra for her constructs and is closely associated with the Vishkar corporation, much like Lifeweaver’s biolight techniques. How this technological connection intersects with her personal vendetta remains a mystery, though players can anticipate significant new lore developments upon her release. Blizzard is clearly investing more heavily in the game’s narrative, recently adding a dedicated story section to the menu that features hero background videos and other details from the post-Omnic Crisis era.
An official description from Blizzard paints a vivid picture of her origins: “Denied her inheritance and cast aside, La Lupa clawed her way into legend through the brutal world of arena combat in the Colosseo. With every victory, her influence grew. But beyond the arena, whispers of Vendetta’s past proliferate, hinting at a history that ties her legacy directly to the original Overwatch conflict against Talon. Having carved out her place among the arena’s elite, she cuts down enemies with ruthless, regal precision. Beneath the surface, her ambitions run deeper. Each gladiatorial victory is a calculated step towards something greater.”
Based on her trailer, Vendetta appears to be the game’s first fully melee-focused damage hero and only the second character designed exclusively for close-quarters combat, following Reinhardt who possesses a ranged ability with his Fire Strike. Unlike Brigitte, whose melee capabilities are more limited, Vendetta demonstrates a versatile fighting style. She is shown throwing her sword over a distance, then soaring through the air to retrieve it and continue her assault, suggesting a dynamic and mobile kit.
Vendetta marks the third new hero introduction for Overwatch 2 in 2025, coming after Freja in season 16 and Wuyang at the start of season 18. While Blizzard also released three new heroes throughout 2024, Vendetta’s arrival shifts the usual class distribution. Last year’s additions included one tank, one support, and one damage dealer, but Vendetta becomes the second damage character of this year, increasing the total number of heroes in that role to twenty.
(Source: Polygon)
