Overwatch 2 Season 19 is just around the corner, and it features its fair share of interesting content. A Halloween-themed Battle Pass brings some fantastical outfits and a Mythic skin for Lifeweaver, while purchasable items are coming to Stadium alongside Torbjorn, Hazard, and Sojourn. The main attraction seems to be the Haunted Masquerade LTM, the latest Halloween-themed mode in Blizzard’s hero shooter. Heroes will don masks based on other characters to grant themselves some special buffs, including combo abilities that sound like Marvel Rivals’ team-ups. However, it’s the playable trial for Season 20’s new hero that has garnered the most attention, especially after a big leak suggested she’d be a nightmare for Overwatch 2’s Doomfist mains.
Currently, players know only a few concrete things about the Season 20 hero. Her legs were shown at the end of the Season 19 trailer, hinting at the gladiator theme fans have been expecting since spotting the hero 45 teaser on Colosseo (cat-like toe beans are also visible, suggesting a lionness theme for the character). Though it’s unclear what role she’ll be in, the sword she’s seen wielding at the end of Ramattra’s animated comic suggests she’ll be either a Tank or Damage hero. However, those willing to look into leaked info about Overwatch 2's future will discover a fair bit more about the new hero, with the term “villain” seemingly suiting her much better.
Overwatch 2 Hero 45 Might Just Be the Death of Doomfist
Blizzard has been hinting at an increased focus on Overwatch 2 lore, something that it’s clearly committed to achieving based on the upcoming lore codex for the game. A major shift has been teased for Season 20, too, and while it could be anything, the death of an existing hero would certainly get fans talking. Apparently, this could happen very soon, as a leaker that had previously predicted the Ramattra and Zenyatta motion comic has suggested that the new hero will take out Doomfist to become the leader of Talon. While this leaker’s account has since been removed, what they shared has been chronicled by social media user @enchandted. Apparently, this new hero will go under the code name Vendetta, which suits their rumored lore. Essentially, Vendetta’s story is as follows:
- As the adoptive daughter of Antonio (the Talon higher-up killed by Reaper in the Blackwatch Archives mission named Retribution), Vendetta wanted to take his place. However, a different man named Vialli ended up doing so, and Vendetta plans to get revenge.
- After breaking out of prison, Doomfist kills Vialli, likely to gain more control over Talon’s resources. This makes Vendetta angry at Doomfist for stealing her kill and taking the position she felt she was owed due to her familial ties.
- During a meeting between Doomfist and other Talon members like Sigma, Moira, and Maximilien, Vendetta breaks in and attacks Talon’s leader.
- Not only does Vendetta win the fight, but she rips off Doomfist’s arm and throws him out a window, seemingly killing him.
- Vendetta then takes control of Talon, positioning herself as the intimidating new leader of the terrorist organization.
Doomfist losing his signature weapon in such a violent manner would be one thing, but the villain being left for dead by the series’ latest character seems like a real shocker. Overwatch 2 has never killed one of its playable heroes, and it’s unclear how concrete this supposed cinematic is about Doomfist’s fate. The leaked cutscene is meant to be an introduction for Vendetta that hypes up her addition, after all, so Doomfist isn’t going to be the main focus. Perhaps his “death” will be left vague, as a comic could reveal that he was rescued by someone or escaped by breaking his fall somehow. Still, a major death would be deserving of all the Season 20 hype, even if it’s unclear what impact it would have on gameplay — if any.
Had Overwatch 2’s PvE missions continued, many have theorized that Reinhardt would have been killed off, as the old warrior was heavily focused upon in the Invasion cinematics. With Brigitte trained as his successor already, he would arguably be the “safest” option to kill.
Overwatch 2’s Vendetta Could Be Replacing Doomfist In-Game, Not Just in Lore
If Doomfist really is going to die in Season 20, then Blizzard will have to decide if it wants to remove him from the selectable hero roster in-game. League of Legends once disabled Gangplank for a week after a fakeout death before bringing the character back with a fresh outfit, which could be the exact same approach Blizzard takes. Perhaps Doomfist could be given a fresh Gauntlet design, or maybe even a new Doomfist successor could take Akande’s spot, being the fourth in line to assume the name. He could play just like Doomfist does now, but with entirely new dialogue. Players could still be allowed to access the “old” Doomfist via their skin collection, but the new one would receive all the future skins and voice lines. And even in the highly unlikely scenario where Doomfist is removed entirely, Vendetta could fill the void, as she could become a must-play melee character.
Part of what made Doomfist so interesting to gamers in the original Overwatch, and what causes his mains to look back on the days of DPS Doom so fondly, was his potential for combos. Thanks to her sword, there’s even more room for Vendetta to be a satisfying melee character that rewards players who master the art of pairing her different swing patterns and abilities. Perhaps she could even have a parry mechanic of some kind that boosts her damage when used effectively. For now, her kit is a mystery, but the fact that she’s a melee hero (likely in either the Damage or Tank role) instantly means she’ll be encroaching on Doomfist’s territory. While Overwatch’s actual gameplay being non-canon may ultimately see Doomfist unchanged by his supposed death, Vendetta could quickly prove more popular than him, dethroning Doomfist in-game just like she’s apparently going to be doing in the story. While all leaks should be taken with a grain of salt, Doomfist fans may be in for a rude awakening come Season 20.
Overwatch 2
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 77 /100 Critics Rec: 65%
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Shooter
