3 min read
Overwatch 2 is finally breaking its own rules. Blizzard has officially revealed Vendetta, the new hero arriving in Season 20. While fans speculated she would be a Tank due to her heavy gladiator armour, the developers have confirmed she is the game’s first-ever dedicated Melee DPS.
With a hard-light greatsword and a kit built for close-quarters aggression, Vendetta brings a “fast and furious” playstyle to the Damage role. Here is everything you need to know about her abilities, release schedule, and why Blizzard chose this unique direction.
Release Date & Hero Trial
You won’t have to wait long to play her. Vendetta officially launches with Season 20 on December 9, 2025.
However, you can try her early. Blizzard is running a special Hero Trial from November 26 through December 1. This trial is longer than usual to accommodate the US Thanksgiving holiday. This gives you plenty of time to master her combos before her official debut.
A Look at Vendetta’s Abilities
Vendetta plays like a deadly hybrid between Doomfist and Reinhardt. She uses a resource simply called ‘Energy’ to fuel her defensive and ranged options.
- Palatine Fang (Weapon): Her primary weapon is a hard-light greatsword. It strikes in a combo pattern that ends with a destructive overhead slash.
- Warding Stance (Secondary Fire): She blocks frontal damage and deflects melee attacks. This drains Energy. While blocking, she can consume Energy to fire a Projected Edge, a wide projectile attack.
- Whirlwind Dash: She rushes forward and performs a devastating circular slash.
- Soaring Slice: She hurls her sword in the direction she is facing and flies toward it. This acts as her primary mobility tool.
- Sundering Blade (Ultimate): Her ultimate cleaves through defences in a narrow line. It deals severe damage to anyone standing in front of her.
Her passive ability, ‘Onslaught’, rewards aggression. Striking enemies increases both her movement speed and attack speed.
Hero Mastery Perks
Vendetta also launches with a full suite of perks:
- Minor Perks: Siphoning Strike gives her final combo slash 30% Lifesteal. Relentless allows her ‘Onslaught’ passive to stack three additional times.
- Major Perks: Swift Vengeance marks the player who killed you; eliminate them to reset cooldowns and gain Overhealth. Raging Storm buffs Whirlwind Dash to hit three extra times in a wide area.
Why DPS and Not Tank?
The community assumed Vendetta would be a Tank. 2025 already saw the release of a Damage hero, Freja, in April. Releasing two DPS heroes in one year breaks the developers’ recent unofficial release pattern.
According to Associate Game Director Alec Dawson, the decision was gameplay-driven. The team wanted to “service a playstyle” that the roster currently lacked. While heroes like Genji and Reaper fight up close, Overwatch 2 has never had a dedicated sword-wielding duelist in the Damage role.
Senior Character Artist Bryan Bedford admitted they had to “bend the rules” on the release schedule. However, the team was “absolutely hooked” on her fun factor during playtests, specifically the thrill of tearing through the sky with her blade throw.
