Speculations are swirling about the introduction of Hero 45 in Overwatch 2, with hints pointing towards a female gladiator debuting in Season 20. The clues suggest this character could embody a melee tank role, aligning with the game’s current hero release pattern. Fans are eagerly discussing the enigmatic silhouette and unique weapon design showcased in the newly introduced Arena Victoriae.
A recent reveal from Overwatch 2 dropped tantalizing hints regarding its 45th hero. Players picked up on subtle cues like a banner and a distinctive weapon seen in Arena Victoriae, a new map set within the Stadium mode. These elements dovetail with previous teasers, painting a strong picture of a gladiator-themed character, likely arriving around Season 20.
During a recent Overwatch 2 Spotlight event, Blizzard officially unveiled two out of the three heroes slated for release in 2025. The announcements included Freja, a mobile damage hero dropping in Season 16, and “Aqua,” a support character rooted in aquatic themes. However, whispers about the third, unannounced hero began to surface simultaneously. Fan sleuths discovered a doodled sword-toting gladiator, along with curious placeholder text on Brigitte’s hero page hinting, “Gladiators Gonna Gladiate.”
More pieces of the puzzle surfaced when excited fans noticed additional teasers appearing to confirm Hero 45’s gladiator status. During playtesting on Arena Victoriae, players came across two distinct Easter eggs: a banner featuring a gladiator’s silhouette brandishing a futuristic weapon, plus a display of said weapon. Both items are labeled with “XLV” — the Roman numeral for 45. The banner went further, inscribed with “La Lupa Della Ritorsione,” translating from Italian to “The Wolf of Retribution.” Overwatch Cavalry went so far as to showcase these fascinating Easter eggs in a Twitter post.
The “Wolf of Retribution” title stoked even more intrigue, aligning with the ongoing speculation about Overwatch 2’s next hero. The weapon’s design diverges from those wielded by existing mechanical gladiators like Camilla, Titus, or Magnus, their statues visible on the Colosseo map. Although similar to Maximus, one of the two advertised gladiators on that map, the Italian term “La” suggests a female entity, hinting Hero 45 might be a fresh face altogether. Earlier breadcrumbs even pointed to testing this new kit using Brigitte’s model, reinforcing the female identity.
Should the gladiator turn out to be Hero 45, players are betting on a melee-centric role. With already-confirmed DPS and support heroes set for 2025, a tank addition would align nicely with their release plan, given the oversaturation in the damage role category. While Reinhardt holds the melee tank mantle and Doomfist along with Hazard have significant hand-to-hand fighting capabilities, another angle emerges with Genji acting as the closest melee damage hero.
Anticipation builds as Overwatch 2 gears up for the launch of Season 16, complete with the Stadium mode and Arena Victoriae map, going live on April 22. As players dive in, they’ll want to scope out these cryptic hints for “The Wolf of Retribution” firsthand when the update rolls out.
