We’re finally meeting the hero of the “Phreaks” revolution. Overwatch 2’s new Tank character, Hazard, brings a mix of mobility and defensive capabilities to the battlefield.
Are you ready to battle with this Scottish hero? Let’s find out everything about his lore and abilities.
Who is Hazard in Overwatch 2?
The former military recruit turned gang leader hailing from Scotland has an interesting backstory. Based on the “Tear It Down” comic, Hazard’s full name was Finlay Doherty before he went under his alias.
He grew up in a broken household in the aftermath of the Omnic Crisis, with parents fighting for many years due to financial struggles. His mother died when he was four years old, and Hazard was left struggling until college, when he enlisted the military in order to pay his school fees.
This marks an important point in his life, as it was during his time in the military that his views on the system changed. A crisis that caused an Overwatch jet to crash and destroy a building cost him an arm and both legs. Hazard was left in unbearable pain, with the cybernetics given by the government less than ideal for his body.
Joining The Phreaks
After the accident, the system that he thought protected and cared for him became unjust in Hazard’s eyes. Angry, he sought help from the rebellious group of “Phreaks” to get illegal modifications to his cybernetics. It took away the physical pain, but more than that, he found a new family after joining them.
In the official animated short, “Hazardous Tactics”, we are given the story of how Hazard came to have his super abilities. Their group was supposed to steal the vanadium isotope in Oasis University, but the alarms in the facility exposed them, and they quickly became outnumbered.
In desperation, Hazard injected the vanadium isotope into his cybernetics despite the risks. It instantly gave him the insane strength that allowed him to fight multiple enemies at once, and they were able to escape safely.
Core Abilities and Playstyle
Hazard’s Primary Weapon: Bonespur
Bonespur is Hazard’s source of damage, firing medium-range spike bursts. It functions like a shotgun with too low damage output to one-shot even lower-health heroes like Tracer. However, it provides effective consistency at close to medium range.
Offense and Defense: Spike Guard
Hazard’s primary defense skill is similar to D.Va’s Defense Matrix, using a resource meter. Spike Guard allows Hazard to reduce incoming damage while simultaneously firing homing spikes at nearby enemies and recharging ammunition.
Defense and Mobility: Violent Leap
One of his most dynamic abilities is Violent Leap, which will give two different effects in a two-stage activation. The initial press launches Hazard forward into the air, while a second one delivers a powerful slash that knocks back enemies.
Defense: Jagged Wall
Another key ability in Hazard’s arsenal creates a spiked barrier that damages and repels enemies on contact. You can place it on floors, walls, or even ceilings—an excellent tool for both protection and area denial.
Offense and Crowd Control: Downpour
Hazard’s ultimate ability makes spikes rain down across a large vertical area. All enemies caught in the Downpour will be immobilized.
Mobility Passive: Vault
Hazard’s passive takes his mobility to the next level! With Vault, he can scale short walls, grab ledges, and hop over obstacles with ease.
Team Compositions: Synergies and Counters
Hazard Overwatch 2 excels in both Brawl and Dive compositions thanks to his mobility and close-range combat capabilities. He works particularly well with:
- Fast-moving heroes like Genji, Tracer, and Kiriko
- Area damage specialists such as Reaper, Mei, and Cassidy
- Support heroes who can keep up with his aggressive playstyle
Meanwhile, Hazard faces challenges against certain heroes:
- Long-range specialists like Ashe and Widowmaker can harass him before he gets close
- Shield-heavy tanks such as Reinhardt and Sigma can negate his damage output
- High fire-rate heroes like Soldier: 76 and Mauga can quickly break through his defenses
Tips for Playing Hazard
To maximize your effectiveness as Hazard in Overwatch 2, consider these strategies:
- Do not stay at the frontline too long—use Hazard’s high mobility to the fullest!
- Use Violent Leap with the Vault passive to catch enemies off-guard.
- Combine Downpour with teammate ultimates to shoot down immobilized enemies.
- Focus on protecting your backline supports from dive heroes
- Time Downpour and Spike Guard for the right moments, most ideally with team communication.
Conclusion
With his robust ability set and versatile playstyle, Hazard offers both newcomers and veteran players an exciting new way to approach the tank role in Overwatch 2. Whether you’re defending objectives or leading the charge, mastering Hazard’s abilities can make you a formidable force on the battlefield.
