Overwatch 2 Teases New Way to Deal With Aerial Heroes in Stadium

In Overwatch 2’s Stadium mode, players can anticipate a fresh anti-air item being introduced by Blizzard, designed to aid in managing airborne heroes such as Freja more effectively. The specifics about this anti-air item are yet to be revealed, but it is scheduled for release alongside the start of Overwatch 2 Season 17 on June 24, 2025.

In Season 16 of Overwatch 2, a fresh gameplay experience called Stadium was unveiled. Here, two teams of five players compete in a series of best-of-seven matches, quite different from standard Overwatch 2 gameplay. What sets Stadium apart is that players can enhance their characters with various upgrades, such as new abilities or utility items. Currently, only 18 out of the 43 heroes in Overwatch 2 are included in Stadium, but more will be added later. Since its debut, airborne heroes have been reigning supreme in Stadium, causing quite a stir. Some top-tier Freja builds in Overwatch 2’s Stadium mode have been causing chaos with few effective counters, prompting Blizzard to devise new strategies to balance the playing field.

As a gamer, I’ve got some exciting news to share about Stadium and Overwatch 2! In the upcoming Season 17, Blizzard is planning to introduce a brand-new item tailored for countering aerial heroes. This decision was driven by player feedback, particularly regarding the challenging matchups against Freja. To help us out, they’re designing a new utility tool to tackle this aerial threat more effectively.

Now,

Blizzard Will Introduce New Anti-Air Item In Stadium

Previously, Blizzard has tackled balance problems concerning Freja in Overwatch 2. Not long after her introduction, they issued a patch aimed at decreasing her mobility and ability usage in Stadium mode particularly. Even with these modifications, it appears that players continue to face challenges when dealing with Freja in Stadium, leading Blizzard to consider introducing an item designed to bring aerial heroes back down to earth.

Despite previous adjustments, Freja continues to be one of the most frequently prohibited DPS characters in Overwatch 2, surpassed in bans only by Sombra. Initially banned less than 10% of the time on PC, Freja’s ban rate rose significantly to over 40%, demonstrating the impact this hero can have on a game’s outcome. The introduction of a new anti-air tool in Overwatch 2’s Stadium mode may reduce Freja’s ban rate as players discover more effective strategies for countering this airborne threat.

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2025-05-31 18:16