Overwatch 2 is getting a new limited-time game mode that will imbue seven of the game’s heroes with fun godlike powers, letting Widowmaker turn her enemies to stone and Roadhog become a giant, rock-throwing cyclops. The free-for-all deathmatch mode, Battle for Olympus, will run Jan. 5-19 in Overwatch 2, Blizzard confirmed Tuesday.
The trailer for Overwatch 2’s Greek god-themed mode promises “divine rewards,” but doesn’t specify what players can earn. Based on previous limited event modes, it likely means sprays, voice lines, titles, and maybe a skin. But the new abilities themselves appear to be the real draw, mixing up the way characters like Reinhardt, Lucio, Pharah, and others will play in Battle for Olympus mode.
In the trailer, we see some intriguing new powers, like Junker Queen calling down lightning bolts when she performs her Rampage ultimate and Pharah moving freely — and healing! — mid-Barrage ultimate. Other tweaked abilities hinted at in the trailer include Lúcio stunning an opponent with his Soundwave (aka “boop”) and Ramattra lifting enemies off the ground with his Ravenous Vortex.
Here are the official descriptions of all those powers, via Blizzard:
Poseidon Ramattra
Divine Annihilation
- Ravenous Vortex is a large whirlpool that pulls in enemies then launches them upward
- Pummel throws large water blasts that deal more damage and travel further
Zeus Junker Queen
Divine Rampage
- Lasts 20 seconds
- Damage done with Scattergun has the chance to apply additional lightning damage to her abilities
Minotaur Reinhardt
Divine Earthshatter
- Lasts 20 seconds
- Heals when he charges and slams an enemy into a wall
- Charge can pin up to 3 targets at once
- Charge cooldown is reduced to 3 seconds
- Wall slams deal lethal damage, extend the divine power, and set the next Charge cooldown to 0.5 seconds
Cyclops Roadhog
Divine Whole Hog
- Lasts 15 seconds
- Greatly increase your size, gaining 600 health
- Hurl boulders that deal massive damage instead of his normal ultimate fire
- Melee deals 5x damage and push enemies away
Hades Pharah
Divine Rocket Barrage
- Lasts 20 seconds
- Can move during the ultimate ability
- Rocket Launcher fires 3-headed rockets
- Jump Jet fuel consumption is greatly reduced
- Kills heal Pharah and extend the duration of this effect
Medusa Widowmaker
Divine Infra-Sight
- While scoped in, enemies looking at you turn into stone
Hermes Lucio
Divine Sound Barrier
- Lasts 20 seconds
- Always able to jump again after jumping off a wall
- Boop can always knock enemies into walls for extra damage and a short stun
- Attack and move speed greatly increased
- Infinite ammo
One more detail from the trailer: There appear to be armor packs repurposed from ol’ Torbjörn scattered throughout Château Guillard, and they’re distinct from standard health packs, but their purpose is unclear.
Battle for Olympus mode will also bring a change to the map Ilios. The character who earns the most eliminations throughout the event will get their own marble statue on the Greek map.
Overwatch 2 is in the midst of its second season of content, which runs through February. The game’s next event is Lunar New Year 2023, which runs Jan. 17 to Feb. 6.