Overwatch 2 Teases Hero 45 – A Sword-Wielding Knight?

Overwatch 2 fans may have spotted a potential teaser for Hero 45 during the recent Spotlight event. A cartoonish, sword-wielding knight appeared in the background, leading some players to speculate that the third hero of 2025 could be a melee-based gladiator from the Colosseo map.

Possible Hint for Overwatch 2’s Next Hero

During the Spotlight event, Blizzard officially revealed the next two heroes for Overwatch 2: Freya, a complex damage hero coming in Season 16, and a support hero codenamed Aqua, set to debut in Season 18. However, no information was provided about Hero 45, who is expected to arrive in Season 20 near the end of 2025.

Despite the lack of an official reveal, sharp-eyed fans noticed a possible teaser during the event. As senior narrative designer Jude Stacey introduced Freya, a doodle of a character in Overwatch 2’s signature placeholder art style was visible on a viewscreen in the background. The sketch depicted an angry knight with spiked armor, a large ponytail, and an oversized sword, sparking theories about a potential melee-based hero.

A Gladiator from Colosseo?

Although details are scarce, fans have already started speculating about this mysterious figure. Some players noted that the silhouette closely resembles Magnus, a sword-wielding gladiator whose statue stands at the center of the Hall of Champions on the Colosseo map. Additionally, the map features a scoreboard and advertisements referencing Maximus and Zephyrus, two remote-controlled gladiators engaged in an ongoing rivalry inside the Colosseo arena. If Magnus were to become a playable hero, he might even be an autonomous battle bot.

Season 16 will also introduce Gladius, a new map within the Colosseo arena, as part of Overwatch 2’s Stadium game mode. If Blizzard intends to expand on the Colosseo lore, adding a gladiator hero a few seasons later would be a fitting choice.

Overwatch 2 Devs Open to Melee Heroes

In a conversation with content creator Frogger during the Spotlight event, Overwatch 2 game director Aaron Keller acknowledged that melee heroes are something the developers are actively exploring. Due to the game’s first-person nature, melee characters present design challenges, but Keller hinted that the team has found a workaround—potentially through the third-person viewpoint being tested in Stadium mode or another innovative mechanic.

Speculation and Unconfirmed Theories

It’s important to remember that nothing official has been confirmed about Hero 45 yet. Previous Overwatch 2 teasers, such as the rumored introduction of Maximilien as Hero 43, have turned out to be misleading. However, this latest Easter egg is bound to fuel speculation until Blizzard officially unveils the next hero later this year.