Vendetta in Overwatch 2: Everything we know about La Lupa

Overwatch 2 will soon have a meaty roster of 45 heroes, and we got a first look at hero 45: Vendetta. She will be Overwatch’s first Italian representative, which feels like it’s about time, considering that there are two characters from the moon and one from Mars.

Vendetta’s design seems largely inspired by Ancient Roman gladiators, and she’s one of the few melee-focused Overwatch 2 heroes. She also has a deep connection with Blackwatch and will more than likely have some interesting interactions with the characters associated with the organisation.

With all that in mind, let’s take a closer look at Vendetta, including her backstory, class, and when players can first try her out.

Prior to her reveal in her animated trailer, fans were given hints with wolf iconography and speculated that Vendetta would be some kind of gladiator or melee warrior. Hints included displaying her sword in Arena Victoria, appearing in the Reconciliation Remattra Comic, and a ‘Lupa Mask’ in the Haunted Masquerade Halloween event. It likely wasn’t expected that Vendetta would have such a strong connection with Blackwatch and even have a callback to an Overwatch 1 PvE event.

The Overwatch Vendetta voice actor is Chiara Preziosi, who has worked with Blizzard Entertainment before in Warcraft 3: Reforged’s Italian dub.

As revealed in the Overwatch Vendetta trailer, she is a gladiator of the Colosseo, often playing the villain against the crowd. She has been given the moniker of ‘La Lupa’ or ‘The Wolf’, something she has embraced since her father’s passing, to be a weapon of vengeance in his name.

Vendetta clearly had a close relationship with her father, who trained her and tempered her rage into an effective tool. This culminated in her becoming the gladiator we see today, but she has loftier goals than just being the entertainment. While we know little about her father, we do know that he was a victim of Blackwatch, which includes Reaper, Genji, Cassidy, and Moira.

Reaper was the one who landed the final blow back in 2018 with the Retribution PvE event, although with Blackwatch being an offshoot of Overwatch, and half its members now being a part of Talon, it isn’t clear who Vendetta will aim her vengeance at. Her interactions with existing Overwatch 2 characters will be intriguing at the very least.  

It has been confirmed by Blizzard that Vendetta will be the first melee-only damage hero in Overwatch 2. It feels like it has been a long time coming, given that characters such as Doomfist should have been melee-only, but were given projectiles for the sake of it.

This feels like it could be a big shift for Blizzard and Overwatch 2, giving the game greater variety in how its hero can be played, although it will require more R&D and testing than most other heroes. There’s no in-game precedent for this type of hero, but the hope is that Blizzard can strike the right balance.

Overwatch 2 hero 45 will be fully released for Season 20 on December 9, 2025. This maintains Overwatch 2’s hero release schedule of once every other season, although avid players can get a look at Vendetta early.

Players can try Vendetta as part of a limited-time trial between November 26 to December 1, 2025. Once the trial ends, she will be available again for Season 20, but for those who are extra keen on the trial can start it at these release times:

On November 20, Overwatch 2 revealed Vendetta’s gameplay. Many of her abilities were shown off in her animated trailer, including a projectile slash (Projected Edge), somewhat similar to Reinhardt’s Fire Strike, and shielding herself with her shield (Warding Stance). Vendetta must be in Warding Stance to use Projected Edge.

Still, Vendetta’s kit is almost entirely melee, and requires mobility to engage, alongside a shield. This is where Whirlwind Dash comes in, a quick dash forward ending with a spinning slash. She also has Soaring Slice, where Vendetta throws her sword to fly toward it, helping her from being knocked out of a level, as poor Wuyang finds out in the trailer.

What makes Vendetta somewhat unique among the OW2 cast is that her primary fire is a combo, ending in an overhead smash called Palatine Fang. If her kit didn’t already have enough mobility for you, she can also increase her movement speed with her passive, Onslaught, which also increases attack speed when striking foes.

Finally, there’s her ultimate, Sundering Blade. Junker Queen is on the receiving end in the trailer, where Vendetta marks a giant line on the ground and deals massive damage to all caught in range. It seems like a well-balanced kit, but as the first melee damage hero, we’ll have to see in-game if she fits well.

Disclaimer: This article combines confirmed details with industry speculation. We’ll update it regularly as new info or leaks emerge.

As a melee-focused hero, Vendetta could be the most intriguing Overwatch 2 new hero, mechanically speaking. Having her backstory connected to the Blackwatch mission from 2018 is a neat touch that makes the lore feel more cohesive, and her interactions with Reaper, specifically, could be some of the best in the game.

Vendetta arriving as Overwatch 2 hero 45, could give the game something unique from both a mechanical and story perspective, and we will be eagerly awaiting her limited-time trial to see what she’s all about.