Overwatch 2: Hazard Hero Guide

Overwatch 2’s new PvP twist, Hazard Mode, throws players into chaotic matches filled with unpredictable environmental dangers. From sudden lightning strikes to deadly sandstorms, this mode forces you to think fast, reposition often, and adapt your playstyle on the fly. It’s no longer just about team comp and mechanical skill — survival plays just as big a role as your aim. In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about Overwatch 2’s Hazard Mode, including all current hazards, tips for surviving each one, and how to use them to your advantage mid-fight. Let’s jump into the madness.

Hazard Overview

Hazard is a fast-paced brawler with a kit built for aggressive momentum and zone control. His primary weapon, Bonespur, fires sharp spike bursts at enemies, making him deadly in mid-range engagements. Jagged Wall throws down a spiked barricade that both damages and knocks back anyone caught in its path — perfect for pushing enemies off objectives or breaking up formations.

Spike Guard is his defensive ability, creating a protective aura that launches homing spikes at nearby enemies while reducing incoming damage and recharging ammo over time. Use this to hold ground or buy time during a push. His movement skill, Violent Leap, allows him to lunge forward quickly — and when reactivated, it delivers a powerful slash that knocks enemies back. It’s an excellent gap closer or escape tool depending on the situation.

His Ultimate, Downpour, rains a deadly storm of spikes over a wide area, immobilizing enemies and setting them up for easy eliminations. Hazard also benefits from a Passive, Vault, which lets him scale small ledges and walls, giving him strong vertical mobility compared to other heroes.

Hazard Perks

• Off the Top (Minor): Violent Leap’s Slash deals an extra 30% damage to targets with more than 250 HP, making it deadly against tanks and beefy supports.
• Reconstitution (Minor): When Jagged Wall hits enemies, it charges Spike Guard with 25 energy (up to 50 total), giving you quicker access to your defensive ability.
• Anarchic Zeal (Major): Spike Guard now grants 25% Lifesteal on its homing spikes, letting you heal while dishing out damage.
• Deep Leap (Major): Increases Violent Leap’s range by 20%, giving you better reach for engaging or escaping.

Hazard thrives on disruption, burst damage, and creative positioning — and with the right perks, he becomes even more dangerous.

How to Play Hazard in Overwatch 2

Hazard has a unique kit that blends zone control, vertical mobility, and brawling potential, making him one of the more tactical tanks in Overwatch 2. While his abilities may seem straightforward, mastering his playstyle takes some adjustment — especially if you’re used to faster flankers like Doomfist or Wrecking Ball.

To start, Hazard excels at controlling space and creating opportunities. His Jagged Wall can be launched across long distances and will continue traveling until it lands, allowing you to cut off escape routes, block enemy vision, or even build makeshift platforms for your team to reach higher ground. You can also cast the wall under your feet for a vertical boost — useful for gaining high ground or saving yourself from environmental deaths by combining it with Violent Leap to get back into play.

Speaking of Leap, Hazard’s movement abilities let him scale terrain and surprise enemies, but his mobility isn’t as quick as other tanks. Instead of relying purely on flanks, it’s often more effective to hold the frontline, using his tools to create chaos during team fights. For example, popping Spike Guard mid-engagement grants bonus defense, auto-attacking spikes, and ammo regeneration — a strong tool for disrupting chokes or defending objectives.

Hazard’s Ultimate, Downpour, is a powerful AoE ability that rains immobilizing spikes through walls and terrain. Get creative with your positioning — you can trap an enemy team inside a room without exposing yourself, forcing them into your team’s line of fire or punishing them during a retreat.

Hazard also has excellent synergy with heroes like Kiriko (for cleanse and healing), Illari (whose pylon can stay protected behind walls), and Sojourn (to capitalize on immobilized enemies). And for counters, you’ll want to watch out for Pharah, Echo, and Sigma, who can either avoid your abilities or contest you from long range.

Lastly, if you want to maximize his mobility, bunny hopping after Violent Leap can help carry your momentum into a damaging slash, letting you cover more distance and finish off low-health enemies with style.

Overall, Hazard rewards players who play smart, control zones effectively, and use creative movement to outplay the enemy.

Best Hazard Synergy Picks in Overwatch 2

Hazard thrives with a coordinated team, and certain heroes can really bring out the best in his kit. From supports that patch up his biggest weaknesses to DPS who capitalize on his zone control, here are some of the best synergy picks to run alongside Hazard.

Reaper is an excellent frontline partner for Hazard. Both heroes shine in close-range brawls, and when coordinated, they can pressure the enemy with relentless aggression. What makes this duo even better is Hazard’s Jagged Wall, which can create new high grounds or off-angles for Reaper to teleport to, making it easier for him to drop down with Death Blossom or escape a bad situation.

Juno is arguably one of the best support pairings for Hazard. Her healing turrets and speed ring are great for helping Hazard sustain in the middle of a fight or reposition quickly when needed. Since Hazard can get overwhelmed without a clean way out, Juno’s tools help buy him time and keep him alive when he’s caught deep in enemy lines.

Kiriko brings clutch utility to the table. Her Healing Ofuda has enough range to support Hazard even if he’s playing ahead of the team, and her Suzu is essential for saving him from crowd control like Anti-Nade, Hack, or even from Hazard’s own aggressive overextensions. Her teleport also lets her stay in reach wherever Hazard goes.

Lucio is another great mobility support who helps Hazard get in and out of fights faster. His speed boost pairs well with Hazard’s movement-focused playstyle, and his boop can peel for Hazard when he’s in danger. However, Lucio’s healing may not always be enough to keep Hazard alive during heavy brawls unless he’s paired with a more sustain-heavy support.

Mei is a disruptive force that naturally complements Hazard’s style. With both heroes having wall-based abilities, they can completely shut down enemy movement and control choke points. Their ultimates also combo well — Blizzard and Downpour can alternate each fight to maintain constant teamfight pressure, or be used together for an easy team wipe. Mei’s slow effects also help Hazard land consistent damage and secure picks more easily.

Genji might not always fit every comp, but with Hazard creating chaos and softening targets, a good Genji can clean up fast. Hazard’s abilities often leave enemies low but not quite dead — Genji’s dash and right-click combo is perfect for cleaning up these targets. And when Hazard locks down enemies with his ultimate, Genji’s Dragonblade becomes especially lethal against helpless, immobilized opponents.

With the right heroes surrounding him, Hazard can turn any fight in your favor. These picks amplify his strengths, patch up his weaknesses, and make it easier to create devastating teamplay opportunities.

Best Hazard Counters in Overwatch 2

Hazard might bring the pain with his spikes and crowd-control abilities, but there are plenty of heroes that can shut him down hard if played smart. Whether it’s denying his cooldowns, punishing his aggression, or simply making his life miserable with well-timed utility, here are the top counters you’ll want to bring to the fight when facing a Hazard player.

Ana is always a tank killer, and Hazard is no exception. Her Biotic Grenade completely shuts down his ability to recover health, and her Sleep Dart can stop him mid-combo — especially while he’s using Spike Guard to regen ammo or tank damage. With his big hitbox and limited escape options, it’s not hard for a good Ana to catch him off guard. Time your Sleep after he uses Violent Leap, throw a Nade, and either finish him yourself or let your team collapse on him while he’s helpless. With Ana’s recent damage buffs in Season 13, she’s now even more of a threat than before.

Zenyatta is another nightmare for Hazard. Discord Orb makes him an easy target, and even a fully buffed Hazard can melt in seconds under focused fire. If you’re constantly applying Discord every time he engages, Hazard will have a hard time committing to a push, and you’ll either force him to retreat or get deleted.

D.Va is one of the most frustrating tank matchups for Hazard. She’s fast, mobile, and can deny most of his pressure with Defense Matrix. That includes his Jagged Wall, projectiles, and even parts of his ultimate. On top of that, her ability to fly around makes her hard for Hazard to reliably pin down or finish off. D.Va players who play smart and know when to peel or dive will keep Hazard struggling to find his rhythm.

Bastion can absolutely delete Hazard in Turret Form. While Hazard can still fight back using Spike Guard for damage reduction and Jagged Wall for cover, Bastion’s raw output is tough to contest in a straight-up duel. If Bastion has backup from an Ana or a Zen, it becomes nearly impossible for Hazard to survive, let alone win the fight. Smart positioning and teamplay from Bastion makes him a brutal counter.

Sombra is a serious problem for Hazard. Hack and EMP both disable his key abilities — namely Spikes and Leap, which are essential for his survival and burst. If Sombra coordinates her engage with an Anti-Nade, Discord, or even a Virus, she can easily erase Hazard from the fight before he gets going. And if she gets in trouble, she can just Translocate away, making it hard for Hazard to ever lock her down.

Zarya plays the long game against Hazard. Her bubbles not only block damage but also punish Hazard for using his kit, especially his Spikes, which can’t be aimed precisely. Zarya can gain energy just by timing her barriers right against his pressure and then return fire once fully charged. In sustained brawls, high-energy Zarya is a huge problem for Hazard, often forcing him to retreat or lose the trade.

Overall, Hazard is a strong hero when left unchecked, but with the right picks and proper coordination, he can be contained — or completely shut down. Ana, Zen, and Sombra are especially lethal when combined, and D.Va and Zarya can outplay him through utility and timing. If you’re seeing Hazard dominate in your matches, give these heroes a shot and watch the tides turn.

Conclusion

Hazard brings a fresh and brutal playstyle to Overwatch 2, offering a unique mix of mobility, area denial, and damage mitigation that makes him one of the most disruptive tanks in the game. Whether you’re scaling walls, setting up creative flanks, or using your Jagged Wall and Spike Guard to bully enemy backlines, Hazard rewards smart aggression and calculated positioning. However, he’s not without his weaknesses—coordination, cooldown management, and awareness of counters are key to making the most out of his kit. With the right team synergy and smart play, Hazard can be an absolute menace on the battlefield, turning the tide of any match with well-placed spikes and perfectly timed ults.