Blizzard Entertainment has officially introduced the newest addition to the Overwatch 2 hero lineup: Freja. This upcoming Damage Per Second (DPS) character is anticipated to be one of the game’s most intricate and high-skill characters to master.
To keep the gameplay experience dynamic, Overwatch 2 regularly refreshes its roster, adding new heroes every couple of seasons. Previous additions include Juno in Season 12 and Hazard in Season 14, and now, players can look forward to Freja.
Unveiled during the recent Overwatch Spotlight event, Freja promises to bring a fresh dynamic to the DPS category. Below is an overview of her abilities and background.
When Will Freja Be Available in Overwatch 2?
Freja is scheduled to debut as the new hero in Season 16, set to launch in April. Typically, new characters are introduced every two seasons, so after Hazard’s introduction in Season 14, there will not be another new hero until Freja arrives.
For those eager to get an early experience with Freja, a playtest is confirmed for Season 15. During this time, she will be available in Quick Play matches, allowing developers to gauge player reactions and refine her balancing before her official introduction.
Freja’s Abilities
Primary Fire: Revdraw Crossbow
- Fire automatic bolts rapidly.
Secondary Fire: Take Aim
- Slow down momentum to fire a high-speed explosive bolt. A Quick Dash can refresh this ability.
Quick Dash
- Vault in the direction of movement, refreshing Take Aim.
Updraft
- Propel upwards with a gust of wind.
Bounty Hunting (Passive)
- Every five killing blows grant additional ultimate charge.
Bola Shot (Ultimate)
- Launch an explosive bola that ensnares the target and draws in nearby enemies.
Perks
Minor Perks
- Tracking Bolt: Enemies struck by three consecutive regular bolts are revealed for four seconds.
- Bounty Collection: Gain 2% ultimate charge for eliminations and 4% for killing blows.
Major Perks
- Ready to Hunt: Updraft temporarily grants a complimentary use of Quick Dash.
- Job’s Done: Achieve killing blows on five unique enemies to permanently reduce Take Aim’s cooldown by 20%.
Strategies for Playing Freja
Freja offers a versatile playstyle in Overwatch 2, yet she’s designed with complexity in mind. Although her abilities might appear intuitive, effectively chaining them for optimal performance can be challenging.
Her primary fire is potent, but players must remember that her crossbow fires projectiles. This characteristic requires leading your shots, particularly at long distances to ensure accuracy.
The Take Aim ability is invaluable at longer ranges, allowing for the execution of a single explosive bolt. Successfully landing this shot requires precision, as the initial hit can register as a headshot, leading to maximum damage.
Employing this secondary fire also temporarily slows your movement, giving you time to line up the perfect shot. However, this makes you a more predictable target in mid-air, hence positioning becomes critical.
During my hands-on experience with Freja at the Spotlight event, I found that using Take Aim to reposition from incoming fire proved advantageous. It lets you hover in difficult-to-reach spots, adding an element of evasion.
The synergy in Freja’s playstyle hinges on using Quick Dash to refresh Take Aim. With two charges available, players should manage their dashes efficiently to create powerful, successive attacks.
When deploying her Ultimate, timing is crucial. The Bola Shot incapacitate targeted enemies while bringing nearby foes into range, making it particularly effective when enemies cluster together, especially in coordination with allies like Bastion or Junkrat.
Freja’s Background and Lore
Representing Denmark, Freja marks the first character from her nation in Overwatch, reflecting the game’s dedication to diverse cultural representation.
Originally part of the Overwatch team during its prime, Freja served as a search and rescue specialist alongside heroes like Winston and Reinhardt. After the team disbanded, she transitioned into a bounty hunter in her quest for purpose.
This encapsulates everything revealed about Freja so far, with more details anticipated as we draw closer to the launch of Season 16.
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