Overwatch 2 Stadium - Everything You Need To Know

What is Stadium?

Stadium is Overwatch 2's exciting new game mode that transforms the traditional gameplay into something entirely fresh. In this best-of-7, multi-round competition, two teams of five face off in magnificent arenas while purchasing upgraded items and powers to radically transform their heroes.




The mode features a third-person camera view by default (though first-person is still available), launching with 17 heroes and promising more each season. Teams maintain the traditional 1 Tank, 2 Damage, 2 Support composition, but the gameplay evolves dramatically through the match.

At the start of each game, you'll choose the hero you want to play for the entire match. Following each round, you'll first upgrade your hero with Powers, then spend Stadium Cash in the Armory to purchase items that enhance your kit.

Core Gameplay Elements

Powers

Powers are free ability-changing modifiers that completely transform how your hero plays. You'll equip a new Power at the start of rounds 1, 3, 5, and 7, choosing from 12 unique options for each hero. Once equipped, these Powers cannot be removed, so strategy is crucial.

Some examples of game-changing Powers include Kiriko duplicating herself with Clone Conjuration, Reinhardt sending lava across the arena with Firestrike, Mei rolling into battle with Coulder, and D.Va turning floors to lava with each use of her Boosters via Ignition Burst. The right Power combinations can create entirely new playstyles for familiar heroes.

Items and the Armory

Before each round, you'll have a short amount of time to equip Items and Powers in the Armory while planning strategy with your team. Unlike Powers, Items can be sold for their full value, allowing you to adapt your strategy as the match evolves. You can equip up to six Items at once, across three main categories:

Weapon Items enhance heroes whose gameplay revolves around their primary weapons, like Cassidy or Widowmaker.

Ability Items boost heroes who rely heavily on cooldown abilities, such as Orisa, Mei, or Moira.

Survival Items benefit all heroes but are particularly valuable for supports like Mercy or Ana who need to survive enemy attacks.

Items come in three tiers of rarity:

• Common Items provide small buffs and are affordable early game options
• Rare Items significantly boost stats and become available after the first round
• Epic Items are expensive late-game investments that can dramatically change the tide of battle

If you're unsure what to pick, the game will suggest two different Example Builds for your hero. These include recommended Items and Powers that focus on a unique strategy or key part of your hero's gameplay kit. You can follow these exactly or use them as guides while developing your own innovative builds.

Some Rare and Epic Items are hero-specific, like Orisa's Oladele-Copter Blades that let her fly during Javelin Spin, Mei's Snowboots for increased mobility, or Ana's Tranquilizer that increases Sleep Dart hitbox by 500%.

Stadium Cash Economy

Every player starts with 3,500 Stadium Cash—enough for three Common Items. Your earnings grow based on performance: dealing damage, healing, assists, and securing eliminations all add to your total. The round MVP receives a 1,000 cash bonus.

The bounty system adds another layer of strategy:

• All heroes begin with a 300 bounty value
• Each elimination increases your bounty by 75
• Heroes with bounties of 750+ are marked on the HUD
• Maximum potential bounty is 2,000
• After being eliminated, your bounty resets to 300
• Heroes at minimum bounty (300) when eliminated will lose 100 bounty (down to 200)

When you participate in eliminating an opponent with a bounty, you receive a portion of that bounty based on how much you contributed to the elimination. This creates opportunities for teams that fall behind to catch up quickly by targeting high-value opponents.

Beyond purchasing Items, Stadium Cash also directly improves your hero, adding 1 max health for every 500 cash earned (up to +300 total). Tanks gain additional speed and strength for every 250 cash earned.

Maps and Game Modes

Stadium features nine different maps across three core game modes, each with special rules:

Clash requires teams to win two of three objective points to secure victory.

Control features a single round with accelerated capture progress.

Push takes place on smaller, modified maps with half the normal pushing distance.

More maps and game modes will be added over time to keep the gameplay experience fresh.

A New Perspective

Stadium uses a third-person perspective by default to help you track the chaotic action. This wider view is essential given the variety of effects that can fill the battlefield, from lava sprays to multiple biotic orbs to orbital death rays.

You can tune and adjust your viewing experience in the new Stadium settings in Game Options, including:

• Adjusting your field of view
• Enabling UI indicators for reloading
• Adding indicators when your line-of-sight is blocked
• Switching back to traditional first-person view if preferred

Competitive System

Stadium has its own unique ranking system, separate from regular Competitive Play. Each season resets all ranks, with everyone starting in the Rookie League. As you win matches, you'll climb through Divisions and Leagues, with higher leagues increasing the risk of losing progress.

The mode offers exclusive rewards, including Epic skins for reaching Elite Rank in each role and Competitive Points for Weapon Variants. To celebrate Stadium's launch in Season 16, players who reach All-Star League in any role will earn the exclusive All-Stars Juno Epic skin.

Stadium Tips

Develop Power Synergies

Choosing Powers that complement each other creates powerful gameplay opportunities. Rather than selecting Powers randomly, consider how they might work together to enhance a specific ability or playstyle.

Watch Your Opponent's Strategy

Throughout the game, you'll be able to see what Powers and Items your opponents are picking. Use this information to counter their builds. For example, if an enemy Mercy is focusing on movement speed and cooldown reductions, consider abilities that auto-lock onto targets like Juno's Pulsar Destroyer, Soldier: 76's Super Visor, or Cassidy's Quick Draw.

If Ashe is causing trouble with fire damage, Kiriko's Talisman of Life Item and Two-Zu Power can help extinguish those flames.

Check the scoreboard regularly to see how enemies are building their heroes and work with teammates to develop counter-strategies.

Spend Wisely

Adapt your Item purchases based on the match's progression and your opponents' strategies. The stats panel shows exactly how each Item affects your hero, helping you make informed decisions.

Remember that you can sell Items for their full value, allowing you to completely change your approach between rounds.

Balance Aggression and Survival

While eliminating opponents earns Stadium Cash, becoming a high-value target puts a bounty on your head. Strategic players will balance aggressive play with survival to maximize earnings while minimizing losses.

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