Overwatch 2 expands Hero Mastery mode and introduces Hero Mastery: Gauntlet

Amy Chen

Amy Chen

The Hero Mastery game mode will include more characters in Season 8.

Overwatch 2's Hero Mastery game mode will feature more characters in the future. Blizzard revealed this information on the BlizzCon 2023 stage. The panel also teased Hero Mastery: Gauntlet, which will be a three-player co-op mode. Read on for details.

Overwatch 2 Season 8 Hero Mastery mode discussion (Image via Blizzard Entertainment)
Overwatch 2 Season 8 Hero Mastery mode discussion (Image via Blizzard Entertainment)

Overwatch 2 Season 8 Hero Mastery mode

According to Overwatch 2 game producer Monika Lee, Blizzard's first-person shooter (FPS) will get five new Hero Mastery courses in Season 8. These courses will feature characters D.Va, Echo, Genji, Lucio, and Mei. They will join the current roster of Reinhardt, Mercy, Tracer, Sojourn, and Winston.

"It's been so much fun for us to see players in the courses trying to top their previous scores and get better," Lee said. "So we're really excited to expand the roster of playable heroes. Coming in Season 8, we'll have five new heroes joining Hero Mastery. Those will be D.Va, Echo, Genji, Lucio, and Mei."

D.Va, Echo, Genji, Lucio, and Mei (Image via Blizzard Entertainment)
D.Va, Echo, Genji, Lucio, and Mei (Image via Blizzard Entertainment)

In Overwatch 2, this Hero Mastery mode refers to a game mode that has obstacles, jump pads, and training bots. The goal of this mode is to help players get a better hang of certain playable heroes. Currently, there are three difficult levels in Hero Mastery. These include Recruit, Agent, and Expert.

Players can learn more about the current set of Hero Mastery courses in our guide here.

Overwatch 2 Hero Mastery: Gauntlet

Lee also revealed that Overwatch 2 will get the Hero Mastery: Gauntlet mode in 2024. Hero Mastery: Gauntlet will be a co-op mode featuring three players.

"For me, Overwatch has been a social game. And we're really looking forward to bringing that into hero Mastery next year with Hero Mastery: Gauntlet," Lee said. "This new, three-player co-op mode features the Hero Mastery art kit, bots, and all-new gameplay that's focused on enemy waves and tower defense."

Overwatch 2 Hero Mastery: Gauntlet screenshot (Image via Blizzard Entertainment)
Overwatch 2 Hero Mastery: Gauntlet screenshot (Image via Blizzard Entertainment)

Lee then showed some work-in-progress footage. The video featured towers as objective points.

"The goal for the team is to defend the towers from attacking bots," Lee explained. "They'll be exploding bots, flying bots, all sorts of variety there. And it's really fun juggling the defense of three towers, the different kinds of bots, and different ways to power up."

Hero Mastery: Gauntlet gameplay (Image via Blizzard Entertainment)
Hero Mastery: Gauntlet gameplay (Image via Blizzard Entertainment)

Additionally, players will be able to call in airstrikes if their team gets swarmed by bots. This game mode will allow players to generate healing for their entire team as well.

That's all for now. Stay tuned on esports.gg for more news and updates!