Stadium Mode is shaking up Overwatch‘s competitive and esports meta. The format is bringing unconventional playstyles and abilities to the forefront: Moira can launch both orb types at once, Mei can turn into a boulder with knockback, Ashe can release B.O.B. in half the usual Ultimate time and Soldier 76’s Biotic Field can move with him. Let’s explore the best Stadium Mode builds for each Overwatch hero and why they work.
In Stadium Mode, introduced in Season 16, Heroes progressively add more Powers and Armory Items to their kit, fundamentally changing their performance. Powers are free and gained based on the player’s Hero level. A player can have up to four Powers per game, and twelve options exist for each Hero. However, powers cannot be unequipped once selected, so players must carefully pick the ones that align with their intended build.
Armory Items are smaller adjustments than Powers, but they still significantly impact a player’s game. They come in three categories:
Within these three categories, three levels exist:
To buy Armory Items, players need Stadium Cash. Defeating enemies with bounties and impacting the game through damage, elims and heals grants this currency.
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How This List Works
The beautiful thing about Stadium Mode is that it broadens every Hero’s potential and allows teams to test unconventional pathways to victory. Because of this, no one build is best for a Hero in every situation.
The most consistent path to victory in any team-based game is providing value to your allies and fulfilling your intended role. This list will focus on identifying the best Power and Abilities in each tier that serve that purpose. For example, a DPS may want to build toward high damage potential, while a Support would focus on abilities that improve team healing. Since Heroes can combine multiple items in Stadium Mode, it will also focus on which abilities to buy first in each tier rather than the best overall combinations.
If you’re still struggling with these selections, there’s no harm in trying something new. For example, a DPS struggling to stay alive in team fights might build toward a survivability kit. What’s important is that you feel comfortable and can impact the match’s outcome.
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D.Va
Note: This build focuses on D.Va’s Self-Destruct Ultimate, since many of her Stadium abilities build on it, and it is often a deciding factor in rounds. While this build is meta in higher ranks, traditional survival options may be better in lower ranks.
Junker Queen
Orisa
Reinhardt
Zarya
Ashe
Cassidy
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Genji
Mei
Reaper
Soldier: 76
