Venture

Venture
"Let's make history!"
Real Name	Sloan Cameron
Status	Active
Birth	August 6th
Age	26
Nationality	Canadian
Occupation	Archaeologist Adventurer
Base	Nova Scotia, Canada (formerly) Roaming
Affiliation	Wayfinder Society
Relations	Unnamed grandmother
Voice	Valeria Rodriguez (English) Nadine Girard (French) Derya Akyol (German) Nanako Mori (Japanese) Bang Si-u (Korean) Ma Zink (Brazilian Portuguese) Eva Finkelstein (Russian) Regina Tiscareño (Latin American Spanish)
Cosmetics	Cosmetic page
Quotes	Quotation page
Role	Damage
Health	250
Character Video

Venture is a Damage hero in Overwatch 2. They were released in Season 10, making them the 40th hero added to the game.

Overview

Venture is an elusive, combo-oriented close-range damage dealer.

Abilities

Role: Damage

Type

Passive Ability

Damaging an enemy temporarily reduces their healing received.

Duration:

2 seconds

• Details

Ability details:

• Does not stack with itself or the passive from another damage role hero.
• Stacks multiplicatively with other modifiers that affect healing received.
• Objects that deal damage, such as turrets, may also apply the effect.
• Self-damage does not apply the effect.

Clobber

Type

Passive Ability

Effect Type

Melee

Quick melee deals more damage.

Damage:

30 (impact)
40 (over time)

Headshot:

✕

Cast time:

0 + 0.4 seconds

Duration:

0.7 seconds

Max. range:

3 meters

Venture's melee deals more damage.

• Details

Ability details:

• The initial hit actually does less damage than standard melee (from 40 to 30). An additional 40 damage is dealt over time (for 70 damage total).
• From activation, there is a ~0.2 second active window to deal the initial damage, after which smaller periodic damage is dealt over the remaining duration of the attack.
• Damage is not reflected when blocked by Deflect.
• Clobber can be cancelled at any time into Drill Dash, Burrow or Tectonic Shock.
• Armor damage reduction only applies to the initial damage instance.

Explorer's Resolve

Type

Passive Ability

Using abilities grants temporary shields.

Shields:

30 (normal abilities)
75 (Tectonic Shock)

Duration:

3 seconds

Venture gains shields upon using an ability.

• Details

Ability details:

• Total amount of shield health gained is capped at 75.
  • Using multiple will stack shield health, but not exceed the limit.
• Shields are granted when the ability successfully starts. E.g. in case of Burrow, upon entering underground.
• Clobber does not trigger Explorer's Resolve.
• If Venture takes damage, the shields start regenerating after 1.1 seconds at a rate of 19 shields per second.
• Shields start decaying at the end of the duration at a rate of 30 shield health per second.
  • Using an ability resets the decay timer.
  • Shield decay timer is paused while using Burrow or Tectonic Shock.
• Shield gain is not prevented by anti-heal effects.
• Shields are recoverable hit points, which means damage taken by them can be healed until they decay.

Smart Excavator

Type

Weapon (Primary Fire)

Effect Type

Projectile
Area of effect

!

!

!

Launch a seismic charge that bursts after a short distance.

Damage:

35 (direct hit bonus)
40 - 12 (explosion)

Falloff range:

1 - 2.75 meters (explosion)

Headshot:

✕

Rate of fire:

1.43 shots/s

Ammo:

8

Reload time:

1.5 seconds

Max. range:

16 meters

Area of effect:

2.75 meter explosion radius

Knockback speed:

1.5 m/s (direct hit)
1.1 m/s (min)

Projectile speed:

50 m/s

Projectile radius:

0.35 meters

• Details

Ability details:

• Damage per second: 107 while firing (93.75 overall w/reload)
• Projectile explodes upon hitting an enemy, terrain or upon reaching its maximum range.
• Explosions do not deal self-damage, but will cause a knockback.
• Enemies hit by the shot are knocked back.
• The projectile can be destroyed while in air by Defense Matrix, Kinetic Grasp and Javelin Spin and reflected by Deflect, but the explosion is unaffected.
• Amplification Matrix affects all damage dealt, if the projectile passes through it. Splash damage alone going through is not amplified.

Drill Dash

8 seconds

Type

Ability

Effect Type

Melee
Movement

!

Dash forward while above or underground, pushing enemies back. The cooldown is accelerated while underground.

Damage:

30 (first hit)
60 over 0.4 seconds (subsequent hits)
5 (during Burrow)

Headshot:

✕

Cast time:

0 + 0.3 seconds (unburrowed)
None (burrowed)

Duration:

0.4 seconds (unburrowed)
0.9 seconds (burrowed)

Max. range:

10 meters

Movement speed:

20 m/s (self, max)
12 m/s (self, upwards max)
16 m/s (self, during Burrow)

Knockback speed:

14.5 m/s (regular)
13.45 m/s (during Burrow)

• Details

Ability details:

• Cooldown starts when the ability is activated.
• While underground, the cooldown of Drill Dash is accelerated by 90%.
• Upon hitting an enemy for the first time, they take a small amount of damage. If the enemy stays in contact, they will take additional damage over the remaining duration.
• If dashing along ground, inputting jump right at the end of the dash allows Venture to retain momentum and travel slightly farther.
• Damage is not reflected when blocked by Deflect. Genji still gets knocked back, however.
• Drill Dash can be interrupted at any point by activating or emerging from Burrow or activating Tectonic Shock.
• Armor damage reduction only applies to the initial damage instance.

Burrow

LSHIFT

8 seconds

Type

Ability

Effect Type

Movement
Area of effect

Move underground and become invulnerable. Emerge to deal damage.

Damage:

110 - 75 (max charge)
55 - 37.5 (min charge)

Falloff range:

2.5 - 7.5 meters (max charge)
1.4 - 4 meters (min charge)

Headshot:

✕

Cast time:

0.7 + 0 seconds (burrowing)
0 + 0.6 seconds (emerging)

Duration:

4 seconds (burrowed)
0.2 seconds (emerging, min charge)
0.65 seconds (emerging, max charge)
1.3 seconds (emerging, max delay))

Movement speed:

14 m/s (emerging, max charge)
7 m/s (emerging, min charge)

M. speed buff:

+40% (burrowed)

M. speed penalty:

-25% (casting)

Knockback speed:

7.1 m/s (falloff start)
5.6 m/s (falloff end)

Tectonic Shock

Q

2125 points

Type

Ultimate Ability

Effect Type

Area of effect

Send out damaging shockwaves.

Damage:

130

Headshot:

✕

Rate of fire:

1.11 shots/s

Ammo:

4

Cast time:

0.8 + 0.3 seconds

Duration:

7 seconds

Area of effect:

24.65 meters radius
2.5m height

Spread angle:

12 degrees

Knockback speed:

5 m/s (vertical only)

• Details

Ability details:

• Tectonic Shock transforms Venture's weapon:
  • The ability cannot be interrupted by crowd control or Hack.
  • Venture can freely use primary fire to attack.
  • Venture can still use Drill Dash and Burrow during the ultimate.
• Tectonic Shock cannot be activated or fired while burrowed.
• Quick melee/Clobber cannot be used during Tectonic Shock.
• Tectonic Shock fires shockwaves that travel along ground.
  • If Venture is mid-air while firing a charge, the activation of the shockwave will be delayed until they hit the ground.
    • Venture's falling acceleration is tripled if a charge is fired mid-air.
  • Shockwaves cannot cross gaps or go up or down ledges, but can travel along ramps and stairs.
  • Enemies hit by the shockwaves take damage and are knocked in the air.
• Tectonic Shock instantly replenishes Smart Excavator's ammo.
  • Venture cannot fire Smart Excavator's normal primary fire during Tectonic Shock, so the replenished ammo can only be used once the ultimate ends.

Match-Ups and Team Synergy

When fighting Tanks, Venture has "Matchup" ratings, ranging on a scale of 5 levels. This is because Venture's primary focus, like any other DPS, is to pressure and eliminate the enemy team's Supports and other Damage heroes:

• Very Strong Vs. | Strong Vs. | Even/Neutral Vs. | Weak Vs. | Very Weak Vs.

When fighting DPS & Supports, Venture has "Priority Targeting" & measures of "Risk" ranging on a scale of 5 levels. These heroes often pose the greatest threat to Venture or are key targets to eliminate:

• Extremely High Priority | High Priority | Medium Priority | Low Priority | Very Low Priority
• Extreme Risk | High Risk | Medium Risk | Low Risk | Very Low Risk

Synergies are also graded on a scale of 5 levels:

• Exceptional Synergy | Strong Synergy | Good Synergy | Ok Synergy | Weak Synergy

Tank

Hero	Match-Up	Team Synergy
D.Va	TBA MATCHUP	TBA SYNERGY
Doomfist	TBA MATCHUP	TBA SYNERGY
Junker Queen	TBA MATCHUP	TBA SYNERGY
Mauga	TBA MATCHUP	TBA SYNERGY
Orisa	TBA MATCHUP	TBA SYNERGY
Ramattra	TBA MATCHUP	TBA SYNERGY
Reinhardt	TBA MATCHUP	TBA SYNERGY
Roadhog	TBA MATCHUP	TBA SYNERGY
Sigma	TBA MATCHUP	TBA SYNERGY
Winston	TBA MATCHUP	TBA SYNERGY
Wrecking Ball	TBA MATCHUP	TBA SYNERGY
Zarya	TBA MATCHUP	TBA SYNERGY

Damage

Hero	Match-Up	Team Synergy
Ashe	TBA PRIORITY | TBA RISK	TBA SYNERGY
Bastion	TBA PRIORITY | TBA RISK	TBA SYNERGY
Cassidy	TBA PRIORITY | TBA RISK	TBA SYNERGY
Echo	TBA PRIORITY | TBA RISK	TBA SYNERGY
Genji	TBA PRIORITY | TBA RISK	TBA SYNERGY
Hanzo	TBA PRIORITY | TBA RISK	TBA SYNERGY
Junkrat	TBA PRIORITY | TBA RISK	TBA SYNERGY
Mei	TBA PRIORITY | TBA RISK	TBA SYNERGY
Pharah	TBA PRIORITY | TBA RISK	TBA SYNERGY
Reaper	TBA PRIORITY | TBA RISK	TBA SYNERGY
Sojourn	TBA PRIORITY | TBA RISK	TBA SYNERGY
Soldier: 76	TBA PRIORITY | TBA RISK	TBA SYNERGY
Sombra	TBA PRIORITY | TBA RISK	TBA SYNERGY
Symmetra	TBA PRIORITY | TBA RISK	TBA SYNERGY
Torbjörn	TBA PRIORITY | TBA RISK	TBA SYNERGY
Tracer	TBA PRIORITY | TBA RISK	TBA SYNERGY
Venture	TBA PRIORITY | TBA RISK	TBA SYNERGY
Widowmaker	TBA PRIORITY | TBA RISK	TBA SYNERGY

Support

Hero	Match-Up	Team Synergy
Ana	TBA PRIORITY | TBA RISK	TBA SYNERGY
Baptiste	TBA PRIORITY | TBA RISK	TBA SYNERGY
Brigitte	TBA PRIORITY | TBA RISK	TBA SYNERGY
Illari	TBA PRIORITY | TBA RISK	TBA SYNERGY
Kiriko	TBA PRIORITY | TBA RISK	TBA SYNERGY
Lifeweaver	TBA PRIORITY | TBA RISK	TBA SYNERGY
Lúcio	TBA PRIORITY | TBA RISK	TBA SYNERGY
Mercy	TBA PRIORITY | TBA RISK	TBA SYNERGY
Moira	TBA PRIORITY | TBA RISK	TBA SYNERGY
Zenyatta	TBA PRIORITY | TBA RISK	TBA SYNERGY

Story

An eccentric and daring adventurer, Venture is a charismatic and enthusiastic non-binary archaeologist with a passion for solving history's mysteries. When danger calls, Venture always answers. As a member of the Wayfinder Society, Venture travels the world, using their excavating tools to uncover artifacts and protect archaeological sites from looters, thieves, and more dangerous criminal organizations.

Venture's archeological interests are varied and at times, apparently contradictory. Omnic archeology is their favorite specialization, while their favorites of archeology include Classical, Medieval, and Egyptology. They also like Baroque architecture.

Background

Cameron and their fellow Wayfinders

Sloan Cameron had an affinity for finding lost things since they were a child. They never lived in one place for long, and each new home meant a new expedition—on which they unearthed treasures, trinkets, and traces of the past. Their unusual talent drew them to the Wayfinder Society. At sixteen, they started an apprenticeship with the organization and never looked back.

Cameron recovers an artifact

Due to their unfettered bravery, Cameron was a unique addition to the brilliant minds of the Wayfinders. From ancient ruins to dormant omniums, dangerous expeditions quickly became their go-to assignments. They often returned from digs covered in dirt, bruises, and local fauna, but always with a smile on their face, eager to learn about the artifacts they’d recovered. Their dedication eventually saw them graduate from their apprenticeship, making them a full-fledged member of the Wayfinder Society.

Cameron provides ad hoc security

Cameron's fearlessness came in handy for more than just expeditions. With increasing threats to Wayfinder sites, security often fell into their hands. Looters, scavengers, even master thieves would try to steal artifacts recovered by the Wayfinders. But with their excavating tools and quick wit, Cameron managed to fend off any would-be troublemakers.

Venture's Adventures

“	It all started with Talon stealing artifacts. But wait. Who's that? Those boots, the drill, that perfect smile. It's Venture!	„
	~ Cameron self-narrating their experiences

Cameron's first encounter with Talon

While on-site at Ilios, Cameron had to grapple with their most challenging enemy yet: Talon. The shadowy organization plundered the site with reckless abandon, leaving Cameron with no choice but to stand up to them. After a long-fought scrap, Cameron succeeded in driving them out. But in the wake of the attack, something stuck in their mind. What would such a powerful organization be hunting for in these ruins? It was a mystery, indeed...and Cameron could never leave a mystery unsolved.

Cameron did research on an artifact Talon had acquired, last seen in ruins at Cairo. The reliefs led them to the Shambali, who directed them to Talon's hideout. After a lot of digging, Cameron emerged in Talon's hidehout. The Talon troopers attempted to flee, but Cameron dodged and blasted their way through the base before incapacitating the troopers and reclaiming the artifact.

Achievements

Name	Icon	Description	Reward
Excavation Annihiliation		Eliminate 3 enemies with a single use of Tectonic Shock.	Cute
Pitfall		Knock back an enemy to their death with Drill Dash.	Pixel

Trivia

• Venture is the only hero with a "Dev Doodle" Spray who didn't receive it on April Fools. Players instead received the spray upon logging in during Season 10.

Misc. Character Information

• Venture has always wanted to be eaten alive by scarabs.
• Venture possibly has asthma.
• Venture's grandmother lives in Mexico.
• Venture appears to enjoy ice-cream, as they have been seen eating it in various videos and artwork.

Disputed Information

“	Begin the excavation log. Sloan Cameron here, on-site in Petra. Me and the Wayfinders just found the coolest artifact I think I've ever—Again? Come on! Whoa, whoa, whoa. If you wanna mess with these artifacts, you gotta go through me.	„
	~ Venture

Cameron observes the firefight

Cameron worked on-site at Petra. Their work was interrupted by a firefight between Overwatch and Talon (and, apparently, not for the first time). Taking the side of the former, Cameron helped drive Talon off before returning to their excavation. Burrowing through the ground, Cameron emerged in a chamber which held a construct that looked like Anubis.

Development

Venture concept art

Venture's developer nickname was "Miner". The inital concept was a hero who could dig underground, as such early concept art was highly experimental with their design. Senior Concept Artist Kejun Wang tried various themes and configurations for Venture's drill, such as sound-based weaponry and exosuits. These concepts were later experimented with and combined to help make more defined early concepts.

Early drill concept art by Kejun Wang

Narrative designer Miranda Moyer directed Venture's identity towards a swashbuckling archaeologist, which had concept artists lean into the adventurer aesthetic, specifically to design them as a daring explorer with a big drill. Whilst developing Venture's look and trying to solidify the hero's silhouette, other than the iconic big drill, concept artists ended up giving Venture a big backpack and long coat to help make them look unique to other heroes, while suiting their adventurer identity. Venture was heavily inspired by miners and mining gear, which is reflected in the design of their drill weapon.

Early prototype sketch and movement studies

Whilst visualizing early concept art of Venture's drill into 3D, the design got streamlined and changed to a more conical shape to make it more recognizable and better from a first-person perspective. From the conical 3D drill, developers started to plot the moving parts and different states it would have, which led to the now moving Drill mode and idle Cannon. Venture's design was also slightly inspired by motorcyclists, such as the way they hold their Drill, as well as the drill's look and loud noises. This inspiration also led to the flame decals on their weapon, as well as flame tattoos on Venture's neck. Venture's off-hand grip was inspired by vacuum cleaners.

3D drill variations and movement studies

For Venture's character personality and backstory, Moyer stated they worked around the concepts the hero has so far, which at the time was a character with a big drill. From this, they explored different archetypes and ultimately landed on archaeology. They explored what archaeology would be look like in the world of Overwatch, leading to the idea that the well-charted future still had mystery and adventure if you look for it. As such, they developed Venture's daring, passionate and brazen personality.

Venture is Overwatch 2's first trans non-binary hero, using they/them pronouns. The team gathered feedback and worked closely with the LGBT network at Blizzard, as well as gender non-conforming developers working on Venture, to try best represent Ventures gender identity as authentically as possible.

Venture was revealed at BlizzCon 2023. Reception was mostly positive, with fan art quickly appearing on the Internet. Venture was available as a trial from March 28 to 31 before Season 10 began, where they were released as a regular hero.

Media

Concept Art

• 

  Ice Cream Skin Concept Art by Cecilia Deyne

Balance Change Logs

For more information, see Patch Notes.

• Overwatch 2 PvP

Overwatch 2 PvP

Patch

Description

17 Sep 2024

Developer Comment: As a highly mobile damage hero, Venture doesn't need quite as much shield health from their passive as they currently get to be successful. Even though they are a close-range hero, their abilities enable them to close the gap quickly and effectively without taking much damage.

Explorer's Resolve

• Shield health gained per ability reduced from 40 to 30.

21 May 2024

Developer Comments: As we continue to monitor Venture's gameplay throughout their release Season, we are making a change today that adds more flexibility to using Drill Dashes. Players will now be less punished for using their Drill Dash above ground and immediately burrowing due to the new accelerated cooldown while underground.

Drill Dash

• Cooldown now begins when the ability is used.
• Cooldown is no longer decreased by half when used underground.
• Cooldown is accelerated by 90% when underground.

Burrow

• Added a 0.2-second grace period after the Burrow timer runs out where emerging can still be charged.

30 Apr 2024

Smart Excavator

• Maximum explosion damage decreased from 45 to 40.

Drill Dash

• Initial impact damage decreased from 40 to 30.

Tectonic Shock

• Ultimate charge cost increased by 10%.

16 Apr 2024

New Hero: Venture

• Venture has been added to the line-up.
• Venture is immediately available to play in Competitive Play.

Developer Comments: This is a pretty major change from past heroes, but we’ve always wanted to allow new heroes into Competitive when a new season for Overwatch 2 launches. In the past, we wanted to make sure new heroes were free of any bugs or outstanding balance issues, as well as giving players enough time to unlock a hero from the Battle Pass. Because of the recent hero trial, we’re confident Venture is ready to jump into the action right away…

Changes from preview

Developer Comments: We are redistributing the damage on some of their abilities so that positioning relative to the enemy and tracking a target are more important for dealing maximum damage.

Drill Dash

• Impact damage decreased from 60 to 40.
• Damage over time increased from 40 to 60.

Clobber

• Impact damage decreased from 40 to 30.
• Damage over time increased from 30 to 40.

Tectonic Shock

• Vertical knockback decreased by 30%.