Overwatch just introduced a big shakeup to the roster of Talon, with Reaper, Sombra, and Widowmaker leaving the organization just as Emre, Freja, Ashe, and possibly even Junker Queen join. This huge change comes just in time for the relaunch of Overwatch with Reign of Talon Season 1: Conquest.

Blizzard is literally changing the game when it comes to Overwatch in 2026. The popular hero shooter is dropping the 2 from Overwatch 2, releasing five new heroes at once, and moving to a storytelling model in which each year focuses on a different plot arc. The first one, called Reign of Talon, started with Vendetta defeating Doomfist and taking over his villainous organization.

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Talon’s Massive Roster Change in Overwatch Season 1: Conquest

Now, a new Story Time comic has detailed the aftermath of her ascension. “Vengeance Comes,” narrated by Vendetta voice actor Chiara Preziosi, features the new leader holding a meeting with major Talon figures to organize an attack on Watchpoint: Grand Mesa, a former Overwatch base now controlled by Helix. However, during the debriefing, Moira reveals a shocking twist: Reaper, Sombra, and Widowmaker have left Talon in opposition to Vendetta’s hostile takeover in Overwatch.

overwatch vengeance comes comic talon widowmaker reaper sombra leave Image via Blizzard

That said, Vendetta is unconcerned with these deserters and is already backfilling her roster with some heavy-hitters to replace these lost agents. Emre and Freja, both former Overwatch search-and-rescue operatives, are working directly with Talon now and will head up the operation for the Grand Mesa mission. Their loyalties to Vendetta do not seem ironclad at the moment, but as long as Maximilien continues paying them well, Talon has acquired some dangerous assets with these two damage heroes.

overwatch vengeance comes comic talon freja emre join Image via Blizzard

What’s more, Vendetta has secured several external alliances, the first of which is with none other than Ashe’s Deadlock Gang. Her outlaws are set to distract Helix from the Grand Mesa operation, proving Ashe is now officially in cahoots with Vendetta’s Talon.

All Heroes Joining or Leaving Talon in Overwatch Reign of Talon Season 1: Conquest

  • Leaving Talon
    • Doomfist (Defeated by Vendetta)
    • Reaper (Opposes Vendetta, also killed her father)
    • Sombra (Opposes Vendetta)
    • Widowmaker (Opposes Vendetta)

  • Joining/Working with Talon
    • Domina (Vishkar vice president, new Season 1 hero)
    • Emre (Via Maximilien, new Season 1 hero)
    • Freja (Via Maximilien)
    • Ashe (Deadlock leader)
    • Mizuki (Hashimoto agent, new Season 1 hero, sympathetic to Overwatch/Yokai)
    • Junker Queen (Potential alliance with Junkertown via Mauga)
    • Wrecking Ball (Likely if Junker Queen joins)
    • Roadhog (Possibly if Junker Queen joins)
    • Junkrat (Possibly if Junker Queen joins)

This isn’t the only alliance Vendetta has secured. Vishkar has long been a secret ally of Talon’s, but under the guidance of its vice president Vaira Singhania, coming to Overwatch in Season 1: Conquest as Domina, its support has grown even more direct. Using their hard-light shielding technology, Vendetta’s gladiators will be a force to be reckoned with.

domina overwatch-1

Vendetta has also strengthened her ties with the Hashimoto, a criminal enterprise in Japan best known for filling the void left by the Shimada clan’s downfall and for being the major antagonists of Kiriko’s Yokai gang in Overwatch. In exchange for reinforcements to secure Tokyo, the Hashimoto are forcing Toshiro Yamagami – Kiriko’s father – to create another weapon like the ones used by Genji and Hanzo. It would not be surprising to see this weapon wielded by the hero coming in Season 3, whose silhouette seemingly features the trademark oni masks used by the Hashimoto clan.

overwatch reign of talon 2026 roadmap Image via Blizzard

Lastly, Mauga is heading to Junkertown to pay his respects to Junker Queen and to forge an alliance with the brutal tyrant. While Mauga may not be the first Overwatch character to come to mind for diplomatic missions, Junker Queen will almost certainly appreciate the smooth-talking mercenary’s cunning and fierce demeanor. If he gets her on board, all of Junkertown might end up working with Talon as well, meaning Wrecking Ball, Roadhog, and Junkrat could oppose Overwatch more directly in the future.

overwatch vengeance comes comic talon mauga junker queen diplomacy junkertown Image via Blizzard

The comic ends with Vendetta revealing she has already launched an attack on Watchpoint: Gibraltar, where Overwatch is currently based. This offensive will be reflected through in-game map changes once Overwatch Reign of Talon Season 1: Conquest goes live on February 10. With so many massive lore shake-ups happening before the season even begins, it seems like Overwatch is pulling out all the stops this year.

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8 /10

Overwatch
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Top Critic Avg: 90 /100 Critics Rec: 96%
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Released
May 24, 2016
ESRB
T for Teen: Blood, Use of Tobacco, Violence (online interactions not rated)
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Blizzard
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Blizzard
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Genre(s)
First-Person Shooter