Overwatch Stadium unlocks Junker Queen builds, turning chaos to power. Two builds, Bloodthirsty Berserker and Shout Commander, redefine tank lifesteal.
I've been crushing it in Overwatch Stadium since its launch in Season 16, and let me tell you, building the perfect Junker Queen is like trying to assemble IKEA furniture after three energy drinks – chaotic but incredibly satisfying when you get it right. This new fast-paced mode has completely transformed how we play, letting us craft custom builds each match that turn our favorite heroes into absolute powerhouses.
The Queen's Domain
For the uninitiated, Stadium works like this: you lock in your hero (no switching mid-game, so choose wisely), then battle through mini-rounds to earn that sweet, sweet currency. That money is your ticket to power, letting you purchase items that supercharge your abilities and create devastating synergies. And when it comes to tanks, our beloved Wastelander reigns supreme.
As I write this in early 2025, the meta has evolved considerably since Stadium's introduction, but Junker Queen remains a top-tier pick for those who know how to build her right. She's like a fine wine that's been aged in a rusty barrel – unconventional but surprisingly effective.
Build #1: The Bloodthirsty Berserker
This build transforms Junker Queen into something akin to a vampire blender – constantly spinning, healing, and making enemies regret their life choices. It's my go-to when I need to carry a team of DPS players who think 'tank' is just a suggestion.
Power Progression:
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Round 1: Let's Go Win - Eliminations reset Commanding Shout cooldown
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Round 3: Chop Chop - Carnage gains an extra charge
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Round 5: Bloodcrazed - Rampage and Carnage give 15% Max Life as Overhealth per hit
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Round 7: Reckoner's Roar - Commanding Shout Wounds nearby enemies
Item Priority:
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Start with Shady Spectacles and Power Playbook for early ability power and lifesteal
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Add Plasma Converter to make your primary fire heal you
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Stack Energized Bracers and Nano Cola to amplify ability damage
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Mid-game, grab Scav Scraps and Thick Skull for survivability
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Late game, focus on Catalytic Crystal for ult charge and Champion's Kit for massive ability power
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Finish with Phantasmic Flux for the ultimate lifesteal machine
Using this build feels like being a bulldozer with a built-in health spa. You'll be constantly healing while dishing out ridiculous damage. The synergy between Bloodcrazed and your lifesteal items means you're practically unkillable in the right hands (specifically, my hands).
Build #2: The Shout Commander
If the first build is a solo wrecking ball, this one's more like conducting a deadly orchestra. It focuses on maximizing the value of Commanding Shout to support your team while still maintaining impressive damage output.
Power Progression:
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Round 1: Let's Go Win - Eliminations reset Commanding Shout cooldown
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Round 3: Reckoner's Roar - Commanding Shout Wounds nearby enemies
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Round 5: Thrill of Battle - Adrenaline Rush also heals nearby allies
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Round 7: Twist the Knife - Scattergun crits extend Wound duration
Item Priority:
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Start with Shady Spectacles and Power Playbook
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Add Siphon Gloves for sustain through melee
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Double up on Nano Cola for ability power
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Mid-game, Booming Voice is critical for increasing Shout's effectiveness
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Late game, mix Champion's Kit with Cybervenom to add healing reduction
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Finish with Undying Loyalty to turn your Shout into a team-wide healing station
This build transforms you from a simple tank into something more like a tactical support general who happens to carry an axe. Your shouts will echo across the battlefield like a heavy metal concert in a canyon, healing allies and debuffing enemies in one glorious cacophony.
People Also Ask
What makes Junker Queen better than other tanks in Stadium?
Unlike traditional tanks who just soak damage, Junker Queen thrives on self-sustain through lifesteal. She's like a financial advisor who invests damage to yield health dividends – the more you swing, the longer you live.
How important is ability power versus lifesteal for Junker Queen?
It's a delicate balance, like trying to surf during an earthquake. You need enough ability power to make your wounds and abilities threatening, but without lifesteal, you'll fold faster than a cheap lawn chair. I typically aim for a 60/40 split favoring ability power.
Can Junker Queen work as a main tank in Stadium?
Absolutely! With the right build, she's not just viable but downright oppressive. A well-built Junker Queen is like a cockroach with a crown – practically impossible to kill and irritatingly persistent.
The Battlefield Evolves
As Stadium continues to evolve in 2025, I find myself wondering about the philosophical implications of these build systems. Are we truly playing the same heroes we've known for years, or are we creating entirely new entities with each unique combination of powers and items? When my Junker Queen can heal allies with her shout or gain multiple charges of Carnage, is she still the same scrappy fighter from Junkertown?
Perhaps the beauty of Stadium lies precisely in this transformative potential – the ability to reimagine heroes beyond their original design constraints. Like a sculptor finding new forms within a familiar block of marble, we're discovering new dimensions to characters we thought we knew inside and out.
What other unexpected synergies might we discover as we continue to experiment? What boundaries might we push as players continue to innovate? The wasteland queen's reign has only just begun, and I, for one, am eager to see what bloody paths we'll carve next.