Summary
The hit hero-shooterOverwatch 2is now (mostly) free-to-play, bringing plenty of new players along with it.Overwatch 2boasts a roster ofnearly 40 playable heroes, with more to be added in the future. There are three roles to choose from: Tank, DPS, and Support — each with unique traits and responsibilities.
As a new player, it can be overwhelming to decide which heroes to play and master. While some are better used by the more experienced players and require mechanical skill, there aresome heroes that, for various reasons, are great for beginnersand FPS newcomers. Some of these require minimal aiming or learning abilities, while others are more self-sufficient or familiar. This list features theeasiest heroes to playas inOverwatch 2.
Updated December 2nd, 2023 by Stephen LaGioia:Blizzard’s renowned hero shooter feels more akin to a virtual playground with an evolving ecosystem as opposed to just a game. Things are always in flux as the studio continues to release new maps, events, game modes, and heroes. This has only accelerated with therelease of Overwatch 2.
With such a massive roster, shifting meta, and diverse lineup of gameplay options, diving into competitive play for the first time can be more intimidating than ever. And with talks of a fewnew heroes coming shortly down the pipeline, it seemed time to refresh and reload this list of the simplest, most effective heroes for Overwatch 2 beginners.
15Illari
A Solid DPS-Dealing Healer
This recent addition to theOverwatchroster shines for her prominent use of both DPS and healing. The Peruvian warrior is effective in her ability to seamlessly transition from healing to damage, by way of a fairly thick, forgiving hitscan beam and sharp blaster.
For being primarily a Support hero, Illari is effective in getting much done on her own, and can even pick off targets with headshots. She wields a detectingHealing Pylonwhich is handy in that it focuses on restoring the hero in range with the lowest health.
Her Ultimate,Captive Sun, is especially impactful, as it blasts an explosive ball of solar energy. All in its path are bogged down in speed and explode after taking enough damage. Illari’s mechanics are pretty straightforward and familiar, while still boasting plenty of useful moves. It certainly helps that she thrives in the current meta.
14Roadhog
A Great One-Two Punch
It’s unfortunate that Roadhog is in the bottom tier when it comes to the new meta, because he was once (and still can be) a powerhouse who’s tough to bring down. But while the current meta may have left this beefy tank in the dust, he still benefits from his handy ability toself-heal.
Of course, his bread and butter comes in the form of hisdeadly Chain Hook and Scrap Guncombo, which is still somewhat impactful despite getting a big nerf in 2023. Itdoestake some practice to use the hook as a way to yank players into a pit, but it’s still disruptive in its own right.
His Scrap Gun is potent and easy to wrap one’s head around with its vast spread and compact nature. And players can let loose with hisWhole HogUltimate, which will pin players against one of the many walls in a given map, or push them over a cliff.
13Lucio
Swift Area-Of-Effect Healing
This energetic, music-loving hero is a fun and effective way for players to dip their toes in the support role. Thanks to his swiftness, mobility (largely through Wall Ride), andarea-of-effect heals,Lucio can be quite effective to newcomers and franchise vets alike.
He sports a simpleSonic Amplifier,easily-shiftable (speed-increasing and healing)Crossfade,and a reliable Ult inSound Barrier.As such, Lucio can cover much ground and keep a team propped up fairly easily. He’s also quite high on the totempole when it comes to the current meta, as teams find him useful to rally around when making pushes in Control, Escort, and Push.
12Reaper
A Dual-Wielding Bringer Of Death
Though this ghoulish DPS has been nerfed a bit, he still stands as one of the most effective heroes for beginners and vets alike. Moreover, the more open layout of manyOW2stages particularly suits the brawler and flanker.
With Reaper’s dual-wielding shotguns, players can melt opposing tanks and sluggish players easily. This is largely thanks to hisShadow Stepmove, which doubles as a great flanking tool and an escape method. Then there’s his Ultimate,Death Blossom,which can swiftly wipe out a group of targets, provided he doesn’t draw their attention.
11Pharah
The High-Ground Advantage
Pharah’s playstyleinOverwatch 2is fairly simple; she excels from the skies, raining damage from above with her long-range explosiveRocket Launcher.While there’s a bit of a learning curve when it comes to her flight, this also makes her tough to hit, giving players a nice safety net. Her attacks yield AoE splash damage, so accuracy isn’t that important, though she does deal more damage if she lands her shots directly onto an enemy.
Pharah can use her Rocket Jets to boost up into the air, and then her Hover Jets to stay in the air for as long as possible. Since she is mostly airborne, Pharah can be quite silent and pesky. She can easily sneak behind the opposing team and rain death from above using herBarrageUltimate; it is certain to take out any unsuspecting victims.
10Orisa
Reworked Into A More Mobile Powerhouse
Orisa began as a tough tank to master, especially in chaotic fights or hitting multiple targets all around her. But the Omnic has seen a revamp since the sequel’s release, making her a more capable brawler and offensive threat rather than just a defensive powerhouse.
Despite the near removal of shield-tank status, her reworking more than justifies her defensive backstep. Her base armor has been bumped up, and her newAugmented Fusion Drivercan pummel targets with loads of damage. And she can still break out theFortificationwhen the team is in a pinch, granting Overhealth and preventing critical damage.
9D.va
A Mechanized And Mobile Tank
While the game’s meta and tier lists continue to shift,this mech-based pro gamerhas stayed near the top. It’s easy to see why, as D.va proves a versatile, nimble tank that can slot into different roles. Not only does her rocket-powered mech allow her to get around and escape with ease, but it also grants her a sort of “extra life” if players are effective with her Light Gun when “de-meched.”
While fairly brief,Defense Matrixis an effective on-the-fly shield that adds to her damage-absorbing nature. Players can also rock theFusion Cannons and Micro Missiles, as they’re infinite and don’t require reloading. Finally, there’s her satisfyingSelf-DestructUlt, which blasts anyone nearby into oblivion.
8Ashe
A Sharp-Shooting And Versatile Gunslinger
Ashe can seem a bit intimidating given the peculiar mix of tools in her kit, but these do her a great service. She has a lot of versatility for a DPS — and smooth, steady hitscan mechanics that allow DPS newbies to deal damage at medium range and headshots from afar.
The explosiveCoach Guncan bail her out of trouble by bringing swift separation between her and her foes. Meanwhile, her Ultimate, a robotic pal namedB.O.B.,essentially is a super-powered turret that deals loads of damage without even having to move.
7Sojourn
A Powerful And Resourceful DPS Machine
Sojourn is anexcellent DPS pick for beginner players, as she can deal plenty of her damage using herRailgun. It has two methods of damage-dealing; the first is firing with primaryfire-generated energywhen hitting enemies, which can be used for her secondary fire. Her secondary fire is ahigh-impact hitscan shotthat is almost a guaranteed headshot kill. HerOverclockUltimate allows her to use her Railgun’s alt-fire without consuming any energy.
Another useful ability is Sojurn’sPower Slide.She can use it to either reach enemies or use it as an escape method, and she can reach higher altitudes if jumping mid-slide. HerDisrupted Shotis an AoE ability that slows and deals damage to any enemies that walk through it, and it is best used when enemies are grouped together.
6Mercy
A Swift Healer That’s Easy To Control
Mercy is a Support hero that offers much utility for allies, without the problems of aiming. HerCaduceus Staffcan damage-boost or heal allies quickly and simply. HerGuardian Angelability also offers her a means of escape, or she can fly to allies that require urgent healing, and herAngelic Descentpassive allows her to gracefully float to the ground; perfect if coupled with a flying Pharah.
Arguably her most useful ability isResurrect, which allows her to revive a fallen teammate before they respawn. This can easily turn the tide of any battle in her team’s favor.Valkyrie, Mercy’s Ultimate, allows her to fly for a short duration, allowing her to gain height and provide ample healing or damage amplification for her whole team with efficiency.
