Overwatch 2 just launched and Blizzard has spent months fine-tuning the abilities of all the characters and some of them even got complete reworks. With the game shifting to a 5v5 format instead of 6v6, a lot of heroes have seen a shift in their place in the meta. Here is our day-one tier list that tries to highlight where each hero stands in the current meta.
Overwatch 2 Tier List
- S-Tier: Lucio, Winston, Zarya, Sigma, Genji
- A-tier: Zenyatta, Baptiste, Brigitte, D.Va, Roadhog, Reinhardt, Wrecking Ball, Reaper, Soldier: 76, Tracer, Sojourn, Sombra, Ashe, Echo
- B-Tier: Ana, Orisa, Hanzo, Bastion, Junkrat, Pharah, Cassidy, Torbjorn, Widowmaker
- C-Tier: Mercy, Doomfist, Junker Queen, Symmetra
- D-Tier: Moira
Kiriko has not been placed on this tier list as she was just released and a lot of players have not unlocked her yet. My current impressions of Kiriko based on my personal experience are very positive. She is arguably one of the strongest healers in the game and might be on the same level as Zenyatta in the A-tier. However, it is too early to tell as players are still figuring out her kit. We will have a better understanding of the hero soon.
Overwatch 2’s Best Heroes: S-Tier Hero Breakdown
Lucio is arguably the best healer in the game right now, but it might not be for the reasons you think. DPS heroes gain 25% increased reload and movement speed upon securing an elimination and it stacks with Lucio’s Speed Boost. This has enabled a much more aggressive playstyle and it synergizes perfectly with traditional “dive comps” that are still popular.
Winston, Zarya, and Sigma are the three best tanks in the game and are capable of holding their own in fights. With one less tank slot in Overwatch 2, these three tanks are the premier options in most situations and you should master them if possible.
Genji is one of the biggest winners of the latest balance patch as he already had enhanced movement speed and it pairs well with the new DPS passive. With most forms of crowd control being removed from the game, he has fewer counters than ever before.
A-Tier Hero Breakdown
Zenyatta, Brigitte, and Baptiste are the best options among supports to pair with Lucio. All of them have their unique strengths and are better suited for fast-paced 5v5 combat compared to healers like Ana or Mercy.
Tanks are very strong in Overwatch 2 and D.Va, Roadhog, Wrecking Ball and Reinhardt find themselves comfortably sitting in the A-tier. All three options are great and might be better than our S-tier picks in certain situations.
It comes as no surprise that several hitscan heroes have found themselves in the A-tier. With fewer shields in the game, DPS heroes are free to lay down damage on the enemy team, and very few do it better than our picks in the A-tier. Soldier, Sojourn, Ashe, and Echo are among the most consistent options available in the game right now.
Tracer and Sombra on the other hand offer a lot of flanking potential in Overwatch 2. Reaper’s tank-busting potential is higher than ever with his Wraith Form pairing well with the DPS speed buff passive along with Lucio and Kiriko’s speed buffs.
Overwatch 2 B-tier Hero Breakdown
The B-tier is meant for situational heroes who can be very powerful provided you have the necessary synergy. Pharah is the best example of this as she is not as effective as other DPS heroes in the higher tiers on her own. However, if you pair her with Mercy, she can be one of the most powerful DPS heroes in the game as she gets constant access to a damage buff or healing at all times.
The same goes for Widowmaker, Junkrat, and other heroes in this tier. Some of them shine on specific maps while being mediocre in others. But in the right hands, heroes like Widowmaker and Cassidy can put in work. Your personal mastery of these heroes comes into play here.
Overwatch 2 C-tier Hero Breakdown
Doomfist and Junker Queen received significant changes before Overwatch 2’s release and both of them feel like they do not have a place in the meta. Junker Queen was the number one tank and arguably the best hero in the game in competitive Overwatch for months. Pro players got to use her at her maximum potential, but it forced a stale meta and Blizzard was forced to nerf her. Doomfist on the other hand got reworked from a DPS into a tank and is just underwhelming compared to other options.
Mercy offers little utility on her own and only when is she paired with heroes like Ashe or Pharah does she offer more solid value. Other supports outperform in most situations. Symmetra received multiple reworks over the years and even in Overwatch 2, she is in an awkward situation where every DPS option outperforms her.
D-tier Hero Breakdown
Moira is the only hero in this tier and it is because of several nerfs to her kit. The nerfs feel too aggressive and she offers no real value aside from her above-average healing and survivability. But if you enjoy playing her and want to take on the occasional DPS Moira role, feel free to use her.
Which Heroes Should You Play?
The tier list is designed as a subjective look into the meta. Your personal playstyle preferences and mastery of a hero dictate what you should play. While choosing the best heroes in the game might be the most obvious choice, you may have mastered other heroes or simply enjoy playing specific heroes more. The game is all about fun and you can most definitely make low-tier heroes work provided you put in the time to work around their weaknesses.
