Blizzard Entertainment's Overwatch 2 is a unique cross between a classic FPS game like CS:GO, mixed with MOBA-style elements from League of Legends. In 5v5 team compositions, players must work together to secure objectives, like capturing a point or pushing a payload, using their specific hero abilities.

Overwatch 2 underwent a metamorphosis since becoming free-to-play, with many changes impacting the game's meta. The switch to a 5v5 instead of a 6v6 composition has meant that certain heroes have become more powerful, as Tanks are no longer the unstoppable force they once were.

If you're struggling in your ranked games, this list has covered you with the best heroes in the current meta of Overwatch 2. This tier list will vary from the most effective characters to some of the weaker picks and will be updated as the meta changes. Let's get straight into it!

All Heroes in Overwatch 2

There are currently 36 heroes in Overwatch 2, with a new hero being added every other new competitive season - we have a list of every character in Overwatch 2 if you fancy checking that out. All heroes are divided into three categories, as seen in most MOBAs: Tank, Damage, and Support, each with their own unique playstyle, abilities, and game-changing Ultimates.  

Damage: Ashe, Bastion, Cassidy, Echo, Genji, Hanzo, Junkrat, Mei, Pharah, Reaper, Sojourn, Soldier: 76, Sombra, Symmetra, Torbjorn, Tracer, Widowmaker

Support: Ana, Baptiste, Brigitte, Kiriko, Lucio, Mercy, Moira, Zenyatta

Tank: D.Va, Doomfist, Junker Queen, Orisa, Ramattra, Reinhardt, Roadhog, Sigma, Winston, Wrecking Ball, Zarya

Overwatch 2 Tier List: Overall

With 36 different heroes and three different roles, starting out in Overwatch 2 can be overwhelming, especially if you need help knowing where to begin. Luckily, we have a guide to unlocking all heroes in Overwatch 2 to help you started!

Our handy overall Overwatch 2 tier list will tell you the best heroes in Overwatch 2, beginning at S-tier and going down to the Avoid-tier, representing the lower echelons of the Overwatch 2 roster (in our opinion)!

If we say a hero is an Avoid-tier, that doesn't mean you can't play them! Every hero is great in their own right, especially if it's a character you know well, inside and out. Play whoever you want at your own discretion - there is no right or wrong answers!

S Tier: Ana, Bastion, Kiriko, Lucio, Orisa, Ramattra, Sojourn, Soldier: 76, Widowmaker, Wrecking Ball

A Tier: Ashe, Baptiste, Cassidy, D.Va, Junkrat, Pharah, Reaper, Reinhardt, Roadhog, Sigma

B Tier: Doomfist, Echo, Genji, Hanzo, Mercy, Moira, Tracer, Winston, Zarya, Zenyatta

Avoid Tier: Brigitte, Junker Queen, Mei, Sombra, Symmetra, Torbjorn

Overwatch 2 Tier List - Damage

The Damage roster features the most characters, with 17 damage heroes making up the numbers.

Most DPS heroes are strong in their own right, with some performing better on specific maps than others. For example, Torbjorn and Symmetra excel with their respective turrets destroying the enemy on maps with tight corridors and confined spaces. However, considering the overall meta, they are considered the weakest with the lowest pick rates.

Overall, hitscan heroes like Ashe, Sojourn, Cassidy and Widowmaker reign supreme in most scenarios. They are great for taking out aerial supports like Pharah, Echo, and Mercy. A good Widowmaker or Sojourn can also solo whole teams and be hard to counter due to their mobility and sheer damage potential.

Mei is one of the heroes that has struggled the most with the new changes. She was once a menace to the game, being an ice Damage dealer combined with her Ice Wall. However, her endothermic blaster no longer freezes enemies in place, so most of her utility has gone out of the window, making her a weak pick.

This is the tier list for all the damage heroes in the game.

S Tier: Bastion, Sojourn, Soldier: 76, Widowmaker

A Tier: Ashe, Cassidy, Junkrat, Pharah, Reaper

B Tier: Echo, Genji, Hanzo, Tracer

Avoid Tier: Mei, Sombra, Symmetra, Torbjorn

Overwatch 2 Tier List - Tank

There are currently 11 Tank heroes in Overwatch 2, with the newest addition being Ramattra. The Tank category has seen the most changes since Overwatch 2's release, following Doomfist and Orisa's complete overhaul and rework.

Ramattra is the latest hero to join the roster as a Tank. He is immensely powerful, especially while in his Nemesis Form. His Ultimate Annihilation shreds through opponents while they are stuck in his slowing aura, making him virtually impossible to counter. The cooldown is extended while he damages his opponents, so he can stay in this form indefinitely, provided he has a dedicated healer by his side.

Orisa is now an aggressive Tank and literal war horse, able to keep herself alive on the frontlines and harass the enemy team. She is still incredibly strong despite some recent nerfs. Despite his rework, Doomfist is in an awkward limbo right now, where he still doesn't feel quite right as a Tank but doesn't do enough damage to be a DPS either.

Recent buffs have made Sigma another strong Tank pick, with his higher HP pool making him more durable. His Ultimate Gravitic Flux is still incredibly strong and can lift the enemy team into the air for a short duration so the rest of his team can make short work of them.

Below is our tier list for all Tank heroes in Overwatch 2.

S Tier: Ramattra, Orisa, Wrecking Ball

A Tier: D.Va, Reinhardt, Roadhog, Sigma,

B Tier: Doomfist, Winston, Zarya

Avoid Tier: Junker Queen

Overwatch 2 Tier List - Support

Recent changes have allowed Support heroes to become fairly balanced. Mercy's reworked Guardian Angel and healing mean she is different from the dedicated healer she once was. However, she is still a decent pick, provided you know how to play her right.

Kiriko is a strong Support hero, especially with her Protection Suzu allowing her to cleanse negative enemy effects and remove any stuns or crowd control abilities. She can easily keep her team alive and dominate the enemy team. Zenyatta is a strong character, especially with his Transcendence Ultimate, however, he is low on this tier list due to his low HP pool and lack of mobility making him an easy target.

The removal of most stuns in the game, like Shield Bash, has hurt some heroes, hence why Brigitte is now bottom of the pile. She used to dominate any flanking opponents with her stun combo. She also used to be able to cancel Ultimates with her Shield Bash, but that is no longer possible.

DPS Moira was once a meme in the community, with her ability to lock onto squishier targets and beat most heroes in a 1v1 fight with her self-healing passive. However, her damage has since been nerfed and is now on par with the other Support heroes.

If you want to improve in the Support role, check out our dedicated Support guide here.

S Tier: Ana, Kiriko, Lucio

A Tier: Baptiste

B Tier: Mercy, Moira, Zenyatta

Avoid Tier: Brigitte

Final Thoughts

Take into account that the Overwatch 2 meta changes with every new patch and each new season. There are no rules on which heroes can and cannot be played in games, so play who you are most comfortable with. Some heroes in the Avoid tier can still perform incredibly well with the right map conditions and specific team composition; it all depends on your individual skill, game sense, and experience!

If you want more Overwatch 2 news, save Rivalry as your number 1 trusted esports site. We have covered the best Overwatch 2 crosshair settings, how to unlock all heroes, and more, so stay tuned!

FAQs about Overwatch 2

How does the tier list work?

S-tier heroes are vital in almost every situation, continue dominating the game's meta, and remain a constant threat. Heroes in A-B tiers are still great choices and a solid pick, map-dependent.

Heroes that are generally put in the Avoid tier are situational, less effective than other heroes on the list, and should generally be avoided.

What are the tier lists for ranked games in Overwatch 2?

We have an extensive guide explaining the Overwatch 2 ranking system, but here is a brief rundown. There are 7 ranks in total (not including the Top 500). They each have 5 sub-divisions numbered 1 through 5. These ranks include Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, Master, and Grandmaster.

How does Overwatch 2 ranked work?

A player's rank is determined through their hidden MMR, game performance, and win/loss ratio. If you continuously win matches, it goes without saying that your actual rank will reflect this, and you will climb through the skill tiers.

Overwatch 2 hero tier list

Who is the best character in Overwatch?

While it's hard to definitively say who the best heroes are in Overwatch 2, you can analyze the current win rate for each hero and decide accordingly. Kiriko and Ana have win rates of 49-50%, making them excellent choices for the support category.

Who are the easiest characters in Overwatch 2?

Soldier: 76 is the best character for players coming from FPS games like Valorant and Counter-Strike, due to his static crosshair and easily accessible abilities. Due to their low skill ceiling, Moira and Mercy are great starter Support heroes. Reinhardt and Winston are two simple Tank heroes for new players. 

Who are the hardest DPS heroes in Overwatch 2?

Several DPS heroes are easy to play and hard to master. Genji is one of the most physically demanding heroes in Overwatch 2. He requires fast reflexes and accuracy, with his Ultimate, Dragonblade being hard to master.

Tracer requires practice to master due to her Blink and her fast-paced gameplay requiring a lot of game awareness which can disorientate a player. Widowmaker and Ashe are both aim-intensive heroes, so if you have poor aim, you're already fighting a losing battle!