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Overwatch 2 is finally out after a long and rocky development. Now that the game is free to play, Blizzard’s competitive FPS franchise is likely to attract more newcomers to the game, and many may be completely confused about what’s going on and how to play.
The good news is that Overwatch 2 has turned into a fast game of Overwatch 1, meaning less need for strategic planning and alignment, and more room for mechanically skilled and risky solo carry play. Here’s what beginners need to know: Overwatch 2 if they’ve never played the original overwatch.
8/8 Start with mechanically easy heroes
This first piece of advice is a good idea for most people who are familiar with competitive hero-based games. Beginners should always start with somewhat easy heroes so that they can stand a chance in a normal game. Some easy heroes are Moira, Mercy, Soldier 76 and Reinhardt. These heroes are somewhat forgiving gameplay and decent survivability.
Once players begin to understand what the game is about, they can expand their hero pool. It is generally not recommended to learn and hone just a single hero, but rather specialize in a category of heroes. Tanks, props and DPS heroes all have different jobs and playstyles and ever since Overwatch 2 they also have passive qualities that can help them survive longer.
7/8 Ensure the right team composition for the job
Speaking of heroes, team compositions in Overwatch 2 remain quite important. The right combination of characters in a team, with players who have some knowledge of what they are doing, is a huge advantage. Many heroes have intrinsic synergies with each other, and taking advantage of that is vital.
Certain heroes will still oppose others, so be sure to choose heroes who can not only support the other heroes on the team, but also punish heroes on the enemy’s team. For example, if the team has a Genji, which is a strong DPS at the moment, players can support him by moving Ana to combo ultimates. A long-range DPS can benefit from a Mercy pocket. If the DPS heroes on the team are very mobile and like to go in, tank players can choose D.Va or Winston so they can jump in easily too.
6/8 Understand the map
One of the longest efforts for new players is to become familiar with all the cards and their nooks and crannies. Overwatch 2s maps feel quite large as the game is faster now, but they offer tons of great high ground locations and rotational routes for teams.
Especially for DPS players and longer-range heroes, it’s vital to know those safe spots that have great sightlines, as well as cover to go in in case the enemy targets them. The best way to reach the goal is not always to walk the main route. In the vast majority of situations, it’s never even the best route, so take a walk through the maps and enjoy it while enjoying Quick Play.
5/8 Understand the game mode
Another learning curve is getting used to the different game modes in Overwatch 2. In competitive and fast-paced game, players can expect to queue for the following game modes:
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Push:
A new game mode for OW2, where players have to guide a robot. The team that has advanced the furthest at the end of the game wins. -
escort:
Players must either guide a load or stop the enemy from guiding the load through the map. There are two checkpoints that extend the match. If the attacking team guides the charge to the finish, they win. -
Check:
Players must capture and hold a point until it reaches 100% capture progress. Once the point is captured, players no longer need to stand on it unless the enemy steps on the point. The winning team is the team that is the first to achieve 100% progress in the capture. There are three rounds in Control and the best of the three wins. -
Hybrid:
A mix of control and charge, players must first attack a capture point defended by the opposing team. Once the point is captured, a charge will spawn to be escorted to the finish. The attacking team wins if the charge reaches the final location.
These descriptions can still be complicated, so the best way to learn it is to just play the game. The game mode is purely map dependent, so when players line up for King’s Row, they know they will always be playing a hybrid match.
4/8 Practice good positioning and movement
One of the biggest changes in Overwatch 2 is the lower TTK (time to kill). This means players won’t be able to take much damage in most battles due to the lack of a second tank and the fragility of their mounts. For new players this shouldn’t be a big problem as they will learn the new gameplay intrinsically and quickly.
Excellent positioning and good movement are absolutely crucial in Overwatch 2. This means ensuring that players always have an exit to retreat to, that they can see their team or the enemy, but still have decent cover, and that they are not out in the open and take damage from snipers or the enemy team’s tank. Crouch spamming and ADS-ing are all useful techniques for repelling enemies.
3/8 Avoid staggering and try to group
Overwatch 2 is still a team game, although compared to its predecessor it rewards solo efforts more easily. Players will still have to rely heavily on their team’s performance and will only be as good as their team. This means that going in and getting a few kills while their team is dead usually won’t give you any advantage.
It’s much better to quickly form a group after a lost team fight than to try and fight back against an overwhelming opponent and possibly falter. Numbers will always be a huge advantage in the game, so make sure you only participate when the full team has returned and everyone (or at least the main heroes and their skills) can contribute to the next battle.
2/8 Communication is the best way to win
Because teamwork is so important, communication is key. Having a microphone and speaking in voice chat is the best way to go about this if players can handle the possible salty language of some players in a competitive environment.
But fortunately, Overwatch 2 now also has a ping system, which is very useful for players who don’t feel comfortable talking to strangers. This allows players to tag enemies they might see or just provide basic communication.
Additionally, players can customize their communication wheel to their liking via a few options in the Settings menu, from “Group” to “Enter” and everything in between. Take advantage of these features, as knowledge is power in this game, and a flank that goes uncommunicated can be the downfall of the entire team.
1/8 Be aware of enemy cooldowns and Ultimates
Once players get a little more mechanically comfortable with Overwatch 2 and have a few cards under their belts, they must go through the entire roster as it unlocks to try all the heroes. This allows them to get better acquainted with each hero and their skills and ultimate goals.
Each hero’s cooldowns and ultimate charge rates are different, and the greatest skill for a mechanical intermediate player is to seamlessly track the enemy’s cooldown usage and final usage. This takes a lot of practice to perfect, but the sooner players start, the better they will become in the long run.
Not only do players have the advantage of knowing exactly how to tackle the next battle based on the enemy’s skills and ultimates, but they can also win more consistent duels against enemy heroes simply based on their cooldown use.
Overwatch 2 is available on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch.
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