Who is the Best Support to Pair with Mercy in Overwatch 2?

The most effective support partner for Mercy in Overwatch 2 is highly context-dependent, hinging on team composition, enemy threats, and map geometry. However, generally, a support that provides strong AoE healing, utility, or can cover Mercy’s weaknesses is ideal. While Kiriko offers an excellent blend of healing, utility, and offensive potential that synergizes well with Mercy, other options like Ana, Baptiste, and Moira can also thrive depending on the specific game.

Understanding Mercy’s Strengths and Weaknesses

Before diving into specific pairings, it’s vital to understand what Mercy brings to the table and where she falls short:

• Strengths:

  • High Mobility: Guardian Angel allows her to quickly reposition and escape danger.
  • Consistent Single-Target Healing: Reliable healing beam that requires minimal aiming.
  • Damage Boost: Enhances the damage output of key allies, enabling them to secure eliminations faster.
  • Resurrect: Revives fallen teammates, providing crucial second chances.
  • Relatively Simple Mechanics: Easy to pick up, allowing players to focus on positioning and awareness.

• Weaknesses:

  • Low Healing Output Compared to Other Supports: Struggles to keep up with sustained damage on multiple targets.
  • Vulnerable When Isolated: Dependent on teammates for protection.
  • Limited Offensive Capabilities: Primarily a supportive character with little direct damage potential.
  • Resurrect Can Be Risky: Leaves her vulnerable during the cast time.
  • Dependent on Good DPS Partners: Her damage boost is only effective if her boosted teammate can land shots.

Top Support Pairings for Mercy

With Mercy’s strengths and weaknesses in mind, let’s explore some of the best support pairings in Overwatch 2:

1. Mercy and Kiriko

Kiriko is arguably the strongest support partner for Mercy in the current meta. This pairing boasts a potent combination of single-target and AoE healing, along with valuable utility. Kiriko can handle healing the tanks and other members of the team that Mercy is not directly pocketing, while also supplementing Mercy’s damage boost with her own well-placed Kunai. The ability to cleanse teammates with Suzo gives the team a layer of protection against CC abilities.

• Synergy:
  • Flexibility: Kiriko’s ability to both heal and deal damage complements Mercy’s supportive style.
  • Protection: Kiriko’s Suzuno (Protection Suzu) can save Mercy from dives and burst damage.
  • Offensive Pressure: Kiriko can contribute to offensive pressure while Mercy focuses on damage boosting a DPS.
  • Healing Balance: Kiriko’s AoE healing covers Mercy’s weakness in dealing with multiple injured teammates.

2. Mercy and Ana

Ana is a classic choice that remains viable. Ana’s high burst healing and long range compensate for Mercy’s lower output and shorter reach. The combination of nano boost and Mercy’s damage boost on a DPS hero can turn the tides of a team fight.

• Synergy:
  • Healing Coverage: Ana’s long-range healing can cover the entire team, while Mercy focuses on pocketing a specific target.
  • Anti-Heal: Ana’s Biotic Grenade can shut down enemy healing, creating opportunities for eliminations.
  • Ultimate Synergies: Nano Boost combined with Mercy’s damage boost creates a terrifyingly powerful DPS.
  • Protection: Ana’s Sleep Dart can peel for Mercy against flankers.

3. Mercy and Baptiste

Baptiste is another solid choice that can provide a lot of utility and a good mix of burst and sustain healing. His Immortality Field is crucial for saving the team and Mercy from burst damage and ults.

• Synergy:
  • Immortality Field: Protects Mercy and the team from burst damage and ultimates.
  • Regen Burst: Provides burst AoE healing when needed.
  • Amplification Matrix: Mercy’s damage boost can amplify the effects of the matrix.

4. Mercy and Moira

Moira is a strong pick for teams needing raw healing output, especially in close-quarters combat. She can sustain the tanks while Mercy pockets a damage dealer.

• Synergy:
  • High Healing Output: Moira’s Biotic Grasp and Orbs provide substantial healing for tanks.
  • Damage Potential: Moira can deal significant damage, relieving pressure on the DPS.
  • Fade: Allows Moira to escape dives and protect Mercy.

Considerations for Other Support Pairings

While the above pairings are generally considered strong, other support combinations can also be effective depending on the situation.

• Mercy and Lucio: This pairing is excellent for mobility and area-of-effect healing. Lucio can keep the team healthy while Mercy focuses on damage-boosting a key target, and his speed boost can help the team engage or disengage quickly. However, it can lack burst healing, which is a major con.
• Mercy and Brigitte: Provides close-range protection and healing. However, both supports are generally better suited to specific compositions or maps, so this pairing might not be as universally strong.

Team Composition and Map Considerations

The best support pairing for Mercy also depends on the team composition and the map being played. For example:

• Dive Comps: Mercy synergizes well with dive tanks like Winston and D.Va, as she can quickly follow them into the enemy backline and provide crucial healing and damage boost.
• Poke Comps: Mercy can be a strong asset in poke compositions by damage-boosting long-range DPS heroes like Ashe and Widowmaker.
• Maps with High Ground: Mercy excels on maps with high ground, as she can use her mobility to reach advantageous positions and provide support from a safe distance.
• Maps with Choke Points: Supports that can provide AoE healing and utility are particularly valuable on maps with choke points.

General Tips for Playing Mercy in Overwatch 2

• Prioritize Positioning: Stay behind cover and use Guardian Angel to reposition frequently.
• Pocket the Right Target: Identify the DPS hero who is most likely to secure eliminations and focus on damage-boosting them.
• Use Resurrect Wisely: Don’t risk your life to resurrect a teammate in a dangerous position.
• Communicate with Your Team: Let your team know who you are damage-boosting and when you need help.
• Practice and Adapt: Experiment with different support pairings and adapt your playstyle to the specific situation.

Mercy’s greatest strength lies in her adaptability. While certain pairings offer better synergy, a skilled Mercy player can make almost any support combination work. The key is to understand your own strengths and weaknesses, as well as those of your support partner, and to work together to create a cohesive and effective team.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is Mercy viable in Overwatch 2? Yes, Mercy remains a viable support hero in Overwatch 2, particularly with her damage boost and mobility.

2. Who is the best DPS to pair with Mercy? Hitscan heroes like Ashe, Sojourn, and Soldier: 76 benefit greatly from Mercy’s damage boost. Pharah is still a classic pick.

3. How do I counter Mercy in Overwatch 2? Focus fire on Mercy and her pocketed target. Use heroes with high burst damage or crowd control to disrupt her healing and movement.

4. What is the best way to use Mercy’s Resurrect ability? Resurrect teammates in safe locations and prioritize reviving key targets like tanks or DPS heroes with ultimates.

5. How can I improve my Mercy gameplay? Focus on positioning, target prioritization, and communication. Practice using Guardian Angel to quickly reposition and escape danger.

6. Does Mercy’s damage boost stack with other damage buffs? No, Mercy’s damage boost does not stack additively with other damage buffs. The highest damage boost is applied.

7. When should I use Mercy’s Valkyrie ultimate? Use Valkyrie to provide increased healing and damage boost to multiple targets during team fights.

8. Is Mercy a main healer or off-healer? Mercy is often considered an off-healer due to her focus on single-target healing and damage boost.

9. What are some common mistakes that Mercy players make? Overextending, neglecting to damage boost, and using Resurrect in risky situations.

10. How does the change to one tank affect Mercy’s gameplay? With one less tank, damage mitigation is less, so positioning is even more important.

11. How to practice synergy with another support player? Communicate effectively, coordinate ultimate usage, and cover each other’s weaknesses.

12. Is it viable to one-trick Mercy in competitive Overwatch 2? While it’s possible to one-trick Mercy, it’s generally recommended to be flexible and learn other support heroes to adapt to different situations.

13. Are there any specific map types where Mercy struggles? Open maps with long sightlines can be challenging for Mercy, as she can be easily targeted by snipers.

14. Is Mercy good on attack or defense? She can be effective on both. However, her mobility and resurrect ability are particularly valuable on attack for securing key objectives.

15. What are some resources for learning more about Mercy and Overwatch 2 strategies? Watch professional Overwatch 2 matches, read guides and forums, and experiment with different strategies in-game. Consider resources like the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org for insights into the intersection of gaming and learning.