When can I play Kiriko in comp?

You can play Kiriko in Competitive Play starting on the week of October 18th, 2022, just around two weeks after Overwatch 2 released, as there was a two-week lockout following the game’s launch to allow players to get used to her. This lockout period was implemented to ensure a fair and balanced gameplay experience for all players, and after this period, Kiriko became available in Competitive Play for all players who had unlocked her through the Battle Pass or by completing the required challenges.

Frequently Asked Questions

General Information

1. How do you unlock Kiriko comp?: You can unlock Kiriko in Overwatch 2 by completing seven challenges, which all revolve around winning games with Support heroes and mastering Kiriko’s abilities in the Practice Range.
2. Can Kiriko be played in comp?: After a two-week lockout following the Overwatch 2 launch, Kiriko is now available in Competitive Play.
3. What level is Kiriko unlocked?: Kiriko is located in tier 55, so level up your basic Battle Pass to unlock her.

Strategies and Gameplay

4. When should I play Kiriko?: It should come as no surprise, but Kiriko is best when on the rear of your team, letting you chip away bits of damage with kunai when safe but mostly keep tabs on your Tank and Damage classes for healing.
5. Is Kiriko a main or off healer?: In addition to providing a counter against anti-heal/wounds, Kiriko fits perfectly into nearly any team comp, with her high ceiling for healing meaning she can fill the main healer role and her ability to provide cleanses and a speed boost with her ultimate ability meaning she can sit in the off-healer slot as well.
6. Is Kiriko good on every map?: Kiriko’s best maps feature lots of natural cover, which allows her to teleport around the map and assist teammates safely, while her worst maps are those that force her to fight in close quarters, like King’s Row.

Unlocking and Availability

7. Is Kiriko unlocked for everyone?: If you have the premium Battle Pass, you’ll automatically gain access to Kiriko at launch, while those who can’t or don’t want to spend money on the premium Battle Pass to claim Kiriko may be in for a bit of a grind.
8. How long is Kiriko locked for?: Blizzard said that a dedicated player would be able to unlock Kiriko in two weeks, with a dedicated player playing Overwatch a minimum of 38.75 hours per week.
9. Why is Kiriko unavailable in comp?: Kiriko will not be available in ranked mode for anyone in the first two weeks, and to unlock Competitive, new players will need to win 50 Quick Play games.

Comparisons and Balance

10. Is Kiriko getting nerfed?: Overwatch 2 has revealed a series of hero adjustments coming to the game, including a buff to Lifeweaver’s Tree of Life ability and a nerf to Kiriko’s Protection Suzu.
11. Is Ana or Kiriko better?: Overall Ana is very strong, though Kiriko + Hog is very meta and is diminishing the value she can get with her antinade.
12. Is Kiriko top tier?: Kiriko isn’t mentioned when she’d be an S-tier hero under this list’s categorisation, as she’s a better Mercy with great heals, temp invuln, maneuverability, legit damage, and great support ult.

Miscellaneous

13. Can I play Kiriko in unranked?: While those who unlocked Kiriko were able to play as her on Unranked and Arcade game modes at launch, there was a two-week probation period on the character for the game’s Competitive game mode.
14. How much does Kiriko heal?: Analysis of her healing ability shows that she heals for around 55 health per second, with Kiriko healing for an astonishing 72 health per second if she lands all of her talismans.
15. Who is the easiest healer to play in Overwatch 2?: Moira is a great choice for players looking to dabble in the Support role, with her abilities being easy to use while being quite beneficial to the team, and her Biotic Grasp easily healing and damaging enemies by using primary or alternate fire.