Overwatch 2: Mastering the Game with the Easiest Heroes
The world of Overwatch 2 can feel overwhelming for new players. With a diverse roster of 35+ heroes, each boasting unique abilities and playstyles, figuring out where to start can be daunting. But fear not, aspiring heroes! There are several characters that are exceptionally newbie-friendly, allowing you to contribute meaningfully to your team while you learn the ropes. The easiest characters to play in Overwatch 2 are generally considered to be Moira, Mercy, Soldier: 76, Reinhardt, Bastion, and Roadhog. These heroes have kits that are intuitive to grasp, forgiving in execution, and still offer significant impact in matches. Let’s dive into why these heroes stand out as the best starting points in Overwatch 2.
Easiest Heroes to Play in Overwatch 2: A Detailed Breakdown
Moira: The Forgiving Support
Moira is an excellent choice for those looking to dip their toes into the Support role. Her primary healing ability, Biotic Grasp (yellow), is a wide cone that requires minimal aiming and heals allies over time. For offense and to refill her Biotic energy, her Biotic Grasp (purple) allows her to leech life from enemies, again requiring minimal aiming. Her Fade ability grants her invulnerability and a burst of speed, making her incredibly difficult to kill. Finally, her Biotic Orb ability can be used for either healing or damage, and it bounces off walls, making it easy to use in cluttered environments. All these factors make her incredibly forgiving. Moira’s ultimate ability, Coalescence, fires a long-range beam that heals allies and damages enemies simultaneously, making it easy to understand and effectively use. Moira is a great choice for players looking to dabble in the Support role; her abilities are easy to use while being quite beneficial to the team.
Mercy: The Pure Healer
Mercy remains a top pick for beginner Supports. Her primary function revolves around healing and damage boosting allies. Her Caduceus Staff has two beams, one for healing and one for damage amplification. Her Guardian Angel ability allows her to quickly fly to allies, providing excellent mobility and escape options. Resurrect allows her to bring fallen teammates back to life, making her a crucial asset in clutch moments. Her ultimate, Valkyrie, enhances all of her abilities, turning her into a flying healing machine. While her damage output is low (relying on a pistol she rarely needs to use), her ability to keep teammates alive and boost their damage makes her an invaluable asset. She is rather flexible and can work well enough in most team comps, though it’s a good idea to have another healer capable of AoE healing.
Soldier: 76: The FPS Veteran’s Friend
Soldier: 76 is often recommended for players coming from other first-person shooter (FPS) games. His kit is straightforward: he has an Assault Rifle for sustained damage, Helix Rockets for burst damage, Biotic Field for healing, and Sprint for mobility. His ultimate, Tactical Visor, automatically locks onto enemies, ensuring accurate shots. This familiarity makes him an easy character to pick up and play effectively. He’s a good DPS to start learning team play. He can be a good hero for new players since they are given them for the tutorial.
Reinhardt: The Shield of the Team
Reinhardt is a quintessential Tank hero. His primary weapon is a Rocket Hammer, effective in close-quarters combat. His Barrier Field provides a large shield for protecting himself and his teammates. Charge allows him to quickly close the distance and pin enemies. Fire Strike launches a projectile that deals damage through enemies. His ultimate, Earthshatter, knocks down all enemies in front of him, creating opportunities for his team to follow up. Reinhardt is a great choice for players looking to dabble in the Tank role; his abilities are easy to use while being quite beneficial to the team. Reinhardt’s straightforward abilities and emphasis on positioning and teamwork make him an excellent choice for new players learning the Tank role.
Bastion: The Stationary Powerhouse
Bastion is a hero known for his high damage output. He can transform between two forms: Recon (mobile assault rifle) and Configuration: Assault (turret mode), where he becomes a stationary turret with immense firepower. His Self-Repair ability allows him to heal himself. His ultimate, Configuration: Tank, turns him into a mobile tank with explosive rounds. Bastion is the easiest hero to play since it is a walking machine gun. While positioning and timing are crucial for Bastion, his raw power makes him forgiving to play, especially against less coordinated teams.
Roadhog: The Hook Master
Roadhog is a Tank hero who excels at disrupting the enemy team and securing kills. His primary weapon, the Scrap Gun, fires shrapnel at close range. His Take a Breather ability allows him to heal himself. His signature ability is Chain Hook, which pulls enemies towards him, allowing him to easily eliminate them with a follow-up shot. His ultimate, Whole Hog, fires a barrage of shrapnel that knocks back enemies. His self-sustain and ability to secure kills make him a rewarding choice for new Tank players.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What makes a hero “easy” to play in Overwatch 2?
An “easy” hero typically has a combination of factors:
- Simple abilities: Abilities that are easy to understand and execute.
- Forgiving mechanics: Abilities that are not overly punishing if used incorrectly.
- High impact: The ability to contribute meaningfully to the team even with basic understanding of the hero.
- Low mechanical skill requirement: Minimal need for precise aiming or complex movement techniques.
2. Are “easy” heroes necessarily bad heroes?
No! Easy heroes can be incredibly effective in the right hands and in the right team compositions. They are a great starting point, but mastering them still requires understanding game sense, positioning, and teamwork.
3. Should I only play “easy” heroes as a new player?
While starting with easy heroes is recommended, don’t be afraid to experiment with other heroes once you feel comfortable with the game. You might discover a hero that resonates with your playstyle, even if they are considered “difficult.”
4. Who is the hardest character to play in Overwatch 2?
Tracer is often considered one of the most difficult heroes to master. She requires excellent mechanical skill, precise timing, and a deep understanding of map layouts and enemy positioning. Other difficult heroes include Genji, Widowmaker, Ana, and Doomfist.
5. What is the most important role in Overwatch 2?
All roles (Tank, Damage, and Support) are crucial for success in Overwatch 2. However, Tanks often play a pivotal role in controlling space and initiating engagements, making them highly influential.
6. Is Overwatch 2 easy to play?
While the core gameplay is accessible, Overwatch 2 can be complicated. There’s 35+ Heroes to choose from, each with their own set of skills, abilities and attacks. Mastering the game requires understanding hero interactions, map knowledge, and strategic decision-making.
7. Who is the best Overwatch character to play with?
The “best” character depends on the team composition, the map, and the player’s skill level. However, some consistently strong heroes include:
- Damage: Hanzo, Tracer, Sojourn
- Tank: Zarya, D.Va, Ramattra
- Support: Ana, Baptiste, Kiriko
8. Who is the least popular Overwatch character?
Pick rates fluctuate over time due to balance changes and meta shifts. However, historically, heroes like Wrecking Ball and Torbjorn have had lower pick rates compared to others.
9. Who is the easiest damage in Overwatch?
Now, Junkrat is considered to be one of the most effective damage dealers in the game. The good news for new Overwatch players is that he’s also one of the easiest damage dealing characters to learn. Junkrat’s effectiveness starts with the power of his grenade launcher.
10. Who is the best starter healer in Overwatch?
One of the original characters, Mercy is likely the easiest support character to use, being perfect for beginners. She is rather flexible and can work well enough in most team comps, though it’s a good idea to have another healer capable of AoE healing.
11. Which Overwatch hero requires the most skill?
Genji, requires the most skill. If Hanzo’s scatter arrow was actually used as intended, he’d definitely take the most skill, in my opinion. Genji has no health and has two very crucial abilities that allow him to make picks and/or survive, and if used wrong in the face of enemies with half decent aim, he.
12. Who is the weakest in Overwatch?
It’s difficult to definitively say who the “weakest” hero is, as balance changes constantly affect hero viability. However, heroes like Mercy, Winston, Ashe and Lucio are considered to be weaker, often doing more harm than good.
13. How do I improve my skills in Overwatch 2?
- Practice: Consistently playing the game is the best way to improve.
- Watch Professionals: Learn from experienced players by watching streams and professional matches.
- Study Guides: There are numerous online guides and resources available to learn about hero mechanics and strategies.
- Review Replays: Analyze your own gameplay to identify areas for improvement.
- Teamwork: Communicate and coordinate with your teammates.
14. Where can I learn more about the science behind gaming?
The Games Learning Society (GamesLearningSociety.org) is a great resource for understanding the cognitive and social aspects of gaming. Check out their website at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/ for research, articles, and insights into the world of games and learning.
15. Will playing “easy” heroes limit my potential in Overwatch 2?
Not at all! Playing “easy” heroes allows you to focus on developing fundamental skills like positioning, game sense, and teamwork. These skills are transferable to all heroes, making you a more well-rounded player. Once you’ve mastered the basics, you can branch out to more complex heroes and expand your skillset. The most important thing is to have fun and enjoy the game!