Overwatch 2 tier list: Best characters to play in 2025

With the recent release of Overwatch 2 Season 18, the meta of the game has shifted once again, leading to a change in the most effective heroes to play as in both Competitive and Quick Play. 

The addition of new support hero Wuyang has also created a change as players actively get to know his skill kit and implement it into competitive play. If it all seems a bit overwhelming, then have no fear, as we are here to update you on the latest changes to the Overwatch 2 tier list. 

We’ve broken everything down by role to help you lock in smarter picks and climb the ranks faster. We’ve got all the Overwatch 2 characters ranked on their effectiveness in combat as of season 18, so let’s dive in

Like many online multiplayer games, the Overwatch 2 meta shifts with every patch, bringing new buffs and nerfs to contend with, and season 18 is no exception. These constant changes make it harder for players to keep track of what’s working and how to get the most out of their hero pool.

Therefore, a comprehensive Overwatch 2 hero tier list can make your choices easier, reflecting how well a hero performs in the current season’s ranked ladder and team compositions. This tier list for Overwatch 2 Season 18 breaks down the strongest characters to play by role – Tank, DPS, and Support – and can be applied to both Quick Play and Competitive.

Looking for the best characters in Overwatch? Keep in mind that any hero can win in the right hands, but some make the climb easier. If you’ve got an off-meta main that’s working for you right now, don’t feel as though you have to pick from the S-tier. Play with what works for you. 

Here’s a quick rundown of how our OW2 tier list is organised:

Our rankings are based on the most recent patch notes, pro-play trends, and community performance data. Some of the community platforms we use include Overbuff, Mobalytics, and Boost Royal.  Blizzard have also recently released Overwatch 2 Hero Stats, so we will be using that to compile our tier list as well. Our rankings will continue to be updated as the meta shifts and evolves, so check back often.

With over 40 heroes in the game, there are several competent options for your next draft, especially when you factor in Perks. Explore this complete list of Overwatch 2 characters, ranked from S-tier to D-tier based on their global performance in Season 18 so far..

Despite her low health, Tracer has become an S-Tier hero this season. She has always been a great flanking hero who can make life difficult for Supports and low-health DPS characters. Tracer has received a change to one of her Minor Perks in Season 18, with Blast from the Past being replaced with Kinetic Reload. This new Perk grants Tracer an extra 20 ammo when she deals damage with melee hits, which can become a real problem for the enemy team when dealing with a particularly skilled flanker Tracer. 

Sojourn is another hero who has consistently been at the top of tier lists. Call her a souped-up Soldier 76 if you want. That doesn’t detract from her incredible damage potential – 200 headshot damage off a railgun shot charged by primary attacks is nothing to scoff at. Amp that up with her Ultimate, and you’ll be able to send an entire team back home. Sojourn’s effectiveness has not changed significantly between season 17 and season 18, so she is still one of our S-Tier DPS picks as of right now. 

Torbjörn is now one of the best characters in Overwatch 2, coming in with a solid 55.28% win rate across the board. Both his Major Perks Anchor Bolts and Overloaded Turret buff his Turret, turning something once useless into a game-changer. They grant it the ability to stick to walls and become empowered. His Fully Loaded Perk also provides an instant reload on using Overload, useful for gunning down Tanks and securing objectives. If you prefer taking foes down from a distance, consider using Widowmaker or Ashe’s weapon while zooming in. 
Torbjörn’s Major Perks have had no changes in season 18, though his Craftsman Minor Perk was replaced by the Hammer Time Minor Perk, which allows him to move 20% faster while his Forge Hammer is equipped. This is certainly a buff for Torb compared to Craftsman, which buffed his allies instead by restoring their armour health. This increased movement speed perk only adds to Torbjörn’s effectiveness, solidifying him as a firm S-Tier hero.

As always, Zarya is dominating the charts thanks to her incredible solo-carry potential with her Major Perk Energy Lance. In short, it pierces enemies when she’s over 50% energy. She can also convert incoming attacks into energy to fuel her Particle Cannon for some solid damage. Her Graviton Surge Ultimate is a great tool that draws enemies together and damages them. Pair this move with Damage heroes like Cassidy, and you might just wipe out the enemy team.

In Season 18, Zarya has become even more lethal thanks to a switch in her Minor Perks. Her Graviton Crush Minor Perk was replaced with a new Minor Perk called Energy Converter. This allows her to generate an additional three energy when she gets hits with the secondary fire from her Particle Cannon, potentially turning her into an even more formidable energy force. 

Despite a low pick rate, Sigma is arguably one of the strongest Tanks in Overwatch 2 right now. His Experimental Barrier lets him switch between aggressive and defensive playstyles. And his Gravitic Flux remains one of the best team fight Ultimates in the game. His new Levitation Major Perk also addresses his weak mobility, letting him reach enemies on higher ground. 

Sigma is another hero who has received a change to his Minor Perk, as Massive Impact was replaced by Hyper Regeneration. This new Minor Perk offers players the chance to build on Sigma’s defences, as it converts 50% of the damage from his Hyperspheres into restorative health for his Experimental Barrier. Sigma is already a tough Tank to get past at the best of times, and this perk only strengthens his dominance as a stalwart shield Tank. 

If you’re new to Tanks, Winston is another great choice who picks mobility over damage-dealing and shielding hits. Use his Jump Pack to distract enemies and cover some ground between attacks. His Primal Rage Ultimate is also great at finishing enemies off since it buffs your melee attack. 

Winston’s new Barrier Toss Minor Perk also allows him to protect allies that aren’t within his range, as it lets him throw his projector forward. Although this isn’t enough to raise him to S-Tier ranking, Winston remains a solid A-Tier Tank in season 18.

Much like she did in Season 17, Ana continues to dominate the Support charts in Season 18 with an impressive pick rate across all ranks. Her Biotic Grenade alone can swing entire fights by denying healing and boosting her team’s sustain. Biotic Bounce has also been changed to a Minor Perk, and it offers 60 damage and healing, increased from the previous 25, increasing her utility all the more so. Replacing Biotic Bounce as a Minor Perk is Speed Serum, which offers a 40% movement boost to Ana and her target when she uses Nano Boost. Ana’s kit remains incredibly versatile and flexible, keeping her in S-Tier as a Support hero. 

Kiriko is still thriving in the Overwatch 2 competitive landscape. Thanks to her Perks, even dealing damage with her Kunai can provide a healing benefit to her allies. Players who can master min-maxing their damage and healing will easily climb the ranked ladder with this hero. Use Swift Step to hop directly to an ally and protect them with your Protection Suzu ability. The latter can disrupt negative effects like Zenyatta’s Discord Orb. 

In Season 18, Kiriko’s Shuffling Major Perk has been replaced with Ready Step, which grants her 40% increased attack and reload speed for 2 seconds when using Swift Step. Her other Major Perk Foxtrot has had an alteration, too. Her Projection Suzu grants 30% increased movement speed for allies, which is down from 40%. However, it now has a 100% increased cooldown recovery. This seems like a fair sacrifice, and one that doesn’t make Kiriko any less of an S-Tier Support. 

Lúcio is still a good choice if you’re looking into Support heroes. His focus on area-of-effect heals and speed buffs will let you keep multiple allies from harm’s way. This makes him a great choice when your team is rushing towards an objective. You can also use his Sonic Amplifier to dish out some damage as you push enemies away with Soundwave. 

Those who enjoy Lúcio’s manoeuvrability via his Wall Riding ability will be glad to see that he has a new Minor Perk in Season 18 that allows Wall Riding to strengthen Lucio’s next Soundwave, increasing its damage by 50% and knockback by 25%, making him particularly dangerous on certain maps.
New support hero Wuyang has made a stir in season 18, quickly gaining a significant pick and win rate, according to Blizzard’s Hero Stats. Wuyang is particularly versatile, but his healing isn’t consistent enough to place him higher than B-Tier. Beginner players will struggle with Wuyang, but those who can balance his nature as a hybrid Support hero will be able to rise up the Competitive ranks with him.

Not sure which hero to play? Tier lists are always a great starting point, but the right pick depends on your playstyle, team comp, and the current match. Here are a few tips to help you make smarter picks in Overwatch 2:

Certain heroes thrive on specific maps. On maps with high-vantage points, hitscans and snipers like Widowmaker reign supreme, while Reaper thrives in tight spaces. Learn which heroes work best across Control, Escort, Push, or Hybrid maps and adapt your playstyle accordingly for some top-tier Overwatch 2 performances. 

Synergy wins games. Coordinate your team composition either in chat or voice. If your Tank opts for a dive comp with Winston or Wrecking Ball, pick DPS and Supports that can keep up, like Genji, Tracer, Wuyang, Lucio, or Kiriko.

Conversely, if your team’s running a slower frontline with Reinhardt, Orisa, or Sigma, go with ranged DPS like Hanzo or Ashe and Supports like Brigitte, Kiriko, or Ana. 

Don’t be afraid to swap out your hero if it’s not working. If the enemy Pharah is uncontested and steamrolling your team, switch to a hitscan like Cassidy or Ashe. Smarter counter moves can flip a losing fight on its head – sometimes even in last-minute Overtime.

It’s always fun to have a comfort pick, but especially in Competitive, flexibility wins games. Try to have at least 3–5 heroes per role you’re comfortable playing, so you can pivot based on your team and enemy matchups. 

At the end of the day, the Overwatch meta will always change, but your mechanical skill, map knowledge, and ability to adapt will outlast any patch. Whether you’re grinding skill tiers in Competitive or playing casually, pick heroes that feel good to you, learn their Perks, strengths, and weaknesses, and focus on improving one match at a time. That’s how you’ll climb – and enjoy the grind while you’re at it.

There are no hard rules on what heroes can or can’t be played in Overwatch 2, so take this Overwatch hero tier list with a pinch of salt; it’s only a guideline. Some D-Tier heroes can shine in certain team comps and maps; it all boils down to your skills, game sense, and experience. Keep an eye on Esports Insider for the latest meta shifts and Overwatch 2 updates.