The Best Overwatch Heroes for Beginners

Missed out on Overwatch but want to get a taste of Overwatch 2? Smart move; picking the right hero for the job is a great way to get started. But with a roster full of unique personalities and abilities, figuring out who to choose can feel confusing.

But, no need to worry. We've got you covered. This article will show you the best Overwatch heroes for beginners, ensuring that your first game you play is less about battling complex abilities and more about understanding how the game works.

These heroes offer easy-to-understand kits and a smooth learning curve, allowing you to grasp the game's core mechanics and concepts without needing a PhD in ability management from the get-go. Let's find your main, shall we?

Easy Tank Heroes for Beginners

Tanks are the backbone of any successful Overwatch 2 squad. Your job? Create space, protect your squishy teammates, and generally be a strong frontline. For those new to the role, these heroes are your best choice:

Reinhardt

Reinhardt is a great starting point for learning the fundamentals of the tank role. His massive Barrier Field provides excellent cover for your team, his Rocket Hammer hits like a truck in close fights, and his abilities are easy to grasp. Playing Reinhardt also allows you to learn essential positioning and the process of pushing and retreating.

Orisa

If you prefer a bit more range with your tanking, Orisa is an excellent choice. She brings a mix of defensive features and constant damage output. Her Fortify ability also makes her incredibly tough to take down, and her Energy Javelin can stop enemies and pin them to walls. All in all, her kit is super forgiving and helps you understand how to control space as a tank.

Roadhog

For the beginner who likes a more self-sufficient playstyle, Roadhog is an excellent pick. This hero boasts a hefty health pool and his infamous Chain Hook, which can pull an out-of-position enemy to their doom. Most notably, his Take a Breather ability allows him to heal himself, making him more forgiving of mistakes while you learn the basics of the game.

Easy DPS Heroes for Beginners

Damage (DPS) heroes are all about getting kills and putting pressure on the enemy team. If you've got an itch for action and like to see health bars drop, these characters will serve you well:

Soldier 76

Often noted as the easiest hero for beginners, Soldier 76 plays like a character straight out of a traditional first-person shooter. With his reliable Heavy Pulse Rifle, a Sprint ability for engaging or disengaging, and a Biotic Field that can heal himself and nearby teammates, he’s incredibly forgiving and easy to pick up. His ultimate, Tactical Visor, even gives you a temporary aimbot! What’s not to love?

Reaper

If you like getting up close and personal as a DPS, Reaper is the best choice. Armed with twin Hellfire Shotguns, he excels at shredding tanks and flanking enemies out of position. His Wraith Form also allows him to become temporarily invulnerable and escape danger. At the same time, Shadow Step lets him teleport across the map, making him extremely forgiving when caught out of position. He’s an excellent pick for learning how to pick your fights and deal lots of damage in short bursts.

Junkrat

Don't fancy yourself an accurate aimer just yet? No problem. Junkrat is all about messy, explosive fun. His Frag Launcher lobs grenades that can bounce around and deal massive AoE damage, and his Concussion Mine can send enemies or yourself flying. He’s proof that sometimes, more explosions are indeed the answer.

Torbjörn

This trusty Swedish engineer brings a fresh asset to the fight: a deployable turret. This turret automatically targets and fires at enemies, meaning it can provide value even when you're not directly playing. Besides the turrets, Torbjörn himself has a decent Rivet Gun and an Overload ability that boosts his survivability and attack speed, making him more survivable.

Easy Support Heroes for Beginners

Support heroes are responsible for healing allies, providing buffs, and debuffing enemies. If you enjoy buffing your teammates and making game-changing plays from the backline, these are your go-to picks:

Mercy

Arguably, the most straightforward support hero is Mercy. This hero is all about focused healing and damage boosting with her Caduceus Staff. Her Guardian Angel ability also allows her to quickly fly to teammates, making her highly mobile and good at staying alive. But the best thing? Her ultimate, Valkyrie, buffs all her abilities and allows her to heal or boost multiple teammates at once.

Moira

Moira offers a potent blend of healing and damage, making her a very flexible and survivable support. Her Biotic Grasp can either spray a healing mist over allies or leech life from enemies, and her Biotic Orbs can be bounced off walls to heal teammates or damage enemies in an area. With her Fade ability for quick escapes, Moira is an excellent choice for beginners who want to contribute on both fronts.

Lúcio

Want to provide constant value just by existing? Lúcio is your man. He passively heals or provides a speed boost to teammates within his aura. You just need to switch songs depending on the situation. His Wall Ride ability also gives him incredible mobility, and his Sound Barrier provides a massive temporary shield to his team, making him great for learning how to support your team while staying on the move.

Best Overwatch Heroes for Beginners by Role

Role	Hero
Tank	Reinhardt, Orisa, Roadhog
Damage	Soldier 76, Reaper, Junkrat
Support	Mercy, Moira, Lúcio

Quick Tips for New Players

Starting your Overwatch 2 journey is fun, but a few pointers can make the experience smoother:

• Hit the Practice Range: Before diving into games, it’s a good idea to spend some time in the Practice Range. This is where you can get a feel for a hero’s abilities, weapon fire, and movement without the pressure of live games.
• Stick With Your Team: Overwatch isn’t a solo game. Especially as a beginner, moving with your team provides safety and allows for better, coordinated plays. Generally speaking, tanks create space for DPS, and supports keep everyone in the fight.
• Learn the Maps: Understanding map layouts, chokepoints, and health pack locations is brilliant, as each map offers unique tactical advantages, depending on your agent picks.
• Communication: Even without a microphone, Overwatch 2's ping system is a brilliant tool for communicating enemy locations, ultimate status, and calls for help, among other things.
• Don't Be Afraid to Switch: One of Overwatch's unique mechanics is the ability to switch heroes mid-match. If your current pick isn't working or the enemy team composition counters you, just swap to a different hero!
• Use Overwatch Boosting: Low-Elo not for you? Worried about messing up your essential placement matches? OW2 boosting services from BoostRoyal can help you rank up efficiently and safely.
• Focus on Objectives: While getting kills in Overwatch is satisfying, remember that Overwatch 2 is an objective-based game. Whether that means pushing the payload, capturing a checkpoint, or controlling an area, playing the objective is important to winning.