Overwatch 2 tier list: Best characters to play in 2025

To no one’s surprise, Overwatch 2 Season 19 has shifted the meta yet again. The most effective heroes for Competitive and Quick have shuffled around, and some that were stuck at the bottom of tier lists have finally got a break.

Now that Wuyang has been bedded in for a season, it feels as though the meta has relaxed a bit, with everyone going back to understanding the entire hero roster. Still, the changes in the meta season-to-season can be complicated to keep up with, but we’re 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 19, 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 19 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 19 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 Mobalytics, and Boost Royal. Blizzard has 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 19 so far.

Season 19 has seen a shift in the meta to a more dive-heavy focus. Top tier Overwatch 2 DPS heroes require high mobility in this meta to quickly go in and out of enemy lines, and Tracer remains a top-tier option from Season 18. The change to her Flashback Major Perk hasn’t changed her playstyle all too much, trading extra Blink charges for quick cooldowns. She remains a highly mobile flanker that’s difficult to deal with, although she requires a high skill level to make use of, given her low health. Still, she makes a support player’s life as difficult as possible.

Another hero in S-Tier that shows this shift toward dive-heavy team compositions is Genji, returning to Season 19 as one of the best characters in Overwatch 2. He was a solid option in Season 18, and while there haven’t been any changes to his perks, he simply benefits from the new shift in the meta. Many will likely rejoice, due to his popularity, and his extremely high mobility is only going to make supports struggle more.

There are still plenty of solid, non-dive options, with Sojourn, Ashe, Freja, Soldier 76, and Widowmaker being great for those who want to stand and shoot. They’re options that players can’t go wrong with, especially to deal with enemy dive. Flying heroes like Echo and Pharah simply don’t need to deal with dive comps half the time, whereas heroes like Junkrat, Mei, and Symmetra will struggle a bit more with fast foes.

Torbjörn is the largest sufferer, and while he’s more effective on console, on PC, his turret can’t always keep up with the speed of dive heroes like Tracer and Genji, despite not having changes between seasons. Reaper, however, has had a myriad of changes and has shifted up to A-Tier, being criminally effective at close range, although ranging him out still remains a strong counterplay.

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.

Despite being a serial S-Tier character because of her solo-carry potential all the way from Overwatch 1, there haven’t been any changes for Zarya from Season 18. She is, and will likely remain, a top tier Overwatch 2 character because of the damage negation and DPS potential of her kit. Her bubbles make her the perfect answer to the dive-heavy meta, too, protecting teammates and herself if they ever get isolated during an enemy dive.

Speaking of dive, Wrecking Ball has joined in on the fun by being incredibly disruptive during a dive offensive. His Adaptive Barrier (Major Perk) change no longer consuming overhealth has made him far more durable, and on control points, there aren’t a lot of ways to deal with him, especially if a Tracer or Genji are diving with him to pick off supports.

On the other hand, Reinhardt players remain serial sufferers. While he has been the face of the tank role in Overwatch’s run, he’s pretty much the punching bag of Overwatch 2, especially in Season 19, where he doesn’t have many options to deal with the dive-heavy meta. Even his Barrier Re-Charge (Minor Perk) buff hasn’t done him any favours, and he spends most games just getting bounced around.

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 19.

Dive metas are always hard on supports, but the heroes that tend to thrive now are those with the self-sustain to survive a diving onslaught, or have the damage to fight back. Kiriko  has both and has been thriving in the Overwatch 2 competitive landscape from the moment she was introduced. While she has had some duration nerfs to her Major Perks, her kit is simply too versatile, and Blizzard is perhaps showing a lot of favouritism toward Kiriko if her skins are anything to go by.

Another hero that can remain strong in the face of terrifying dives is Lúcio, who has the mobility and survivability to keep himself and his team alive. Because his healing isn’t active, it doesn’t stop while he’s running for his life and has been bumped up to S-Tier between seasons largely due to wider meta shifts.

Ana remains a great option if she can land her Sleep Dart on a diver, and Brigitte’s survivability is nice to have when getting dived. Ana in particular straddles the line between A and S-Tier, and is a very strong option if neither Kiriko nor Lúcio are available, especially with her Headhunter (Major Perk) buff.

Lifeweaver remains practically useless despite buffs to his perks, and it feels like Blizzard is struggling to get the right balance for him. Mercy and Moira are decent characters to learn the support role with, due to their simplicity, but don’t have the kits to be anywhere near the top of the OW2 tier list. Mercy’s mobility doesn’t seem to help her too much against dive, and while pocketing a hero will keep them alive, she can quickly be overwhelmed.

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.