TL;DR
- Overwatch 2 perks were added to heroes after Season 15, upgrading and changing the functionality of abilities.
- Each hero has four perks, two minor and two major. Perks reset when players change characters during a game.
- Players get perks by leveling up, gaining XP by doing damage, securing eliminations, and healing allies.
- Perks change at the start of every season, changing the meta.
Overwatch 2 has continued to morph since its release, and while it hasn’t delivered what Blizzard originally promised with a true story mode, the game has been evolving from its predecessor. Still a premier name in the hero shooter scene, Overwatch 2’s changes from the original have managed to help keep its core audience.
A part of these changes has come from the Overwatch hero perks system, introduced in Season 15: Honor and Glory. Each hero has four perks to choose from, all of which will be listed below and separated into Overwatch 2’s three classes.
What are hero perks in Overwatch 2?
Overwatch perks act as upgrades to heroes’ abilities. They require players to level up to unlock them through XP. These perks do not transfer between heroes, meaning that if a player switches character mid-game, they will have to level up again to gain perks.
Perks are minor or major. Minor perks are small upgrades, such as reducing ability cooldowns. Major perks can have a massive effect on an ability and even rework its functionality. As some perks have been removed, only the currently available options will be shown in our Overwatch perks list.
All Overwatch 2 hero perks explained
OW2 Tank Hero Perks
| Hero | Perk | Description |
|---|---|---|
| D.Va | Bunny Power (Minor Perk) | Eject grants 75 temporary overhealth and Call Mech’s damage radius is increased by 50%. |
| Extended Boosters (Minor Perk) | Hitting an enemy with Boosters increases the duration by 0.5 seconds. | |
| Shield System (Major Perk) | Convert 150 health to shields. Defense Matrix restores shields based on 25% of its damage absorbed. | |
| Precision Fusion (Major Perk) | Press Reload to reduce Fusion Cannons’ Spread by 75% for 3 seconds. | |
| Doomfist | One-Two (Minor Perk) | Hitting an enemy into a wall with Rocket Punch reloads all Hand Cannon and overfills ammo by 2. |
| Survival of the Fittest (Minor Perk) | The Best Defense grants 25 overhealth from eliminations and its max overhealth is increased by 50. | |
| Aftershock (Major Perk) | Enemies hit by Seismic Slam are slowed by 40% for 2 seconds. | |
| Power Matrix (Major Perk) | Power Block absorbs projectiles for the first second of its duration. | |
| Hazard | Deep Leap (Minor Perk) | Violent Leap’s range is increased by 15%. |
| Anarchic Zeal (Minor Perk) | Spike Guard’s spikes gain 30% Lifesteal. | |
| Reconstitution (Major Perk) | Jagged Wall hits charge Spike Guard with 25 energy, up to 50 extra. | |
| Explosive Impalements (Major Perk) | Bonespur hits mark targets with spikes. Quick Melee and Violent Leap’s slash detonate them for 40 explosive damage. | |
| Junker Queen | Rampant Charge (Minor Perk) | Gain Unstoppable and refreshes all cooldowns by 6 seconds when using Rampage. |
| Battle Shout (Minor Perk) | Commanding Shout fully reloads Scatter Gun and increases allied reload speed by 50%. | |
| Willy-Willy (Major Perk) | When recalling Jagged Blade its radius is increased by 100% and it deals 30 additional impact damage. | |
| Savage Satiation (Major Perk) | Carnage’s impact damage gains 100% lifesteal. | |
| Mauga | Kinetic Bandolier (Minor Perk) | Overrun reloads up to 150 ammo while charging. |
| Pyromaniac (Minor Perk) | Igniting enemies with Incendiary Chaingun grants 50 overhealth. | |
| Firewalker (Major Perk) | Overrun ignites enemies hit. | |
| Combat Fuel (Major Perk) | Critical hits grant Mauga 3 temporary overhealth on Cardiac Overdrive’s next use, up to 150 overhealth. | |
| Orisa | Defense Protocol (Minor Perk) | Regenerate 100 health per second while charging Terra Surge. |
| Mobile Fortification (Minor Perk) | While Fortify is active, Orisa has no movement speed reduction and no heat generation. | |
| Charged Javelin (Major Perk) | Energy Javelin can be charged to increase projectile speed and knockback. Pierces enemies at full power. | |
| Protective Barrier (Major Perk) | Javelin Spin is replaced with a barrier. | |
| Ramattra | Void Surge (Minor Perk) | Void Accelerator periodically releases a burst of 6 additional projectiles during continuous fire. |
| Relentless Form (Minor Perk) | While Nemesis Form is active, eliminations extend the duration by 1 second, half that during Annihilation. | |
| Nanite Repair (Major Perk) | Ramattra is healed for 75 health per second while within Ravenous Vortex. | |
| Vengeful Vortex (Major Perk) | While Ravenous Vortex is airborne, use E again to detonate it, dealing 50 damage and pulling enemies downward. | |
| Reinhardt | Crusader’s Fire (Minor Perk) | Refund a charge of Fire Strike When you stun an enemy, overfilling up to 3. |
| Barrier Re-charge (Minor Perk) | Distance travelled while using Charge regenerates your Barrier Field by 200 per second. | |
| Shield Slam (Major Perk) | While Barrier Field is active, use Primary Fire to damage and knockback enemies. | |
| Ignited Fury (Major Perk) | For each enemy you hit with Fire Strike, gain 2 seconds of 25% increased attack speed. | |
| Roadhog | Scrap Hook (Minor Perk) | Chain Hook hits reload 2 ammo. |
| Shrapnel Launcher (Minor Perk) | Extend the range of Scrap Gun’s secondary fire by 50% and tighten its burst spread by 25%. | |
| Invigorate (Major Perk) | Take A Breather rapidly increases Roadhog’s movement speed by 30%. | |
| Pulled Pork (Major Perk) | Gain overhealth based on how far you pull enemies with Chain Hook, up to 250. | |
| Sigma | Kinetic Cycle (Minor Perk) | Absorbing projectiles with Kinetic Grasp also reduces Accretion’s cooldown. |
| Hyper Regeneration (Minor Perk) | 50% of Hyperspheres’ damage restores Experimental Barrier’s Health. | |
| Hyper Strike (Major Perk) | Every 5 direct hits with Hyperspheres, your next successful Quick Melee levitates and knocks away enemies. | |
| Levitation (Major Perk) | Activate and hold Double Jump to briefly levitate upward. | |
| Winston | Barrier Toss (Minor Perk) | Winston now throws his barrier forward when used. |
| Heavy Landing (Minor Perk) | During Primal Rage, Jump Pack’s damage and area increase by up to 75% while airborne. | |
| Chain Lightning (Major Perk) | Fully charged Secondary Fire hits bounce to up to 2 additional targets. | |
| Revitalizing Barrier (Major Perk) | Barrier Projector heals allies within it for 30 health per second. | |
| Wrecking Ball | Steamroller (Minor Perk) | Roll impacts deal 100% more damage to Tanks. |
| Pack Rat (Minor Perk) | Health Packs heal an additional 100 health. | |
| Hang Time (Major Perk) | Piledriver winds up longer, gaining air control and dealing up to 50% more damage. | |
| Adaptive Barrier (Major Perk) | Adaptive Shield generates a 1.5 second barrier on activation. | |
| Zarya | Energy Converter (Minor Perk) | Hits with Particle Cannon’s secondary fire generate 3 energy. |
| Jump-Ups (Minor Perk) | Secondary Fire’s self-knockback is increased by 75%. | |
| Energy Lance (Major Perk) | Particle Cannon’s beam pierces enemies while over 50 energy. | |
| Spotter (Major Perk) | Projected Barrier activates ally health regeneration and increases their movement speed by 25%. |
OW2 Support Hero Perks
| Hero | Perk | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Ana | Groggy (Minor Perk) | Enemies waking up from Sleep Dart are slowed and take 50 damage for 2 seconds. |
| Speed Serum (Minor Perk) | Nano Boost grants a 40% movement speed boost to both Ana and her target. | |
| Headhunter (Major Perk) | Biotic Rifle can crit enemies. | |
| Biotic Bounce (Major Perk) | After exploding, Biotic Grenade bounces and explodes again for 60 damage and healing. | |
| Baptiste | Biotic Reloader (Minor Perk) | Hitting an entire three-round burst reloads a healing projectile. Healing projectile direct hits reloads 3 primary fire ammo. |
| Automated Healing (Minor Perk) | Using any ability triggers Baptiste’s Shoulder Turret, periodically firing up to 3 shots at allies, each restoring 25 health. | |
| Assault Burst (Major Perk) | Regenerative Burst now provides Baptiste with 25% increased attack speed for 4 seconds. | |
| Rocket Boots (Major Perk) | While airborne from Exo Boots, use (SPACE) to dash horizontally. | |
| Brigitte | Combat Medic (Minor Perk) | Melee attacks reduce the cooldown of Repair Pack by 0.5 seconds. |
| Morale Boost (Minor Perk) | Inspire lasts 3 seconds longer when activated by Whip Shot. | |
| Inspiring Strike (Major Perk) | Shield Bash grants 30% increased movement speed for 2 seconds. Inspire’s healing is instant when activated by Shield Bash. | |
| Whiplash (Major Perk) | Whip Shot’s knockback can slam enemies into walls, dealing 50 extra damage. | |
| Illari | Rapid Construction (Minor Perk) | Healing Pylon builds 300% faster and its cooldown is reduced by 1.5 seconds. |
| Summer Solstice (Minor Perk) | Activating Captive Sun grants Illari 3 extra seconds of flight, 20% increased flight speed, and 30% increased attack speed. | |
| Solar Flare (Major Perk) | Press Primary Fire while using Solar Rifle’s healing beam to consume 50% of energy, healing allies in front of Illari for 100 healing. | |
| Sunburn (Major Perk) | Outburst ignites enemies, dealing an additional 70 damage over 3 seconds. | |
| Juno | Familiar Vitals (Minor Perk) | Pulsar Torpedoes lock onto allies 35% faster. |
| Locked On (Minor Perk) | Reduce the cooldown of Pulsar Torpedoes by 1 second for each enemy hit. | |
| Faster Blaster (Major Perk) | While using Glide Boost, Mediblaster fires continuosly. | |
| Lift Off (Major Perk) | Martian Overboots can now triple jump. | |
| Kiriko | Urgent Care (Minor Perk) | Healing Ofuda projectile speed is increased by 50% when seeking critical health allies. |
| Fortune Teller (Minor Perk) | Kunai hits launch 2 Healing Ofuda to an ally in front of you. | |
| Ready Step (Major Perk) | Swift Step grants Kiriko 40% increased attack and reload speed for 3 seconds. | |
| Foxtrot (Major Perk) | Protection Suzu grants allies 100% increased cooldown recovery and 30% increased movement speed for 2 seconds. | |
| Lifeweaver | Cleansing Grasp (Minor Perk) | Life Grip cleanses negative effects. Cleansing a negative effect reduces Life Grip cooldown by 4 seconds. |
| Lifeweaving (Minor Perk) | Rejuvenating Dash adds 30 healing to your next Healing Blossom within 3 seconds. | |
| Superbloom (Major Perk) | Thorns detonate for 40 extra damage when enough stick within 2.5 seconds. | |
| Petal Power (Major Perk) | Allies gain 30% attack speed while standing on a raised Petal Platform. | |
| Lúcio | Soundwave Rider (Minor Perk) | Wall Riding empowers your next Soundwave, increasing its knockback by 25% and damage by 50%. |
| Beat Drop (Minor Perk) | Amp It Up is active during Sound Barrier. | |
| Noise Violation (Major Perk) | Crossfade’s range is increased by 150% while Amp It Up is active. | |
| Accelerando (Major Perk) | Lucio’s attack speed is increased by 50% while Amp It Up is active. | |
| Mercy | Angelic Resurrection (Minor Perk) | Mercy gains 100 overhealth after casting Resurrect. |
| Divine Momentum (Minor Perk) | Increases Mercy’s travel speed by 15% after cancelling Guardian Angel. | |
| Chain Boost (Major Perk) | Secondary fire links to a second nearby ally. | |
| Flash Heal (Major Perk) | Flash heal can be used on Caduceus Staff’s active target to restore 50 health, tripled on allies below half health. | |
| Moira | Destruction’s Divide (Minor Perk) | Coalescence can be toggled between pure healing or pure damage, with 25% greater effect. |
| Ethical Nourishment (Minor Perk) | Biotic Orb’s first 30 healing is instant on each ally it encounters. | |
| Reversal (Major Perk) | Reactivating Biotic Orb reverses its direction. | |
| Phantom Step (Major Perk) | Fade lasts 0.5 seconds longer and boosts jump height by 50%. | |
| Wuyang | Overflow (Minor Perk) | Gain 10 ammo and 50% healing resource when Rushing Torrent is activated. |
| Balance (Minor Perk) | When you deal damage with water orbs, increase Restorative Stream’s passive healing by 30% for 2 seconds. | |
| Ebb and Flow (Major Perk) | Guardian Wave rewinds to its starting location. Has 50% less effectiveness while rewinding. | |
| Falling Rain (Major Perk) | Simultaneously control 3 water orbs that deal 60% decreased damage and have have 25% decreased empowered explosion radius. | |
| Zenyatta | Transcendent Condemnation (Minor Perk) | While using Transcendence, apply Discord Orb to all enemies within range. |
| Ascendance (Minor Perk) | Activate and hold Double Jump to hover for up to 3 seconds. | |
| Focused Destruction (Major Perk) | Secondary fire charges 20% faster and can store 1 extra Orb of Destruction. | |
| Dual Harmony (Major Perk) | Gain a 2nd Harmony Orb but they both heal for 70% effectiveness. |
OW2 Damage Hero Perks
| Hero | Perks | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Pharah | Drift Thrusters (Minor Perk) | Pharah can move while Barrage is active. |
| Helix Shields (Minor Perk) | Convert 125 health to shields. Direct hits with the Rocket Launcher triggers passive shield regeneration. | |
| Fuel Stores (Major Perk) | Jet Dash grants 50% fuel. Maximum overfuel is increased by 100%. | |
| Sky Spy (Major Perk) | Concussive Blast reveals targets to Pharah for 3 seconds. During this, the next direct Rocket Launcher hit per target deals 30% extra damage. | |
| Widowmaker | Scoped Efficiency (Minor Perk) | Scoped shots cost 3 ammo instead of 5. |
| Sniper’s Instinct (Minor Perk) | Scoped shots charge 100% faster for 2 seconds after using Grappling Hook. | |
| Escape Plan (Major Perk) | Scoped shot hits reduce Grappling Hook’s cooldown by up to 4 seconds. | |
| Seeker Mine (Major Perk) | Venom Mine now fires poison darts at enemies within 10 meters and remains active after triggered. | |
| Venture | Deep Burrow (Minor Perk) | Drill Dash distance is 50% longer while while burrowing. |
| Excavation Exhilaration (Minor Perk) | While Tectonic Shock is active, cooldowns refresh 300% faster. | |
| Smart Extender (Major Perk) | Empower SMART Excavator with E to increase its maximum projectile range by 100% for 4 seconds. | |
| Covered in Dirt (Major Perk) | Dealing damage with Clobber grants up to 30 Explorer’s Resolve shields. | |
| Tracer | Blink Packs (Minor Perk) | Health Packs restore 1 Blink charge. |
| Kinetic Reload (Minor Perk) | Melee hits grant 20 ammo. | |
| Flashback (Major Perk) | Recall increases Blink recovery rate by 150% for 3 seconds. | |
| Quantum Entanglement (Major Perk) | Recall grants 50 overhealth and 20 ammo that decays over time. | |
| Torbjörn | Hammer Time (Minor Perk) | Move 20% faster while Forge Hammer is equipped. |
| Fully Loaded (Minor Perk) | Activating Overload fully refills Rivet Gun’s ammo. | |
| Anchor Bolts (Major Perk) | Deploy Turret’s throw range is increased by 50% and it can now attach to walls and ceilings. | |
| Overloaded Turret (Major Perk) | Overload upgrades your Turret for 5 seconds, increasing its health and damage. | |
| Symmetra | Sentry Capacity (Minor Perk) | Sentry Turret gains an additional charge. |
| Perfect Alignment (Minor Perk) | Increase the range of Photon Projector’s primary fire by 20%. | |
| Hovering Barrier (Major Perk) | Teleporter gains the option to create a forward moving barrier instead. Pressing Ability 2 again slows down the barrier’s movement. | |
| Shield Battery (Major Perk) | Symmetra regenerates 20 shields per second while within 10 meters of her teleporter. | |
| Sombra | Encrypted Upload (Minor Perk) | Hack can be used while invisible, successful hacks increase the duration of stealth by 2 seconds. |
| CTRL ALT ESC (Minor Perk) | Teleporting with Translocator while at critical health initiates passive health regeneration. | |
| Healthy Hacker (Major Perk) | Hacked health packs provide up to 50 overhealth to Sombra. | |
| Viral Replication (Major Perk) | Hitting a hacked enemy with Virus spreads Virus to enemies within 8 meters. | |
| Soldier: 76 | Recycled Pulse Munitions (Minor Perk) | Helix Rockets reload 15 ammo if they damage an enemy. |
| Tactical Salvo (Minor Perk) | Helix Rockets cooldown is reduced by 80% during Tactical Visor. | |
| Agility Training (Major Perk) | Sprint’s speed is increased by 20% and reload can be performed while sprint is active. | |
| Stim Pack (Major Perk) | Stim Pack replaces Biotic Field. On use, Soldier: 76 heals for 30 health per second and gains 20% increased attack speed for 5 seconds. | |
| Sojourn | Deceleration Field (Minor Perk) | Enemies hit by Disruptor Shot are slowed by 25%. |
| Overcharged (Minor Perk) | Railgun’s maximum energy is increased by 50 while Overclock is active. | |
| Dual Thrusters (Major Perk) | Power Slide gains an additional charge and its jump height shifts to lateral movement. | |
| Friction Generators (Major Perk) | While sliding, Power Slide generates up to 50 Energy. | |
| Reaper | Lingering Wraith (Minor Perk) | Leaving Wraith Form grants 40% movement speed for 2 seconds. |
| Soul Reaving (Minor Perk) | Collect Soul Globes from dead enemies to restore 50 health. | |
| Dire Triggers (Major Perk) | Use (RMB) to fire a volley with long range accuracy from both Hellfire shotguns. | |
| Shadow Blink (Major Perk) | Shadow Step’s cast time and cooldown are 25% faster, but the range is reduced by 25%. | |
| Ashe | Remote Detonator (Minor Perk) | After using Dynamite, pressing Ability 2 again causes it to explode after a 0.5 second delay. |
| Sidewinder (Minor Perk) | Coach Gun pushes Ashe and enemies 12% farther. | |
| Viper’s Sting (Major Perk) | Hitting 2 consecutive scoped shots on a target deals 25 extra damage and reloads 2 ammo. | |
| Airburst (Major Perk) | Dynamite has a 40% increased detonation radius while airborne and refunds 3 ammo when thrown. | |
| Mei | Skating Rink (Minor Perk) | Allies within Blizzard gain 25% increased movement speed and heal for 50 health per second. |
| Glacial Propulsion (Minor Perk) | Double jumping creates a small ice pillar that launches Mei into the air. | |
| Deep Freeze (Major Perk) | Continuously hitting enemies with primary fire freezes them for a short time. | |
| Cryo-Storm (Major Perk) | Cryo-Freeze slows and deals 70 damage per second to nearby enemies. | |
| Junkrat | Mine Recycling (Minor Perk) | Killing blows with Concussion Mine restore one charge. |
| Nitro Boost (Minor Perk) | During RIP-Tire, use (LSHIFT) to gain a quick boost of speed. Doing so reduces RIP-Tire’s damage by 50%. | |
| Frag Cannon (Major Perk) | Frag Launcher’s projectile speed is increased by 40%, but its max ammo is reduced by 1. | |
| Bomb Voyage (Major Perk) | After launching with Concussion Mine, Junkrat gains 35% increased attack speed for 3 seconds. | |
| Hanzo | Sonic Disruption (Minor Perk) | Sonic Arrow hacks nearby Health Packs for 30 seconds. |
| Swift Lunge (Minor Perk) | Arrow hits reduce the cooldown of Lunge by up to 1 second, based on charge. | |
| Dragon Fury (Major Perk) | After hitting an enemy with Primary Fire, gain 25% attack speed for 2 seconds. | |
| Scatter Arrows (Major Perk) | On first ricochet, Storm Arrows split into 5 shots dealing 33% damage and bounce 1 extra time. | |
| Genji | Swift Cuts (Minor Perk) | Quick Melee reduces the cooldown of Swift Strike by 3 seconds. |
| Dragon’s Thirst (Minor Perk) | Dragonblade swings gain 30% lifesteal. | |
| Blade Twisting (Major Perk) | Swift Strike deals 25 additional damage over time if the enemy is below half health. | |
| Meditation (Major Perk) | Regenerate 35 health per second while Deflect is active. | |
| Freja | Hunters Instinct (Minor Perk) | Direct hits with Take Aim reveal enemies to Freja for 3 seconds. |
| Momentum Boost (Minor Perk) | Quick Dash distance is increased by 20%. | |
| Aerial Recovery (Major Perk) | After using Updraft, heal for 30 health per second until Freja touches the ground. | |
| Relentless Barrage (Major Perk) | Direct hits with Take Aim refund 8 automatic bolt ammo. | |
| Echo | Focused Rush (Minor Perk) | Focused Beam’s range is increase by 4 meters and movement speed is increase by 10% when active. |
| Partial Scan (Minor Perk) | Duplicate starts with 50% of its ultimate charge. | |
| Full Salvo (Major Perk) | Sticky Bombs fires 50% more projectiles. | |
| High Beams (Major Perk) | Focusing Beam eliminations reset Flight’s cooldown. | |
| Cassidy | Bang Bang (Minor Perk) | Cassidy throws a second Flashbang that travels farther, but both Flashbangs deal 40% reduced damage. |
| Even the Odds (Minor Perk) | Regenerate 30 health per second for each enemy targeted by Deadeye. | |
| Gun Slingin’ (Major Perk) | Critical hits with Primary Fire reduce the cooldown of Combat Roll by 3 seconds. | |
| Silver Bullet (Major Perk) | Peacekeeper’s secondary fire is replaced with a piercing shot that inflicts bleeding. Combat Roll and Deadeye reset its cooldown. | |
| Bastion | Configuration Reload (Minor Perk) | Refresh the cooldown of A-36 Tactical Grenade when changing configurations. |
| Armored Artillery (Minor Perk) | Configuration: Artillery grants 300 temporary overhealth. | |
| Lindholm Explosives (Major Perk) | Configuration: Assault’s Weapon slowly fires explosive shells instead of a rotary cannon. | |
| Self-Repair (Major Perk) | Press E to rapidly heal yourself. |
How to unlock perks in Overwatch 2
All Overwatch perks are unlocked by leveling up. There are three levels, and at level 2, players can choose between two minor perks. At level 3, they can choose between two major perks, meaning that a hero can only have two perks equipped at a time: one minor, one major..
Heroes level up by gaining XP, which can be built up by dealing damage, securing eliminations, or healing allies. In many ways, the XP system is functionally similar to how players build ultimate charge, except Overwatch hero perks do not progress passively.
Conclusion
While not all Overwatch perks are as impactful as others, it is important to learn about this system, especially for those returning to Overwatch 2 after a long absence. It can make players think twice about switching mid-game, for fear of losing their perks, and offers individual heroes more versatility in a match. Understanding this system could be the difference between climbing and falling down Overwatch 2’s ranks.
With the sheer number removed since Season 15, a set of Overwatch 2 new perks always seem to be around the corner, being added each season. Keeping an eye on them will help you understand the current meta.
FAQs
What are hero perks in OW2?
Hero perks are upgrades to abilities that players can get during an Overwatch 2 match by earning XP and levelling up.
How many hero perks are there in OW2?
There are 168 perks in OW2, with each hero having four, two minor and two major.
What is the best hero perk in OW2?
There is no one best perk in OW2, as it depends on the game mode, map, team composition, and so on. Zarya’s Gravitation Crush, Sojourn’s Adhesive Sipho, and Pharah’s Sky Spy are some impactful options.
Which heroes have the most perks in OW2?
All heroes in OW2 have four perk options.
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