Overwatch 2 Characters List [All Available Heroes 2024]

Choosing the right hero in Overwatch 2 can be the difference between victory and defeat. As the game continues to evolve in 2024, understanding the complete roster and each hero‘s unique abilities has become more critical than ever for players looking to climb the competitive ladder or simply enjoy casual matches with friends.

As of May 2024, Overwatch 2 features 40 playable heroes spread across three distinct roles. This expanded roster gives players unprecedented strategic options while creating a dynamic meta that shifts with each new season and balance patch.

Let‘s dive into the complete hero lineup, explore what makes each character unique, and help you find your next main in Blizzard‘s popular team-based shooter.

Overwatch 2 Hero Roster: By the Numbers

Before we explore each character in detail, let‘s break down some key statistics about the current Overwatch 2 roster:

• Total Heroes: 40
• Tank Heroes: 11
• Damage Heroes: 17
• Support Heroes: 12
• Heroes added since Overwatch 2 launch (Oct 2022): 6
• Heroes planned for remainder of 2024: 2-3 more

This balanced distribution ensures each role has adequate options for different map types, team compositions, and counter-picking situations. The hero release cadence has accelerated since Overwatch 2‘s free-to-play transition, with new characters arriving approximately every other season.

Hero Distribution Analysis

When examining the hero distribution from a data perspective, several interesting patterns emerge:

The role distribution reflects Blizzard‘s design philosophy for 5v5 gameplay, with Damage heroes representing the largest category. This aligns with their strategy of providing the most variety in the role that typically sees two players per team.

Hero Release Timeline and Development Cadence

The pace of hero development in Overwatch 2 represents a significant acceleration compared to the original game. Let‘s examine the release timeline:

This represents an average of 4-5 new heroes per year, compared to the roughly 3 heroes per year during Overwatch 1‘s active development phase. This accelerated cadence directly responds to player feedback requesting more frequent content updates.

What Makes Overwatch 2 Heroes Unique?

Unlike many other hero shooters, Overwatch 2 characters feature:

• Unique weapon systems – No two heroes share identical primary fire mechanics
• Multiple abilities – Each hero has 2-3 special abilities plus an ultimate
• Passive role benefits – All heroes gain bonuses based on their role (Tanks have reduced knockback, Damage heroes move faster, Support heroes auto-heal)
• Distinctive movement options – From Pharah‘s jetpack to Lucio‘s wall-riding
• Complex ability interactions – Creating synergies that reward team coordination

This design philosophy creates a game where mastering a single hero requires significant practice, but also rewards players who understand multiple characters and can flex between them as needed.

Ability Type Distribution

When analyzing hero abilities across the roster, we can categorize them into functional types:

This distribution highlights how Overwatch 2‘s design ensures each role has access to abilities that support their primary function while maintaining distinct identity.

Complete Tank Heroes List (11)

Tanks in Overwatch 2 are designed to lead the charge, create space, and absorb damage that would otherwise eliminate their teammates. With the shift to 5v5 gameplay in Overwatch 2, the tank role has become more crucial than ever.

D.Va

The Korean mech pilot combines high mobility with strong damage mitigation tools.

Location: MEKA Base, Busan, South Korea
Key Abilities:

• Defense Matrix (damage absorption field)
• Boosters (rapid movement ability)
• Micro Missiles (tracking projectiles)
• Self-Destruct (area-of-effect ultimate)

D.Va excels at harassing enemy backlines while protecting her team from projectile damage. Her unique two-life system (mech and pilot form) gives her additional sustainability.

Play Rate: 11.2% across all ranks, with highest popularity in Diamond (13.7%)
Win Rate: 51.3% global average, with 53.1% in Master and above

Doomfist

Once a damage hero, Doomfist was reworked into a diving tank for Overwatch 2.

Location: Oyo, Nigeria
Key Abilities:

• Power Block (damage reduction stance)
• Rocket Punch (charging attack with knockback)
• Seismic Slam (area movement ability)
• Meteor Strike (leaping area damage ultimate)

Doomfist specializes in disruption, using his high mobility to isolate and displace key targets. His skill ceiling is among the highest of tank heroes.

Play Rate: 5.3% across all ranks, spiking to 7.8% in Top 500
Win Rate: 49.1% global average, suggesting a slightly undertuned state in the current meta

Junker Queen

Added with Overwatch 2‘s launch, this Australian wasteland ruler embodies the brawler tank archetype.

Location: Junkertown, Australia
Key Abilities:

• Jagged Blade (throwing knife with recall)
• Commanding Shout (team-wide health buff)
• Carnage (sweeping melee attack)
• Rampage (charging ultimate with anti-healing)

Junker Queen rewards aggressive play with her unique wound mechanic that provides self-healing. Her kit excels in close-quarters combat.

Play Rate: 7.6% across all ranks
Win Rate: 52.2%, making her one of the more successful tanks in public matchmaking

Mauga

The newest tank addition from December 2023, Mauga brings dual-wielding firepower and a berserker playstyle.

Location: Samoa
Key Abilities:

• Dual Incendiary Chaingun and Volatile Chaingun
• Overrun (charging through enemies)
• Cardiac Overdrive (area healing field)
• Cage Fight (area containment ultimate)

Mauga stands out with his ability to create zones where he gains advantages, making him particularly strong on control points.

Play Rate: 14.2% (boosted by recency and novelty)
Win Rate: 48.9%, suggesting players are still mastering his playstyle

Orisa

Completely reworked for Overwatch 2, Orisa has transformed from a stationary barrier tank to an aggressive frontline brawler.

Location: Numbani, Africa
Key Abilities:

• Energy Javelin (stun projectile)
• Fortify (damage reduction and crowd control immunity)
• Javelin Spin (projectile destruction and forward movement)
• Terra Surge (pulling area damage ultimate)

Orisa excels at creating space through her offensive pressure rather than shields, representing the design direction of Overwatch 2 tanks.

Play Rate: 9.1% across all ranks
Win Rate: 53.4%, one of the highest among tanks, particularly on Push maps (55.1%)

Ramattra

Released in Season 2, this omnic leader can transform between defensive and offensive forms.

Location: Shambali Monastery, Nepal
Key Abilities:

• Void Accelerator/Pummel (form-specific weapons)
• Void Barrier (deployable shield)
• Ravenous Vortex (area slow field)
• Annihilation (form-changing damage beam ultimate)

Ramattra‘s dual-form design allows him to adapt to different combat scenarios, making him one of the most versatile tanks.

Play Rate: 8.7% across all ranks
Win Rate: 50.2%, nearly perfectly balanced

Reinhardt

The classic shield tank continues to define frontline play with his barrier and hammer.

Location: Stuttgart, Germany
Key Abilities:

• Barrier Field (mobile shield)
• Charge (pinning rush attack)
• Fire Strike (piercing projectile)
• Earthshatter (knockdown ultimate)

Despite multiple game changes, Reinhardt remains a cornerstone of organized team play for his ability to create protected space.

Play Rate: 12.5% across all ranks, highest among tanks in lower ranks
Win Rate: 52.7%, with exceptional performance on Hybrid maps (54.3%)

Roadhog

The apocalyptic enforcer specializes in punishing out-of-position enemies.

Location: Junkertown, Australia
Key Abilities:

• Chain Hook (enemy displacement tool)
• Take A Breather (self-healing)
• Whole Hog (pushing ultimate)

Following significant reworks in 2023, Roadhog now focuses more on team protection while retaining his signature pick potential.

Play Rate: 8.3% across all ranks
Win Rate: 49.7%, slightly below average but still viable

Sigma

The gravity-controlling scientist brings a unique resource management approach to tanking.

Location: The Hague, Netherlands
Key Abilities:

• Experimental Barrier (floating shield)
• Kinetic Grasp (converts damage to shields)
• Accretion (stunning projectile)
• Gravitic Flux (lifting area damage ultimate)

Sigma rewards strategic thinking and ability sequencing, making him popular in higher-ranked play.

Play Rate: 9.8% across all ranks, spiking to 14.2% in Master+
Win Rate: 51.8%, consistently solid across map types

Winston

The genetically enhanced gorilla scientist excels at diving vulnerable targets.

Location: Horizon Lunar Colony
Key Abilities:

• Jump Pack (targeted leap)
• Barrier Projector (bubble shield)
• Tesla Cannon (auto-targeting electrical damage)
• Primal Rage (health-boosting displacement ultimate)

Winston‘s ability to bypass frontlines and disrupt backline heroes makes him a staple in dive compositions.

Play Rate: 7.7% across all ranks
Win Rate: 50.4%, balanced but requiring coordination to maximize effectiveness

Wrecking Ball (Hammond)

The hamster pilot in a spherical mech emphasizes momentum and disruption.

Location: Horizon Lunar Colony/Junkertown
Key Abilities:

• Grappling Claw (momentum-building swing)
• Piledriver (area damage and crowd control)
• Adaptive Shield (scales with nearby enemies)
• Minefield (area denial ultimate)

Wrecking Ball offers unparalleled mobility among tanks, allowing for creative engagement angles and enemy displacement.

Play Rate: 5.8% across all ranks, highest in Grand Master (9.1%)
Win Rate: 49.8%, requiring significant skill investment to achieve full potential

Complete Damage Heroes List (17)

Damage heroes (often called DPS – damage per second) form the largest category in Overwatch 2. These characters focus on eliminating enemies through various attack styles ranging from precision hitscan to area-of-effect explosives.

Ashe

The gang leader brings versatility with her lever-action rifle and dynamite.

Location: Deadlock Gorge, Arizona, USA
Key Abilities:

• The Viper (semi-automatic rifle with ADS)
• Coach Gun (movement/displacement shotgun)
• Dynamite (area damage over time)
• B.O.B. (deployable omnic ultimate)

Ashe excels at mid-range combat while offering utility through her deployable ultimate companion.

Play Rate: 6.2% across all ranks
Win Rate: 51.7%, consistently reliable in most team compositions

Bastion

Reworked for Overwatch 2, this omnic unit balances mobility and firepower.

Location: Gothenburg, Sweden
Key Abilities:

• Assault/Recon Configuration (transforming forms)
• Tactical Grenade (bouncing explosive)
• Configuration: Artillery (mortar strike ultimate)

Bastion‘s identity as a transforming weapons platform remains, but with greater emphasis on tactical positioning.

Play Rate: 3.1% across all ranks, one of the least picked damage heroes
Win Rate: 52.3%, surprisingly effective when utilized correctly

Cassidy (formerly McCree)

The gunslinger specializes in mid-range precision with his six-shooter.

Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
Key Abilities:

• Peacekeeper (revolver with primary/fan fire modes)
• Combat Roll (reload and positioning)
• Magnetic Grenade (tracking explosive)
• Deadeye (locking damage ultimate)

Cassidy rewards accuracy and positioning while providing reliable damage output.

Play Rate: 7.8% across all ranks
Win Rate: 50.1%, extremely balanced across skill tiers

Echo

The evolutionary robot can duplicate enemy heroes for ultimate flexibility.

Location: Switzerland
Key Abilities:

• Tri-Shot (primary projectiles)
• Sticky Bombs (delayed explosives)
• Flight/Glide (vertical mobility)
• Focusing Beam (low-health damage amplifier)
• Duplicate (hero-copying ultimate)

Echo‘s ability to temporarily become any enemy hero makes her one of the most adaptable damage options.

Play Rate: 3.9% across all ranks, higher in organized play
Win Rate: 51.3%, with significant variance based on player skill

Genji

The cybernetic ninja emphasizes mobility and precision strikes.

Location: Hanamura, Japan/Nepal
Key Abilities:

• Shuriken (primary throwing stars)
• Swift Strike (damaging dash with reset potential)
• Deflect (projectile return)
• Dragonblade (melee damage ultimate)

Genji‘s high skill ceiling rewards players who master his movement and ability combos.

Play Rate: 9.1% across all ranks, one of the most popular damage heroes
Win Rate: 49.4%, slightly below average due to high pick rate among less skilled players

Hanzo

The archer provides high burst damage and information gathering.

Location: Hanamura, Japan
Key Abilities:

• Storm Bow (primary projectile)
• Storm Arrows (rapid-fire ability)
• Sonic Arrow (wall-hacking reveal)
• Dragonstrike (penetrating area ultimate)

Hanzo‘s projectile-based gameplay offers high damage potential with a learning curve on prediction.

Play Rate: 8.5% across all ranks
Win Rate: 50.7%, solid performance with high skill ceiling

Junkrat

The explosives expert specializes in area denial and indirect fire.

Location: Junkertown, Australia
Key Abilities:

• Frag Launcher (bouncing explosives)