The entry into Overwatch 2 is not that easy. We provide 5 tips to start with that will help you excel in the hero shooter.
Overwatch 2 launched a few days ago and after the servers were initially overwhelmed, Blizzard’s hero shooter can now be played without issues.
But for many, Overwatch 2 might be their first contact with a hero shooter, so some mechanics and procedures may not be completely clear. For this purpose, we have compiled some tips for you that will especially help newcomers – but maybe there’s also something included that veterans among you didn’t know.
1. Use the Ping System
Overwatch 2 has a ping system that is currently being used effectively by far too few players. By pressing the “G” key (or the middle mouse button), you can set a “ping” in the world to indicate certain locations. On the controller, you can find the ping by default on the left arrow key.
The ping system is quite intuitive and marks locations sensibly. For example, if you press the key directly above an enemy, your team is signaled that you see a foe right there. If the enemy disappeared behind a wall within the last 2 seconds, the ping system indicates which enemy you have seen and that they are currently not visible anymore.
You can also say other things at specific locations. If you hold the ping button, a selection menu with many functions appears. For instance, you can indicate at a choke point that you want to hold the defense right here.
Especially cool: You can also start a “countdown” to coordinate the exact time for an ambush or a joint attack.
Make sure to familiarize yourself with the different ping methods so you can always make the right call quickly – even without voice chat.
Avoid “Trickling” – Always Proceed as a Group
In Overwatch, you can’t win all the time, and sometimes you lose in a group fight. One of the biggest problems for new players is regrouping and re-entering the fight as a coordinated group.
Many make the mistake of charging back into battle alone – just like their predecessors and successors. This is referred to as “trickling” – instead of approaching in a bundled manner, only individual characters arrive at the battle.
This almost automatically leads to a defeat. As a rule, the opposing team is at full strength and only has to deal with a single foe each time.
It’s definitely worthwhile to get back into the battle quickly when three or four other players from your group are at the objective. However, if it’s clear that your team has basically been wiped out, use the call command “Group Up.” Wait for all your players to be back and then advance together. This significantly increases your chances of success.
The thought of going in alone as a hero and wiping out the opposing team single-handedly may be tempting – but in practice, this will only succeed in the rarest cases.
3. Force Trickling on the Opponent
With a few tricks, you can force the “trickling” on the opponent. When a group fight has been won, it is usually already apparent before the last enemy falls. Often, there is still a smaller and more mobile character from the opposing team remaining, who alone does not pose a real threat.
If this enemy is not hindering your current objective – for example, not standing on the control point you want to capture or blocking the robot on push maps – let them live. Wait for a few seconds and try to count in your head. When did the rest of the opposing team die? If you roughly estimate when the enemies respawn, then it’s time to quickly eliminate that single enemy.
This forces the enemies into an unpleasant position and they lose a significant amount of time. Because either they rush back into battle with four players and are outnumbered, or they wait for the last player to respawn – losing valuable seconds at the objective where you are making progress.
4. Change Your Heroes
Surely everyone has a favorite hero in all three categories (Tank, DPS, Support). But this “main” can sometimes simply be the wrong choice. Although Blizzard has moved away from harsh counter-heroes in Overwatch 2, there are still heroes and combinations that are extremely effective against other heroes.
If the opposing team has Ana and Zenyatta as their two supporters, then Roadhog as a tank might be the wrong choice. Roadhog works primarily with strong self-healing, which can be countered by Ana’s anti-heal grenade, while Zenyatta increases the damage taken by the tank.
Such unpleasant situations exist for nearly all heroes. If you notice that you are simply not succeeding with a certain character, then switch. You can always do this in the spawn room or while you are currently dead.
Trying something new is always better than repeating a failing idea endlessly.
However, keep in mind that you will lose a large portion of your ultimate charge.
5. Stay Friendly – No Matter What Happens
Overwatch 2 is a fast-paced and often hectic game. However, you should never lose your temper against your own team and always be friendly. Try to think about what you can improve when an attack fails, rather than primarily blaming others.
Of course, you can get frustrated when there’s no healing for a few seconds. However, a Genji who spams “Need Healing” every 2 seconds and might also escalate in the voice or group chat with “Heal????” does not contribute to a positive gaming experience.
Furthermore, healers are usually busy healing three other players while trying to keep themselves alive.
Currently, healers are the least popular role and chosen by the fewest players.
Of course, you can make suggestions for improvement – but remain friendly. Because after saying “Heal me, idiot,” you can generally be sure that you will receive a lot – but no healing.
Do you have any other tips that you would recommend to newcomers in Overwatch 2?
