The area behind the frontline where supports and long-range damage heroes typically position. The backline is vital for team sustain and long-range pressure. Support heroes usually position here to have a good view of their team for healing, while also staying safe from enemy aggression. Some DPS heroes, particularly snipers or other long-range specialists, may also operate from the backline. Protecting the backline from flankers and dive attacks is crucial for team success.
A close-quarters composition that thrives in sustained team fights. Brawl compositions typically feature heroes with high survivability and close-range damage output, such as Reinhardt, Reaper, or Mei. These comps aim to force engagements in tight spaces where they can maximize their damage while minimizing the effectiveness of long-range enemies. Brawl comps often rely on strong support ultimates like Lucio's Sound Barrier to sustain prolonged fights.
A large amount of damage dealt in a very short time. Heroes with high burst damage, like Widowmaker or Hanzo, can quickly eliminate targets before they can be healed. Understanding which heroes have high burst potential is crucial for both using and countering these abilities effectively.
A narrow passage on a map that teams must pass through, often creating areas of conflict. Choke points are key strategic locations where defenders can concentrate their firepower and attackers must coordinate to push through. Recognizing and controlling choke points is essential for map control.
The strategic use and timing of abilities with cooldown timers. Proper cooldown management is essential for maximizing a hero's effectiveness. It involves using abilities at the right moment for maximum impact, rather than using them as soon as they're available. For example, a Reinhardt player might save their Earthshatter even when it's ready, waiting for the enemy team to be in a vulnerable position. Good cooldown management also includes tracking enemy cooldowns to exploit windows of vulnerability.
Choosing a hero that has an advantage against one or more heroes on the enemy team. Counter-picking is a crucial skill in Overwatch 2, allowing players to adapt to the enemy's strategy. For example, selecting Winston to counter a team with multiple snipers, or choosing Sombra to disrupt an enemy Wrecking Ball. Effective counter-picking requires a deep understanding of hero interactions and the ability to quickly identify the enemy's win conditions.
A role focused on dealing high amounts of damage to enemy heroes. Damage heroes, also known as DPS (Damage Per Second), are responsible for securing kills and applying pressure to the enemy team. They come in various types, including hitscan (like Soldier: 76), projectile (like Pharah), and hybrid (like Ashe). Effective DPS players must balance aggression with survivability and often work closely with tanks to capitalize on the space created.
A fast-paced composition focused on quickly engaging and eliminating key targets. Dive compositions typically include highly mobile heroes like Winston, D.Va, Genji, and Tracer. The goal is to coordinate a simultaneous attack on a specific enemy (usually a support or vulnerable DPS), overwhelm them quickly, and then disengage if necessary. Effective dive requires excellent communication and timing.
Taking unnecessary damage or dying in a way that charges the enemy team's ultimate abilities without providing value to your own team. Feeding is a common mistake that can give the enemy team a significant ultimate advantage. It's important to balance aggression with smart, purposeful engagements to avoid feeding.
Attacking the enemy team from the side or behind, typically to disrupt or eliminate key targets. Flanking is a high-risk, high-reward strategy often employed by mobile DPS heroes like Tracer or Genji. The goal is to approach the enemy from an unexpected angle, hopefully catching them off-guard and securing a quick kill on a high-value target like a support. Successful flanking requires good timing, map knowledge, and the ability to quickly assess when to engage and when to retreat.
The ability to play multiple roles or heroes effectively. Being able to flex is valuable in Overwatch 2, as it allows players to adapt to team needs and counter enemy compositions. A flex player might switch between tank, damage, and support roles as needed, or be proficient with a wide range of heroes within a single role.
The area where tanks and close-range heroes engage the enemy team. The frontline is a crucial concept in Overwatch 2 positioning. It's typically led by the tank and may include close-range DPS heroes. The frontline's job is to create and contest space, allowing the rest of the team to operate effectively. Understanding when to hold, push, or retreat the frontline is a key skill for tank players and shot-callers.
Weapons or abilities that instantly hit their target without travel time. Heroes like Soldier: 76, Cassidy, and Widowmaker use hitscan weapons. Hitscan is particularly effective against fast-moving or airborne targets, as it doesn't require leading shots.
The technique of damaging enemies while maintaining distance and avoiding return fire. Kiting is often used by ranged heroes to deal with close-range threats. For example, a Soldier: 76 might use his sprint ability to stay just out of range of a Reaper while continuing to deal damage.
Most Effective Tactic Available. Refers to the current optimal strategies and hero choices in Overwatch 2. The meta is constantly evolving, influenced by game updates, professional play, and community discoveries. Understanding the meta helps players make informed decisions about team compositions and strategies. However, it's important to note that the meta can vary between different skill levels and may not always apply in every situation.
A position separate from the main team that allows a player to attack the enemy from an unexpected direction. Taking effective off-angles can split the enemy's attention and create openings for your team. However, players in off-angles must be careful not to overextend and become easy picks.
The act of helping a teammate who is under attack, typically by applying pressure to their attacker or providing defensive support. Peeling is crucial for protecting vulnerable teammates, especially supports. For example, a D.Va might use her Defense Matrix to protect a support from an enemy Ashe's attack.
The act of a support player focusing their resources (healing, damage boost, etc.) primarily on one specific teammate. Pocketing is often used to enable a high-impact DPS player or to keep a crucial tank alive in intense fights. While powerful, pocketing risks leaving other teammates vulnerable.
A composition that excels at dealing damage from a safe distance, wearing down the enemy team. Poke compositions often include heroes with long-range abilities like Widowmaker, Sigma, or Ashe. The strategy involves applying constant pressure from a distance, forcing the enemy team to use resources (like healing abilities or shield cooldowns) before committing to a full engagement. Poke comps are particularly effective on maps with long sightlines.
Weapons or abilities that fire objects with travel time. Heroes like Pharah, Hanzo, and Zenyatta use projectile weapons. Projectiles often require predicting enemy movement and leading shots, but can be effective for area denial and hitting targets behind partial cover.
The act of making strategic decisions and communicating them to the team. A shot caller typically keeps track of ultimate economies, suggests engagement timing, and coordinates the team's overall strategy. Good shot calling can significantly improve a team's coordination and decision-making.
The process of turning a small advantage into a much larger one through consecutive successful plays. In Overwatch 2, snowballing often occurs when a team wins a fight and is then able to use their ultimate advantage and superior positioning to win subsequent fights more easily. Recognizing and stopping a snowball early is key to mounting a comeback.
The situation where team members die at different times, leading to a cycle of incomplete team fights. Staggering is generally disadvantageous, as it prevents a team from grouping up for a full 5v5 engagement. Recognizing and avoiding stagger situations, or deliberately staggering the enemy team, can be a key factor in maintaining or breaking a strong defensive hold.
A role focused on healing teammates and providing utility abilities. Support heroes in Overwatch 2 have been given more self-sufficiency and playmaking potential. While their primary function is still to heal and enable their teammates, many supports now have powerful offensive capabilities as well. Supports must balance healing output with damage contribution and strategic use of utility abilities. Examples include Ana, Mercy, and Lifeweaver.
A role focused on creating space for the team and absorbing damage. In Overwatch 2, the tank role has been redesigned to be more impactful and aggressive. Tanks now have increased damage output and survivability, making them the centerpiece of most team compositions. They are responsible for initiating fights, protecting teammates, and controlling key areas of the map. Examples of tanks include Reinhardt, D.Va, and Orisa.
The pace and momentum of a match, often controlled by aggressive plays or ultimate usage. Tempo in Overwatch 2 refers to which team is dictating the flow of the game. A team with tempo advantage is proactively making plays and forcing the enemy to react. Tempo can be gained through successful engagements, key picks, or well-timed ultimate usage. Understanding and controlling tempo is crucial for high-level play, as it allows a team to snowball advantages and prevent the enemy from regrouping or resetting.
The management and strategic use of ultimate abilities within a team. Ultimate economy is a complex aspect of Overwatch 2 strategy. It involves tracking both your team's and the enemy's ultimate charges, deciding when to use ultimates (individually or in combination), and sometimes deliberately holding ultimates for future fights. Good ultimate economy can turn the tide of a match, allowing a team to win fights even when at a numerical disadvantage.
The practice of monitoring and predicting when enemy players will have their ultimate abilities available. Skilled players keep mental notes of enemy ultimate usage and try to anticipate when these powerful abilities might be used next. This information is crucial for making strategic decisions about engagement timing and ultimate economy.
The act of using abilities or positioning to deny the enemy team access to certain areas of the map. Zoning is crucial for controlling space and forcing the enemy into unfavorable positions. For example, a Junkrat might use his grenades to make a choke point dangerous to pass through, or a Widowmaker might force enemies to take cover simply by having a clear sightline to an area.