Overwatch 2 Character Tier List (Season 5)

I've heard many different opinions on character viability in Overwatch 2. Friends talk to me about everything from Kiriko being the sole S tier to others who wouldn't even play her! That being said, there is some consensus on where characters should be based on what's being seen in the meta. Some heroes are used quite often, while other heroes rarely see any action. Here's my Overwatch 2 character tier list that includes all changes introduced in Season 5.

Overwatch 2 Hero Tier List (Season 5)

All Overwatch 2 Heroes in Season 5, ranked

S tier Characters in Overwatch 2 (Season 5)

Reaper

This hero has the single best ult for diving. It can almost team wipe out an enemy composition that is squeezed too tightly. Reaper can also warp in and out of team fights, picking off key targets and returning to safety.

Lucio

This is arguably a top-tier hero. Lucio isn't a magic win button, though. He needs a skilled player to skate around, pressuring opponents and getting the picks he can. Otherwise, he simply becomes a decent healer. At best, Lucio is a great healer who deals decent DPS and is tough to track down.

Baptiste

The immortality field is simply insane in this meta. In high-level play, Baptiste is a trendy pick. Some supports have another valuable attribute that makes them more popular overall.

Kiriko

This hero has been the subject of most Overwatch 2 conversations, but there's a reason. With her obnoxiously large headshot multiplier, Kiriko can do the job of a DPS and a Support at the same time. Her cleanses also make some heroes' kits irrelevant. As long as Kiriko stays alive, she will output loads of value for the team.

Junker Queen

The queen of the Wasteland can do severe damage, but she barely fits the role of Tank; she is more of a bulky DPS.

Sojourn

Sojourn looks like the best hero in the game, making her one of the safest choices. Some fans fail to realize that it takes precise aim to do well with her. That being said, with a charged-up rail gun, Sojourn melts through enemies like butter.

Related: How to change Crosshair in Overwatch 2

A tier Heroes in Overwatch 2 (Season 5)

Brigitte

Brigitte is an interesting character as she combines tank and support abilities, which is very useful in Overwatch 2. With 5v5 combat, you usually need to sacrifice one tank to have a functional team. You get a defensive force and a good support unit with Brigitte.

Cassidy

There is tough competition for hitscan players in Overwatch 2. Most teams would rather have flankers like Genji or Reaper. Otherwise, they'd prefer to see a Sojourn on the team comp, leaving Cassidy in a rough position.

Ramattra

Ramattra is a Predator-looking tank that deals the most damage from a short distance. His Void Barrier can be very powerful when dealing with multiple enemies, making him tough to beat.

Mei

Mei has lots of useful abilities for team play. She doesn't have a lot of carry potential, though. This is why most players choose different DPS heroes who can take out enemies quicker.

Tracer

Since the meta is so dive-heavy, Tracer is put in a position where her mobility can be used. She can get into the backline, kill some squishes, and dip out.

Winston

With the aforementioned dive-oriented meta, Winston finds himself in a great spot. Using his ult and Jump Pack, he can eliminate heroes like Cassidy or Hanzo before they get anything done.

Sombra

A lot of the qualities that make Tracer good also make Sombra good. The other point in Sombra's favor is that she can hack the enemy and get even more kills by abusing sheer panic.

Genji

Genji is still a bane to any backline. After the nerfs, however, he saw little play in the Overwatch League, with many teams switching to Reaper. Genji dominates the low ranks, but having the same impact in higher ranks is harder for him.

Lifeweaver

Lifeweaver is a support hero specializing in healing and getting allies out of trouble with his Life Grip ability. His primary assignment is to move swiftly and heal, but he also has a solid Thorn Volley attack.

Zenyatta

Due to the high speed that Overwatch 2 is played, it's hard for Zenyatta to get any work done. Often, Zenyatta is an easy pick for Sojourn and Widowmaker to snipe. Zen really needs to be in a team comp that will allow him to stay safe.

Zarya

Zarya was incredibly popular in the first Overwatch, and it doesn't look like that's changing. The popularity of Kiriko and her abilities only means she and her team gets more out of the bubble she provides.

Related: Best Overwatch 2 DPS Heroes, Ranked

B tier Characters in Overwatch 2 (Season 5)

Moira

This character has different levels of impact depending on ranked gameplay. While high-level players don't worry about Moira too much, the lower ranks are afraid of her surprising carry potential, with her ability to dive backlines safely.

Bastion

With the right team support, this character can be half a tank and half a DPS. Find a Mercy to pocket you, and any Bastion player can pop off on unsuspecting enemies.

D.Va

The utility D.Va can provide is invaluable. Not only can her defense matrix boost the team, but she is great at soaking up damage and distracting enemies. D.Va also has more carry potential than any other Tank, seeing as she can dive and get killed herself.

Doomfist

This hero is just one big crowd-control target. Once the enemy dodges his punch, Doomfist becomes a zero threat. Shoutout to ZBRA, though, who plays Doomfist excellently.

Pharah

Pharah is a big skill check for opposing players. They will spend many frustrating minutes trying to hit this airborne target if they have poor aim. A good hitscan player can counter Pharah hard, though.

Widowmaker

Widowmaker is interesting because her performance depends on the user's skill. If the player is good at getting headshots, they will make Widowmaker look like she belongs in the S tier. Otherwise...meh.

Hanzo

Everything said about Widowmaker applies to Hanzo. He has several different abilities, but the playstyle is the same.

Ashe

Ashe likely represents the middle of the pack as far as Overwatch 2 heroes go. She can get many kills, especially in the hands of a skilled player, but other picks simply do more in this meta.

Sigma

While Sigma is a great hero in his own right, he suffers a bit in the 5v5 meta. Now, he needs to carry all the duties that come with being a tank without Reinhardt or Winston helping him, which can be tough.

Echo

If she can copy the enemy tank, Echo is a great character. If she can't copy the enemy tank, her value drops hard.

Wrecking Ball

This hero isn't too good on paper, but watching a decent Wrecking Ball will show off this character's huge potential. It's incredibly tempting for opposing teams to waste all of their resources on this speedy bullet.

Reinhardt

Reinhardt will almost never be bad. With his huge shield and axe, he simply exemplifies everything a good Tank should do.

Related: How to improve aim in Overwatch 2 - Aim tricks and tips

C tier Heroes in Overwatch 2 (Season 5)

Ana

Most Anas online don't heal. Instead, they try to put enemies to sleep and land their grenades. This would be more valuable if Kiriko wasn't cleansing teammates that get put to sleep.

Symettra

It's very difficult to get value out of Symettra. More often than not, opponents will notice the turrets she deploys and shoot them down.

Orisa

Thanks to multiple buffs from the first Overwatch, Orisa is now one of the better Tanks in the game. Players who manage the cooldown on her javelin can get a lot of value from her.

Soldier 76

Skilled players can make Soldier 76 seem like a great hero. The issue is that most other DPS heroes either do more damage or have more mobility. Solider 76 is usable, just outclassed.

Mercy

At lower levels, Mercy seems a lot better than she is. Low-rank players think they're John McClane trying to hit a flying Valkyrie. Mercy has low support potential but is great on a five stack, where teammates can put on the offensive pressure.

Roadhog

Roadhog has seen a lot of play throughout his career. While he isn't great at the tank job, it doesn't matter when he hooks enemies and kills them quickly.

D tier Characters in Overwatch 2 (Season 5)

Junkrat

Junkrat felt great playing with at one time, but now there are many more options to choose from. He's still solid as team support, as many Junkrats appear online with the strategy of eliminating enemy DPS and some of the best Support heroes.

Torbjörn

Torbjörn goes back and forth, depending on the nerfs and buffs that he and other heroes get. While he's always a decent choice, you can do much better by selecting other heroes. That's mainly because he doesn't do much in average team composition if enemies can take out his turrets.

Want more Overwatch 2 guides? Pro Game Guides has you covered with How to play Winston in Overwatch 2 - Abilities and Tips.