Wondering who to main in Overwatch 2 Season 17? With 43 possible heroes and new balance changes that slow down heals, jumping into a game and picking the right character can feel overwhelming. It can be hard to keep up with balance changes and evolving metas, with some heroes thriving and others having completely fallen off. If you’re feeling lost, don’t worry.

That’s where our ultimate Overwatch 2 tier list comes in. We’ve broken everything down by role to help you lock in smarter picks and climb the ranks faster as we approach the end of the season.

We’ve got all the Overwatch 2 characters ranked on their effectiveness in combat, so let’s dive in.

Like many online multiplayer games, the Overwatch 2 meta shifts with every patch, bringing new buffs and nerfs to contend with. These constant changes make it harder for players to keep track of what’s working and how to get the most out of their hero pool.

Therefore, a comprehensive Overwatch 2 hero tier list can make your choices easier, reflecting how well a hero performs in the current season’s ranked ladder and team compositions. This tier list for Overwatch 2 Season 17 breaks down the strongest characters to play by role – Tank, DPS, and Support – and can be applied to both Quick Play and Competitive.

Looking for the best characters in Overwatch? Keep in mind that any hero can win in the right hands, but some make the climb easier. If you’ve got an off-meta main that’s working for you right now, don’t feel as though you have to pick from the S-tier. Play with what works for you.

Here’s a quick rundown of how our OW2 tier list is organised:

Our rankings are based on the most recent patch notes, pro-play trends, and community performance data. They will be updated as the meta shifts and evolves, so check back often.

With over 40 heroes in the game, there are several competent options for your next draft, especially when you factor in Perks. Explore this complete list of Overwatch 2 characters, ranked from S-tier to D-tier based on their global performance in Season 17.

Season 17 gives Overwatch 2 DPS characters some handy buffs by raising the global health regeneration timer to six seconds and the damage role passive healing penalty to 30%. That makes life harder for Support heroes and creates an opportunity for Damage heroes to zero in on. Our top DPS picks this Season are Echo, Sojourn, and Torbjörn.

While Echo’s duplicate ability might be held back by its health cap, she’s still among the best Damage heroes in Overwatch 2. Thanks to a barrier-melting beam and an Ultimate that lets her duplicate an enemy, she’s a versatile addition to any team.

Sojourn is another hero who has consistently been at the top of tier lists. Call her a souped-up Soldier 76 if you want. That doesn’t detract from her incredible damage potential – 200 headshot damage off a railgun shot charged by primary attacks is nothing to scoff at. Amp that up with her Ultimate, and you’ll be able to send an entire team back home.

Torbjörn is now one of the best characters in Overwatch 2, coming in with a solid 55.28% win rate across the board. Both his Major Perks Anchor Bolts and Overloaded Turret buff his Turret, turning something once useless into a game-changer. They grant it the ability to stick to walls and become empowered. His Fully Loaded Perk also provides an instant reload on using Overload, useful for gunning down Tanks and securing objectives. If you prefer taking foes down from a distance, consider using Widowmaker or Ashe’s weapon while zooming in.

Considering the changes to healing we mentioned, Tanks are in a better spot than usual this Season. Their larger health pools mean that the healing changes won’t hit them as hard as other heroes.

As always, Zarya is dominating the charts thanks to her incredible solo-carry potential with her Major Perk Energy Lance. In short, it pierces enemies when she’s over 50% energy. She can also convert incoming attacks into energy to fuel her Particle Cannon for some solid damage. Her Graviton Surge Ultimate is a great tool that draws enemies together and damages them. Pair this move with Damage heroes like Cassidy, and you might just wipe out the enemy team.

Despite a low pick rate, Sigma is arguably one of the strongest Tanks in Overwatch 2 right now. His Experimental Barrier lets him switch between aggressive and defensive playstyles. And his Gravitic Flux remains one of the best team fight Ultimates in the game. His new Levitation Major Perk also addresses his weak mobility, letting him reach enemies on higher ground.

If you’re new to Tanks, Winston is another great choice who picks mobility over damage-dealing and shielding hits. Use his Jump Pack to distract enemies and cover some ground between attacks. His Primal Rage Ultimate is also great at finishing enemies off since it buffs your melee attack.

Overwatch 2’s Supports have taken a slight hit overall in Season 17. By weakening how healing works in combat, Blizzard has successfully made Damage heroes a bigger threat. Ana continues to dominate the Support charts in Season 17 with an impressive pick rate across all ranks. Her Biotic Grenade alone can swing entire fights by denying healing and boosting her team’s sustain. With the Biotic Bounce Minor Perk, there’s even more subtle utility in her kit.

Kiriko is still thriving in the Overwatch 2 competitive landscape. Thanks to her new Perks, even dealing damage with her Kunai can provide a healing benefit to her allies. Players who can master min-maxing their damage and healing will easily climb the ranked ladder with this hero. Use Swift Step to hop directly to an ally and protect them with your Protection Suzu ability. The latter can disrupt negative effects like Zenyatta’s Discord Orb.

Lúcio is another good choice if you’re looking into Support heroes. His focus on area-of-effect heals and speed buffs will let you keep multiple allies from harm’s way. This makes him a great choice when your team is rushing towards an objective. You can also use his Sonic Amplifier to dish out some damage as you push enemies away with Soundwave.

Not sure which hero to play? Tier lists are always a great starting point, but the right pick depends on your playstyle, team comp, and the current match. Here are a few tips to help you make smarter picks in Overwatch 2:

Certain heroes thrive on specific maps. On maps with high-vantage points, hitscans and snipers like Widowmaker reign supreme, while Reaper thrives in tight spaces. Learn which heroes work best across Control, Escort, Push, or Hybrid maps and adapt your playstyle accordingly for some top-tier Overwatch 2 performances.

Synergy wins games. Coordinate your team composition either in chat or voice. If your Tank opts for a dive comp with Winston or Wrecking Ball, pick DPS and Supports that can keep up, like Genji, Tracer, Lucio, or Kiriko.

Conversely, if your team’s running a slower frontline with Reinhardt, Orisa, or Sigma, go with ranged DPS like Hanzo or Ashe and Supports like Brigitte, Kiriko, or Ana.

Don’t be afraid to swap out your hero if it’s not working. If the enemy Pharah is uncontested and steamrolling your team, switch to a hitscan like Cassidy or Ashe. Smarter counter moves can flip a losing fight on its head – sometimes even in last-minute Overtime.

It’s always fun to have a comfort pick, but especially in Competitive, flexibility wins games. Try to have at least 3–5 heroes per role you’re comfortable playing, so you can pivot based on your team and enemy matchups.

At the end of the day, the Overwatch meta will always change, but your mechanical skill, map knowledge, and ability to adapt will outlast any patch. Whether you’re grinding skill tiers in Competitive or playing casually, pick heroes that feel good to you, learn their Perks, strengths, and weaknesses, and focus on improving one match at a time. That’s how you’ll climb – and enjoy the grind while you’re at it.

There are no hard rules on what heroes can or can’t be played in Overwatch 2, so take this Overwatch hero tier list with a pinch of salt; it’s only a guideline. Some D-Tier heroes can shine in certain team comps and maps; it all boils down to your skills, game sense, and experience. Keep an eye on Esports Insider for the latest meta shifts and Overwatch 2 updates.