Overwatch 2 heroes are divided into three roles: Tank, Damage, and Support. Each role has a passive bonus — Tanks have reduced knockback and ultimate charge from damage taken, DPS heroes get increased movement speed and reload speed after eliminations, and Supports passively regenerate health after avoiding damage for a short time.
Tanks are the team's frontline, creating space for their damage dealers and protecting supports. Reinhardt holds a massive shield and swings a hammer at close range, making him straightforward for beginners. D.Va offers high mobility with her boosters and Defense Matrix to eat enemy projectiles. Winston leaps onto backline targets to disrupt supports. Tanks set the pace of the game — an aggressive tank enables aggressive plays, while a passive tank encourages a slower, poke-based style.
Damage heroes come in many varieties. Hitscan heroes like Soldier: 76, Cassidy, and Ashe deal instant damage where you aim, rewarding precise tracking and flick shots. Projectile heroes like Junkrat, Pharah, and Echo fire slower projectiles that require leading targets. Flankers such as Tracer, Genji, and Sombra attack from unexpected angles to eliminate supports. Soldier: 76 is the most recommended starting DPS hero due to his familiar FPS kit with sprint, assault rifle, and self-healing.
Supports keep the team alive and provide utility beyond healing. Mercy has a simple beam heal and damage boost with great mobility through her Guardian Angel fly. Moira offers easy-to-use healing with a forgiving damage orb. Lucio provides area healing and speed boosts. Ana has high healing output but requires aim with her scoped rifle. Kiriko combines healing with strong offensive potential through her kunai headshots. Learning support is an excellent way to learn game sense, as you see the entire battlefield from the backline.