Overwatch 2: A Whole New Game for Tank Players
On the surface, Overwatch 2 may not look that different from its predecessor – and in truth, when playing as many of the 33 assembled heroes, it doesn’t feel too different to play either. But that simply can’t be said for the nine tank members of the roster, for whom Overwatch 2 has made sweeping changes that allow for a more action-packed experience. It doesn’t just change the game for tank players – it changes Overwatch 2 as a whole.
The most obvious difference from its predecessor is that Overwatch 2 is now a 5v5 game, not 6v6 – and it’s a tank slot that’s been removed from the team line-up. Naturally this means a lot more responsibility is placed on the broad shoulders of that single tank player. My Overwatch tank of choice is undoubtedly D.Va, the Korean teenager in a mobile, rocket-powered mech. If this were Overwatch 1, I’d feel guilty picking her as the sole tank due to the lack of protection I’d offer my teammates. In the original, tank heroes could be broadly split into main tanks (like Orisa and Reinhardt, who can act as walls between you and your aggressors) and off-tanks (such as Roadhog and D.Va, whose job is to be more aggressive and deal as much damage as they soak up). That line appears to be blurring with the arrival of Overwatch 2 though, with all tanks set for a more active place in the fight from my experience in the closed beta so far.
The rework of just one of those tank heroes encapsulates the sweeping change in philosophy to how Overwatch 2 is designed to be played for tank players - Orisa. Her sharp transition from sturdy anchor in the original to mobile damage-dealer in the sequel can be seen from just a glance at her new skillset, but felt all the more on the battlefield. The swirling Javelin
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