Summary
Overwatch 2has too many Damage heroes; this is the argument that fans have made for years, and understandably so. After all, at theend of the originalOverwatch, Damage heroes completely overshadowed the rest of the roster in terms of character count. Tanks and Supports combined did not reach the Damage hero count, with the roles having 8 and 7 characters respectively compared to Damage’s 16. While part of this was because it is likely easier to design a Damage character, with the role’s inherent popularity also important to consider, Blizzard needed to address the disparity - something it has certainly done withOverwatch 2.
ThoughOverwatch 2did add one new Damage character at release with Sojourn, every other addition has been either a Tank or Support. Lifeweaver’s pull ability has allowed for some sneaky escapes, while Illari dishes out major damage and Kiriko does a bit of everything. For Tanks, Junker Queen’s aggressive play style and Ramattra’s transformations suit 5v5 extremely well, and with Mauga expected to come in Season 8, Tank players could be in for another exciting character. With it now being a case of Supports and Tanks outpacing Damage heroes 6-1, it may be time for a change of pace come Season 10.
Why Overwatch 2 Season 10 is The Right Time For a Damage Hero
To be clear,Overwatch 2should not stop addingSupport and Tank heroesanytime soon. Both roles do not offer nearly as much variety as the Damage category does, and it is hard to imagine enough Tanks and Supports being added to give each role an equal number of characters. However, it is still important to have a balance. Damage fans were certainly spoiled in the original game, so it makes sense to give the other roles more love inOverwatch 2’s first year and beyond. Still, it would not hurt to throw Damage a bone every once in a while.
With the third new Tank set to release in a few months’ time, Blizzard will have successfully added three new Tanks and Supports before introducing another Damage character to the mix. Fans of the role could be desperate for something new to look forward to, and a new hero would do the trick. With it being so easy to imagine more Damage characters, like a smaller member ofD.Va’s MEKA squad, a Necromancer, a spy, a fire-wielder, or a sabouteur, Blizzard surely has no shortage of ideas.
Ultimately, finding a balance will be important, and it is crucial not to abandon Damage heroes completely while expanding the Support and Tank lineups. Focusing heavily on the other two roles made sense inOverwatch 2’s first yearso that the mistakes of the original game could be corrected. Now that Supports and Tanks feel less neglected, entering into a healthier release pattern could be a good strategy. One Damage, then One Tank, then One Support may still lead to the game’s Damage lineup growing out of control, so doubling up on the other classes could be the right path to take.
Ideally,Overwatch 2Season 10 would feature a new Damage hero, and so would Season 20. In between, Season 12 could feature a new Support, 14 a new Tank, and then this pattern could repeat itself for Season 16 and 18. So long as players get access to a new Damage hero every 10 Seasons, Blizzard can keep everyone happy. While Support and Tank should continue to be prioritized for the entirety ofOverwatch 2’s life span, completely ignoring Damage would be a mistake. For now, alltheOverwatch 2communitycan do is be patient until Season 10, as that is the next time a Damage character will be possible.
Overwatch 2is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
