Summary
Overwatch 2just revealed the hero kits for the characters available in the new Overwatch: Classic game mode. While the abilities used by most of the original 21Overwatchheroes are exactly as they were in 2016, even veteran players could use a refresher, given how many iterations these characters have gone through between then and modernOverwatch 2.
Recently,Overwatch 2announced Overwatch: Classic, a new limited-time game mode where fans can experience the original FPS as it was when it was released in 2016. Featuring 6v6 games with no hero or role limitations, the discontinued Assault game mode, and the original 12 launch maps, Overwatch: Classicpromises a nostalgic experience for old players, and a drastically different game for newer ones.
Most importantly, Overwatch: Classic brings the heroes and villains of Future Earth back to their roots. Only the original 21 heroes available during the release ofOverwatch 1will be playable in the event, each of which is reverted to how they were at launch. The characters are divided into the four classic roles: Offense, Defense, Tank, and Support. That said, fans can freely choose any of the available heroes with no role restrictions in these6v6Overwatch 2matches, allowing up to six of a single role if they wish – and for the first few days of the event, they can even all select the same hero, like the iconic six-Winston “Gorilla Warfare” team comp.
OFFENSE HEROES
Cassidy
What’s different?Cassidy’s truly brings Wild West action in Overwatch: Classic. His damage output will be more increased than what you may be used to in Overwatch 2 with damage from fanning the hammer dealing 70 damage per projectile. Cassidy’s Flashbang is restored to its original form where heroes caught in its blast will be immobilized for a few seconds, leaving them vulnerable to attack. Finally, Deadeye has more versatility as Cassidy can cancel from firing and save up to half of his Ultimate charge.
Genji
What’s different?Genji’s Dragonblade won’t be able to be ignored so easily as he can attack for up to eight seconds. Genji is also more mobile as Double Jump will reset as you wall climb.
Pharah
What’s different?Pharah’s original kit allows her more opportunities to stay in the air longer and can have more potential to boop opponents from ledges using her Concussive Blast. She also deals more damage with higher splash explosion damage from the rockets in her Rocket Launcher.
Reaper
What’s Different?Aside from the broader damage changes in Overwatch 2, Reaper’s passive The Reaping will return to its original form where soul orbs will be dropped from defeated enemies that Reaper can pick up to gain 50 HP. Also plan how you use Wraith Form as it cannot be canceled early.
Soldier: 76
What’s Different?Soldier: 76 has had mostly tuning changes throughout Overwatch’s history. His Heavy Pulse Rifle deals less damage at 17 damage per projectile, but the rifle has no recoil and will instead have increased spread the longer you hold it.
Tracer
What’s different?Tracer’s time traveling playstyle has been relatively unchanged throughout Overwatch’s history, with tuning changes to her Pulse Pistols and Pulse Bomb being the biggest adjustments. Expect the Pulse Bomb to deal incredibly high damage that can finish off most heroes.
DEFENSE HEROES
Bastion
What’s Different:Bastion’s original kit is much different than what you play with today. Bastion is a tricky hero that can keep chokeholds nearly unpassable when staged in Sentry Form, firing a volley of machine gun fire, though he cannot move and has a limited amount of ammo while in Sentry form. This makes his biggest weakness – getting attacked from behind – easy to exploit if the opponent can flank around him. Don’t forget to use the Self-Repair to heal Bastion when you are not dealing damage. Also watch out as Configuration: Tank will deal massive bursts of damage as he freely roams the battlefield in tank form.
Hanzo
What’s Different?Hanzo’s most notable change was swapping his original specialty arrow, the Scatter Arrow. This is a powerful choke buster attack which will launch a volley of projectiles reflecting on the walls, which combined with the Sonic Arrow, is a great way to stop a flanking target that may be hiding around the corner. Hanzo won’t have his Lunge jump passive either, so his mobility is more limited.
Junkrat
What’s Different?Junkrat has a lot more risk to his own health as damage from his Frag Launcher will be dealt on him as well. Concussion Mine only has one charge which will limit how Junkrat can use the ability to jump into action or deal damage to opponents.
Mei
What’s Different?Many of you will find Mei’s original kit to be much cooler… literally. The primary fire from Endothermic Blaster will quickly freeze individual enemies, allowing Mei to deal an icy-cold elimination with the Alternate Fire. Also, the Ice Wall will be a more formidable obstacle to take down with each pillar having 500 health.
Torbjorn
What’s Different?Torbjorn’s original kit is about building his tools and resources out of the scraps fallen from both allies and opponents. Collect scrap to deploy Armor packs that you or your allies can pick up for additional Armor HP. When you use Deploy Turret, a small, low-damage Level 1 will be placed, but you can use your Forge Hammer to upgrade it Level 2 which is the same turret that now deploys automatically in the live game. With the original Molten Core ultimate, power up Torbjorn with additional armor and faster movement, and instantly upgrade a Level 2 turret to the missile-launching, rapid firing Level 3 turret to secure any battleground.
Widowmaker
What’s Different?Widowmaker is far more lethal with faster charge shots and more damage dealth at long-range. However, Widowmaker will be more vulnerable each time she uses Grappling Hook as it uses a longer cooldown.
TANK HEROES
D.Va
What’s different?D.Va’s original kit is more static and lacks the Micro Missiles ability that would be added later in Overwatch. Notably her Defense Matrix continuously channels the field for several seconds between a 10 second cooldown, and Pilot D.Va can be damaged from the blast of her own Self Destruct ability which takes 4 seconds to explode, making it a challenge for Pilot D.Va to stay out of the blast radius of the devastating ability.
Reinhardt
What’s Different?While Reinhardt won’t have the advantage of two charges to his Fire Strike and a smaller HP pool, his Earthshatter will have more horizontal and vertical range to catch enemies off guard. Also, he will be able to mitigate incoming damage as his Barrier Health is much higher than in the live game.
Roadhog
What’s different?Roadhog’s kit has often received tuning adjustments based around his ability to hook and catch opponents. Carefully avoid the hook as it will catch anything and everything around him and can deal a lethal one-two combo between his scrap gun and melee for an easy finishing blow to most low HP heroes.
Winston
What’s Different?Winston’s kit will be missing the long-range attack from his Tesla Cannon that was introduced in Overwatch 2. Also, carefully time your placements of Barrier Projector, as cooldown starts only after the shield expires instead of when it is deployed.
Zarya
What’s different?Originally, Zarya had separate cooldowns for Particle Barrier and Projected Barrier, so be careful of when you use either to protect yourself or your teammates. However, Zarya’s ability to gain energy from these abilities is much higher than in the current live game.
SUPPORT HEROES
Lucio
What’s different?While the identity of Lucio’s kit has remained the same, his Crossfade will feel the most different, as it provides a radius of 30 meters versus the 10-meter range in his current kit, but with less healing to his allies. However, this enables him to be a great character to help rush his team to the next team fight with ease.
Mercy
What’s Different?Mercy’s Resurrect as an ultimate works as a great teamfight counterplay, allowing her to target up to five allies in range to be resurrected immediately. Watch out if there are multiple Mercy players on your team as the benefit from her Damage boost can be multiplied.
Symmetra
What’s Different?Originally categorized as a Support hero, Symmetra’s kit was more geared to providing utility to her allies than dealing damage directly. Her Photon Shield ability grants your allies with additional Shield Health, which can regenerate as long as they are not eliminated. With Teleporter as her ultimate, you can place the exit teleporter anywhere on the map and be linked directly to your active spawn room. Consider playing more than one Symmetra to create complex sentry turret fortifications to wash clean any chokeholds from your opponents.
Zenyatta
What’s Different?Zenyatta’s kit remains relatively unchanged, short of not having his Snap Kick passive that was added later. However, watch out for his Orb of Discord, as damage amplification increases 50% of the damage received on its target.
Several modern changes toOverwatch 2will be reverted in this game mode. The projectile, health, anddamage adjustments fromOverwatch 2Season 9are gone, Ultimates charge significantly faster, and interrupted Ultimates refund part of the meter depending on how quickly it was disrupted. All self-damaging explosive effects have been re-enabled, so Junkrat and D.Va will need to be careful when using their Ultimates, lest they kill themselves along with the entire enemy team.
Beyond the modern improved graphics, there are a few other alterations to the original game in Overwatch: Classic as well. Symmetra only has access to her Teleporter ultimate, rather than having the choice between it and Shield Generator. Additionally, given the problematic actions of his original namesake identified during the lawsuits in 2021,Blizzard kept Cassidy’s new name, rather than reverting it to McCree.
The first Overwatch: Classic begins November 12 and runs through December 2. While it is waiting to see the reception of this first event before making any promises, Blizzardhas said it doesn’t want this to be the only time it runs Overwatch: Classic. If the game mode is popular, players could see other events with more heroes and kits based on iconic periods inOverwatchhistory.
Overwatch 2
WHERE TO PLAY
Overwatch 2 is an always-on and ever-evolving free-to-play, team-based action game set in an optimistic future, where every match is the ultimate 5v5 battlefield brawl. Power up your railgun and disrupt the battlefield as Sojourn, or yield your axe and command attention as Junker Queen. Battle to take control of a robot and move it toward the enemy base in the new Push Mode. Bring the fight to new destinations across the globe in iconic locations like New York, Rome, Monte Carlo and Rio. Daily challenges and frequent updates mean there is always something new to play.
