A complete noob’s introduction to playing support in Overwatch 2

The role has changed in the new Overwatch sequel, but your ability to carry is easier now

credit: playoverwatch.com

Overwatch is a unique game that includes elements of MMOs to produce perhaps the most complex first person shooter in modern gaming. Next week, the game’s developer, Activision Blizzard, will release its long awaited sequel, Overwatch 2.

The sequel will feature a 5v5 PvP format with one tank, two damage heroes, and two supports. In general, the tank is responsible for taking and denying space from the other team through damage mitigation and a damage threat. Damage players are tasked with pumping as much damage into the other team and secure kills through taking angles and spamming enough damage to outlast the enemies’ ability cooldowns. Supports are the only hero class that can provide consistent healing to injured teammates, but they are also equipped with the most powerful utility in the game to turn fights.

Personally, I’m a support main with several thousand hours played in the role. Typically, support heroes are sorted into sub categories, main support and flex support. Flex supports include: Ana, Baptiste, Moira, and Zenyatta. Main supports are: Mercy, Lucio, Brigitte, and the new support Kiriko.

Flex supports typically output the most raw healing, and can often heal more than one teammate at a time. Main supports can put out short bursts of healing to multiple targets, but their main effectiveness mainly comes from their non-healing utility. Typically, your team should have one of each, but be aware, especially at low levels, of low healing combinations.

Zenyatta (or Zen) can only heal one target at a time with relatively low healing per second. Lucio can heal multiple targets but at an even lower rate of healing per second than Zen, meaning your teammates need to wait longer to reengage while waiting to get healed up. Lower level players struggle not only with using cover and positioning, but they also lack patience, meaning they will not bother waiting for their Zen/Lucio to heal them up before going back in.

If you’re a new player, never run Zen with a main support until you hit a very high rank and can play him with a Brig.