Since Overwatch 2's lucrative launch and temporary conclusion to the franchise in 2022, Blizzard's beloved community have been granted an extensively new range of cosmetics, heroes, and even map additions to their cherished title, ultimately posing for new ways to strategically dominate their opponents.
With the current META (Most Effective Tactics Available) constantly shifting in Overwatch 2 as a result of ability balances, various ultimate combinations suffer the test of time, yet this destructive bunch should be in every gamer's rotation when seeking their victories.
7 Terra Surge / Blizzard
Highly destructive, challenging to eliminate, and wildly capable of making space for the team is the tank hero Orisa. Unleashed as the 24th hero on the vastly unique roster, and altered for the launch of Overwatch 2, Orisa's ultimate-canceling Energy Javelin and headshot-restricting Fortify abilities have certified her as an indestructible force. However, the revamping of Orisa's ultimate has inevitably skyrocketed her combination potential, as the calamitous TerraSurge bunches all enemies into a small circle, ready to be struck by the lethal Javelin.
Despite this, Orisa's terrifying Terra Surge often has its enemies escape its clutches as a result of their volatile movement, therefore a secondary hero, whose powers can halt victims in their paths, would be a deadly accomplice. With the capacity to make players rage-quit, have them blocked off from their comrades, and even freeze them entirely, choosing Mei as a DPS (Damage Per Second) role can pose a detrimental threat to the opposing team. If timed tactically, both Terra Surge and Blizzard could wield enemies together, while those trying to make a getaway will be frozen in place for some easy picks.
6 Graviton Surge / Pulse Bomb
An original member of the beloved Overwatch 2 cast is the courageous Russian mascot Zarya, an energy-wielding tank whose protective capabilities surpass most other available options. Although her Proton Barrier harnesses damage to charge her piercing Particle Cannon, players typically select this domineering bodybuilder for the sheer control her ultimate ability offers, being that of the Graviton Surge. Similar to Orisa's Terra Surge, Zarya's energetic bomb clumps all enemies into an inescapable field, leaving room for free eliminations, or better yet, a fatal combination.
While the deadly Graviton Surge has always been a must-have to combo with, the threat of new heroes might throw a spanner in the works, since characters like Kiriko and her Protection Suzu may cancel any incoming damage. However, the deeply mobile, definitively lethal, and downright unpredictable Brit that is Tracer can be the answer to this dilemma, as her rapid Blinks allow for an in-and-out job without the enemy team having a chance to react. With that said, the pairing of enemies clustered together in the Graviton Surge and a Pulse Bomb that deals 350 damage is a game-winning combination all players should try.
5 Earth Shatter / RIP-Tire
In terms of brute force, bravery, and an immense sense of authority while playing a hero, Reinhardt takes the cake, as his forceful Charge ability, combined with his colossal Rocket Hammer, makes for a deadly tank hero. Despite being a less common pick for most map rotations, Reinhardt's ultimate ability Earth Shatter poses a detrimental outcome, as he strikes his opponents with a wide-spread stun, leaving them helplessly stuck on the ground for 2.75 seconds. Not only does this grant him plenty of time to precisely, yet collaterally line up his Fire Strike ability, but it also makes room for a dangerous combo.
However well a player might execute the perfect Earth Shatter, it may become a difficult task to clean up all the eliminations on their own, allowing the wacky Aussie that is Junkrat to step in. With pyrotechnics and explosives being his forte, Junkrat's ultimate ability, being that of RIP-Tire, is a widely feared one due to the uncertainty, pace, and maneuverability it can withstand. If gamers are having a hard time finishing the task after a successful Earth Shatter, timing Junkrat's explosive RIP-Tire to detonate on top of the stagnant enemies may be a more viable, yet conclusively lucrative strategy.
4 EMP / Self-Destruct
Arguably eminent for her highly anticipated release is the renowned DPS hero Sombra, an exceptionally cunning hacker whose primary focus is to deactivate the enemy team's abilities while simultaneously remaining hidden in the process. Albeit capable of disarming movement systems, transporting to a different location, and even hacking health packs, Sombra's pick-rate is typically situated within her EMP ultimate ability, as this allows for the entire opposition to be rendered defenseless in a heartbeat.
Despite this temporary restriction on the enemies, no initial damage is dealt from it unless the team can follow up on their helpless confusion, allowing for a tactical explosion to be carried out. Extremely versatile and demanding to fully eliminate is the sturdy tank Hero D.VA. Having two chances at survival wasn't enough for this cheeky, mech-wielding teen, as her Self-Destruct ultimate could be viewed as the most powerful in the game, dealing a whopping 1000 damage if in proximity. If timed correctly, Sombra's EMP can disarm all enemies trying to flee the nuclear explosion that is Self-Destruct, achieving a clear-cut team kill.
3 Gravitic Flux / Deadeye
When it comes to ingenious astrophysics, calculated attacks, and the manipulation of gravity itself, Sigma takes center stage, harnessing these powers through an eccentrically split personality. Adaptable for both attacking and defending, Sigma's ultimate ability exceeds his overall skill-set, being that of Gravitic Flux, as he is able to lift his victims high into the air, crushing them back to the ground with one fell swoop.
Nevertheless, the threat of support abilities such as Baptiste's Immortality Field may cause an issue picking up eliminations, yet hitscan DPS heroes such as Cassidy can put their marksman skills to the test, as having an opposition floating in midair resembles an easy shooting range. Capable of locking onto all five heads in the enemy's team, Cassidy's Deadeye ultimate could be a dangerous hazard to those stuck at Sigma's high altitudes, homing in on a simple, yet stylish team fight victory.
2 Tactical Visor / Kitsune Rush
Being one of the forefront names for the DPS role selection is the callous vigilanteSoldier: 76, a character whose functional skill-set makes him a viable pick for the majority of game modes. Whether chosen for his precise Helix Rockets or his rapid Sprint capability, Soldier: 76's ultimate, being that of Tactical Visor, grants players a 6-second aim-bot, locking in on his nervous enemies.
However, despite the dangerous threat this ultimate ability may pose, the rate at which his Pulse Rifle fires isn't entirely the fastest, therefore, an enhanced speed in which he could shoot quicker would make for a deadly combo. Although new to the support selection, Kiriko's pick-rate hasn't fallen short of the mark due to her maneuverability, damage potential, and most notably, her ultimate ability, Kitsune Rush. Thrusting a pack of howling wolves alongside her teammates allows for a 50% rate of fire increase, making Soldier: 76's Tactical Visor an unstoppable force, suited to take out the whole enemy team.
1 Nano Boost / Dragonblade
Mother to not only the rocket-launching hero Pharah, but the entirety of Overwatch, is the beloved Egyptian support character Ana. Wielding a competent Biotic Rifle, ultimate-canceling Sleep Dart, and health-restricting Biotic Grenade, Ana's healing abilities exceed the likes of other support roles. In terms of the healer's ultimate abilities, many would argue she steals the limelight, as her Nano Boost increases damage by 50% while also reducing incoming damage by the same amount.
Deciding who and when to Nano Boost can be a stressful task, yet choosing a hero with an uncompromising movement system may be the answer. Member of the Shimada clan and brother to bow-wielding Hanzo is the renowned Genji, an acutely precise robotic ninja whose Dragon Blade ultimate allows him to slash his way through the opposition. Synonymous with combining ultimates is the Nano Boosted Dragon Blade, a duo that has achieved countless triumphs while climbing the competitive ladder.
Overwatch 2 is available to play on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch.