Since launching in 2017, Overwatch continues to sit at the top as one of the best ongoing team-based FPS games. With the launch of crossplay earlier this year, the game’s community has never been more active, and it might be the best time to dive into this competitive shooter right now. Of course, you need to be mindful that there are countless veteran players already – but that’s never stopped you.
The good news is, jumping into Overwatch is relatively easy, even if you’re new to the game. Try not to worry too much during your first few games, as you will be matched with players on the same level as you. Still, these tips are worth noting before diving into the wonderful world of Overwatch.
Turn On Your Comms
It’s no surprise at all that in this team-based shooter that teamwork is the name of the game. Whether flanking the enemy team or coordinating with others to forge combos with your abilities, you must maintain an open line of communication with your teammates. It’s very easy to dive into voice chat in Overwatch, so use it.
If you watch the pros play Overwatch, you’ll see that communication is a vital aspect of the game. It’s all about working with one another to get the objective and win the match. While there are many quick chat options in the game, it would still be better to talk with your team directly.
Acquaint Yourself With Each Hero
Overwatch is a hero-based shooter. Our 32 heroes are currently on the roster, and it will expand when the sequel comes out. Each hero is different from one another. They have different skills, stats, weapons, and overall feel. It’s best to acquaint yourself with each character first so that you can at least play each one should the situation need it.
Some heroes occasionally receive reworks from the developers, giving major updates to the target heroes. Even if no new heroes are released, you should still check heroes out after each update. Aside from that, learning more about the heroes means learning more about how to fight against them.
Customize Your Experience
Overwatch gives you a variety of ways you can customize your gaming experience. Aside from the usual button/key remapping, you can change your reticle. It would be a good idea to adjust your reticle to make the game easier to enjoy. The game directly shows you what your reticle will look like as you adjust it.
Don’t stop there. If you’ve been used to playing other shooters, remapping your control scheme to fit the previous shooter you played would be a good idea. You should also remap the controls to be more comfortable with them. This can help you get acquainted with the game a lot faster.
Go For Objectives – Not Kills
Now, you might be used to shooters whose main goal is to get the most kills in the game. Overwatch is a different game. There are a few game modes, each with a different objective. It’s important that you first understand how those game modes work.
Map Types
- Control – In Control, both teams will attack and defend depending on how the game plays out. It’s King of the Hill. You’ll first need to secure the point by ensuring no enemies are standing on it. Once secured, you must hold the point until your team scores 100%.
- Assault – In Assault, the attacking team will have to attack two points on the map. Players can only capture one point at a time. The defending team must stay on point to avoid getting captured.
- Escort – In Escort, the attacking team must go alongside the payload and escort it through 2-3 points on the map. If enemy players are next to the payload to defend it, it will not move.
- Hybrid – Hybrid is a mix of Assault and Escort. Players will first have to capture a point. Once done, a payload will appear, and they will have to get it through 2 checkpoints on the map. The defending team will try to prevent this from happening.
Practice At Least Two Heroes From Each Role
It used to be that players were free to choose whichever heroes they wanted to play. Since 2018 however, the meta has changed, and now, both teams are locked in a 2-2-2 composition – two DPS heroes, two support heroes, and two tanks. Adjusting to each role well will benefit you and your team greatly.
DPS
DPS heroes are the main damage dealers of the group. The main goal of the DPS heroes is to go for the support of the DPS heroes of the enemy team so that they become disadvantaged in battle. For instance, some heroes, like Sombra and Tracer, can be used as scouts because of their mobility and other skills.
Tanks
The tank role is one of the most crucial roles in the game because they offer a lot of utility. Tanks heroes are responsible for making space, protecting the backline, and defending the objective, to name a few. When playing as the defenders in a game mode, tanks will also be vital in protecting the objective against the enemy team.
Support
The support role does what it says – they offer support through buffs or healing. Support heroes are usually squishy. Hence they are the backline. Without good support, teams will have a hard time staying in battle, so this role also serves a very important purpose.
Mastering two heroes for each role will be important as, in some cases, you’ll be tasked with adjusting. However, it’s still better to get an idea of how to use each hero so that you can adjust to various scenarios as well.
Learn Hero Counters
Each hero in Overwatch has their strengths and weaknesses. With over 30 heroes, it’s difficult to work out and remember which heroes counter the other. However, the more you acquaint yourself with each hero, the more obvious their weaknesses will be. You should take your time learning about hero counters because they will be crucial for the game.
What do hero counters mean? These are heroes that can easily cancel out others. For instance, Reaper is a good hero against the big tanks, including Roadhog, Winston, and Orisa. These large-framed heroes absorb all of Reaper’s bullets with each hit. Reaper counters them because his Hellfire Shotguns deal big damage when you’re up close and personal.
Use The Practice Range
Aside from the tutorial, Overwatch gives you access to the Practice Range. This mode allows you to test all the heroes against various bots. Some are stable, some are moving, and some are firing back. This is one of the most useful game modes in Overwatch, and you must utilize this area whenever you can.
This is a fun and safe way to practice the game’s heroes. This includes getting their aim right and understanding the perfect distance for their skills and abilities. Most people use the Practice Range to warm up before playing Competitive.
Stay Off Of Competitive Mode – For Now
There is a competitive mode in Overwatch. Playing that mode will reward you with stickers, emotes, and Competitive points used to unlock Golden Weapons for the characters in the game. This mode is more intense than regular games, and you might find it hard to roll with the rest at the beginning.
You can only play competitively once your account reaches level 20 in the game. Even then, you should hold off on playing competitively at first. Players can get toxic in competitive mode, and you might find it hard to develop your skill. Only play competitively once you’re more confident with your play style.
These are some of the best tips you need when you just get started playing Overwatch. The game is complex and features many mechanics, but once you get the run-down on the heroes and aiming, you can rank quickly. Stay patient, and eventually, you can roll along with the veterans.
