Learn how to unlock Kiriko for free in Overwatch 2!
Kiriko Kamori was one of the new heroes to debut alongside the launch of Overwatch 2. While you could initially win her in the first season’s Battle Pass, that option isn’t currently available anymore for the current season.
While it’s always easy to go to the shop and buy the character, you can unlock Kiriko permanently for free—you just have to do your research.
Who is Kiriko?
Kiriko Kamori is the 35th hero added to Overwatch, and she’s a support character that shares lore with the Shimada brothers Genji and Hanzo. In the lore, Kiriko’s mother was a skilled ninja and was the one who trained Genji and Hanzo, resulting in Kiriko growing up alongside the brothers.
Though Kiriko’s mother was a warrior, Kiriko’s close relationship with her grandma also granted her healing skills, making Kiriko a good warrior/healer hybrid.
Gameplay-wise, Kiriko shares skills with the Shimada brothers, particularly the ability to climb walls. With her ability to teleport and cast invulnerability with her Protection Suzu, she also makes a good partner for Genji, who is most effective when he’s flanking the enemy team.
No Battle Pass? No Problem
While you can’t grind for Kiriko in the Battle Pass anymore, you can unlock her (and several other heroes) via the game’s Hero Challenges; there are a set of challenges to unlock each specific hero, and they’re known to be easier to fulfill as compared to grinding for them on the BP.
How to Unlock Kiriko
To unlock Kiriko, players must complete seven specific challenges in-game, most of which require practicing her skills.
While some may question how they can use Kiriko if they haven’t unlocked her yet, she’s available on the Practice Range, so all you have to do is go to the training room and pick her as your character.
As for Kiriko’s challenges, they’re as follows:
Practice Kunai Crits: Get two critical hits with Kunai in the Practice Range as Kiriko.
Practice Healing Ofuda: Heal 250 damage with Healing Ofuda in the Practice Range as Kiriko.
Read: How To Get Golden Weapons in Overwatch 2
Practice Protection Suzu: Use Protection Suzu on two allied bots simultaneously in the Practice Range as Kiriko.
Use Swift Step: Use Swift Step through a wall to an allied bot in the Practice Range as Kiriko.
Practice Wall Climb: Use your passive Wall Climb in the Practice Range as Kiriko.
Practice Kitsune Rush: Buff two allied bots simultaneously with Kitsune Rush in the Practice Range as Kiriko.
Wins for Kiriko: Win 35 games queued as All Roles or playing Support heroes in Quick Play, Competitive, or No Limits.
Admittedly, the challenges are easy enough to complete in one session, but the hardest part of the challenge has to be winning 35 games. Depending on how good of a player you are and how regularly you play, getting to 35 wins could take as short as a week to an actual month of grinding out those wins.
Also, it’s important not to forget to activate the challenges for Kiriko in the Challenges menu so you can ensure that all the wins you’re getting are going to her unlocked.
Let the Kitsune Guide You
For now, Kiriko is one of the most picked characters for Overwatch 2, with a win rate of 48.57% (via Overbuff). Admittedly, she is a very tricky character to use, but with enough practice and skill, she is a very effective healer and can also deal serious damage to enemies; just make sure you always aim for the head.
So far, Mercy and Ana are still the top choices for healers in the game. However, with Ana’s limited mobility and Mercy’s lack of offensive abilities, Kiriko makes for a support hero, especially regarding flanker characters like Genji and Tracer.
