How to unlock characters in Overwatch 2

Here’s how long you’ll have to wait to get your favorite character

Overwatch 2 introduces the First-Time User Experience, a system tailored to gradually introduce new players to the game by limiting the playable heroes at first. Most of the characters are unlocked as players progress through the game. In this guide, we tell you how to unlock characters both new and old in Overwatch 2.

How new players can unlock old heroes in Overwatch 2

With a total of 35 heroes introduced in this sequel,  the game gives you access to only 13 of them in the beginning as a new player. By completing various specific numbers of matches, you can unlock more heroes.

Below you can see how to unlock all heroes in Overwatch 2, including the new heroes in the sequel.

Tank

• Reinhardt
• Winston
• Orisa
• Zarya

Damage

• Soldier 76
• Reaper
• Pharah
• Torbjorn
• Tracer
• Widowmaker

Support

• Mercy
• Lucio
• Moira

Unlocking heroes in Overwatch 2 for old players

If you’ve long been playing the game since Overwatch, your progression carries over to Overwatch 2. Seasoned players won’t have to worry much about this change as they will still have access to all the heroes, game modes, and skins in Overwatch 2 without having to gain experience just to gradually unlock them.

On the other hand, Blizzard makes it simple for new players to ease into the game to get used to how the game is played with the various roles.

How to unlock the new heroes in Overwatch 2

If you’re a seasoned player, there’s still something new for you to challenge yourself with. This time, there’s a new system to unlock the new heroes in Overwatch 2. To acquire them, you need to reach Tier 45 on the seasonal Overwatch 2 Battle Pass which corresponds to the season in which the new hero came out.

To rank up the Battle Pass, you need to gain XP and level up by completing matches along with daily and weekly gameplay challenges. You can also quicken this process by boosting the XP you gain by 20% through teaming up with other players. Or if you’re really eager and able, you can choose to buy the Premium Battle Pass reward track to instantly unlock the corresponding new hero.

How to unlock a new hero in Overwatch 2 after the season ends

If you weren’t able to grab the chance in time to unlock a new hero as the season they were released in has ended, you can still acquire past characters such as Kiriko and Junker Queen by completing certain special gameplay challenges.

These challenges require you to learn the hero’s abilities in the Practice Range and challenge you to win matches. If you are able to, you can again opt to purchase the heroes in the Shop using Overwatch coins to instantly unlock them after the season ends.

If you’re an old player, you get access to Kiriko, Sojourn, and Junker Queen if you log into the game before the end of Season 2. If you’re way past the season, the methods above can be your reference to unlock them.

How to unlock all modes in Overwatch 2

Along with the heroes, new players also have limited access to different game modes like Deathmatch, Push Maps, and Competitive. Newbies to the game see the ‘Welcome To Overwatch’ challenges upon entering the game. 

It consists of three parts and completing each of them unlocks specific game modes. After completing all three, all Game Modes are unlocked except for Competitive Mode. To unlock Competitive Mode as a new player, you must win 50 games in Quick Play to qualify for Competitive Matchmaking.