Tanking in Overwatch 2 is set to be leagues different compared to what players experience in the first version of the game. Let’s get a look at five different things to keep in mind when donning the role of Tank in Overwatch 2.
Tanks in Overwatch, for the longest time, have been some of the most meta defining heroes. Looking back through the game's history, it is easy to point to different “eras” led by players’ Tank picks. We can see this looking back at the double shield comp that is still strong on the games’ live servers. However, with the change to 5v5, Tank players will need to have a different mindset before queuing up another game.
Overwatch 2 does away with sub-roles like “Main Tank” and “Off Tank”. Although every Tank has strengths and weaknesses, now they are all tasked with being the sole frontline player. This is going to lead to a faster pace that tank players will need to adapt to, as well as a different mindset.
Being that there is only one Tank per side, the entire roster of frontline heroes received changes in anticipation of this change. But has the role really changed? No. If anything, the role has evolved to take on even more responsibilities. What does this mean for Tank players? First and foremost, they must be more aware.
Having a singular Tank now puts a lot of pressure on the frontline. Previously, DPS and Support players had off Tanks to help peel and mitigate damage, while a main Tank could stay mostly occupied with the frontline. Moving forward into Overwatch 2, Tank players will have to be more decisive. If a member of their team gets caught out, they have to make the call to peel back and help or push forward and look for eliminations of their own. Players’ ability to read situations will definitely help in the new role.
Despite the changes to 5v5, Tanks will still remain impactful in the game; in fact, the role may be even more significant. With no second Tank to bridge the gap between frontline and backline, Tank players will need to think more about the hero they’re playing.
Overwatch is a game that has a lot of moving parts and not every game is the same. However, players should be looking to play Tanks that synergize with their team. This means Tank players should broaden their hero pools to be able to play into their team’s strengths. For example, a team made up of dive heroes, looking to engage through mobility, might want to think twice about having a Reinhardt on Tank. Reinhardt is a hero that does not have the means to safely close distance on his own and struggles in the mobility department. Players that are flexible enough to broaden the Tanks that they can play as will be able to rise to any challenges around team synergy in game.
Without a doubt, one thing that Tank players need to have in mind is staying alive. This rings true to every role, but in Overwatch 2, getting picked early may leave your team in disarray. In most cases, a team that loses their Tank first will lose the team fight.
As a Tank in Overwatch 2, you need to be thinking about how long you can manipulate specific areas of the map without getting picked off or putting your team at a disadvantage.
For example, look at a map like Hanamura (shown below). Hanamura, like many maps, has a central choke point through which engagements occur. In Overwatch 1, it's simple for a Reinhardt to get a bubble from his off-tank Zarya and push forward through the choke.
However, in Overwatch 2, players are going to have to know their limits. Being the only Tank, a lot of the focus is going to be on you and playing greedy, and out of position will earn you a walk back from the spawn room.
One of the primary jobs of a Tank in Overwatch is to hold advantageous space and mitigate damage. What about doing damage? It is a misconception among a lot of players that Tanks don’t or shouldn’t do damage. The fact remains that a majority of Tank heroes are capable of dishing out damage.
Not only do heroes like Zarya and Junkerqueen do a lot of damage, but they also have the health pools to allow them to stay in the fight longer to dish out that damage.
In Overwatch 2, a lot of the crowd control has been removed from the game, and Tanks now have a passive that leaves them less susceptible to knockback abilities. This means Tank players will need to know when to push their advantage. Even though Tanks are supposed to create space, in Overwatch 2, you have the tools to secure eliminations on enemy players out of position. Controlled aggression will not only help you build your ultimate faster but will put pressure on the enemy Tank. Your ability to stay alive for your team may be your first responsibility as Tank but looking for opportunities to deal consistent damage will net you some positive results.
The role of Tank hasn’t changed; it has expanded. In Overwatch 2, a lot of responsibility is going to fall on the shoulders of Tank players. Players should look to maximize value by expanding the pool of heroes they play, as well as, looking to synergize with teammates. When queuing for Tank, look to be a leader, in both your communication and gameplay. The pace of the game is going to feel much faster now that it's 5v5, and if you keep these things in mind, you’ll have an easier time adjusting.
