Today we explain how to unlock heroes in Overwatch 2. Anyone who missed the initial entry can finally give this game a try without spending any money because it is free. But because Blizzard changed how players acquire heroes in Overwatch 2, many fans will now have to invest a lot of time in trying to unlock every hero in the game.
The core of Overwatch was the playable characters. Each new hero and antagonist included outstanding visual and gameplay design and a fascinating tale. Since then, Blizzard has practically treated the release of each new playable character as a festival, complete with introductory cinematics.
But in the past, Overwatch players were given each brand-new hero for free. Yes, the game was $60 (less if purchased on sale), but for that fee you gained access to 21 characters at launch and an additional 11 over the course of the following few years. While Overwatch 2 will also add a continuous stream of new heroes to the game’s original playable character pool, you’ll eventually have to acquire them all in some manner.
Players must first unlock each new hero after they are released, and they are not even immediately able to employ all of the game’s legacy characters. While Blizzard isn’t pushing gamers to play as every character available in Overwatch 2, it also isn’t making it simple for brand-new players. You will need the following amount of time to unlock everything.
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How to unlock heroes in Overwatch 2?
The heroes from the first game’s Overwatch will all be included in the sequel. What’s different is how long it takes you to unlock each of those heroes.
Blizzard is launching the First Time User Experience (FTUE), which is a component of the game’s “Defense Matrix Initiative,” to help new players get acclimated to everything Overwatch 2 has to offer. The good news is that by using this technique, novices won’t feel overwhelmed. The bad news is that it will prevent viewers from accessing the primary Overwatch experience until they have finished a protracted trial period.
Two phases will make up the FTUE. Players will only be able to access a limited number of game types during the first phase; they cannot even utilize in-game chat during this time. It’s unclear how long that initial stage will run, but even when players can finally access all game modes and talk to allies, the real slog starts.
From there, passing the second part of the FTUE, which the Defense Matrix Initiative blog posts estimates will last “around 100 matches,” is the sole method for new players to access all of the legacy heroes.
Actually, it appears that you need to finish approximately 155 unraked matches, but since a victory counts as two full games, the majority of players will probably finish fewer matches (hence the 100-match estimate). But before you can access every hero, you’re looking at a maximum of 155 consecutive defeats.
Even if the length of a typical match is between 15 and 30 minutes, players will still need to put in 25 to 50 hours of playtime in order to use Tracer and Sombra. Let’s be generous and assume that, on average, one hero emerges per hour. Even the most player-friendly estimations indicate that you’re looking at approximately 16 hours of playtime before new players are able to see the whole roster, though that figure may be increased or decreased depending on how well you and your team do.
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Which heroes can be chosen?
You’ll be able to pick from the following roster of characters when you’re progressing through those early matches:
- Junker Queen (Unlocked upon Season 1 Log-In)
- Lúcio
- Mercy
- Moira
- Orisa
- Pharah
- Reaper
- Reinhardt
- Sojourn (Unlocked upon Season 1 Log-In)
- Soldier: 76
- Torbjörn
- Tracer
- Widowmaker
- Winston
- Zarya
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Which heroes should be unlocked?
- Genji
- D.Va
- Cassidy
- Ana
- Hanzo
- Junkrat
- Roadhog
- Symmetra
- Zenyatta
- Bastion
- Sigma
- Ashe
- Brigitte
- Mei
- Doomfist
- Baptiste
- Sombra
- Wrecking Ball
- Echo
One can’t help but wonder what experienced Overwatch players will have to go through in order to access the game’s main functionality given the FTUE. “Nothing” is the response. Anyone who bought and completed the first game will be able to begin Overwatch 2 with all of their favorite (and least favorite) characters already unlocked. Everyone else will have to progress through what is essentially an enhanced tutorial for Overwatch 2.
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How do you unlock Kiriko and every new hero?
Since Overwatch 2 is (technically) a fresh installment in the series, there will be a constant flow of new heroes in the game. In truth, Blizzard has three plans to launch the new game, but of course, the one that is most anticipated will cost the most to obtain.
Junker Queen, Sojourn, and Kiriko will all be playable characters in Overwatch 2 when it debuts. Since everyone who logs in during Season One will receive Junker Queen and Sojourn, they are essentially welcome gifts. Kiriko is now the only unusual ninja left. She is unfortunately kept behind a paywall, so anyone who doesn’t want to pay money to access her will have to wait their turn.
In essence, Kiriko can be used by players as a guide on what to anticipate from the next Overwatch 2 heroes grind. Kiriko, and thus all upcoming heroes, are imprisoned behind the battle pass, as was explained in a blog post. Since Kiriko is the Tier 55 reward, players who wish to acquire her for nothing will have to put in a lot of time and effort.
Only 5000 XP will be granted via weekly challenges, and each tier requires 10,000 XP. Overwatch’s marketing lead, Jon Spector, stated in an interview with Eurogamer that “hardcore” players should be able to unlock Kiriko in a matter of weeks, although more casual players might need the entire nine-week season to do it. Furthermore, there is an additional incentive for players to queue with friends because doing so will result in a 20% XP bonus.
The Premium Battle Pass allows players to acquire Kiriko more quickly and makes her instantly available, but that is where the true cost of free-to-play games becomes apparent. Players must pay 1000 Overwatch Coins, the premium currency in Overwatch 2, in order to get a Premium Battle Pass. In the cashier, users can purchase 1000 of these coins for $10.
While it is possible to gain a Premium Battle Pass, it takes roughly two months to do so. As an alternative, players can earn the coins by finishing weekly challenges. However this is capped at about 540 coins per month (assuming a player completes all of the weekly challenges every week). On the other side, chances are that anyone who works hard enough to earn enough Overwatch Coins to purchase a pass will do so while also earning the new heroes.
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But there are still more shortcuts. Veteran Overwatch players will receive Overwatch 2 for free along with a Founder’s Pack that, when redeemed, grants them Kiriko. Of course, the mere idea of hiding heroes behind battle passes prompts a crucial query: What happens if a player is unable to unlock Kiriko by the end of the Season?
In that terrible case, Blizzard will offer a new seasonal challenge, and everyone who completes it will be awarded the hero from the previous season. Additionally, the game’s cash shop will start selling these characters. You should have a solid sense of how Overwatch 2’s new hero system operates if you’re familiar with how Apex Legends handles its new heroes. Overwatch 2 may even be a little more kind-hearted (if only a bit).
For what it’s worth, you can play as heroes in the Practice Range, Custom Games, No Limits, Mystery Heroes, and Mystery Deathmatch modes without actually having to unlock them (as well as certain special event modes). But if you want to play Sojourn in Competitive, you’ll have to sign up for Overwatch during Season One, and if you want to use those characters in Overwatch’s primary modes, you’ll have to earn their unlocks.
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