The Different Meta Types in Overwatch 2 Explained

Summary

Overwatch 2 introduced new heroes and maps, including Ramattra, Kiriko, and Sojourn, to add variety and accommodate new modes like Push.
The switch from 6v6 to 5v5 format in standard game modes led to a shift in the meta, but old team compositions can still hold their own.
The current dominant team compositions in Overwatch 2 are dive, poke, and brawl, each with its own unique strategies and hero picks.

It’s been almost a year since Overwatch 2 launched, and players have seen the release of new heroes like Ramattra, Kiriko, and Sojourn. New maps, like New Queen Street and Paraiso, were added for variety and to accommodate new modes like Push. The biggest change, however, is the switch from the 6v6 to 5v5 format in the standard game modes in Overwatch 2. All these changes led to a shift in the franchise’s meta, albeit not as drastic. Despite the rise of new team compositions, some old comps dating back to the first Overwatch can still hold their own in the latest installation.

Team compositions define the meta in hero shooters like Overwatch 2. When players agree on a comp, they pick heroes that work well together for a certain type of strategy. For example, a dive composition capitalizes on the mobility of certain characters, like Winston and Genji, to ambush the enemy team’s low-health backline heroes. Because Overwatch 2 allows players to switch heroes in their spawn area, teams would often switch compositions mid-round to counter the enemy team’s picks.

Team Compositions That are Currently Dominating The Overwatch 2 Meta

Heroes fighting in a facility in Overwatch 2

The dive composition was a consistent setup in Overwatch and it's alive and well in Overwatch 2. Still, it has seen a few changes since its inception. Mercy used to be a staple in the first Overwatch’s dive meta because of her mobility and resurrect ability. Now, she’s been replaced by Kiriko. The Kitsune-powered support just offers better healing output and has a more reliable mobility tool in her Swift Step. Her Protection Suzu is much better at extending allies’ lives compared to Mercy’s rez when timed correctly. The ideal off-healer for this comp is still Lucio, as his boop and speed boost make ambushes so much easier. DPS and tank picks are the same, too, with Genji, Tracer, and Sombra for the former and Winston or D.Va for the latter.

Poke was a meta composition in Overwatch 2 for a while because of its defensive capabilities. This is often anchored by Sigma, who keeps the team safe behind his shield and onslaught of poke damage through his infinite ammo primary fire. He is usually complemented by supports like Zenyatta and Baptiste because both can do massive amounts of damage from a distance while also keeping everyone alive. As for damage characters, the obvious picks are Widowmaker, Hanzo, and Ashe, as they’re great at sniping enemies before they even get to the objective. This composition often lacks mobility, so the team needs to find the best position for every map and stand their ground.

Brawl involves facing the enemy head-on at the point and overpowering them with massive damage and sustain. This was the meta when Junker Queen released because she could stay in the fight for seemingly forever with her Adrenaline Rush and Commanding Shout. Reinhardt is also a great choice for brawl because of his reliable shield and strong melee damage. Ana's long-range rifle heals allies from afar, so she can keep everyone alive often uninterrupted. As such, she's the perfect main healer pick for this comp. As for damage, Cassidy, Soldier: 76, and Mei can provide consistent damage. They’re also great at keeping themselves alive through their various escape skills and in 76 and Mei’s case, healing abilities.

There were some novel strategies back in the first game, like Overwatch's GOATS comp, which had three tanks and three healers. It was highly effective, as it negated a lot of damage from DPS heroes, rendering them almost useless. As such, high-level ranked teams and pros used it. Now that role queue is the norm for ranked, and only one tank can be picked, the Overwatch 2 meta currently revolves around brawl, poke, and dive. However, the game is still finding its footing, so new comps may arise as different heroes and maps get added to OW2.