NEW TO OVERWATCH?
OVERWATCH FOR BEGINNERS
Everything you need to start playing, without reading a textbook. Pick a step below or jump to the answer you came for.
Your beginner path
Follow it in order or dip into any step. Every page makes sense on its own.
Get startedLearn the basics and pick something to play.
Understand Overwatch
The goal, the team, and how a match flows from spawn to victory screen.
Pick your role
Tank, Damage or Support: a two-minute way to find the one that fits you.
Choose your first heroes
Two or three forgiving heroes are plenty. Nobody needs the whole roster.
Get comfortablePlay a few matches and fill the gaps.
Play your first games
Seven habits that matter more than aim during your first matches.
Understand maps and modes
Escort, Hybrid, Control, Push and Flashpoint in plain English.
Fix the hero that keeps beating you
Use the Counters tool instead of memorising a wiki.
Build a small hero pool
Rate My Hero Pool shows the gaps in your two to four picks.
Ready for moreRanked, rewards and a proper setup.
Decide if you're ready for ranked
Separate the official unlock rule from whether you should actually queue.
Understand currencies and cosmetics
Coins, Credits, Mythic Prisms, the Battle Pass and Loot Boxes without the confusion.
Set the game up properly
Sensible PC and console settings for your setup, not a pro's.
Keep learning
Use the tools and guides
Analyze a match, browse the guides and come back whenever a new question pops up.
Browse by topic
- Start
How to play
The goal, the roles and your first games.
Open - Heroes
Your first heroes
Beginner-friendly picks for every role.
Open - Maps
Modes explained
What you are actually trying to do on each map.
Open - Ranked
Competitive
The unlock rule and the readiness check.
Open - Economy
Currencies and cosmetics
Coins, Credits, Battle Pass, Loot Boxes.
Open - Settings
Best settings
PC and console recommendations.
Open
Quick answers
The fourteen things new players ask most. Tap one for the short version.
What is Overwatch?
A team shooter where two teams, of five in Role Queue or six in Open Queue, fight over an objective, each player picking a hero with their own abilities. How to play
How does a match work?
Play as a hero, help your team win fights, and complete the map objective before the other team does. If you die you respawn and rejoin. Full walkthrough
Which role should I play?
Damage is the most straightforward. Tank suits people who like leading the fight. Support suits people who like helping. Find your role
Which hero should I start with?
Pick one forgiving hero in your role and learn it first. Beginner-friendly picks
What should I learn in my first games?
Stay near your team, use your abilities, learn your ultimate and switch heroes if something is not working. First-games checklist
How do maps and modes work?
Every map has one objective type: escort a payload, capture a point, push a robot and so on. Modes explained
When can I play Competitive?
New accounts unlock it after 50 Quick Play wins. Unlock rules
When should I try Competitive?
When the basics feel automatic and you enjoy playing with people who take the objective seriously. Readiness check
How does the Battle Pass work?
Every season has a free track and a premium track. You earn XP by playing and unlock rewards tier by tier. Battle Pass explained
What are Coins and Credits?
Coins are the premium currency you buy with money. Credits are a free currency you earn by playing. All currencies
How do Loot Boxes work?
You earn them through play and events; every box gives a Rare or better item. Loot Boxes explained
What are Mythic cosmetics?
The most elaborate skins, unlocked with Mythic Prisms and customised in levels. Mythic Prisms and the Mythic Shop
What settings should I use?
Start from a preset for your hardware, then change one thing at a time. Settings
Where do I go to improve?
Analyze a match, compare your hero pool and read the Guides. Guides
Tools that grow with you
Rate My Hero Pool
See how well they cover each other and which hero to learn next.
Overwatch Counters
Find out what works well against the hero that is ruining your match.
Did I Throw?
Upload your final scoreboard and get a plain-English verdict.