HEROES
Best heroes for beginners
You need two or three heroes you enjoy, not the whole roster. Here are forgiving picks for each role.
Tank picks
Reinhardt
A big shield and a hammer. Simple to understand and gives you a clear job: protect the team.
Reinhardt guide
Winston
Jump in, zap and fall back. Easy to survive with and forgiving on aim.
Winston guide
D.Va
A mobile tank who can eat damage and escape. Good for learning space and timing.
D.Va guide
Damage picks
Soldier: 76
A rifle, a sprint and self-healing. Feels like most shooters, so it is easy to learn.
Soldier: 76 guide
Cassidy
A dependable revolver with strong close-range pressure. Rewards simple, patient aim.
Cassidy guide
Reaper
Up-close shotguns and self-healing. Little aim required, plenty of forgiveness.
Reaper guide
Support picks
Mercy
A beam that heals and a beam that boosts damage. Straightforward: keep one teammate alive.
Mercy guide
Baptiste
A healing burst, a healing zone and a rifle. Good mix of healing and shooting.
Baptiste guide
Moira
Heals by holding a button and hurts by holding another. Low aim requirement.
Moira guide
These are DidIThrow suggestions for how easy a hero is to pick up. They are not an official ranking and heroes change with balance patches. Choose the one whose fantasy you enjoy; you will play it more.
How many heroes do I need?
Two or three. One main pick you enjoy, one backup that plays differently, and (optionally) one more from another role for when your team needs it. Anything more is a luxury.
New and reworked heroes in Season 5
Doctrine is a new Support with Invigorating Drones, Infuse and Deliverance. Sombra is now a Support: Hotfix heals allies and Cyberspace weakens enemy output. Roadhog remains a Tank, with two-burst fire and Trash Compactor. Their guides explain the current tools; these are not new beginner difficulty rankings.
Official Season 5 live notes
Rate My Hero Pool
See how well they cover each other, what they are weak to and what to learn next.
Overwatch Counters
Look up the hero that beats you and see what works against them.
Overwatch Tier List
Where every hero currently lands, based on Blizzard hero statistics.
Common questions
How many heroes should a beginner learn?
Two or three from the role you play most. That is enough to be useful in almost every match. Add more only once these feel comfortable.
Why can I switch heroes in a match?
Because Overwatch is built around adapting. If your hero is not working against the enemy team, switching is the intended fix, not a failure.
Are these picks the strongest heroes right now?
No. They are easy to pick up and forgiving when you make mistakes. For current strength across the roster, check the tier list.