Overwatch 2, while relatively new, is in constant meta shifts with buffs, nerfs, and the introduction of the Perks system all happening.

However, as we stand in 2025, transitioning between seasons 17 and 18, now is the best time for you to climb the ranks and secure those epic end-of-season rewards!

To help you with that, we’ve created the current OW tier list, featuring the best heroes to play in 2025.

S-Tier: The Current Kings and Queens of Overwatch 2

These are the best characters to play or even ban right now within the season 17 meta, and potentially, even still top choices in season 17. Why? Well, their abilities, buffed by powerful perks, make them near-essential in high-level competitive play.

Tank

Sigma: His versatility is epic, as he boasts a strong barrier, crowd control, and solid damage output. With Perks that boost his mobility or defensive capabilities, Sigma is a genuinely great pick.
Zarya: The queen of snowballing games in the tank role continues her reign. Her Energy Lance Perk, along with her particle cannon, allows her to pierce enemies at high energy, turning her into a solo-carry hero yet again.

DPS

Sojourn: Still the apex predator of the DPS heroes. Her Railgun, especially when supercharged by Perks, affects its charge rate or damage. Combine that with her excellent mobility, and Sojourn is a powerful DPS hero in the current meta.
Bastion: Usually seen as a static defender, Bastion has surged into the S-Tier. The reason? Perks that grant self-sustain or boost his turret form's uptime and power have made him a strong damage dealer.
Echo: Her flexibility as a hero and high burst damage keep Echo soaring high in our tier list. Duplicating an important enemy hero, especially one with strong Perks active, can single-handedly win teamfights in Overwatch.
Torbjörn: Perhaps one of the biggest beneficiaries of the Perk system. Buffs to his turret's deployability, such as sticking to walls, and offensive power, combined with Perks that grant instant reloads or improved weaponry, have made Torbjörn a surprisingly strong hero.
Freja: As Season 16's newest DPS, Freja's high-skill ceiling, centered around her crossbow accuracy and unique bolt types, allows for great flank and pick potential. While her impact is strong, players must master her mobility and accuracy to make her a strong pick.

Support

Ana: She’s the playmaker support, and Ana's Biotic Grenade remains one of the most impactful abilities in the game. Combine this with the Perks, like "Shrike" (allowing Nano Boost to also apply to herself), and her influence is OP.
Kiriko: Kiriko's blend of consistent healing, lethal Kunai headshots, and the game-saving Protection Suzu makes her a brilliant pick for support. Combine this with her Kitsune Rush ultimate, which, when combined with Perk-boosted allies, is a team fight win condition.

A-Tier: Consistently Powerful Choices

These heroes in Overwatch 2 are just a breath away from S-Tier, offering fantastic value and the potential to fit into a wide array of team comps. They are strong, reliable, and can easily carry games.

Tank

D.Va: Her mobility and Defense Matrix make her a threat to hitscan heroes and projectile-based ultimates, and a skilled D.Va can make this threat even larger by controlling high ground and peeling her team properly.
Junker Queen: This one's a brawly tank who is excellent at close-quarters combat and applying pressure with her bleed effects and Commanding Shout.
Ramattra: His dual forms offer a nice bit of flexibility, allowing him to poke from range or even become a strong presence when in his Nemesis form.
Winston: The king of dive is back in the A tier. Winston enables aggressive team comps that aim to dismantle the enemy backlines fairly easily when played correctly.

DPS

Ashe: Her dynamite pressure and the ability to one-shot with a damage boost make this hero a long-range DPS threat. Besides that, B.O.B. can also act as a sixth team member to contest objectives when necessary.
Cassidy: His reliable hitscan damage and Magnetic Grenade give him strong 1v1 dueling potential; beyond that, a well-placed Deadeye can clear the field nicely.
Genji: High mobility and a fight-winning Dragonblade make Genji a strong hero when in skilled hands, especially when played into dive team compositions where he can get into the fight easily.
Pharah: Pharah is all about dominating the skies, particularly when paired with a Mercy, which can make Pharah even more of a nightmare for teams lacking hitscan capabilities.
Soldier: 76: Consistent damage, self-sustain, and a tactical visor that punishes poor positioning make this hero a solid, all-around DPS.
Tracer: The ultimate flanker due to her ability to harass backlines and secure key eliminations, makes Tracer a solid high-skill, high-reward pick.
Widowmaker: In the right hands, Widowmaker can control entire sightlines and dismantle entire teams. The problem? Great accuracy is required, especially on maps that favor snipers. If this weren’t the case, she would be rated higher.

Support

Lúcio: Speed boost and Sound Barrier are tremendous and can single-handedly change games. Lúcio also allows his team to go for aggressive pushes and life-saving disengages, making him an excellent pick for rush and dive team comps.
Zenyatta: High damage output for a support via his Discord Orb and devastating volley shots, combine that with transcendence and a powerful defensive ultimate, and makes her a solid hero.
Juno: New on the list. Her excellent mobility with Glide Boost and Martian Overboots, combined with versatile healing and damage from her Mediblaster and Pulsar Torpedoes, makes her a unique, but flexible support.

B-Tier: Solid Under the Right Conditions

These heroes are perfectly viable and can be exceptionally strong on specific maps or as counter-picks. That being said, they might require more team coordination or particular strategies to unlock their full potential in-game.

Tank

Reinhardt: Still the premier brawler for close-quarters teamfights, a well-supported Reinhardt can create massive amounts of space for his team.
Wrecking Ball: High mobility and disruption potential, a good Wrecking Ball can terrorize grouped enemy formations and create chaos in the process.

DPS

Junkrat: Excels in spamming chokepoints and dealing massive burst damage in enclosed spaces, not to mention his RIP-Tire can be a game-changer.
Mei: Her ability to wall off enemies, slow them down, and survive with Cryo-Freeze provides unique utility, while Blizzard (her ultimate) can secure objectives in the right hands.
Reaper: A tank buster and close-range assassin, Reaper’s Shadow Step and Wraith Form allow him to engage and disengage well.
Symmetra: Her turrets can control flanks, and her teleporter offers unique team mobility, not to mention a fully charged beam can be devastating when used correctly.
Venture: This newer DPS hero brings unique underground mechanics, offering surprising angles of attack, making for a situational pick.

Support

Baptiste: Immortality Field is a powerful tool, and his burst healing combined with solid damage output makes him a strong yet flexible support pick.
Brigitte: Provides strong peel for her support and can be a menace to dive heroes due to her Shield Bash and Whip Shot.
Moira: High healing output and survivability, not to mention, Coalescence can be an epic tool for sustain and finishing off low-health enemies.

C-Tier: Niche Picks and Less Favored Heroes

These heroes generally find it trickier in the Season 17 meta. The reason? They might have been power-crept, nerfed, or simply have too many strong counters among the other higher-tiered heroes.

Tank

Doomfist: Can be strong with high mechanical skill, but is often feast or famine due to his vulnerability to stuns and targeted fire.
Orisa: While durable, her lack of mobility and susceptibility to being targeted by dives can leave her struggling against the top-tier tanks.
Roadhog: Relies heavily on landing hooks for value, and his large hitbox makes him an easy target without any consistent support.
Hazard: While his concept of controlling space with consistent damaging of zones can theoretically deny areas, his abilities are often too slow to deploy or too easily dismissed by mobile team compositions. Besides that, his lack of strong personal defenses and direct engagement tools makes him a risky pick against the aggressive or coordinated teams.

DPS

Hanzo: While capable of one-shot kills, his consistency can be an issue, and he faces intense competition from other ranged DPS.

Support

Illari: Her healing pylon can be easily destroyed, and while her damage output is sound, she can struggle with burst healing demands for the whole team.
Mercy: While a Damage Boost is always valuable, Mercy herself can be vulnerable and lacks the defensive utility of S-Tier supports in many situations.

D-Tier: Approach with Caution

These heroes are having a particularly tricky time in the current Overwatch 2 meta. They can be fine, though, you'll just need to be a true master of their kits to find success, as most other choices often outshine them.

Tank

Mauga: Despite his intimidating presence, Mauga often struggles with survivability against focused fire and anti-heal abilities, making him a risky pick in the current meta.

DPS

Sombra: While a well-coordinated Sombra can disrupt fights, changes to her kit and the prevalence of heroes who can counter her hack or reveal her have nerfed her overall impact in many games.

Support

Lifeweaver: Despite buffs, his healing output can feel inconsistent to other supports, and Life Grip, while situationally useful, can cause problems if misused.

Key Meta Trends in Season 17

The introduction of the Perks system in Season 15 has been the single most significant factor changing the current Overwatch 2 meta. Heroes like Torbjörn and Bastion, who benefit massively from these Perks, have seen deployables or personal survivability improvements take them to S-Tier with ease.

DPS Role

Precision hitscan heroes like Sojourn remain great, but utility-based DPS with strong Perks are now equally threatening. The ability to customize heroes mid-match means that adapting your Perk choices to the enemy team composition is incredibly important in competitive.

Tank Role

Tanks with strong self-sustain or different damage options like Zarya and Sigma are thriving, and the Energy Lance Perk for Zarya is a prime example of how one upgrade can boost a hero's carry potential big time.

Support Role

Supports that offer great utility beyond healing, such as Ana's Biotic Grenade and Kiriko's Protection Suzu, are excellent picks, as the ability to make aggressive plays or shut down enemy ultimates sets them apart as S-Tier supports.

Your Hero Choices

Remember, this Overwatch 2 tier list for Season 17 serves as just a guide or template. While S-Tier heroes often provide the easiest path to winning games in the current meta, remember that player skill, teamwork, map specifics, and even your gameplay are usually bigger factors. For example, sometimes, the best hero is the one you've got the most games with, and perform the best on!