There are quite a number of things players think about as they begin a standardOverwatch 2match. Team composition, communication, and the current map are but a few factors that must be taken into account to ensure victory. While the different modes under Unranked and Arcade aren’t taken as seriously as those in Competitive Play, players still want to do their best inOverwatch 2’s PVP modes.
When it comes to the subject of maps, knowledge of their layouts is integral. Knowing the location of health packs can get players out of a bind and shortcuts that are inaccessible toheroes with no vertical movement like Anaand Cassidy will make things easier or harder for a team. There is quite a lot to learn when talking aboutOverwatch 2’s maps, but one of the simplest things is an unspoken rule created by players of the game.
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The Unfortunate Railing Situation
Railings inOverwatch 2maps work just like they do in real life. Usually found in precipitous locations, they prevent passersby from accidentally overstepping their bounds and falling to their doom. On dangerous maps like the highly-elevated Lijiang Tower andthe water-surrounded streets of Rialto, these railings make sense. They prevent characters from falling out of bounds or drowning, which happens more often than players realize since they tend to move too far in the wrong direction whilst fighting or escaping from the enemy team.
Sadly,railings inOverwatch 2are more of a hindrancethan an asset. They make the platforms they are installed on harder to navigate and can even block sightlines to certain advantageous spots. While all types of railings in the game can easily be destroyed with a quick melee strike or hero weapons and abilities, dismantling them during a match is time-consuming and can even lead to unnecessary eliminations.
The Unspoken Rule Of Railing Destruction
Because railings tend to get in the way of a match, players destroy them as soon as possible. This is mostly done by defending teams onHybrid and Escort-type maps like Dorado and Blizzard Worldas the attacking team is preparing to start the match. This pre-match ritual provides a ton of advantages. It makes it easy to get a line of sight on enemies from specific angles. To give an example, the elevated area directly opposite the first attacker spawn point on Shambali Monastery is a great place for sniper heroes like Hanzo or Widowmaker to set up once the railings have been destroyed.
Broken railings can also create useful elimination opportunities. The starting bridge in Rialto is a great spot whereheroes like Lucio and Doomfist can easily push enemies off the mapwith their abilities. Since the payload has to go through this certain choke point, there is always a chance that players will pass here. Should the railings be left standing when the match begins, there is a possibility that they might save a hero or two before being destroyed.
The lack of railings also makes traversal much easier. Since mostOverwatch 2heroes possess superhuman abilities, they can easily avoid the hazards the railings are trying to protect them from. There is no fall damage in the game, andheroes like Pharah and Mercycan easily get where they need to go without the physical barriers in the way.
It is quite rare to see a railing intact during and after anOverwatch 2match. They could either be deliberately destroyed by players before the match or broken from stray abilities.Blizzard might want to take a look at the railing situationwhen adding new maps to the game, as having fewer of them will alleviate players from having to remodel the maps themselves.
Overwatch 2is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
