Overwatch 2is one of the most-anticipated sequels in player-versus-player (PvP) gaming. With the success of the originalOverwatch, players were hungry for more updates on the second installment of the series and were excited to get their hands onOverwatch 2.
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One of the biggest changes to the game in the sequel is the usual 6v6 format being reduced to 5v5. Knocking two players out of the picture inOverwatch 2was an unexpected surprise, but can also be considered quite an improvement. Teams of 5v5 are one of the most standard formats of PvP games, and now Blizzard has decided to go down that path too. But what are the benefits?
Updated Jul 26, 2025 by Adele Wilson:The Overwatch 2 launch has had its ups and downs, with many people angry at the new monetization system and the overall server issues. The Overwatch 2 5v5 format isn’t the only new addition to the game. With it now being free-to-play, there’s now a battle pass and a lot of the original skins from Overwatch 1 can now only be unlocked by spending real money.
It’s not all bad though, with many players thoroughly enjoying Overwatch 2 and its changes. Queues have been quicker than ever thanks to the new auto queue feature, and a ton of brand-new players trying out the game. Queueing for the damage role was notorious for being agonizingly long, whereas the queue can pop pretty swiftly nowadays. The 5v5 format also helps with quicker queues, with 1 less slot to fill per team, adding to the array of benefits that comes with the new Overwatch 2 5v5 format.
10Less Chaotic Matches
It’s no secret that the more players involved in an online PvP match, the more chaos ensues. There’s a reason why most PvP games stick to teams of 5v5. With fewer players on the field, there are clearly going to be fewer targets to focus on. While 5v5 matches inOverwatch 2still retain that element of bedlam, it’s a much more enjoyable experience with one less tank to avoid.
In the past, players have often been stuck fighting a Roadhogand a Reinhardtwhen they’re all attacking the player at once. While this will still happen because that’s just the nature of PvP matches, having one less tank per team will definitely reduce the damage taken.
9Two Tanks Are Gone
Tanks are either the first to be eliminated or the last, mainly due to their defensive abilities such as shields and strong ults. The change from 6v6 to 5v5 inOverwatch 2has removed one tank per team, resulting in only one tank left for each team. No more will there be teams of D.Va and Orisa both attacking the player at once whilehiding behind Orisa’s shieldability.
This does, however, mean more responsibility for the one tank, as it’s their job to push their team forward. With the number of tanks per game being reduced,Doomfistis now added to the tank roster. One tank per team inOverwatch 25v5 means that healers can focus their healing abilities on one tank instead of two, making it much easier to top up the health of the damage heroes too.
8Increased Challenge Even In Casual Mode
InOverwatch, there are two main modes: casual and competitive. Players either play both or only stick to one, which is no surprise as the competitive player base forOverwatchcan be brutal. If someone has hundreds or thousands of hours inOverwatch, casual mode will more than likely become quite stale due to the lack of challenge. That’s where competitive mode comes in; with this new change to the teams, those who revel in a challenge will get a ton of fun from playing a tank.
The tank is now solely responsible for defending their team, and it’ll be challenging to stay up as much as possible. Watch out though — while the healers are prime targets for eliminations, one tank is easier to defeat than two tanks. With the 6v6 format now being changed to 5v5, long-time players will now have to get used to this new playstyle, with only one tank in the team to push forward, this puts more pressure on those who play the tank role while simultaneously decreasing the pressure for healers and the opposing team.
7Easier Eliminations
Overwatch 2is taking a huge step forward in giving players a brand new challenge. One less tank means the rest of the team is more vulnerable now. For instance, instead of two tank shields going up, there’s only one. This means a stray Ana orSoldier 76who isn’t behind the one shield is increasingly more susceptible to damage, and elimination. The new hero, Sojourn, has fantastic movement, with her Ground Slide ability that allows her to cancel the animation as she jumps high into the air, which would have actually been pretty handy when surrounded by two tanks in a match.
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If there’sa Cassidy on the team, his ultimate will be a great way to deal maximum damage. Healers are in danger with one less tank as they’re the main targets in most matches, especially Mercy. Once the team has got the one tank down, all they have to do is regroup and focus on eliminating the rest of the opposition before the tank rejoins. One less tank also means there’s only one shield to break, it was also a frustrating experience trying to break Sigma’s Shield as well asReinhardt’s.
6Easier Time For Support
The role of support inOverwatchhas a tough job. They’ve got to keep tabs on all team members and ensure their health is as high as possible, especially when they see the critical icon. One less player means one less person to heal and keep an eye on, so overall, theOverwatch 25v5 format certainly makes it easier for healers.
Tanks have considerably more health than the damage roles do, making the task of topping up a tank’s health challenging in the middle of a match. With one less tank inOverwatch 2, the Mercys andMoiras of the matchwon’t be as stressed when it comes to keeping both tanks alive.
5Shorter Queues For Damage Roles
Queueing for a damage role inOverwatchhas always been an issue as of late. Blizzard introduced the Priority Pass feature to boost players up the queue, which was especially useful for those who wanted to play a damage hero like Bastion.
With one less spot to fill, it will be easier to snap up enough players to fill out a team, making queues a lot faster for damage and support roles. Though damage queues may still take a while due to players wanting to try out thenew hero, Sojourn.
4The Player’s Choice Of Hero Matters Now
When loading into a game inOverwatch, players must choose who they want to play for the match. In casual mode, the majority of people opt for their favorite character, who they have hundreds of hours of experience with. Now, with one less tank per team, players need to think hard about which hero will work with the selected tank.
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For instance, Mercy is a great support for a D.Va who likes to use the boosters, due to her Guardian Angel ability allowing her to fly over to the ally. Thanks to the development team,Overwatchhas astrong and diversecast of heroes. There are certain heroes who work best on specific maps due to their range of movement and overall abilities, making the choice of hero even more vital. D.Va is great for getting into the small nooks and cranny’s on a map thanks to her boosters, which allow her to zoom in and out of combat swiftly.
3You Can Play Your Main Tank Hero
Most players have a favorite tank to play,whether it’s D.Vaor Wrecking Ball. Getting into the lobby for a match inOverwatchfelt like a race to pick one’s selected tank before the second tank snatched them up. For example, if a player really wanted to go in as Winston, but the second tank took Winston, the player would then have to use an unfamiliar hero. Using an unfamiliar hero as a tank can be detrimental to the team.
However, inOverwatch 2tank mains don’t have to worry anymore. Due to the fact that there’s only one tank per team, players can choose their main without the worry of it being taken away by their fellow tank. With theOverwatch 25v5 format, it’s easier than ever to swap the tank heroes during a match to find the most suitable for the team build and map.
2Quicker Queues
With only 5 people per team queueing up to get into a match, this has significantly reduced queue times, especially at peak hours. Fewer slots to fill means players can get into matches at a quicker rate than inOverwatch 1, especially for those who play with friends in a group of 3 to 5 players. There’s also the brand newauto queuefeature, which automatically puts players into a new queue once the current match has ended.
Additionally, withOverwatch 2being free-to-play, there’s an abundance of new players trying out all of the heroes to find their new main. This influx of brand-new players means that there will always be people queueing up at any time of day in all game modes.
1Mystery Heroes
Mystery heroes was an arcade mode inOverwatch 1, but with the release ofOverwatch 2, it’s now part of the normal game modes found. Every time a player dies, they change hero. It’s also important to note that there are no role requirements and the same hero can appear more than once.
TheOverwatch 25v5 format now means that there’s less chance of a team getting their hands on 6 tank roles during the respawn period, which is a tough nut to crack for the opposing team. Mystery Heroes is a fantastic way to try out the wide array of heroes, making it particularly useful for newer players.
Overwatch 2is currently available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Switch.
