What a crazy fever dream the past meta was huh? Roadhog just running around, terrorizing everyone. Zarya’s had to time their bubbles to protect friendly Roadhogs after they get hooked, because there wasn’t a shield to hide behind. Snipers were just left uncontested because no one could get to high ground. Goodness what a mess. Luckily everyone is past those strange and uncertain times.
In fact, the Overwatch ranked meta is in one of its best states in recent memory. Characters actually feel map dependent now. There isn’t quite one tank that is dominating like Orisa or Roadhog, and damage dealers don’t have to auto-lock a sniper. Things seem pretty good for the first time, in a really long time.
The following tier list exists precisely to help guide players through this more dynamic meta, reflecting how individually well-kitted Overwatch’s 32 heroes are and how well they synergize with other powerful heroes. With each month, there will be a new tier list released to update changes in each hero’s performance from month-to-month so be sure to check back next month to see what changes lie ahead.
[Previous Tier List:Â September 2020]
Tier 1: Optimal Heroes with High Win Rates and Synergy
- Ana
- Ashe
- McCree
- Mercy
- Winston
- Zarya
Overwatch is a much different game when Dive-compositions are back in the meta. Tank players feel more involved, and DPS players feel more comfortable switching characters. Overall, the current meta makes players feel like their decisions matter a little but more when it comes to committing to fights and positioning. Not having to worry about Roadhog every game opened the door for Winston to leap back into favor. The meta has been shifting a bit away from Winston/Zarya tank lines and back into the classic Dive tanks. Zarya is in an incredibly good spot currently, so players can feel comfortable leaning on the aggressive off-tank.
Tier 2:Â Good Alternatives to Tier 1 and Still Viable Overall
- D.Va
- Echo
- Moira
- Reaper
- Reinhardt
- Sigma
- Solider: 76
- Tracer
- Widowmaker
- Zenyatta
For the first time in a long while, the top two tiers feel so very close to one another. There are plenty of heroes that can make their case for Tier 1 like Tracer and even Reaper, but overall the characters in the second tier are still powerful. Reinhardt rises from the ashes once more as Roadhog can’t burst down his shield immediately. Sigma may forever live just outside of the highest tier as he is still on the receiving end of tweaks since the prevalence of the Double Shield meta.
Tier 3: Good Situational Picks but Less Strong Overall
- Baptiste
- Brigitte
- Hanzo
- Lucio
- Orisa
- Pharah
- Roadhog
- Symmetra
- Torbjorn
- Wrecking Ball
Overwatch is a game based on the ability to swap characters to deal with a new situation. This meta allows for players to play a wide variety of different heroes based on what is going on in front of them. The “situational” tier is at its largest in a long while, and that should be a good thing. Characters like Symmetra and Orisa are at their healthiest when they succeed on only few maps and in a few situations. Players saw how un-fun the game became when Roadhog hopped out of his niche-situation bubble and ruined the ranked experience. More situational picks make Overwatch a healthy and interesting game. This meta is a perfect example of just that.
Tier 4: Difficult to Have Success Within the Current Meta
- Bastion
- Doomfist
- Genji
- Junkrat
- Mei
- Sombra
Sombra is an odd mainstay in the lowest tier. Typically in high-level play, she is one of the strongest and most oppressive heroes when played correctly. The issue is always communication and getting the team to follow up on the opportunities Sombra creates. If a team cannot capitalize on hacked enemies, Sombra can feel incredibly useless. Sadly in ranked, that ends up the case more often than not. As for the rest of the cast down in Tier 4, they are often just situational. Yes, a Bastion or a Doomfist can take over a game, however, they are easily countered and their impact is easily nullified.
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