Overwatch 2 Hero Tier List: Why the Perk System Changed How They Are Made

1 min read

A hero's perks can swing its tier list placement as much as a straight number change — and most guides still don't account for that.

An Overwatch 2 hero tier list built before hero perks existed doesn't describe the current game, because perks changed what "playing" a hero even means.

What perks added

Heroes now unlock minor and major perk choices as a match goes on, picked from a short menu rather than fixed passively. Two players on the same hero can end up with meaningfully different kits by the second half of a round.

Why that breaks old tier lists

A tier list is a summary of win rate and pick rate — but perks mean a hero's effective kit isn't fixed anymore. A weak base kit with a strong perk option can outperform its old placement entirely.

What to look for in a current one

Whether it mentions perks at all.
The patch date, since perk balance changes alongside ability balance.

The honest answer

Treat any list, including guides like this one, as a starting point — your own Career Profile win rate at your own rank measures how a hero performs in your games specifically.