Overwatch 2provides players with ample opportunity to play their own way, especially those who run a tank. Tank heroes are made to soak up damage, destroy fortified positions, and group with their allies to ensure they alone are the target. The best tanks inOverwatch 2will lead the charge, keeping their team well-hoarded and safe from the many threats coming from an opposing team.
But what are the best tanks to dominate and protect one’s team in this wild looter shooter? Following thelatest release of Hazard,Overwatch 2has a whopping 13 tanks to choose from. Each of them brings unique styles of play, and a necessity for situational awareness to counter opponents, protect one’s team, and come out on the other side to claim victory.
Updated on June 08, 2025, by Stephen LaGioia:Another season has come to Overwatch 2, once again shaking up the meta for everyone, including tanks. With over a dozen tanks in Overwatch 2, players will want to find the best for them to main in the current season and beyond, and with recent reworks, nerfs and buffs, a solid choice is always up in the air. With the gameplay seemingly getting even more chaotic and complex, it’s more important than ever to pick a solid tank that can absorb damage and gel with the team. For players still seeking the best Tank in Overwatch 2 — for their playstyle, a given situation, or as awhole— this list will rank their abilities and advantages of play to see which Tank takes the top spot of the meta.
Abilities
Constant nerfs strike Roadhog, leaving him in a bit of a lacking state in the recent meta pecking order. While Roadhog was once the king of the tanks, he has fallen from grace thanks to his lacking Chain Hook ability and the dwindling damage for hisScrap Gun.While Roadhog may still be able to one-shot some squishy enemies depending on his proficiency, it’s not often worth it due to his size which makes him a great target for building up ultimate abilities.
Roadhog is easy to counter, and is basically just a slower damage character with more health than normal. HisTake a Breatherhealing ability is still somewhat nice, but the meta isn’t forgiving for Roadhog, as he’s easy to eliminate when focused and offers little protection for himself and his allies.
If players want to be an utter nuisance to the enemy team, look to Wrecking Ball, a cheeky hamster in a mechanical ball that can roll around the battlefield, distracting enemies, and harboring a large pool of health and shield thanks to theAdaptive Shieldability, which grows his health pool depending on the threat of enemies that are around him. Wrecking Ball is a great choice, and easily distracts foes, but he is going to require practice and a skilled hand, as players can easily leave their team without a tank due to one unfortunate mistake.
Wrecking Ball doesn’t dish out the most effective damage with his Quad Cannons, but hisGrappling Claw and Piledriverabilities mean he can keep pushing enemies away, distracting them, to simply roll off and come back ready for more. HisMinefieldultimate also traps the enemy field with explosive mines, making him a true burden for the enemy team who will have to focus on what’s ahead, whilst also looking out for Wrecking Ball, who is always flanking.
A high-risk and high-reward tank, Doomfist isn’t an easy character to learn, but he sure is fun. Players can take that element of fun and turn Doomfist into a monster, thanks to his fast abilities, which will see him bully other smaller targets like attackers and support. Doomfist can easily get behind targets, using an assortment of slams, punches, and his hand cannon to delete the health of his foes.
HisPower Blockability also allows him to negate the damage done to him, and absorbing heavy damage will enhance the power ofRocket Punch. Whilst Doomfist can no longer one-hit enemies with the Rocket Punch, he’s still powerful to those who know when to go in, dish out damage, and jump out.
A champion of old, Reinhardt may still be great, but his powers haven’t exactly changed in recent years. Reinhardt is a fairly competent choice under the right circumstances, as his Barrier Field allows him to walk with a capable shield that can protect his whole team as he attempts to push the point and defend areas. Yet, it’s easy to get behind, and his damage capabilities aren’t stellarfor competitive play.
Reinhardt is a team-based tank, and he’s great for putting pressure on foes, thanks to his gigantic shield that allies can shoot behind. Reinhardt has aRocket Hammerfor dealing melee damage, and a Charge ability to launch himself and grapple enemies, but he’s ineffective against long-range targets when his shield is down, and his reliance on team composition makes him very situational.
Armed with two hearts and dual machine guns, Mauga seems like a great pick, but his health is on the lighter side, and any attempts to defend himself when alone, see him quickly taken care of by enemies. Mauga is still a good pick, but he exists in a spot of normalcy after his release, in which Blizzard was probably scared of having Mauga be a tank-like Bastion. After all, theyalready have Orisa.
Mauga is a big target, and his abilities may help somewhat in battle, but players will want a healer at their side to make sure they stay alive. His ability to take reduced damage and heal through dealing damage is fairly average, and hisCage Fightability to trap himself with enemies isn’t the most efficient other than for a sacrifice play or to create further aggressive carnage that can easily distract opponents long enough to secure objectives.
The leader of Null Sector, Ramattra will show the world his brutality through his many abilities. Ramattra has aVoid Acceleratoras his main form of attack, which fires a stream of projectiles, like a weaker version of Orisa’s turret. He can also throw up Void Barriers to shield himself and allies, and hisRavenous Vortexwill make sure enemies can’t stay behind one place for cover, as their health will be eaten up.
Ramattra also has aNemesis Form,in which he can punch enemies, block their damage, and even steal their health from them with the Annihilation ultimate. With his ultimate active, Ramattra can easily bully other tanks and annihilate squishy enemies, controlling zones and ensuring he’s in charge. He’s a solid pick thanks to his reliance on shields, eating damage, and dishing out violence.
The cutthroat leader of the Junkers comes toOverwatch 2in full force, bringing her axe,Carnageabilities, and a scattergun. Junker Queen compliments other attack characters thanks to herCommanding Shout,which increases the health and movement speed of herself and allies that are in the vicinity. This can be great for getting to targets fast, and giving that extra surge of health when things are getting tough.
Her pump-action shotgun deals great damage, especially when aiming for the head, and the long-rangeJagged Bladecan be thrown and imbed into enemies for a nice assortment of damage. Junker Queen compliments the team well, as long as she stays with them, and she can easily bully other characters, especially if she bans healing thanks to herRampageultimate.
One of thestrongest women inOverwatch 2, Zarya exhibits great power and care for her allies. Zarya is always a fantastic pick thanks to herParticle Barrier and Projected Barrier,which allows her to protect herself or allies with a shield, channeling damage dealt into power for herParticle Cannon.
Zarya can fully charge herParticle Cannonto gain intense energy, firing a short-range linear beam to devastate enemies and their health, including those who can deflect. Zarya is a brutal tank who can eliminate foes easily thanks to a great mix of defensive and offensive play, even with recent nerfs to her Projected Barriers, which will see longer cooldowns of her bubbles to make her more vulnerable in intensive fights.
It’s hard to beat Orisa, and if the enemy team has one — it may be useful to counter firewithfire. Orisa is a monstrous tank and easily holds the title for those seekingOverwatch’s 2best tanks. Her weapon, theAugmented Fusion Driver, is a heat-based weapon that can be shot near endlessly and deals incredible damage at close range. TheEnergy Javelincan impale enemies for great damage, and cancel them out of their abilities and ultimates.
If that wasn’t enough, herFortifyability will increase her health, reduce damage dealt to her, and allow her to walk through moves that would otherwise flinch and stun her. Orisa is a walking beast, and she can easily take care of whole squads with the right player and healer guiding her. Cooldowns and durations have been nerfed pretty heavily for Orisa, and while she’s still an extremely competent pick, and one of the best out there, her slower and less damaging playstyle is underperforming in the current meta.
Who wouldn’t want to play as a super-intelligent, genetically engineered gorilla with a love for peanut butter? Winston started his journey inOverwatchas a tank that not many people would pick. However, many were quick to realize that they had underestimated this tank, as hisTesla Cannoncan damage multiple enemies at once, requires little focus to use thanks to its tracking, and ignores enemies with deflect or absorb abilities.
Even better still, Winston has aJump Packthat allows him to get involved in the fight, or jump away from it, and hisBarrier Projectorallows for a shield bubble that can trap enemies and ensure their damage does not leave the dome. Whilst he doesn’t deal the best damage, he can be great at distracting andtargeting even great support heroeswhilst other heroes run in to take care of mean squads.
