Overwatch 2 Climb Guide: Heroes of Busan Season 4 Top Picks (Updated)

Below Master rank, lobbies typically lack the coordinated DPS needed for effective poke compositions. While tanks like Sigma and Ramattra are theoretically strong, their reliance on team synergy makes them less consistent for climbing. The tanks that excel are those who can win 1v1s, initiate fights on their own terms, and survive when supports are out of position.

Top climb picks right now include Reinhardt, who remains the highest-impact carry tank in Gold–Emerald, especially when you weaponize his Berserker passive. His unique ability to trade barrier health for movement and attack speed can create significant pressure. Mauga, despite his increased Overrun cooldown, remains a strong contender, especially with his Cardiac Overdrive, though his increased Chaingun spread in individual firing requires more precision.

D.Mon, the new Tank hero, remains a highly disruptive and effective pick. While recent bug fixes addressed issues with Portable Fusion Repeater hits, Limit Break Overhealth, and Toggle Propulsors, and her hitbox was adjusted, her Surging Strike and Fusion Repeater now have reduced cast and recovery times. These changes enhance her independent playmaking potential with Plasma Saber and Power Barrier, allowing for even quicker repositioning and flanking. Orisa, with her new Major Perk 'Heavy Javelin,' sees increased utility, enhancing her crowd control and enabling more aggressive plays. These heroes excel at creating space and engaging on their own terms.

Soldier 76 and Cassidy remain climb staples for excellent reasons. They offer built-in healing or self-peel, consistent mid-range damage effective on any map, and do not strictly require a Mercy pocket to perform well. Cassidy's Silver Bullet projectile size reduction means you need to be more accurate, but his kit still provides immense value.

Doomfist's increased Seismic Slam damage makes him an even more formidable dive threat for those who master his kit, despite his Empowered Rocket Punch collateral range and radius reduction. Junker Queen's Commanding Shout cooldown reduction makes her even more survivable and impactful in team fights. Her Carnage now throwing her axe also provides critical hit potential and more ranged pressure.

Sojourn now gains increased currency from damage and healing, which is a significant buff to her overall value. Freja's Revdraw Crossbow fire rate increase and faster Take Aim recovery and explosion make her a potent long-range threat. Recent changes to Jetpack Cat's base movement speed and increased self-healing penalty for Purr mean less independent sustain for him. These heroes emphasize self-reliance and burst damage, crucial for impactful performance, but Jetpack Cat now requires more careful management of resources.

The defining stat for climbing supports is high damage per 10 minutes, not just healing numbers. Heroes like Ana, Baptiste, and Illari can all post Tank-level damage in their respective brackets, which is crucial for cracking open fights when your team struggles to capitalize on healing alone. Their offensive pressure is often what secures victories.

Ana remains a top pick this season; her increased Biotic Grenade explosion damage and healing further bolster her sustain while still retaining the high-impact utility of Sleep Dart. Moira's improved Remote Reciprocity duration, Orbsplosion damage and healing, and Alternative Energy buff duration all saw improvements, making her a formidable option for both damage and healing output.

Lúcio's Sonic Amplifier damage per projectile has been increased, making him even more capable of contributing meaningful damage alongside his speed and healing. Brigitte's Inspire now granting instant healing, despite reduced healing over time, means immediate impact in skirmishes. Kiriko is a solid third, largely for the game-changing potential of her ultimate ability after recent bug fixes, though her healing per projectile was slightly reduced.

Competitive Play now features a new skill tier, Emerald, situated between Platinum and Diamond. This addition refines the rank distribution and provides a clearer progression path, especially for players consistently performing well at the Platinum ceiling. You will also find a Rank Distribution Indicator to better understand your standing within these tiers.

Experimental 'Team Drives' are introduced as limited-time competitive events that encourage team play with unique rewards. These events highlight the importance of synergistic hero compositions and coordinated strategies, offering a fresh way to engage with the competitive ladder. We recommend actively participating in these to maximize your reward potential and improve your team play skills.

While Hero Bans and the Roster system are not active in this patch, the introduction of Emerald and Team Drives significantly shifts the competitive landscape. Adaptability remains key to navigating these changes. Understanding these new competitive structures will be crucial for a successful climb this season.

Three maps—Busan, Paraíso, and Eichenwalde—have received major reworks, featuring new layouts and themes. This means established sightlines, flank routes, and engagement zones may have changed significantly. We encourage you to spend time in custom games or quick play to familiarize yourself with these updated environments.

Hero balance changes, such as reduced flanker healing from health packs, increased Domina's Panopticon barrier health, and a higher ultimate cost for Hazard, materially affect how certain heroes perform on these new maps. Consider how these changes impact your chosen hero's ability to engage, sustain, and contribute.

The 'Protects' stat and improved in-combat feedback with a team status indicator will help you understand your impact on teammates. Use this information to refine your positioning and decision-making, especially on unfamiliar, reworked maps. Awareness of these interactions can turn the tide of a match.

Do not lock in your hero immediately. Observe the enemy team's picks before making your selection to ensure you choose an effective counter. Many players who struggle to climb often autofill with one hero, leading to consistent losses in specific matchups. Adapting your hero choice dynamically is a cornerstone of climbing.

Track two key stats per hero in the replay viewer: damage per 10 minutes and final blows per death. If both are consistently below the average for the rank you are aiming to reach, that specific hero might not be your optimal climb pick. Focus on heroes where you can consistently meet or exceed these performance metrics.

The new Battle Pass system offers more flexibility, allowing players to choose their progression path. While this doesn't directly impact hero picks, understanding how you can earn rewards more efficiently can enhance your overall game experience and motivation. We advise leveraging the 'Shooting Star: My MEKA Mania' event to support your favorite MEKA squad member and earn additional rewards.

Patches are typically released every six weeks, with the first two weeks post-patch often being the easiest time to climb due to player base adaptation. We advise grinding during the first half of a season to maximize your climb potential. Mid-season balance updates frequently target top-tier picks, so expect shifts.

The Heroes of Busan patch included numerous balance changes that reshape hero kits, impacting several heroes significantly. For instance, Ramattra's increased Ravenous Vortex explosion damage and reduced Nemesis Form Block cooldown make him more threatening. Reaper's increased Soul Reaving pickup radius and The Reaping lifesteal enhance his survivability and engagement potential.

These significant reworks mean staying informed and adapting your playstyle is more crucial than ever; do not solely rely on outdated pick rates for decision-making. Your personal win rate with a hero in your bracket is the ultimate determinant of their effectiveness for your climb. We continuously monitor these shifts to keep our strategies current for you.