Overwatch Maps Guide: Tips & Best Heroes

All Overwatch maps are categorized into one of five types: Control, Escort, Assault, Hybrid, and the new Push mode available only in Overwatch 2. In this guide, we’ll be covering every map in the game to provide tips and strategies for you to make the most of your time in the wide world of Overwatch.

Ultimately, every Overwatch map provides players with the opportunity to experiment with compositions, try new heroes, and deepen their understanding of both the current meta and their overall gameplay. Hopefully, these explanations and tips can help you avoid common mistakes and start to create some incredible highlight reels.

All Maps in Overwatch

Control: Busan // Ilios // Lijiang Tower // Nepal // Oasis

Escort: Circuit Royal // Dorado // Havana // Junkertown // Rialto // Route 66 // Watchpoint: Gibraltar

Hybrid: Blizzard World // Eichenwalde // Hollywood // King’s Row // Midtown // Numbani // Paraíso

Push: Colosseo // Esperança // New Queen Street

Maps Outside of Rotation

Assault: Hanamura // Temple of Anubis // Volskaya Industries

Control

Maps: Busan, Ilios, Lijiang Tower, Nepal, Oasis

Control features several of the game’s most iconic maps. On Control maps, teams fight to take over an objective in the middle of the map. They then hold it until their capture percentage reaches 100%. Each control map in Overwatch has three separate sub-maps, with a team needing to win a best-of-three in order to win.

Unlike most other Overwatch map types, teams are not immediately designated as attackers or defenders. Control begins with both teams’ spawn rooms on the opposite ends of a perfectly mirrored map. This gives competitors no initial advantage over each other. Once the map starts, it takes 30 seconds for the objective to unlock. This allows for the area to be taken by one of the teams.

In order to take control of an objective, a team must clear off all enemies while maintaining a presence in the objective area for a certain amount of time. Once the objective is taken, capture percentage begins to build. This will continue to get closer to 100% unless the enemy team is able to take control themselves. This will start their capture percentage and pause their opponents. If a team reaches 100%, the round is over. The first team to take two rounds wins.

Busan

First up, we have Overwatch’s first and, to date, only Korean map. The three sub-maps provide wildly different environments for fights to play out. On Downtown, the urban heart of Busan becomes a battleground with plentiful cover across the map. Sanctuary takes players to the once peaceful courtyards of a Korean temple. Finally, MEKA Base brings the fight to D.Va’s home turf.

Downtown allows for a wide variety of play styles. Dive comps are typical, but really anything can work here. There are great high ground perches for snipers as well as plenty of ways to get value out of flankers. Most fights won’t necessarily happen on the point, and control of the major chokepoints can be game-winning.

Sanctuary is an incredibly open and spread-out map. Long sightlines favor characters with range or mobility to close the gap. The stairs next to the point provide some cover and elevation for safely surveying the battlefield. Once you’re on the point, escape can be difficult, so be prepared to commit to the fight when you make that move.

MEKA Base features a point surrounded on all sides by higher ground. Controlling those areas is often more important than the point itself. As a result, Brawl comps do well here because they can bully the enemy team into awkward positions. Once you have control of the point, hold at the chokepoints to keep enemies from regaining that advantage.

Best Heroes for Busan

Damage: Widowmaker (Downtown and Sanctuary), Cassidy (Downtown and MEKA Base), Echo (Downtown), Sombra

Support: Lucio, Ana, Baptiste

Tank: Sigma, D.Va, Wrecking Ball (Sanctuary), Reinhardt (MEKA Base)

Choose another map.

Ilios

Ilios takes players to the beautiful shores of Greece for battle amongst cliffside towns and ancient ruins. On Lighthouse, a long, deadly drop into the ocean awaits players who stray too close to the edge. Ruins sees players fighting around crumbling columns on an archeological dig site. Lastly, Well places a hazard right in the middle of the capture point with a large hole that hungers for careless players.

Lighthouse features a point surrounded on three sides by steep cliffs down to the water below. Heroes with displacement abilities can send enemies flying off the edge at any moment. Most styles will work on Lighthouse, even Bunker comps that usually suffer on Control maps. 

Well is Ilios’s defining point. The hole in the middle of the point makes it unlike any other in the game. Environmental kills happen with regularity so characters that can push enemies around are highly valuable. 

Ruins has teams fighting in and around a large pit with ample cover surrounding it. This is one of the best Overwatch maps for Widowmaker, so be on the lookout for the deadly sniper. Otherwise, this map favors flanking DPS and supports that can defend themselves.

Best Heroes for Illios

Damage: Tracer, Pharah, Widowmaker (Ruins), Junkrat (Ruins), Echo

Support: Lucio, Brigitte, Moira, Mercy

Tank: D.Va, Roadhog, Winston, Reinhardt (Ruins and Lighthouse)

Choose another map.

Lijiang Tower

One of the most popular Overwatch maps, Lijiang Tower features three distinct and well-designed sub-maps. Night Market has a large central courtyard with shops and stalls around the edges of the map. Garden connects players to the point via a bridge that can be perilous to cross. Control Center gives players a taste of close-quarters indoor brawling.

Night Market is a classic Control point that enables nearly any play style. The point has numerous entrances that mean threats can come from any angle. Flankers can feast if they find a vulnerable enemy without any support. One wrong step, however, can send anyone flying to their death on the streets below. 

Garden has its capture point inside a pavilion with a large pillar in the middle. Teams can approach the point over the dangerous bridge or through a tight chokepoint that provides more cover. Either way, fights tend to last a long time here, so stalling is often a viable strategy even after a fight is decided.

On Control Center, teams clash in a space cluttered with servers and other cover. Sightlines are short and enemies can be on top of you in an instant. Brawl comps are often required to get through the narrow chokepoints and access the point. Controlling the stairs by the point and the adjoining high ground is crucial for establishing dominance.

Best Heroes for Lijiang Tower

Damage: Pharah (Night Market and Garden), Junkrat (Control Center), Reaper, Genji (Night Market and Garden), Mei

Support: Lucio, Brigitte, Moira, Mercy

Tank: Winston, Reinhardt (Control Center), Zarya, D.Va

Choose another map.

Nepal

Up next is one of the Overwatch maps most tied into the lore of the game. Nepal takes players to the temple where Zenyatta and Genji studied. Village features a small town on the outskirts of the temple. Shrine takes place in the open courtyards of the complex. Sanctum ventures inside the temple itself, evoking the somber seriousness of Zenyatta’s order.

The capture point of Village is one of the most confined spaces on any map in Overwatch. Teams can effectively bunker down in that area once they take control and force enemies to come into that space. As a result, short-range heroes are dominant on Village.

Shrine is an incredibly versatile point where nearly any hero can thrive. Flankers have numerous routes to enemy backlines. Brawl heroes can make use of the abundant cover to close in on their opponents. Aerial heroes have plenty of angles to pepper in damage. Dive and Bunker comps can hold their own in equal measure.

Much like Ilios’ Well, Sanctum features a prominent environmental hazard. A large pit next to the point waits to swallow up unsuspecting victims. Across the pit is a high ground area with columns for cover. Control of this space is vital to any good setup on Sanctum, and teams will often fight for that area before the point unlocks. Sanctum is indoors, but has open sightlines that allow medium-range heroes to take over fights.

Best Heroes for Nepal

Damage: Ashe, Cassidy, Tracer, Echo, Symmetra (Village and Shrine), Mei

Support: Lucio, Moira, Brigitte, Zenyatta (Shrine and Sanctum)

Tank: Reinhardt (Village and Shrine), Roadhog, Zarya, Sigma, D.Va

Choose another map.

Oasis

A glittering metropolis in the heart of the desert, Oasis really nails Overwatch’s futuristic aesthetic. City Center is bustling with activity as hovering cars zoom by and send anyone unlucky enough to be in their path flying. Gardens presents a lush escape from the harshness of the surrounding environment. University sees fights break out in a center of learning.

The capture point for City Center is a round courtyard with a pavilion in the middle for cover. On one side, there is a high ground area accessible via a jump pad. Stalling is very prevalent on City Center, especially with heroes like Lucio and Wrecking Ball. There’s a lot of space to cover here, so mobility is crucial for success.

Gardens is a stock-standard Control map. The high ground around the point is impactful but easy to access. The map is neither wide open nor claustrophobic. Most heroes will be able to find ways to succeed, provided they have a good supporting cast around them.

University is another close-quarters map that tends to favor Brawl comps. Snipers and Bunker comps will struggle here, but Dive can still hold its own. The hole in the center of the point isn’t deadly like Ilios’ Well, but you can still use it to take enemies out of the fight. Expect quick, chaotic fights when you come to University.

Best Heroes for Oasis

Damage: Tracer, Soldier:76, Reaper (University), Hanzo, Genji

Support: Lucio, Mercy, Baptiste, Brigitte

Tank: Reinhardt, D.Va, Sigma, Wrecking Ball (City Center)

Choose another map.

Escort

Maps: Circuit Royal, Dorado, Havana, Junkertown, Rialto, Route 66, Watchpoint: Gibraltar

Unlike Assault and Control, which center around points, Escort gameplay revolves around a payload. The payload is a vehicle that the attackers must guide through the map’s three checkpoints before time runs out. Defenders attempt to stop the payload from moving forward, which is possible by standing in its proximity. Attackers are able to progress through the map by staying by the payload and clearing off any defenders.

Defenders are given 45 seconds to prepare their defense around the payload, after which attackers are released from spawn and are given five minutes to guide the payload to the first checkpoint. Once the first checkpoint is reached, the time bank is increased by 2:30, if the second is reached, an additional 1:30 is added to the clock.

In Competitive games, once the attackers either are stopped or guide the payload to the third and final checkpoint, teams switch sides. In order to win Escort, a team must push the payload further than their opponents. If both teams finish the map, they will attack again and push the payload as far as they can with their remaining time bank. In the case that a team finishes Escort with less than a minute remaining, a minute will be added to both teams’ time banks.

Circuit Royal

The newest map in the Escort pool was released alongside the Overwatch 2 beta. The payload is a racecar for Overwatch’s futuristic Formula Lux series, and its path follows the racetrack through the glittering streets of Monaco. High-end shops and casinos line the way before the payload reaches its final destination in the lobby of a swanky hotel.

The first point of Circuit Royal is very straightforward. The attackers push the payload down a long narrow street before a wide 180° turn brings it to the first checkpoint. There is a high ground bridge for defenders that the payload passes under, but otherwise not much terrain to worry about. Snipers can make great use of the long sightlines down the street, but a stout defense of this point is rather difficult unless it comes at the very end of the point. 

Point B sees the payload climb a steep hill with a tight switchback halfway through. Defenders, especially long-range heroes, can make great use of the natural high ground here. There is a fair amount of cover to help close the gap, but even approaching the point after a lost fight is tough for attackers.

Finally, the map changes dramatically as the payload approaches the last point. High ground control remains crucial with powerful positions on the balconies of the hotel, but overall there is much less room to maneuver. Flanks around the outside of the hotel might be needed to push defenders away from those safe vantage points.

Best Heroes for Circuit Royal

Damage: Widowmaker, Hanzo, Ashe, Echo, Soldier: 76, Tracer

Support: Ana, Baptiste, Brigitte, Lucio

Tank: Doomfist, Zarya, Sigma, Winston

Choose another map.

Dorado

One of Overwatch’s original Escort maps, Dorado takes players into a sleepy fishing village where pinatas and vendor stalls dot the main courtyard. The payload travels up the hills of the town to its futuristic electric power plant inside an imposing ziggurat.

On Point A, defenders will typically take up position on the high ground overlooking the path of the payload. As a result, heroes with vertical mobility are very useful for attackers, and Bunker comps can be effective defensively. If the attackers can force the defense away from those positions, things get much easier. An open courtyard offers plenty of opportunities for flanks and off-angles to pump in damage.

Point B puts high ground at even more of a premium. Defenders have easy access to tall balconies above the payload. Attackers can try to stay directly underneath at certain points, but they will be under constant pressure from above. Dive comps excel in this portion of the map, especially for attackers. The checkpoint is extremely far from the attacker spawn, so don’t be afraid to use all your ultimates to get the payload across the line.

The final section leaves behind the open space of Dorado’s courtyards for the tighter areas of the power plant. Brawl comps can be much more effective in this area, especially for fighting at the very end of the map. High ground remains important for both sides, but it’s much easier for the attackers to reach now. The payload takes up a ton of space in this narrow area, so it can be used for cover by both sides.

Best Heroes for Dorado

Damage: Hanzo, Soldier: 76, Pharah, Genji, Echo, Sombra

Support: Baptiste, Lucio, Kiriko, Mercy

Tank: Winston, D.Va, Sigma, Wrecking Ball

Choose another map.

Havana

On Havana, players find themselves battling through the bright, colorful streets of Cuba’s capital. The tropical feel continues as the payload rolls through a distillery before completing its journey in an imposing cliffside fort.

Point A is a sniper’s paradise. The payload pushes down a long, wide street with relatively little cover. High ground with numerous columns sits at the end, so long-range DPS can have a field day on defense. Dive comps can work well for attackers to counter that type of defense, as can shields. Defenders can often pull off full-holds on Point A, especially if they set up a stout Bunker comp.

Point B is the most claustrophobic on Havana. High ground walkways line the distillery as the payload moves beneath, but attackers have numerous routes to try and disrupt the defenders. Brawl comps excel in this section for both attackers and defenders. Flankers can also easily sneak into the backline for crucial picks.

The final area of the map reverts back to a more open environment. As the payload makes its way up the hill toward the fort, attackers will have to dodge long-range poke without a lot of cover to work with. A single dominant DPS can easily put a stop to even the strongest attacks on Point C. The cliffs around the fort and the bridge to get there offer opportunities for environmental kills as well, so watch your step.

Best Heroes for Havana

Damage: Widowmaker, Ashe, Tracer, Hanzo, Reaper (Point B), Cassidy, Torbjorn (Defense)

Support: Baptiste, Lucio, Brigitte, Moira

Tank: Winston, D.Va, Sigma, Orisa

Choose another map.

Junkertown

Easily one of the most unique Overwatch maps, Junkertown is everything you imagine in a post-apocalyptic wasteland. Players fight amongst rusted-out buildings before being welcomed via PA system by the Junker Queen, a psychopathic bandit leader who wants Junkrat and Roadhog dead.

Point A of Junkertown is unlike any other in Overwatch. Its wide-open space can make positioning a challenge. No map gives snipers more room to work with, and a direct attack is often doomed to fail. Luckily, this might be the best point for Wrecking Ball in the entire game. If a Widowmaker is giving you trouble, the hyper-mobile tank might be the answer on a point that lets him go wild.

The elevated walkways of Junkertown greet the players on Point B. Poke compositions on defense can be devastating with that natural positional advantage. Attackers will either want vertical mobility here, or a coordinated push through the stairs on the right-hand side.

The final section of Junkertown features a rotating high-ground platform at its center. As the payload makes its way around the central pillar, that advantageous position is crucial for both teams to fight over. Most compositions can work here, so just play whatever is most comfortable to you.

Best Heroes for Junkertown

Damage: Ashe, Hanzo, Cassidy, Tracer, Widowmaker (Point A), Reaper (Point B and C)

Support: Ana, Zenyatta, Lucio, Baptiste

Tank: Orisa, Roadhog, D.Va, Sigma, Wrecking Ball

Choose another map.

Rialto

Named after the iconic bridge in Venice, Rialto takes place amongst the city’s world-famous canals. Players will fight through an idyllic plaza and along the waterfront before pushing the payload right into the headquarters of the criminal organization Talon, the main villain group in Overwatch.

The first two points of Rialto enable a wide variety of approaches. Defenses can play basically any style and feel at home. Poke and Bunker comps love the long sightlines. Brawl thrives in the narrow streets and tight corners. Dive can use the high ground to harass from above. Attackers have similar versatility, though Brawl is definitely the most common choice on both sides.

High ground becomes very important on Point B, where attackers must cross a long uncovered bridge just after their spawn. Defenders can harass from a distance with long-range DPS. Environmental kills in the canals are rare but possible, so don’t let your guard down if your opponent can send you flying.

Point C takes teams into the close quarters of the Talon base, but first, the attackers have to push uphill through a chokepoint. Flankers can be incredibly valuable for both sides here, assassinating supports while their teammates are focused on the choke.

Best Heroes for Rialto

Damage: Pharah, Ashe, Soldier: 76, Hanzo, Mei, Torbjorn (Defense)

Support: Lucio, Baptiste, Moira, Brigitte

Tank: Reinhardt, D.Va, Zarya, Orisa, Sigma

Choose another map.

Route 66

Another classic map from the early days of Overwatch, originally the payload contained Echo until she was recovered by Cassidy in her release video. The map is filled with vistas of the American Southwest and really leans into the cowboy aesthetic of Cassidy, Ashe, and the Deadlock Gang.

Point A of Route 66 usually sees defenders holding from the roof of Big Earl’s gas station. The sign provides great cover for medium and long-range heroes, but they are still very susceptible to dives. Both Sigma and Orisa can be great for protecting their DPS and supports in that scenario.

On Point B, the payload wraps around a saloon in the center of the map. High-ground walkways surround much of its path, and defenders can poke out from nearly any angle. Taking space after securing Point A is crucial for attackers to maintain their momentum. If you do get stopped, try going for flanks or using aerial heroes to disrupt the high ground.

The final section of Route 66 delivers the payload to the hideout of the Deadlock Gang. The long, narrow warehouse is a typical final point for Escort. Close-range heroes should be more comfortable and attackers will require a decisive fight to finish the map. Stall picks on defense can buy a ton of time for your teammates to get back into a fight when things go south.

Best Heroes for Route 66

Damage: Cassidy, Genji, Ashe, Echo, Hanzo, Mei

Support: Mercy, Baptiste, Ana, Brigitte

Tank: Reinhardt, Sigma, D.Va, Winston

Choose another map.

Watchpoint: Gibraltar

Formerly the orbital launch base of Overwatch, it was being used as a home for Winston leading up to the events of the Recall animated short. Attackers guide the payload through the map to the launchpad at the end.

On Point A, attackers must guide the payload under the main high ground where defenders typically position. Usually, attackers need to win the fight first before they can effectively push, so they need to focus on contesting that high ground. Dive comps are usually the way to go here, but Lucio can be used to enable comps with other tanks.

Point B takes place in a hangar which houses a large ship serving as the major high ground position. Defenders have easy access to it, especially the top of the ship where they can fire down on attackers below. If defending DPS are uncontested on the high ground, they can take over the game, so tanks like D.Va or Winston are often needed.

The home stretch of Watchpoint: Gibraltar opens things up and makes high ground a little less valuable. As a result, a wider mix of styles is viable for the final fights. Dive can still work, but things like snipers can really make a difference as attackers try to close out the map.

Best Heroes for Watchpoint: Gibraltar

Damage: Widowmaker, Genji, Hanzo, Tracer, Sombra, Soldier: 76

Support: Ana, Baptiste, Mercy, Kiriko

Tank: Winston, D.Va, Sigma

Choose another map.

Hybrid

Maps: Blizzard World, Eichenwalde, Hollywood, King’s Row, Midtown, Numbani, Paraíso

As the name suggests, hybrid maps are a combination of two other Overwatch map types, Assault and Escort. Teams are split into attackers and defenders, with defenders being given 45 seconds to prepare their defense. Exactly like Assault, attackers must first capture the first point within five minutes in order to unlock the remaining portion of the Hybrid map.

The process of taking the first point in Hybrid is identical to how attackers take Point A in Assault. Once the first point is taken, 2:30 is added to the clock. This unlocks the Escort portion of the Hybrid map, and the payload parked in the middle of the objective begins its trek through two checkpoints. Just like Escort, when a defender is contesting the payload, all progress is paused. Until the Attackers are able to clear their opponents off, the payload won’t move.

If the attackers reach the second checkpoint, 1:30 is added to the clock. The round ends when either the attackers complete the map, or the defenders are able to stop the payload. In Competitive games, teams switch sides. If both are able to complete the Hybrid map, they will be given their banked time to get as far as they can.

Blizzard World

As the name suggests, this map is an homage to all of Blizzard’s games over the years in the form of a theme park. Areas dedicated to Warcraft, Diablo, Starcraft, and other titles line the route of the payload as it makes its way through the park.

Blizzard World is an Overwatch map that encourages versatility. A plethora of compositions can be used by both attackers and defenders, and any individual hero can make an impact. High ground is important at times but not strictly necessary like on some other maps.

Both Point A and B are fairly wide open spaces without much in the way of verticality. Mid-range heroes are ideal for much of the first two points, but only if they can keep flankers and brawlers from getting on top of them. Defenders should use what high ground they have, but always be wary of attackers sneaking around the sides of the map.

The final point takes players into a Diablo-themed castle. A large pit forces teams to fight around the edges and funnels them into a head-on brawl. Reinhardt and other close-range heroes are great for punching through at the very end of the map. Ultimate coordination is always key for actually getting the full completion.

Best Heroes for Blizzard World

Damage: Hanzo, Soldier: 76, Tracer, Echo, Torbjorn (Defense), Reaper (Point C)

Support: Baptiste, Moira, Lucio, Mercy

Tank: Reinhardt, D.Va, Sigma, Zarya, Junker Queen

Choose another map.

Eichenwalde

Located in the heart of Germany’s Black Forest, Eichenwalde gives a sense of the scars left by the Omnic Crisis. Here, Reinhardt and his fellow Crusaders made a desperate stand against the machine army, winning the day but at great cost. Players will guide the payload through the long-abandoned town before battering down the doors of Eichenwalde castle.

Point A sees attackers pushing through one main chokepoint with a narrow side passage to the right. Defenders will want to pepper the enemy team with damage to break down shields and force the attackers into an awkward position. Once through the choke, attackers have numerous routes to access the point on the other side of the central tower. Flankers can sneak around the edges for great angles, or you can opt for the head-on approach.

The first payload section offers defenders a massive high-ground advantage from the central fortification. In order to dislodge them, attackers either need a Dive comp or a direct assault from below by climbing the stairs. A long, uncovered bridge makes the final stretch into Point B very difficult to navigate. Defenders spawn close and have the opportunity for environmental kills or devastating high ground flanks.

Once the payload pulverizes the doors to the castle, the map shifts dramatically. Fights become very chaotic in the tight space of Point C, and long-range heroes won’t have the same room to work with. Switching to a Brawl comp is often necessary to finish out the map.

Best Heroes for Eichenwalde

Damage: Ashe, Cassidy, Pharah, Reaper, Mei, Genji (Point A and B)

Support: Moira, Mercy, Lucio, Brigitte

Tank: Reinhardt, Zarya, D.Va, Orisa, Winston (Point B)

Choose another map.

Hollywood

With the iconic sign in the background, Hollywood takes players through the campus of a sprawling movie studio. Complete with a recreation of an old west town, there’s nowhere better for players to live out the fantasy of starring in an action flick. You even get yelled at by the crotchety omnic director in the limo that functions as the payload.

Point A is usually defined by where the defense sets up. They can take the high ground just inside the main chokepoint, a safer location in the cafe behind the point, or engage in a straightforward fight on the ground with the attackers. Bunker comps will excel at the cafe hold, where they can safely sit behind shields and retreat to cover.

The second point takes you through the old west set, where the high ground is extremely important. Two elevators can bring players up top, where Damage heroes especially can control the battlefield. Consider swapping to Dive for this point regardless of which side of the fight you are on.

Once again, the final point brings the fight up close and personal. Long-range heroes still have the long home stretch to fire down, but they can easily be overwhelmed if they don’t land their shots. The high ground offers flank routes for both attackers and defenders, so always have your head on a swivel for Point C.

Best Heroes for Hollywood

Damage: Soldier: 76. Ashe, Hanzo, Mei, Cassidy, Bastion (Defense)

Support: Ana, Baptiste, Lucio, Brigitte

Tank: Reinhardt, Winston, D.Va, Sigma, Junker Queen

Choose another map.

King’s Row

Perhaps the most iconic map in Overwatch, King’s Row has been a favorite for players since the game’s release in 2016. That’s due in part to the map’s gritty London aesthetic, but also because it brings out the best in some of the game’s most popular heroes.

King’s Row is known primarily as a Brawl map. Reinhardt is the main tank you’ll see most often on all three sections of the map, and it’s easy to see why. The map’s narrow streets and tight chokepoints are perfectly suited for his kit. The shield blocks off entire sections of the map, and his hammer can deal insane damage to enemies who get too close.

That’s not to say that other comps aren’t viable, just that they require careful positioning. Dive comps will want to take advantage of the high ground to stay out of reach, and Bunker comps must try to keep their distance.

All three points are generally going to favor close-range heroes, but Point C does create some opportunities for snipers or other ranged damage dealers. Overall, this is a map that rewards the fundamentals of Overwatch: teamwork, positioning, and ult economy.

Best Heroes for King’s Row

Damage: Reaper, Cassidy, Mei, Junkrat, Hanzo, Torbjorn

Support: Lucio, Moira, Brigitte

Tank: Reinhardt, Zarya, Sigma, Junker Queen

Choose another map.

Midtown

The first Hybrid map released with the Overwatch 2 Beta, Midtown puts players in the heart of New York City. Fights occur in and around the iconic sights of NYC, in a subway car, outside a bodega, or even on top of a yellow taxi cab. The payload will ultimately find its way to Grand Central Terminal, a futuristic version of New York’s famous train station.

Point A on Midtown is unlike most other Hybrid maps and reflects some of the design choices for the new game. The main chokepoint is incredibly wide, passing underneath a bridge above with a narrow subway car that players can move through. Routes to the point are numerous, and defenders won’t necessarily know where attackers will come from. The key here is to be flexible and adjust to how the fights play out. 

The second point plays very similarly to the first point of Gibraltar minus the oppressive high ground. The payload path dips down into a tunnel beneath a bridge where the defenders typically hold. Dive comps are great for attackers trying to take control of this crucial area. 

The final point takes teams into the train station to finish the map. Defenders have access to powerful high-ground positions, so again a coordinated dive might be needed to force them away. The final stretch is pretty narrow, and defenders will need to be careful to avoid being pinned back towards the spawn.

Best Heroes for Midtown

Damage: Soldier: 76, Tracer, Genji, Reaper, Echo

Support: Ana, Moira, Brigitte, Lucio

Tank: Winston, Reinhardt, Sigma, Doomfist

Choose another map.

Numbani

Our final Hybrid map is another that came with the game’s original release. Numbani is a highly advanced city in Africa where humans and omnics live together peacefully. That spirit of cooperation is apparent in the relationship between Orisa and her brilliant young creator Efi, a native of Numbani.

In a departure from most other maps, Numbani doesn’t have a singular choke for the attackers to move through on Point A. The entry down the main street is somewhat in that vein, but there are two alternate routes around the left-hand side for attackers. The high ground around the point is incredibly important for defenders to hold, as it gives a relatively safe position from which to rain down damage.

Point B is one that is typically very hard for defenders to hold. There isn’t a ton of natural cover here, and attackers have so many flank routes that it can be hard to track. Dive comps work well to take advantage of the high ground here, but eventually, the fight will have to move to the payload.

The final point is one of the most defensible in all of Overwatch. The spawns for defenders are incredibly close and provide easy ways to retreat for vulnerable members. All types of compositions can find success here, but attackers will need to coordinate well to actually clear the defense off the payload.

Best Heroes for Numbani

Damage: Cassidy, Hanzo, Pharah, Genji, Torbjorn (Defense)

Support: Ana, Zenyatta, Mercy, Baptiste, Kiriko

Tank: Winston, D.Va, Sigma, Orisa

Choose another map.

Paraíso

Paraíso is the game’s second new Hybrid map after Midtown, and made its debut during Overwatch 2’s second beta. Starting near the beach, players work their way through the streets of Rio de Janeiro, escorting a parade float to Lucio’s nightclub at the end of the map. Paraíso is instantly one of Overwatch’s most vibrant, eye-catching maps.

Point A sees the attackers approach via a long, straight corridor with minimal cover. Long-range heroes on both sides will be useful here, but defenders have the high-ground advantage. Most of the point is surrounded by high-ground positions that will be crucial for any defensive setup.

Point B takes the payload through the narrow city streets with tall buildings all around. This section is very similar to Dorado Point B, with vertical mobility being crucial for attackers and defenders alike. Opportunities for flankers are plentiful, so supports need to watch each other’s backs.

The final section of Paraíso takes players into Lucio’s nightclub, where the attackers will attempt to complete the map. The layout is much more straightforward, again resembling Dorado’s last point. The payload makes its way around a central high ground that also gives a route toward the defender’s spawn.

Paraíso calls for a great deal of flexibility. High ground is important throughout, but compositions that want to brawl become quite powerful on the final point. As always, closing out the map can be a challenge, so be sure to save some ultimates for that final push.

Best Heroes for Paraíso

Damage: Genji, Echo, Sojourn, Reaper, Tracer

Support: Kiriko, Lúcio, Mercy, Baptiste

Tank: Winston, D.Va, Doomfist, Sigma

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Push

Maps: Colosseo, Esperança, New Queen Street

Overwatch’s newest map type, Push takes elements of both Control and Escort to make an exciting and dynamic experience. Like Control, Push takes place on a neutral battlefield. Neither team will be designated attack or defense, and the maps are basically symmetrical.

Each team has a barricade that they are trying to move towards the enemy spawn. In order to do so, they must take control of a robot named TS-1 in the same way you do a payload on other maps. If your team controls TS-1, it will start pushing your barricade. If the other team can regain control, it will turn around, leaving your barrier at its furthest point of progress.

The bot moves very quickly when going between the two barriers, but actual progress is relatively slow. Each team has a secondary spawn location that unlocks when you take control of TS-1 and move it past the checkpoint about halfway to the enemy spawn.

Overall, Push is a chaotic game mode that combines many of the great aspects of other Overwatch maps. Fights can take place at any point on the map and enemies can pop out of unexpected locations. Flankers are incredibly valuable, but a properly grouped team can be tough to penetrate.

Colosseo

The first Push map takes place in Rome where players are surrounded by beautiful architecture both new and old. A modern Colosseum runs alongside and features ads for robotic gladiator fights.

TS-1 begins this map in a long narrow corridor before pushing out into an open area overlooked by defender favored high ground. The bot will then push underneath a bridge before winding its way up to cross over and head toward the enemy spawn. 

The high ground in the middle portion of each side is vital for the defenders to control. It gives them great angles to put in damage and take an advantageous fight. Once attackers can push out of the initial corridor, smart teams will push forward to try and take high ground control before the next fight. The choice between moving the barricade and taking those important positions is the delicate balancing act that makes Colosseo so interesting. 

Comps on this map tend to favor the heroes that can either take great advantage of that high ground or contest it easily. Long and medium-range heroes can do the former while flankers and brawlers will want to go for the latter.

Best Heroes for Colosseo

Damage: Soldier: 76, Ashe, Hanzo, Tracer, Genji, Echo

Support: Ana, Baptiste, Lucio, Mercy

Tank: Doomfist, Winston, D.Va, Sigma

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Esperança

Esperança is the game’s third map for the new Push game mode. The only entirely new map released with Overwatch 2, Esperança takes places in an unidentified town in Portugal, and brings a taste of Medieval and Renaissance architecture while still incorporating elements of Overwatch’s futuristic technology.

Unlike the two previous Push maps, Esperança’s highest point is at the center of the map near where the pushbot starts. The barriers are pushed mostly downhill towards either spawn point, meaning that the team on the move often has the high ground.

Esperança is also one of the larger maps to date, but like Colosseo and New Queen Street, it has a number of shortcuts and alternate routes to help you get back from spawn faster. Using those paths to find flanks can be extremely powerful at the right moment, but don’t forget about the objective.

Positioning in general is going to be massively important on Esperança. The map has extensive high-ground positions towards the middle of the map, and controlling that space will be huge. There’s also a good deal of open space you’ll have to cover while moving the payload, so be careful not to get picked off while crossing big gaps in cover.

Best Heroes for Esperança

Damage: Echo, Ashe, Sojourn, Genji, Hanzo, Sombra

Support: Ana, Baptiste, Zenyatta, Kiriko

Tank: Sigma, D.Va, Wrecking Ball, Orisa

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New Queen Street

Like Colosseo, the second Push map features a winding path that gives plenty of opportunity for flanks and shortcuts to catch your enemies off-guard. On New Queen Street, players will push their barricades through the shining streets of Toronto freshly covered in a dusting of snow.

On this map, teams descend down into the central plaza of the city before pushing TS-1 uphill toward the enemy spawn. The path of the payload is essentially a series of tight switchback turns with buildings between each parallel section. As a result, teams trying to stop a push will always have a natural high ground advantage.

If used properly, that positional power can be converted to winning plays with coordinated pushes that surprise the enemies below. The team pushing is rarely going to know exactly where to look, especially if their opponents have mobile heroes pushing on their flanks.

Speaking of heroes, those flankers are going to have a field day on this map. Genji is especially suited for the verticality of New Queen Street, but characters like Tracer and Soldier: 76 can be equally effective. Tanks that can create chaos within the enemy team will work well to make room for their damage dealers to clean up fights.

Best Heroes for New Queen Street

Damage: Genji, Echo, Tracer, Soldier: 76, Sombra, Cassidy

Support: Ana, Baptiste, Lucio, Moira

Tank: Winston, Doomfist, D.Va, Wrecking Ball

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Maps Outside of Rotation

Assault

Maps: Hanamura, Temple of Anubis, Volskaya Industries

Assault is easily the most maligned map type in Overwatch. Fans have long complained about the mode in general with its frequent draws, seemingly endless stalls and one-sided positions. In response, Blizzard removed two of the worst offenders, Paris and Horizon Lunar Colony, from the game’s map pool. Assault has even been removed entirely from Overwatch 2.

Teams are designated as either attackers or defenders in Assault. Also dubbed 2CP due to the two capture points each team must secure, Assault sees the attacking team try to capture two control points – first Point A, and then Point B – before time runs out. Defenders have 45 seconds to set up around Point A. After this window, the attackers are released from spawn and are given four minutes to take Point A.

In order to take a capture point, attackers must both clear the defenders off and stay within the objective. This percentage is paused if a defender is on the point. Both points’ capture percentage is broken down into thirds, often called “ticks.” If a team takes 33% or 66% of the point, their progress will be saved. However, if the defenders clear attackers off the point at 50%, progress will go back down to 33%; a single tick of the point.

Once attackers take Point A, Point B unlocks and three minutes are added to the clock. In Competitive games, once the attackers either take Point B or run out of time, teams switch roles. If both sides finish the Assault map, there will be additional rounds with teams having their remaining time bank left to take both points. They will only receive 30 additional seconds if Point A is taken.

Hanamura

One of the most scenic Overwatch maps, Hanamura is the home of Hanzo and Genji. Beautiful cherry blossoms adorn the courtyard around their family’s imposing complex overlooking the town of Kanezaka below. 

In order to capture Point A, attackers must get through the narrow gate and cross a courtyard to the point. The gate has a small opening at the upper left for attackers, but most of the game’s heroes will have to enter through the chokepoint. Most defenders naturally try to control that area by taking up positions around the courtyard.

Once attackers break through the choke, they can access cover and high ground to either their immediate left or right. Enterprising Symmetra players can get great value out of their Teleporter by skipping the choke entirely. Otherwise, attackers will have to fight tooth and nail for Point A. 

Point B is even more favorable for the defenders. They have an easily accessible high ground position that overlooks the point. To take that space, attackers must push through a very narrow doorway and staircase where they are vulnerable to AoE damage.

Defenders have a wide array of styles available to them. Brawl comps are excellent at holding the narrow chokes. Bunker setups can easily poke from range and keep their backline safe. Even Dive comps are incredibly popular with the importance of high ground.

Attackers are more limited in their options. Brawl can be useful, but Dive comps tend to fare better because they can somewhat bypass the chokepoints.

Best Heroes for Hanamura

Damage: Ashe, Hanzo, Mei, Genji (Attack), Junkrat (Defense), Torbjorn (Defense), Symmetra

Support: Ana, Baptiste, Mercy, Zenyatta

Tank: Reinhardt, D.Va, Orisa, Winston

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Temple of Anubis

Few maps have the history of Temple of Anubis. It was the first map gameplay was ever seen on, way back in 201. It makes great use of iconic imagery from Egyptian ruins and blends them seamlessly with the game’s futuristic look. A massive pyramid, a mix of stone and metal, looms in the background while players fight it out surrounded by ancient statues and relics.

Point A of Anubis gives defenders an incredibly natural and powerful position from which to hold. From an elevated platform, they can see all of the point, as well as the chokepoint where attackers have to enter. Nearly every defense is going to set up in this location, especially if they run the Bunker comps that excel on Anubis. Displacement abilities to knock them from that power position can be incredibly effective here.

Normally, attackers have two major ways to approach the fight on point A. Immediately after making their way through the choke, they can go left or right. The left route will lead to a head-on clash with defenders, but funnels attackers through a narrow entrance to the platform. To the right are stairs that have less cover, but lead to an advantageous high ground position behind the point. Well-coordinated teams could try to go straight to the point with Lucio’s speed boost, but it’s difficult to pull off without losing any members.

Point B takes place in the close confines of the temple itself. A long, straight corridor leads attackers to the point, but there are alternate routes along both sides. Splitting up can put pressure on the defense from multiple angles and create opportunities for your team to move in. Big ultimate combos will often be necessary to actually break through the defense here.

Best Heroes for Temple of Anubis

Damage: Genji, Tracer, Echo, Junkrat, Reaper, Bastion (Defense), Torbjorn (Defense)

Support: Moira, Baptiste, Ana, Brigitte

Tank: Reinhardt, Zarya, Winston, Orisa

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Volskaya Industries

Deep in the frozen heart of Russia, Volskaya houses the factory making giant mechs for combat against the omnics. The snow-covered industrial environment is unlike any other map in Overwatch.

Volskaya has long been seen as one of the better Assualt maps in Overwatch, in part because it isn’t quite as hard on the attackers. The initial chokepoint is split in half by a large truck that makes it easier to navigate than many others. Once through the choke, attackers have a ton of options.

High ground surrounds much of Point A and is pretty easy to access. Defenders will often forgo holding the choke in favor of controlling those areas and firing down onto the point. A room with a mega health pack and stairs to the high ground adjoins the point and can be an important defensive position.

Volskaya allows for a huge range of compositions to be played on both attack and defense. Brawl is great for fighting at the choke. Dive comps can spread out and then converge on a vulnerable target. Bunker comps can take high ground and rain damage from above.

The second point is similarly well-designed. The choke is wide and quite difficult to hold defensively. High ground positions behind the point offer safer vantage points for supports and DPS to find clean sightlines. Attacking heroes that can disrupt that safety can be very effective for taking Point B.

Best Heroes for Volskaya Industries

Damage: Hanzo, Soldier: 76, Tracer, Echo, Cassidy

Support: Ana, Baptiste, Lucio, Zenyatta

Tank: Winston, Wrecking Ball (Attack), Sigma, D.Va

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