If you’re just downloading Overwatch 2 for the first time or coming back after a years-long break, one of the first questions you’ll probably have is are all characters free in Overwatch 2. The original Overwatch let you access every hero right after buying the base game, but the switch to free-to-play in 2022 changed a lot of those rules, and regular updates have shifted unlock requirements even more over time. I’ve put over 400 hours into Overwatch 2 across both casual and competitive lobbies, so I’m breaking down exactly what you get for free, what you’ll have to work for, and if paying for extra content is worth it for your playstyle.
Are All Characters Free in Overwatch 2 for New and Returning Players?
The short answer is no, not every character is available immediately when you make a new free account, but there are no permanently paywalled heroes in the game right now. New players who never owned the original Overwatch start with a curated roster of 15 heroes spanning tank, damage, and support roles, designed to ease them into the game without overwhelming them with 38 different ability kits to learn at once. I’ve had friends who picked up the game last year and were confused when they couldn’t select Lifeweaver in their first quick play match, and this staggered unlock system is the reason why.
If you owned the original Overwatch before the 2.0 launch in October 2022, you get a huge perk when you log into Overwatch 2 for the first time. Returning Overwatch 1 owners never have to unlock the base roster of 35+ heroes — all of them are available immediately, no challenges or grinding required. The only heroes you’ll have to unlock are the ones released after the 2.0 launch, like Kiriko, Junker Queen, Lifeweaver, and Venture.
It’s important to note that no hero is ever locked behind a permanent paywall, even if they were first released as part of a premium battle pass. There are no permanently paywalled heroes in Overwatch 2 as of 2024, so you will never have to spend real money to get access to any hero you want to play. Paid options only let you unlock heroes faster, they don’t give you exclusive access to content that free players can’t earn through gameplay.
How to Unlock Locked Overwatch 2 Heroes for Free
Unlocking heroes for free is far easier than most new players expect, and you don’t have to grind for 100 hours just to get the hero you want to main. New players first progress through the First Time User Experience (FTUE) track, which unlocks one base hero at a time as you complete matches and simple account challenges. Most casual players finish unlocking the full base roster in 30 to 40 hours of play, which works out to a few weeks of playing 2 to 3 hours a week.
For post-launch heroes that were originally part of past battle passes, you can unlock them through the hero gallery challenge track that’s available year-round with no time limits. Each past hero has 5 to 6 role-specific challenges that you can complete at your own pace, no battle pass purchase required. For example, to unlock Kiriko, you just need to complete support-focused tasks like healing 10,000 damage across matches or winning 8 games as a support hero.
There are multiple free paths to unlock every hero in the game, depending on your play style and how much time you put in each week:
You can track your progress for all hero unlocks directly in the in-game hero gallery, so you never have to guess how close you are to getting the character you want. If you only play a few hours a week, you can knock out the challenges for a single post-launch hero in 10 to 15 hours of casual play, which is way less time than grinding through a full past battle pass.
Paid Options to Unlock Overwatch 2 Characters Faster
If you don’t want to wait to unlock a specific hero you want to main for competitive play, there are a few paid routes you can take to skip the grind. None of these options give you a competitive advantage over free players, they just cut down the time you have to spend completing challenges to get access to a hero.
The most popular paid option is the premium battle pass, which costs $10 USD per season. When you buy the premium pass during a new hero’s launch season, you unlock the new hero immediately at tier 1, plus you get access to exclusive skins, emotes, and in-game coins as you level up the pass. The premium battle pass costs $10 USD, and you can earn enough in-game coins from weekly challenges to buy the next season's pass for free if you play consistently. I’ve done this for the last 4 seasons straight without spending any extra real money beyond my first battle pass purchase.
If you only want to unlock one specific past hero and don’t care about other battle pass cosmetics, you can buy individual heroes directly from the in-game shop for 1000 Overwatch coins, which also equals $10 USD. This is a good option if you missed a hero’s launch season and don’t want to complete their challenge track, but it’s rarely worth the cost for casual players. Blizzard has confirmed they will never add pay-to-win heroes to Overwatch 2, so you never have to worry about paying to get a hero that’s stronger than the free options available to everyone.
So, before you spend money on a hero unlock, ask yourself if you really need access to that hero right away. Most players can unlock any past hero for free in less than a month of casual play, so paying $10 is only worth it if you play competitive regularly and need that hero for your team comp right now.
Common Restrictions to Know for Free Overwatch 2 Characters
Even when you unlock a hero for free, there are a few temporary restrictions you might run into, especially if you play competitive ranked modes. These rules are designed to keep matches fair for all players, and they apply to both paid and free players equally.
First, all new heroes are locked from competitive play for the first two weeks of their launch season, regardless of if you paid for the premium battle pass or unlocked them for free. This gives Blizzard time to fix any balance issues with the new hero, and it stops players from picking a hero they don’t know how to play and ruining ranked matches for their team. I’ve seen a lot of new players get frustrated with this rule, but it actually makes competitive play far more consistent and fair for everyone.
You can't use locked heroes in competitive ranked modes, but you can test them out in quick play, custom games, and practice range even if you haven't unlocked them permanently. This is a great way to test out a hero’s ability kit and see if you enjoy playing them before you spend time completing their unlock challenges. I always test new heroes in quick play for a week before I even start working on their unlock challenges, so I don’t waste time on a hero I end up not liking.
There’s also one small restriction for free accounts that don’t have a phone number linked to their Battle.net profile. These accounts have limited access to certain heroes in competitive play to reduce smurfing and cheating, so make sure you link a valid phone number to your account to remove all restrictions as soon as you make your account. Any hero you unlock is permanently yours, even if you take a break from the game for months or years, so you never have to worry about losing access to characters you worked hard to unlock.
At the end of the day, the question of are all characters free in Overwatch 2 has a pretty positive answer for most players. While you won't get every hero right when you make a new account, there are no heroes you can only get by paying real money, and the unlock requirements are loose enough that casual players can unlock every hero they want without grinding nonstop. If you're a new player, take your time testing out the starter roster first to figure out which roles you enjoy most, then work on unlocking the heroes that fit your playstyle. If you're a returning player, you likely already have access to almost every hero in the game without spending any extra cash. No matter how you choose to unlock characters, you'll never have to pay to compete on an even playing field with other players. The free-to-play model for Overwatch 2 is far more fair than a lot of other competitive shooters, and you can easily get hundreds of hours of fun out of the game without spending a single cent on heroes.