If you’re a long-time Overwatch fan who carried over progress from the original game, or a new player who’s fallen in love with classic skins like Blackwatch Genji or Academy D.Va, you’ve almost certainly asked: can you get old skins in Overwatch 2? I’ve been playing Overwatch since its 2016 beta launch, and I’ve collected almost 90% of all non-exclusive legacy skins across both OW1 and OW2, so I’ve tested every method of unlocking old cosmetics first-hand. This guide breaks down exactly which old skins are accessible, how to get them, and what mistakes to avoid so you don’t waste time or money chasing impossible items.
Can You Get Old Skins in Overwatch 2: Official Eligible Skin Categories
The short answer is yes, for most skins, but not all. Blizzard has clear rules for which old Overwatch 1 and early OW2 skins can be unlocked after their original release window, and which are locked forever for existing owners only. Before you start hunting for a specific skin, you first need to know which category it falls into.
Non-limited base game skins from Overwatch 1 are permanently available for all players. This includes every common, rare, epic and legendary skin that was in the base OW1 loot pool, not tied to any event or promotion. You don’t have to wait for a specific event to grab these, they’re available year-round. If you already owned these skins in OW1, they will automatically appear in your OW2 collection for free as long as you use the same Battle.net account, no extra steps required.
Limited event skins from past Overwatch events (like Halloween Terror, Winter Wonderland, or Anniversary) are eligible for re-release, but only during their corresponding event or special community promotions. These skins are not available in the regular shop year-round, but they cycle back on a predictable schedule for the most part.
A small set of old skins are permanently unavailable, no matter what method you use. These include:
- Limited-time charity skins, such as the Pink Mercy skin released for breast cancer awareness fundraising
- Pre-order exclusive skins for Overwatch 1, including the Noire Widowmaker skin
- BlizzCon exclusive event skins only available to in-person or virtual ticket holders
- Competitive mode top 500 and rank-exclusive rewards from past Overwatch 1 competitive seasons
Blizzard has repeatedly stated they will never re-release these exclusive skins to respect the original players who earned or purchased them during their limited window, so don’t waste time looking for workarounds for these items.
Proven Methods to Unlock Old Overwatch 2 Skins Legally
Once you confirm the skin you want is eligible for re-release, there are several reliable ways to unlock it without risking your account. I’ve used all of these methods myself to build my collection, so I can confirm they work for both free-to-play and paid Battle Pass holders.
The easiest method for non-limited legacy skins is to purchase them directly from the hero gallery with in-game coins. Legendary legacy skins cost 1000 coins, epic skins cost 250 coins, and lower rarity skins cost even less. You can earn 60 coins per week just by completing all weekly challenges, plus 500 extra coins for finishing the free track of each seasonal Battle Pass, so you don’t have to spend real money to unlock these skins if you’re willing to be patient. I saved up enough coins over three seasons to grab four different legendary OW1 skins without spending a cent.
For limited event skins, wait for their corresponding annual event to roll around. Every October, for example, the Halloween Terror event brings back every past Halloween skin ever released, all available for purchase with coins or Overwatch Coins (the premium currency) for the full three weeks of the event. The annual Anniversary event, usually held in May, is the best time to hunt for old skins, because it brings back almost all non-exclusive limited event skins from every past event in one go. During Anniversary events, Blizzard often sells classic OW1 loot boxes that can drop any legacy skin, even limited event ones, for a much lower cost than buying them individually. I got 12 rare old skins from 20 loot boxes during the 2023 Anniversary event, which saved me over 10,000 coins compared to buying each skin separately.
You can also grab random old skins from the weekly shop rotation. Every Tuesday, the OW2 shop adds two legacy skin bundles to the featured section, usually a mix of event and base game skins. These bundles often come with extra cosmetics like emotes or voice lines, and sometimes are discounted by 20-30% compared to buying the items individually.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Hunting for Old Skins
It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of chasing a rare skin, but there are a lot of scams and bad choices that can cost you money or even get your account banned. I’ve seen dozens of players make these mistakes, so make sure you avoid them.
The biggest mistake is buying skins from third-party sellers or account sharing sites. Any site that claims to sell you a Pink Mercy skin or Noire Widowmaker skin is a scam, full stop. Blizzard does not allow players to trade or sell skins individually, and any account that is found purchasing items from third parties will be permanently banned. If a deal for a rare old skin seems too good to be true, it absolutely is, don’t hand over your account details or credit card info to these sites.
Another common mistake is holding off on buying a limited skin when it’s available, assuming it will come back soon. While most event skins return annually, some get pulled from rotation for years at a time for licensing or creative reasons. I waited three years for the 2019 All-Star Genji skin to come back, and I know players who have been waiting even longer for specific early event skins. If the skin you want is currently in the shop and eligible for purchase, grab it if you have the coins saved, you never know when it will come back.
Don’t waste your coins on random new skins just because they’re in the shop if you’re saving for a specific old skin. It’s easy to get tempted by a flashy new seasonal skin, but if your main goal is building a legacy collection, set a budget for new skins and put the rest of your coins aside for when your target old skin comes back. I set a rule for myself that I only spend coins on new skins if I have enough left over for the next two potential legacy skin releases I’m waiting for, and it’s saved me from missing out on several rare drops.
Tips to Maximize Your Old Skin Collection on a Budget
You don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars on Overwatch Coins to build an impressive old skin collection. I’ve spent less than $50 total on cosmetics across both games, and I have almost every eligible legacy skin, so these budget tips absolutely work.
Prioritize weekly challenges to maximize your free coin income. Even if you only play a few hours a week, you can complete most of the easy weekly challenges (like winning 5 games of quick play or getting 20 elims as a damage hero) without too much effort. If you miss a few challenges one week, don’t stress, even 30-40 coins a week adds up fast over the course of a season.
Follow official Overwatch social media accounts and sign up for Battle.net notifications to get alerts for surprise legacy skin drops or free skin promotions. Several times a year, Blizzard runs Twitch Drop campaigns where you can earn free old event skins just by watching participating Overwatch 2 streamers for a few hours. I got the rare Winter Wonderland Mei skin last year for free just by having a stream open in the background while I worked.
Enable cross-progression on all your devices if you play on multiple platforms, so any skins you unlock on PC will also be available on console, and vice versa. You don’t have to repurchase skins for each platform, and any progress you make on weekly challenges carries over across devices, so you can grind challenges on your commute if you play on Switch or mobile to hit your coin goals faster.
Finally, don’t stress if you miss a skin drop. The Overwatch 2 dev team has stated they plan to continue cycling old skins back into the shop for the foreseeable future, so even if you miss a skin this year, it will almost certainly come back eventually. Focus on the skins you use most for your favorite heroes first, instead of trying to collect every single skin right away.
At the end of the day, the answer to can you get old skins in Overwatch 2 is a resounding yes for almost all non-exclusive items, as long as you’re willing to be patient and use official, legal methods. Don’t fall for scams, save your coins for the skins you really want, and keep an eye out for event returns and surprise promotions, and you’ll build a legacy collection you’re proud of in no time. I still get excited when a skin I’ve been waiting for pops up in the shop, and that feeling of finally unlocking a rare old skin never gets old.