If you’ve booted up Overwatch 2 after a few months away, or you’re a brand new player confused about how account growth works, you’ve probably asked can you still level up in Overwatch 2 at some point. A lot of players remember the original Overwatch level system where you’d get a loot box every time you ranked up, and assumed that feature went away entirely when the game switched to free-to-play. The short answer is yes, but it works very differently from the old system most long-time fans remember. This guide breaks down exactly how leveling works right now, what you get for ranking up, and how you can make the grind as painless as possible.
Can You Still Level Up in Overwatch 2? Breaking Down the Current System
When Overwatch 2 first launched in 2022, Blizzard removed visible account levels entirely, which frustrated thousands of long-time players who wanted to show off how much time they’d invested in the franchise. After months of consistent community feedback, the team brought back visible account levels in Season 6, alongside a revamped progression system that’s still active today. You earn account XP for every match you complete, regardless of what game mode you play, and you’ll rank up once you hit a set XP threshold for your current level.
Your player level is now displayed on your career profile and player card by default, so you can choose to show it off to teammates and opponents, or hide it in your settings if you prefer. XP gains are calculated based on a few core factors: match length, whether you won or lost, the number of medals you earn for in-game performance, and any active bonuses you have active. Unlike the original game, there’s no level cap, so you can keep ranking up indefinitely for as long as you play.
It’s important to note that account level is completely separate from both your competitive skill rank and your battle pass progress. You won’t gain competitive rank from account leveling, and battle pass XP doesn’t count towards your account level, though many daily and weekly challenges give you progress for both systems at the same time.
Top Ways to Earn XP Faster and Level Up Efficiently
If you’re looking to rank up your account as quickly as possible, you don’t have to spend 8 hours a day grinding competitive matches. There are a few simple tricks to maximize your XP gain per hour, without burning out on the game. I’ve tested all of these methods personally while grinding for my level 600 milestone, and they cut my total grind time by almost 30% compared to just playing random matches. Keep these tips in mind any time you log on:
- Prioritize your First Win of the Day bonus every time you log on: it gives you a 1,500 XP boost on your first win across any game mode, which is equal to roughly 2 full quick play matches worth of XP. Even if you only have 15 minutes to play, grabbing this bonus is worth your time.
- Play group queues with friends: you get a 20% XP boost for every match you play in a group of 2 or more players, no matter what mode you pick. This adds up extremely fast over multiple play sessions, and it makes the grind way more fun than playing solo.
- Stick to quick play or arcade modes for faster matches: competitive matches often take 10-15 minutes longer than quick play, and you don’t get a big enough XP bonus for wins to make up for the extra time spent per match. Arcade modes like Total Mayhem or Team Deathmatch are even faster, with most matches wrapping up in under 10 minutes.
- Complete weekly and daily battle pass challenges: many challenges give you both battle pass XP and account XP, so you’ll progress two systems at once while you knock out simple tasks like winning 3 matches as support or getting 20 final blows as a damage hero.
A lot of players make the mistake of grinding only competitive matches to level up, but you’re almost always better off sticking to faster, more casual modes if your only goal is to raise your account level. You’ll have more fun, too, which means you’re less likely to step away from the game entirely before hitting your level goal. If you do get bored of quick play, rotating through seasonal arcade modes is a great way to mix things up while still earning consistent XP.
What Rewards Do You Get for Leveling Up in Overwatch 2?
It’s true that you don’t get loot boxes for leveling up anymore, since Overwatch 2 switched to a battle pass and shop model for cosmetics. That doesn’t mean there are no rewards for ranking up, though, and many of the level-linked rewards are far more exclusive than paid shop skins. Exclusive player titles are the biggest reward for hitting level thresholds: level 50 gives you the “New Blood” title, level 100 gives “Seasoned Player”, level 500 gives “Veteran”, level 1000 gives “Legend”, and higher thresholds have even rarer, color-coded titles that only a tiny percentage of players have unlocked.
I recently hit level 600 on my main account, and the purple “Veteran” title that unlocked got more compliments from teammates in a week than any of my paid battle pass skins ever have. You also get progression badges that display on your player card for every 100 levels you gain, so other players can see how much experience you have at a glance. If you played the original Overwatch, your old account level was carried over to Overwatch 2, so all the time you put into the first game still counts towards your current level milestones.
Some seasonal events also add limited-time level-linked rewards, like special sprays, player icons, or even currency bonuses for hitting certain levels during the event run time. These rewards are usually only available for the duration of the event, so it’s worth checking the event details page whenever a new seasonal event drops to see if there are extra leveling rewards up for grabs.
Common Myths About Overwatch 2 Leveling Debunked
Since the leveling system changed so much from the original game, there’s a lot of misinformation floating around about how it works and whether it’s even worth grinding. Let’s bust some of the most common myths I see posted in forums and community groups all the time. First, a lot of players think that leveling up gives you better matchmaking, but that’s completely false. Your account level has zero impact on who you get matched with in any game mode. Matchmaking is based entirely on your hidden skill rating for each role, so a level 1000 player who only plays casual quick play might have a much lower skill level than a level 50 player who grinds competitive every day.
Another common myth is that you can buy levels with real money. There’s no way to purchase account XP or levels directly, all progression is earned through playing the game. The only thing you can buy with real money is battle pass tiers, which are completely separate from your account level. That means rare level-locked titles are 100% earned, so they feel way more special than paid cosmetics. One common myth that’s actually true is that leaving matches early kills your XP gain: you get zero XP for any match you leave before the final score screen appears, so it’s always worth sticking out even a losing match to grab the XP. If you leave too many matches early, you’ll also get a temporary leaver penalty that blocks you from queuing for matches for a few minutes.
The last myth I see all the time is that leveling is only for sweats who play 24/7. That’s not true at all. Even casual players who play a couple matches a day can hit level 100 in a couple months, especially if they take advantage of the first win of the day bonus and group queues. I have a friend who only plays 2-3 arcade matches a night with their kid, and they hit level 200 last month without even trying to grind.
At the end of the day, if you’re still asking can you still level up in Overwatch 2, the answer is a resounding yes, and it’s more accessible than ever for all types of players. Whether you’re grinding for a rare title, want to show off how much time you’ve put into the game, or just like having a clear progression goal to work towards as you play, the current leveling system has something for you. You don’t have to turn the game into a second job to hit your level goals, either – a few small tweaks to how you play, like grabbing your first win of the day every time you log on and playing with friends, can cut your grind time in half. Next time you boot up the game, keep these tips in mind, and you’ll hit your next level milestone before you know it.