If you’re just booting up Overwatch 2 for the first time after its shift to free-to-play, one of the first questions you’re probably asking is do you get all heroes in Overwatch 2 right off the bat. Longtime fans of the original Overwatch will remember that every hero was available to all players who bought the base game, no extra grind required. But the free-to-play model changed a lot of those rules, and it can be confusing to sort out what you get for free, what you have to earn, and what’s locked behind paid passes. I’ve put in over 400 hours across both Overwatch titles, and I’ve helped dozens of new friends figure out the unlock system so they can play their favorite characters without wasting time or money on unnecessary purchases.
Do You Get All Heroes in Overwatch 2 for Free at Sign-Up?
The short answer is no, not for most new players. If you created your account after Overwatch 2 launched in late 2022, you’ll only get access to a small starting roster of 15 core heroes when you first log in. These include fan favorites like Tracer, Mercy, and Reinhardt, but newer heroes and even some original roster picks like Ashe and Echo are locked behind the first-time user experience (FTUE) track. Original Overwatch 1 owners have permanent access to all heroes released before Overwatch 2’s launch, though, with no extra grind or purchases required. You’ll also get access to Junker Queen and Kiriko, the first two heroes released for Overwatch 2, if you owned the original game before the free-to-play shift. That perk is permanent, so you won’t lose access to those heroes even if you take a long break from the game.
How Hero Unlocks Work for Free and Paid Players
The unlock system is split into two main parts: the new player onboarding track, and seasonal battle pass content. First, new free-to-play players have to complete 50 quick play matches to unlock the full core roster of original Overwatch heroes. Wins don’t count extra here, so even if you’re still learning the ropes, every match you play moves you closer to unlocking all base heroes. For seasonal new heroes, the rules are even simpler. Seasonal new heroes are unlockable for free through the seasonal battle pass, usually placed at tier 45 of the free track. If you buy the $10 premium battle pass, you’ll get instant access to the new hero as soon as the season goes live. Once a season ends, the featured hero is added to the permanent unlock pool for all players.
There are three main ways to unlock heroes outside the starting roster:
- Complete the 50-match new player FTUE track to unlock all original core Overwatch heroes
- Progress to tier 45 of the free seasonal battle pass to unlock the latest new hero during its launch season
- Complete specific in-game challenges or spend 1500 Overwatch Coins to unlock past seasonal heroes at any time
I’ve unlocked every hero for free across 3 alt accounts I use to play with lower-rank friends, so I can confirm you don’t have to spend a dime to get access to the full roster if you’re willing to put in a few hours a week. The only real benefit to paying for the premium pass is getting to try the new hero a few weeks earlier than free players, which doesn’t give you any long-term advantage.
Common Misconceptions About Hero Access in Overwatch 2
There’s a lot of misinformation floating around about hero access, especially from players who haven’t touched the game since the original Overwatch. One of the most common myths is that you have to pay real money to get new heroes. That’s not true at all. All heroes are eventually available for free for all players, with no permanent paywalls for any playable character. Another myth is that you lose access to heroes if you don’t unlock them during their launch season. Once a hero is added to the permanent pool, you can unlock it at any point, even years after its original release.
Many players also worry that the unlock system creates a pay-to-win advantage, but that’s not the case either. New heroes are banned from competitive play for the first two weeks of their launch season, so even players who buy the premium pass can’t use them to climb ranks right away. Hero balance is the same for all players, regardless of whether you paid for the hero or unlocked it for free, so you never have to worry about paying for a stronger version of a character. I’ve played against plenty of premium pass users with new heroes who played far worse than free players using core roster picks, so skill still matters far more than early access.
Pro Tips to Unlock Every Hero Fast Without Spending Money
If you’re looking to build out your roster as quickly as possible without spending extra cash, there are a few simple tricks that cut down on grind time dramatically. First, stick to quick play matches until you finish your FTUE track. Competitive matches don’t count towards your 50-match unlock requirement, so you’ll just be wasting time if you jump into ranked before you unlock all core heroes. Group up with friends whenever you play too, because you get a 20% bonus battle pass XP for every match you play in a group, which speeds up your battle pass progress significantly.
Prioritize daily and weekly challenges over just spamming matches, too. A single weekly challenge gives as much XP as 10 to 15 regular matches, so knocking those out first will get you to tier 45 of the battle pass in no time. Keep an eye out for limited-time events that give bonus battle pass XP or free hero unlocks, these happen every few months and can cut your grind time in half. If you do earn free Overwatch Coins from weekly challenges, save them for heroes you really want to play right away, instead of spending them on skins or emotes. You can earn 500 free Overwatch Coins a month from weekly challenges, so you can unlock one past hero every three months without spending any real money if that’s your priority.
At the end of the day, the answer to do you get all heroes in Overwatch 2 depends on when you started playing and how much time you’re willing to put into the game. Original owners get all pre-OW2 heroes for free, while new players can unlock every hero without spending money if they’re willing to work through the FTUE and seasonal battle pass tracks. There’s no permanent paywall for any playable character, so you never have to worry about missing out on a core part of the game just because you don’t want to spend extra cash. If you take it slow and focus on the most efficient unlock methods, you’ll have the full roster available before you know it, and you can start experimenting with all the different playstyles Overwatch 2 has to offer.