If you’ve grinded ranked lobbies in Overwatch 1 or the earliest seasons of Overwatch 2, you’ve probably got a stockpile of legacy competitive points sitting in your account that you’re not sure what to do with. Lots of players get confused when the regular competitive point shop updates and their old legacy balance doesn’t apply to new rewards, leaving them wondering what can you use legacy competitive points overwatch 2 for without wasting them. I’ve been there too: I had almost 12,000 legacy points saved up from 6 seasons of Overwatch 1 ranked, and I almost spent them on a skin for a hero I never play before I did my research. This guide breaks down every valid use for these points, plus tips to make sure you get the most value out of every point you earned through those tough ranked wins.
What Can You Use Legacy Competitive Points for in Overwatch 2? Core Rewards
Legacy competitive points are a separate currency from current seasonal competitive points, so they only work on a specific set of rewards that are tied to older Overwatch content. You won’t find these rewards listed in the regular in-game shop, so you have to know where to look to spend your balance. The main eligible uses for these points are:
You won’t be able to use these points for new hero golden weapons, battle pass tiers, or regular shop skins, so don’t waste time trying to apply them to those items. I made this mistake back in season 3 of Overwatch 2 when I tried to buy a golden weapon for Junker Queen, only to realize she was a new Overwatch 2 hero and my legacy points didn’t count towards her skin. If you’re not sure which heroes qualify, head to your hero gallery, select a hero, and check the golden weapon purchase prompt: it will explicitly state if it accepts legacy points or only current competitive points. Legacy competitive points take hundreds of ranked wins to earn, so wasting them on a hero you don’t play regularly is never a good call.
Is Buying a Golden Weapon With Legacy Points Worth It?
For most players, yes, buying a golden weapon is the best possible use of your legacy points, but there are a few cases where you might want to hold off. Golden weapons are permanent, work with every skin you own for that hero, and are immediately visible to every player in your lobby, so they’re one of the most high-impact cosmetics you can own in the game. If you main a hero from the original Overwatch 1 roster, this purchase will feel rewarding for years to come.
That said, if you almost exclusively play new Overwatch 2 heroes like Kiriko, Junker Queen, or Lifeweaver, you won’t get much use out of a golden weapon for an older hero you never touch. It’s also not a good buy if you swap mains constantly every time the meta shifts, since you might end up stuck with a golden weapon for a hero you stop playing a month later. We recommend only spending legacy points on a hero you have at least 50 hours of playtime on to avoid regret. I spent my first 3000 legacy points on a golden weapon for Mercy, who I’ve mained since 2017, and I’ve never regretted it for a second. I see other players who spent theirs on heroes they played for two weeks during a meta shift, and they always say they wish they’d saved their points instead. So take stock of your play habits before you click purchase.
Hidden Uses for Legacy Competitive Points Most Players Miss
Golden weapons are the most well-known use for these points, but there are a few lesser-known ways to spend them that are worth considering if you already have golden weapons for all your mains. Every year during the Overwatch anniversary event and Archive events, Blizzard usually releases a small selection of legacy exclusive cosmetics that can only be bought with legacy competitive points. These are often old seasonal ranked rewards from Overwatch 1, like the 2018 Top 500 player icons or the original competitive mode victory poses, that you can’t get any other way.
Most players don’t even realize these limited offers exist, so keeping an eye on official Overwatch announcements is the best way to not miss out on exclusive items you can buy with legacy competitive points. These limited drops are only announced a few days in advance, so it’s smart to keep at least 1000 legacy points saved in case something you want pops up. You can also sometimes trade duplicate legacy cosmetics you earn from loot boxes for extra legacy points during anniversary events, which is a great way to pad your balance if you have a lot of unused duplicate items sitting in your collection. Never spend all your legacy points at once if you’re a fan of rare, limited-edition cosmetics, because you never know when Blizzard will drop something you can’t get anywhere else.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Spending Legacy Competitive Points
It’s easy to waste your hard-earned legacy points if you don’t know what to look out for, so there are a few key mistakes you should steer clear of. The first and most common mistake is buying a golden weapon for a hero you barely play, just because you have enough points for it. Even if a hero seems fun right now, if you don’t have a long track record of playing them consistently, you’ll probably end up regretting the purchase down the line.
Another common mistake is assuming legacy points work for all competitive rewards. Lots of players get frustrated when they try to buy a golden weapon for a new Overwatch 2 hero, only to find their legacy balance doesn’t apply. Always check the purchase prompt before you confirm any buy, to make sure it’s using the right currency. A golden weapon will show up in every game you play on that hero, while a spray only appears if you actively use it during a match, so prioritize higher-visibility items first if you’re trying to get the most value for your points. The last mistake is hoarding points forever. Blizzard has retired old in-game currencies before, so there’s a chance legacy points could be phased out entirely in a future update. Set a clear spending plan for your legacy points so you don’t either waste them impulsively or never use them at all.
At the end of the day, legacy competitive points are a reward for all the hours you put into climbing ranked lobbies in earlier Overwatch seasons, so you deserve to get the most value out of them. Now that you know what can you use legacy competitive points overwatch 2 for, you can make a smart choice that fits your playstyle and cosmetic preferences. Whether you splurge on a golden weapon for your main, save up for a limited legacy bundle, or pick up a rare old title, make sure your purchase is something you’ll be happy to show off for years to come. Don’t rush your decision, and don’t let those points sit unused forever – they’re there to be enjoyed.