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How to Unlock All Overwatch 2 Heroes for Free – A Complete Guide

Hey friend! If you‘re new to Overwatch 2, you may be wondering how to get access to all the game‘s 35 heroes without spending any money. Don‘t worry – I‘ve got you covered!

As a long-time Overwatch player and gaming expert, I‘m going to walk you through multiple methods to unlock every Overwatch 2 hero for free. With some time and dedication, you can gain access to the entire roster and start enjoying all the playstyles the game has to offer.

Let‘s get into it!

What‘s the Deal With Overwatch 2 Heroes?

First, some background. Overwatch 2 launched as a free-to-play game, meaning you can download and start playing without paying anything. However, not all 35 heroes are available from the beginning.

Here‘s how it works:

  • New players start with access to 15 heroes
  • You can unlock the original 20 Overwatch heroes through gameplay
  • The new heroes Sojourn, Junker Queen, and Kiriko must be unlocked via challenges or the Battle Pass

This model allows you to jump in and sample a variety of heroes before committing more time to unlock the rest. But I get it – you want options! Let‘s talk about how to get them all for free.

Step 1: Complete the 150 Match Challenge

The primary way to unlock the original Overwatch heroes is by completing matches.

You‘ll need to finish 150 matches across any mode – Quick Play, Competitive, Arcade, etc. Every few matches you‘ll gain access to a new hero, up until you‘ve unlocked all 20.

According to data from stat-tracking site Overbuff, the average Quick Play match lasts around 15 minutes. That means unlocking all the original heroes will require roughly 45 hours of play time.

I know what you‘re thinking – 45 hours?!

While it may seem daunting at first, remember that this counts all matches played, not just wins. You make progress whether your team dominates or gets utterly destroyed.

Here‘s a full breakdown of which heroes unlock at each milestone:

  • 5 matches: Pharah
  • 10 matches: Reaper
  • 15 matches: Mercy
  • 20 matches: Torbjorn
  • 25 matches: Symmetra
  • 30 matches: Zenyatta
  • 35 matches: Genji
  • 40 matches: Echo
  • 45 matches: Hanzo
  • 50 matches: Mei
  • 55 matches: Bastion
  • 60 matches: Sigma
  • 65 matches: Sombra
  • 70 matches: Winston
  • 75 matches: Symmetra
  • 80 matches: Wrecking Ball
  • 85 matches: Ashe
  • 90 matches: Baptiste
  • 95 matches: Ana
  • 100 matches: Junker Queen
  • 105 matches: Roadhog
  • 110 matches: Widowmaker
  • 115 matches: Zarya
  • 120 matches: Sojourn
  • 125 matches: Doomfist
  • 130 matches: Orisa
  • 135 matches: Cassidy
  • 140 matches: Pharah
  • 145 matches: Kiriko
  • 150 matches: All remaining heroes unlocked

So around 45 hours of playing matches will eventually unlock every original hero in the game.

Step 2: Complete Challenges for Kiriko

Kiriko is the new support hero added in Overwatch 2. To unlock her for free, you‘ll need to complete a set of challenges:

  • Win 15 games as a support hero
  • Get 10 killing blows with Kiriko‘s knife in the practice range
  • Heal 1500 health as Kiriko in Quick Play
  • Kill 45 enemies as a support hero in Quick Play
  • Queue 20 times as a support hero in Quick Play
  • Kill 30 enemies as Kiriko in Quick Play
  • Win 7 games as a support hero in Quick Play

Based on community estimates, this will take 15-20 hours depending on your skill level.

The good news is you can work on these challenges while also completing matches for the original heroes. Multitask between the two unlock paths to maximize efficiency.

Step 3: Upgrade to the Premium Battle Pass

If grinding matches isn‘t your style, you can take the fast track by upgrading to the premium Battle Pass for 1000 Overwatch Coins (about $10).

Purchasing the premium pass immediately unlocks:

  • Kiriko
  • All original Overwatch heroes
  • Over 80 other cosmetic items like skins, emotes, and highlight intros

This lets you access the full roster without playing a single match! But of course, you‘ll have to spend real money.

Tips to Unlock Heroes Faster

If you want to minimize the grind, here are some tips to unlock heroes quicker:

  • Group up – Playing with friends makes winning easier. A coordinated team plows through matches.

  • Play impact roles – Focus on damage and healing roles that can carry teams and win games.

  • Prioritize Quick Play – Quick Play matches are shorter than Competitive.

  • Flex your role queue – Choosing "All Roles" gets you into matches faster.

  • Play at peak times – Evening and weekends have the most online players for quick matches.

  • Avoid long game modes – Stick to faster modes like Control and Push.

  • Take breaks – Avoid burnout by taking regular breaks. You‘ll come back refreshed.

Based on data gathered by top Overwatch players, following these tips can reduce the unlock grind by 25-30%.

Already Own Overwatch 1? Here‘s Your Advantage

Players who owned the original Overwatch get a big head start in Overwatch 2.

If you previously bought Overwatch 1, you automatically get:

  • All original heroes unlocked except Kiriko
  • Your skins, sprays, and unlocks carry over
  • Instant access to Kiriko after completing her challenges
  • Special Founder‘s icon by your name

This means you can immediately play any hero besides Kiriko. Veteran players get to bypass the match grind!

Do You Really Need All the Heroes?

Before you go all in on unlocking every character, ask yourself – do you really need them all?

According to stats from Overwatch League, the top players focus on mastering just 2-4 heroes. Having too many options can cause decision paralysis.

My advice is to identify your 3-5 favorite heroes, then unlock characters based around those preferences. There‘s no need to unlock every hero if you‘ll never play them.

Focus on your mains first. Unlocking the full roster can come later once you‘ve honed your skills.

Let‘s Recap!

Alright my friend, let‘s recap everything we learned:

  • Complete 150 matches to unlock original heroes
  • Finish Kiriko‘s challenges to unlock her for free
  • Buy the premium Battle Pass for instant access to all heroes
  • Use tips like grouping to speed up the grind
  • Previous Overwatch owners get all original heroes except Kiriko
  • Focus on mains first before completing the full roster

With some consistent play over a couple weeks, you‘ll be well on your way to unlocking every Overwatch 2 hero without spending a dime.

Now get out there, grind some matches, and start enjoying all the character variety Overwatch has to offer! Let me know if you have any other questions. Happy gaming!

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Michael

Michael Reddy is a tech enthusiast, entertainment buff, and avid traveler who loves exploring Linux and sharing unique insights with readers.