Overwatch 2 now has a brand-new progression system with the Season 6 update, which addresses criticisms many had about the sequel. It’s not as straightforward as the leveling system from the first game, so here’s what the new Overwatch 2 hero progression is and how it works.
What is the new Overwatch 2 hero progression?
This new player progression is meant to show how players play at a glance. And to do that, Blizzard Entertainment has assigned badges to different heroes, modes, and general roles. So if someone has spent a long time playing Reaper, is great at landing power slide kills as Sojourn and loves to play quick play, that will all be represented by how far those badges have been leveled up. These can all be easily seen on any player’s profile.
That summary is derived from the many badges associated with each hero, mode, and role that can all be leveled up. For example, using the previous example, every kill players get power sliding as Sojourn will rank up that specific badge. There are many badges and different aspects to rank up that can be general (like racking up wins) or quite specific (like getting doing damage with Sojourn’s Disruptor Shot). You can also check your progress on each of the badges in the Progression part of the main menu.
Ranking up can unlock a whole host of player icons, name cards, and player titles. For example, hitting an overall level of four for Ramattra will unlock a player icon with his face. So while the badges give players short-term intrinsic rewards by showing them different experience bars going up, the assorted icons are the extrinsic rewards. Progress on these icons can be found in the Hero section of the Challenges part of the main menu.
Leveling up badges makes the player’s overall progression level goes up, which is shown by the bronze hexagon in the above picture. Deeper levels will likely change the shape and color of the icon, but it symbolizes what the overall progression rank of the player in question is, giving a more general indicator of how much Overwatch 2 they have played since the Season 6 update.
OW2 Hero Progression FAQ
A: Overwatch 2 introduced a new player progression system in the Season 6 update that uses badges to represent a player’s experience with different heroes, modes, and roles. Instead of the straightforward leveling system from the original game, players now level up badges associated with specific activities, such as playing a certain hero or achieving specific in-game feats. This allows others to see a player’s playstyle and achievements at a glance by viewing their profile.
A: Leveling up badges not only showcases a player’s proficiency and preferences in the game but also rewards them with icons, name cards, and titles. For instance, reaching an overall level of four for Ramattra will unlock a player icon featuring his face. These badges offer short-term intrinsic rewards as players see their experience bars increase, while icons and other aesthetic rewards serve as extrinsic rewards. Players can track their progress in the Hero section of the Challenges part of the main menu.
A: The overall player progression level is indicated by icons, initially shown as a bronze hexagon. As players advance and level up their badges, this icon’s shape and color will evolve, offering a broad indicator of how much they’ve played and progressed in Overwatch 2 since the Season 6 update.
