Surprising Overwatch 2 Hero Dominates Season 14 Hazard Meta

Overwatch 2 has seen an intriguing development in Season 14, where unexpected dynamics have emerged within gameplay strategies, particularly linked to the introduction of a new tank character. One hero, in particular, has gained substantial traction amid the aggressive Hazard meta, indicating a potential shift in player preferences.

With the launch of Season 14, Hazard, a dive tank hero, made his debut, strategically designed for players to effectively maneuver through enemy lines. His introduction was accompanied by an intentional boost in strength, allowing him to quickly dominate the tank section of the game.

Surprising Gains: Torbjörn’s Rise

A recent analysis shared by Reddit user u/ImFate73 produced fascinating insights into the play rates of various characters in the Top 500 competitive tier, a community benchmark shaping the current meta. While many trends reflected expectations, one character’s significant increase in play rates was noteworthy—Torbjörn, traditionally underestimated in the current landscape.

This season, Torbjörn has climbed to the seventh position among Damage characters, achieving a commendable 5.75% pick rate—an impressive leap from a mere 2.50% in Season 12. While not at the apex of popularity, he surpasses renowned heroes like Pharah, Echo, and Soldier: 76, who have fallen behind in selection.

Torbjörn’s utility shines brightly against dive compositions, particularly effective against popular picks such as Genji and Tracer. His turret can adeptly target and retaliate against unsuspecting divers, bolstering his appeal as an occasional tactical counter.

Torbjörn and his turret — Image credit: Blizzard

The compilation of this data by ImFate73 involves monitoring the leaderboard, noting the top three heroes played by each participant, which provides a reasonable snapshot of high-level gameplay trends. Although not infallible, these figures suggest a shift in the competitive landscape.

While Hazard leads the tanks and supports like Ana, Kiriko, Juno, and Brigitte remain popular, the analysis uncovers a decline for certain characters. Notably, Baptiste experienced a staggering drop in play—plummeting from 16.66% to 2.64%, landing him as the second least favored support character this season, just above Lifeweaver.

Moreover, a recent hotfix has introduced drastic nerfs to several characters, including Hazard, Widowmaker, and Sojourn. As the meta evolves, the effects of these adjustments remain to be seen. However, for those who excel with Torbjörn, now may be an ideal phase to ascend the ranks.

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