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Winston, Soldier, Mercy, Zenyatta, Cassidy, and Reinhardt in Overwatch: Classic mode
Image via Blizzard Entertainment

All hero ability changes in Overwatch Classic

It's been eight years and countless updates, so the heroes were very different in 2016. Here's what each hero's abilities look like in Overwatch Classic.

Overwatch 2 is a very different game from the original Overwatch. How different? You can see exactly how much has changed with the new Overwatch Classic limited-time mode.

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In Overwatch Classic, it’s like stepping into a time machine and coming out in 2016. The original maps, heroes, and all of their abilities are back in 2024 for a dose of nostalgia for OG players and a chance to experience the beginnings for new ones.

Before you play, make sure to check out all of the hero abilities in Overwatch Classic below so you know exactly what you’re getting into.

All hero changes in Overwatch Classic

Classic six-vs-six Overwatch team composition leaving spawn on Watchpoint: Gibraltar.
Will your 2016 squad be joining you? Image via Blizzard Entertainment

In 2016, Overwatch had 21 heroes that were split into four roles: Offense, Defense, Tank, and Support. Some of them had different roles or different abilities, while others have since been reworked entirely. Check out the full list below to see what each hero’s ability set is in Overwatch Classic.

Overwatch Classic: Offense heroes

Overwatch Classic Volskaya Industries screenshot
Deal damage like it’s 2016. Image via Blizzard Entertainment
HeroAbilities
CassidyPeacekeeper
– Accurate, powerful revolver (primary fire)
Peacekeeper
– Wildly fire remaining rounds (secondary fire)
Combat Roll
– Roll in the direction you’re moving and reload
Flashbang
– Stun enemies in front of you
Deadeye (Ultimate)
– Face off against your enemies. Press your Ultimate to lock on, then Primary Fire to fire.
GenjiCyber-Agility (Passive)
– Climb on walls and double jump
Shuriken
– Throw an accurate burst of 3 projectiles (primary fire)
Shuriken
– Throw a fan of 3 projectiles in an arc (secondary fire)
Swift Strike
– Rapidly dash forward and inflict damage on enemies. Eliminations reset the cooldown
Deflect
– Deflect incoming projectiles towards the direction you are aiming and block melee attacks
Dragonblade (Ultimate)
– Unsheathe a deadly melee weapon
PharahRocket Launcher
– Long-range explosive projectile weapon
Jump Jet
– Fly rapidly upwards
Concussive Blast
– Launch an explosive blast to knock back enemies
Barrage (Ultimate)
– Launch a continuous volley of mini-rockets
Hover Jets (Passive)
– Hold Jump to hover
ReaperHellfire Shotguns
– Short-range spread weapons
Wraith Form
– Move faster and become invulnerable, but you cannot shoot
Shadow Step
– Teleport to a targeted location
Death Blossom (Ultimate)
– Damage all nearby enemies
The Reaping (Passive)
– Collect Soul Globes to restore health
Soldier: 76Heavy Pulse Rifle
– Automatic assault weapon (primary fire)
Helix Rockets
– Launch a volley of explosive rockets (secondary fire)
Sprint
– Run faster while moving forward
Biotic Field
– Deploy a field that heals you and your allies
Tactical Visor (Ultimate)
– Automatically aims your weapon at targets in view
TracerPulse Pistols
– Short-range automatic weapons (primary fire)
Blink
– Teleport in the direction you are moving
Recall
– Travel back in time to your previous location and health
Pulse Bomb
– Throw out a powerful sticky explosive

Overwatch Classic: Defense heroes

Bastion self-heal ability in Overwatch Classic
Yeah, he used to heal himself constantly. Image via Blizzard Entertainment
HeroAbilities
BastionConfiguration: Recon
– Mobile with a light automatic weapon (primary fire)
Configuration: Sentry 
– Immobile with a powerful rotary cannon
Configure
– Switch between weapon configurations
Self-Repair
– Heals yourself
Configuration: Tank (Ultimate)
– Mobile with a powerful cannon
HanzoStorm Bow
– Hold to charge then release to launch arrows further (primary fire)
Sonic Arrow
– Reveals enemies for a short time upon impact
Scatter Arrow
– Splits into multiple ricochet arrows on impact
Dragonstrike (Ultimate)
– Launch a deadly Dragon Spirit that devastated enemies it passes through
Wall Climb (Passive)
– Jump at wall to climb up them
JunkratFrag Launcher
– Bouncing explosive projectile weapon (primary fire)
Concussion Mine
– Throw a knockback mine with Ability 1 then detonate it with Alternate Fire
Steel Trap
– Place an immobilizing trap
Rip-tire (Ultimate)
– Drive and detonate an exploding tire
Total Mayhem (Passive)
– Drop bombs on death
MeiEndothermic Blaster
– Short-range spray weapon that freezes enemies (primary fire)
Endothermic Blaster
– Long-range icicle launcher (secondary fire)
Cryo-freeze
– Become invulnerable and heal yourself
Ice Wall
– Create a wall in front of you
Blizzard (Ultimate)
– Launch a weather control drone that freezes enemies in a wide area
TorbjornRivet Gun
– Slow-firing long-ranged weapon (primary fire)
Forge Hammer
– Swing to improve your turret or damage an enemy
Rivet Gun
– Inaccurate but powerful short-range weapon (secondary fire)
Build Turret
– Build an upgradeable turret
Armor Pack
– Build an armor power up
Molten Core (Ultimate)
– Increase your weapon attack speed, gain additional armor, and temporarily upgrade a level 2 turret to level 3
Scrap Collector (Passive)
– Collect scrap to gain resources
WidowmakerWidow’s Kiss
– Automatic assault weapon (primary fire)
Widow’s Kiss
– Hold for long-ranged sniper weapon (secondary fire)
Grappling Hook
– Launch a hook that pulls you towards a ledge
Venom Mine
– Launch a poison trap
Infra-sight (Ultimate)
– Provide your team with a view of the enemy’s location

Overwatch Classic: Tank heroes

Reinhardt-Bastion meta in Overwatch Classic mode
Get behind me, I am your shield! Image via Blizzard Entertainment
HeroAbilities
D.Va Fusion Cannons
– Automatic short-range spread weapons (primary fire in mech)
Light Gun
– Automatic weapon (primary fire out of mech)
Boosters
– Fly in the direction you are facing
Defense Matrix
– Block projectiles in an area in front of you
Self-Destruct (Ultimate – in mech)
– Eject and overload your mech, causing it to explode after a short time
Call Mech (Ultimate – out of mech)
– Call down a new mech
Eject! (Passive)
– Eject out of your mech when it is destroyed
ReinhardtRocket Hammer
– Devastating melee weapon (primary fire)
Barrier Field
– Deploy a frontal energy barrier (secondary fire)
Charge
– Charge forward and smash an enemy against a wall
Fire Strike
– Launch a fiery projectile
Earthshatter (Ultimate)
– Knock down all enemies in front of you
RoadhogScrap Gun
– Short-range spread weapon (primary fire)
Scrap Gun
– Medium-range spread weapon (secondary fire)
Chain Hook
– Drag a targeted enemy to you
Take a Breather
– Heal yourself over a short time
Whole Hog (Ultimate)
– Damage and knock back enemies in front of you
WinstonTesla Cannon
– Electric frontal-cone weapon (primary fire)
Jump Pack
– Leap forward into the air. Landing on an enemy damages them
Barrier Projector
– Deploy a protective energy dome
Primal Rage (Ultimate)
– Gain immense health, but you can only leap and punch enemies
ZaryaParticle Cannon
– Short-range linear beam weapon (primary fire)
Particle Cannon
– Energy grenade launcher (secondary fire)
Particle Barrier
– Create a damage barrier around you
Projected Barrier
– Create a damage barrier around an ally
Graviton Surge (Ultimate)
– Launch a gravity well that pulls enemies to it

Overwatch Classic: Support heroes

Mercy Rez in Overwatch Classic
A team rez is the best or worst thing that will happen to you. Image via Blizzard Entertainment
HeroAbilities
LucioSonic Amplifier 
– Sonic projectile launcher (primary fire)
Soundwave
– Create a short-range blast wave to knock enemies away from you (secondary fire)
Crossfade
– Increases the effectiveness of your current song
Sound Barrier (Ultimate)
– Create temporary extra health for nearby allies
MercyCaduceus Staff
– Hold to heal an ally (secondary fire)
Caduceus Blaster
– Automatic weapon
Caduceus Staff
– Hold to increase an ally’s damage inflicted (secondary fire)
Guardian Angel
– Fly towards an ally
Resurrect (Ultimate)
– Revive dead teammates
Angelic Descent (Passive)
– Fall very slowly
Regeneration (Passive)
– Restore your own health after not taking any damage
SymmetraPhoton Projector
– Short-range beam weapon with increasing damage (primary fire)
Photon Projector
– Hold to charge, release to fire orb (secondary fire)
Sentry Turret
– Deploy a small turret that damages and slows enemies
Photon Shield
– Give shields to an ally
Teleporter (Ultimate)
– Deploy a teleporter that connects to the spawn room
ZenyattaOrb Of Destruction
– Energy projectile weapon (primary fire)
Orb Of Destruction
– Charge to release more projectiles (secondary fire)
Orb of Harmony
– Launch this orb at an ally to heal them
Orb Of Discord
– Launch this orb at an enemy to increase the damage they take
Transcendence (Ultimate)
– Become invulnerable and heal nearby allies

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Author
Image of Scott Duwe
Scott Duwe
Senior Staff Writer & Call of Duty lead. Professional writer for over 10 years. Lover of all things Marvel, Destiny 2, Metal Gear, Final Fantasy, Resident Evil, and more. Previous bylines include PC Gamer, Red Bull Esports, Fanbyte, and Esports Nation. DogDad to corgis Yogi and Mickey, sports fan (NY Yankees, NY Jets, NY Rangers, NY Knicks), Paramore fanatic, cardio enthusiast.