Are you ready to travel back to the beginnings of Overwatch? Overwatch 2‘s Classic Mode is designed to take you right back to where it all started. This special event, available for a limited time, offers that authentic Overwatch experience with original hero abilities and gameplay balance. In Classic Mode, you’ll engage in fast-paced, high-stakes action, allowing you to rediscover classic strategies and relive memorable moments from the early days of the game.
Whether you’re looking to earn rewards or simply enjoy a nostalgic gaming experience, there’s plenty of excitement in store. Ready to dive in? We’re here to provide all the information you need to enjoy this throwback event to the fullest.
This limited-time event runs from November 12 to December 3.
What Is Classic Mode?
Overwatch: Classic is a limited-time event within Overwatch 2 that allows players to experience the game as it was at launch. You can enjoy the original 21 heroes, 12 maps, and gameplay balance just as it was back in May 2016. In this mode, you’ll get to play Overwatch’s original 6v6 team-based format.
Prepare for gameplay filled with risk and reward, featuring heroes with abilities that have not been seen in years. The event includes maps such as Hanamura, Temple of Anubis, and Dorado, giving players a chance to revisit these classic locations.
For an added nostalgic feel, Overwatch: Classic uses only the original default skins.
How To Play Classic Mode
To access Overwatch: Classic, simply navigate to the main menu of Overwatch 2 and click on the orange “Overwatch: Classic” option located in the top left corner. This will take you to the event hub page, where you can queue up for matches. Classic Mode follows the traditional Quick Play rules.
In the first few days of the event, there are no hero limits, which means you can have multiple players pick the same hero. After this initial phase, hero limits will be implemented, allowing only one of each hero on a team.
Heroes are categorized into their original roles — Attackers, Defenders, Tanks, and Supports — but players can choose any hero, regardless of the team composition. Additionally, Classic Mode features faster Ultimate charge rates, allowing for more frequent use of your Ultimate abilities.
What Are The Classic Event Challenges?
Overwatch: Classic features a variety of challenges for players to complete during the event. Some require you to participate in a specific number of games, while others are hero-specific. Completing these challenges will earn you rewards such as an exclusive player title, spray, and icon.
Tasks include:
- Playing 15 games in Overwatch: Classic as any offense, support, tank, or defense hero.
- Participating in multiple games of Overwatch: Classic.
Some challenges grant double progress for wins, so prioritize securing those victories!
What Are The Classic Event Rewards?
Numerous rewards await dedicated players who complete the aforementioned challenges. Keep playing, keep winning, and gather them all:
- Play 50 games to earn the 6v6 Enthusiast Player Title.
- Play 10 games to unlock the Classic Cooperation Spray.
- Play 60 games to receive the Pachihardt Player Icon.
- Complete six of the Classic Mode challenges for the Strike Commander’s Watch Name Card.
Overwatch has gone through significant changes since its debut, making the opportunity to revisit some of the original strategies from 2016 a lot of fun. Players can experiment with early-game metas that were pivotal to Overwatch’s gameplay.
Symmetra Teleporter Tactics
In her earlier form, Symmetra had a powerful Teleporter ultimate that allowed teams to skip large sections of the map and launch surprise offensives. This strategy, often referred to as ‘teleporter cheese’, utilizes Symmetra’s teleporter to position your team strategically and catch the opponent off guard.
Symmetra’s teleportation ability allows for quick team engagements from the spawn to the front lines, facilitating fast assaults against the enemy’s defenses.
Bastion Shield Strategy
In 2016, Bastion was often considered a notorious pick, particularly when positioned in turret form at significant choke points on the maps. The strategy revolves around shielding Bastion or placing him in a secure spot, enabling him to deal extensive damage to anyone who attempts to cross his firing line.
To enhance the effectiveness of this tactic, pairing Bastion with a Reinhardt shield or Zarya’s protective bubbles is crucial.
Triple Tank Meta
The Triple Tank meta focused on establishing a robust frontline comprised of three tanks, each contributing a different type of protection and utility. Reinhardt acted as the primary shield, Zarya offered potent damage potential with her energy gain, and D.Va provided mobility and crowd control with her Defense Matrix.
This combination allowed for sustained combat, as D.Va and Zarya absorbed damage effectively while Reinhardt held the front line. This composition excels in pushing objectives and maintaining control in tight chokepoints.