With the Overwatch open beta now available through May 9th on PS4, Xbox One and PC many players will be taking their first steps into Blizzard’s refreshingly simple but deceptively deep team based shooter. To help prep players entering the battlefield here are some tips and tricks on what to expect. The open beta is everything that will be included in the final game, but note that any progress accumulated during the open beta will not carry over to the final release on May 24th.

New Player Help

• Start by choosing one of the Roles that matches your playstyle. From there look through the different Heroes and identify one within that role that would best match the type of style you’re looking to play. Keep an eye out on the Difficulty rating on their individual hero pages to get an idea of what the learning curve will be. If you’re just starting brand new, using a 1 star hero may be your best strategy for learning the ropes. Everything is available to you from the start, so everyone is on the same playing field. Beyond cosmetics, there is nothing to unlock that powers you up, making the gap between rookies and vets only one of skill and experience. Newcomers can contribute right away to their team’s success.

• Heroes can be swapped in match, so pay attention to the makeup of your team. You don’t want to have all Offense, ideally you want a party that is balanced. Look to keep around 2 offense, 2 defense, a tank and 1 or 2 support roles to keep the team as strong as it can be. It’s not always about glory, so don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and swap to a hero that will help balance the party.

• The Game Modes are not death match, so work together with your teammates to complete objectives. Although it’s tempting to run out and start hunting the enemy, your primary objectives are your first priority. If everyone is actively using voice/text chat to communicate the team will be that much more coordinated and powerful.

• Snipers are deadly in the right hands, so be prepared to deal with them as opposition and try to keep one present on your own party. Take the time to learn the maps to discover the best positions to post up in as well as where to root out sneaky foes.

• Don’t forget about your healing support! If someone on your team is doing the selfless work to keep the team boosted and healed, don’t forget to look after their well being too. Players like Mercy are not equipped to defend themselves in a 1v1 and need looking after if they are going to be able to do their jobs effectively. A tight team with good support is a force to be reckoned with.

• Play the game a lot. Learning the maps and how the different Heroes compliment each other, as well as their counters is the way to success in Overwatch. If you’ve hit a rut and are getting crushed in games, give the Training room and AI matches a try. They are great ways to try unlimited experimentation with all the Abilities at your disposal.

Game Modes

Overwatch has 3 game modes, Payload, Point Capture and Control each with a variety of Locations. The maps rotate per match and with it the objectives. The objectives for each are slightly different and are as follows:

• Payload: 6v6 game mode in which the attacking team’s objective is to move the payload to a delivery point, while the defenders must halt the attackers’ progress until time runs out.
• Point Capture: 6v6 game mode in which two teams battle over control of the map, one team on offense, the other on defense. The attackers’ goal is to capture critical objectives, while the defenders must maintain control over them until time runs out.
• Control: “king of the hill” style game mode. Each Control map will have three capture points and each team’s goal is to capture those points. Control matches are best-of-three, so whichever team captures two points wins. But only one control point per round is in play. If the first two rounds result in a tie, the action moves to a third unique point on the map where players have to battle it out.

The straightforward nature of Overwatch makes it an easy game to pick up and play right away. As matches unfold, the depth from the different options and combinations begins to present itself to players, opening up more tactical solutions. Before you realize it, hours have flown past. Once you’ve got a good handle on how the different heroes function, consider the enormously fun Weekly Brawl option, where you are tossed into a series of matches with a uniquely customized rule setting. This week’s settings for the Weekly Brawl have players respawning as a random hero, with no option to switch. It’s a bit of roulette that really tests your knowledge and encourages experimentation. You may fall in love with a hero you’d otherwise ignore.

How are you liking Overwatch so far? Do you have any of your own tips for new players? Let us know what you think in the comments!

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