USE Cover to Win your Overwatch 2 Ranked Games

In the fast-paced world of Overwatch 2, mastering the art of cover usage can be the difference between climbing the ranks and staying stuck in competitive limbo. While many players focus on aim and hero abilities, understanding and utilizing cover effectively is a fundamental skill that separates the pros from the amateurs. This article will delve into the intricacies of cover usage, providing you with the knowledge to dominate your ranked games and outplay your opponents.

What is Cover?

Cover, in its simplest form, is any solid object that you can’t shoot through. This includes walls, floors, payloads, and even shields. While the concept may seem basic, the strategic use of cover is anything but. It’s not just about hiding from enemy fire; it’s about controlling engagements, minimizing damage taken, and maximizing your impact on the game.

Consider a scenario where a you’re standing out in the open, and a D.Va bomb falls right at your feet. The result is predictable and catastrophic. This extreme example illustrates the most obvious reason for using cover – survival. However, the benefits of proper cover usage extend far beyond simply avoiding ultimate abilities.

The Power of Positioning

In Overwatch 2, we typically focus on one target at a time when engaging in combat. However, this singular focus doesn’t prevent multiple enemies from targeting you simultaneously. This is where the true value of cover comes into play. By positioning yourself correctly relative to cover, you can dramatically reduce the amount of incoming damage while maintaining your offensive output.

Imagine a situation where you’re taking fire from three enemy players but only dealing damage to one. By moving closer to a corner, you can effectively hide from two of the three enemies, allowing you to continue your assault while significantly reducing the damage you receive. This simple adjustment can turn a losing battle into a winnable engagement.

High Ground Advantage

Another powerful application of cover in Overwatch 2 is utilizing high ground. By taking a few steps back on an elevated position, you can limit the enemy’s line of sight to just your intended target. This not only reduces the number of enemies that can hit you but also minimizes your exposed hitbox. High ground provides a natural form of cover that, when used correctly, can give you a substantial advantage in firefights.

The combination of height and cover is one of the reasons why controlling high ground is so crucial in Overwatch 2. It allows you to peek and shoot with minimal exposure, making you a difficult target while providing clear shots on enemies below. Mastering this aspect of positioning can dramatically improve your survivability and impact in matches.

Cover and Ability Usage

Cover usage isn’t just about positioning; it’s also about timing your abilities and movements. Many heroes in Overwatch 2 have abilities that synergize well with proper cover usage. For example, Widowmaker can use her grappling hook to quickly move between different pieces of cover, making her incredibly difficult to pin down. Hanzo can use his wall climb to access unexpected angles and peek from cover in unpredictable ways.

Support heroes can use cover to safely heal their teammates while minimizing their own risk. A well-positioned Ana can provide healing and utility from behind cover, only exposing herself when necessary to land crucial sleep darts or biotic grenades. Understanding how your hero’s kit interacts with the environment is crucial for maximizing your effectiveness on the battlefield. For more information on heroes and Overwatch 2, check out the official Overwatch website!

Map Knowledge and Cover

To truly excel at using cover, you need to develop an intimate knowledge of the maps in Overwatch 2. Each map has its own unique layout of cover and sightlines that can be exploited. Studying popular positions, understanding common angles, and identifying key pieces of cover can give you a significant advantage over less-prepared opponents.

For instance, on a map like Circuit Royal, knowing how to use the many turns and corners near the first point as cover can provide a crucial advantage during pushes or defenses. These small details can make a big difference in the outcome of tight matches. Spend time exploring maps in custom games to discover new and creative ways to use cover.

The Psychology of Cover

Using cover effectively isn’t just about physical protection; it also has a psychological impact on both you and your opponents. When you’re behind cover, you feel more secure, which can lead to more confident and aggressive play. Conversely, enemies facing a team that’s using cover well may feel frustrated and pressured, leading to mistakes.

Moreover, in Overwatch 2, good cover usage can make you unpredictable. By peeking from different angles and utilizing various pieces of cover, you keep your enemies guessing. This unpredictability can throw off even skilled opponents, creating openings for you and your team to capitalize on.

Common Mistakes in Cover Usage

While the benefits of using cover are clear, many players make common mistakes that negate these advantages. One of the most frequent errors is peeking too wide from cover. When you peek, you should expose as little of your character model as possible while still being able to see and shoot your target. Practice “slicing the pie” – gradually exposing yourself to potential angles one at a time rather than all at once.

Another mistake is staying in one spot for too long. Even if you’re behind cover, smart opponents will eventually figure out your position and coordinate to take you out. Keep moving, use different pieces of cover, and be unpredictable in your movements to stay one step ahead of the enemy team.

Cover Usage for Different Roles

Each role in Overwatch 2 uses cover differently. Tanks, with their larger health pools and protective abilities, often use cover to create space for their team. They might peek from cover to bait out enemy cooldowns or to provide a distraction while their teammates reposition.

DPS heroes use cover to set up ambushes, take unexpected angles, and minimize damage while dealing their own. The key for damage dealers is to find the balance between aggression and safety, using cover to enable high-risk, high-reward plays.

Supports have perhaps the most crucial relationship with cover. Their survival is paramount to the team’s success, so they must be experts at using cover to stay alive while keeping their teammates in the fight. Good support players are always aware of their nearest piece of cover and how to use it effectively.

Practicing Cover Usage

Like any skill in Overwatch 2, effective cover usage requires practice. Start by being more conscious of your positioning in every game. Ask yourself: “Am I exposed to unnecessary angles?” “Could I be using cover better here?” Over time, good cover usage will become second nature.

Custom games can be an excellent tool for practicing cover usage. Set up scenarios where you have to navigate through a map using cover, or practice peeking and shooting from different pieces of cover. The more you practice, the more instinctive your cover usage will become in real matches.

Conclusion

Mastering cover usage in Overwatch 2 is a fundamental skill that can significantly improve your gameplay and help you climb the ranks. By understanding the principles of cover, practicing good positioning, and being mindful of your surroundings, you’ll find yourself surviving longer, dealing more damage, and having a greater impact on your matches.

Remember, every object on the map is a potential tool for outplaying your opponents. Whether you’re a tank creating space, a DPS looking for the perfect angle, or a support trying to stay alive, proper cover usage is key to success in Overwatch 2.

Ready to take your game to the next level? Consider booking a coaching session to get personalized advice on your cover usage and overall gameplay. With dedicated practice and the right guidance, you’ll be climbing the ranks in no time. Don’t let poor positioning hold you back – master cover usage and dominate your ranked games today!