Overwatch 2 Announce Cinematic | “Zero Hour”
Stand together. When Null Sector attacks, Winston assembles a small strike team to fend off the invasion. But as hope begins to fade, the team must stand together to overcome the odds. PlayOverwatch YouTube Channel

KEY POINTS

  • Reinhardt is great for holding chokepoints and contesting objectives
  • He suffers in open areas where he can get easily surrounded
  • His changes incentivize balancing offense and defense

Despite receiving some notable changes in "Overwatch 2," Reinhardt still plays more or less the same as in the original game. His role as a defensive anchor remains, but his focus is now shifted slightly toward being more aggressive than before.

Reinhardt is a melee character who works best when in the thick of a fight. He can disrupt enemies and protect teammates, though players who aren't used to brawling in close range may find this a tough act to balance.

Here are a few tips on how to use this "Overwatch 2" hero more effectively.

"Overwatch 2" Reinhardt Changes and Playstyle

There are three main changes to Reinhardt's kits that old players need to take note of:

  • His shield now has slightly less health
  • Fire Strike now has two charges
  • Charge can now be canceled early

The hero can still be used the same way as before, but keep in mind that his barricade won't be able to hold out for as long. With that said, players are incentivized to play a little more aggressively and intelligently to make the most use of Rein's kit.

Overwatch 2 - Rein Charge
Reinhardt's Charge can eliminate most enemies except for tanks Overwatch 2

As a melee character, Reinhardt excels at contesting corners and cramped objectives. Payload maps with tight corridors like King's Row, Rialto and Circuit Royale are great for an attacking Reinhardt because of how easily he can pressure enemies off of the cart.

Charge is also much more reliable as an engagement tool now. Even if it doesn't pin enemies, it can still be used to dive a backline of immobile supports like Zenyatta or Baptiste.

Earthshatter remains unchanged, so feel free to use it whenever allied ultimates are up or when a significant number of the enemy team is vulnerable.

Reinhardt Tips

The shield becomes significantly more oppressive after an enemy gets picked off. With less DPS to burn the barricade down, Reinhardt gains more leeway to press the advantage.

Avoid cowering behind the barrier. Reinhardt is extremely hard to kill up close, especially since he can take down most heroes in three swings of his hammer, so keep pushing and keep the enemy tangled.

Always play for control over tight spaces. Reinhardt is most dangerous when the enemy's escape avenues are limited. At the same time, avoid picking Reinhardt in open maps like the first checkpoint of Junkertown.

Overwatch 2 - Reinhardt trailer
Reinhardt and the crew in the Overwatch 2 Zero Hour trailer Blizzard Entertainment