When Overwatch launched back in May of 2016, the game introduced 21 heroes with it. From day one, players were able to control the likes of Reaper and Tracer, damaging their opponents while Reinhardt pushed the payload and Mercy kept the team alive. Many of the most iconic characters in Overwatch were there from day one, allowing fans to grow attached to them over the years. Despite this, several memorable additions have been made to the roster via DLC, with 11 heroes coming to the game since it first released.
While players will likely need to wait until Overwatch 2 before they get answers on the sword-wielding hero or the fox hero, there are plenty of playable characters that already exist inside the first game. With new players picking up Overwatch every day and many fans not being a part of the community from the very beginning, looking back at when and how each DLC character made their debut could be a fun way to pass the time until Overwatch 2’s BlizzConline panel.
Year 1: Ana, Sombra, And Orisa
Ana - Hero 22: Following Overwatch’s launch, the first hero to come to the game was Ana Amari. Damage hero Pharah's mother Ana arrived on July 12, 2016 as a member of the Support class, with her Ultimate ability allowing her to nano boost teammates — greatly buffing their health and damage. Wielding a rifle that both damages enemies and heals opponents, while also having a Sleep Dart ability at the ready, Ana is a high skill hero that can be extremely effective in the right hands. Taken out of commission after a duel with Widowmaker ended in Ana losing her eye, the old sniper has an interesting backstory as well.
Sombra - Hero 23: Following a prolonged ARG, the hacker Sombra joined the Overwatch cast as a damage character on November 4, 2016. Able to teleport, go invisible, and hack enemies to block use of their abilities, Sombra is another hero that requires time and patience to master. With the likable voice actress Carolina Ravassa bringing her to life, Sombra is an anti-hero that is focused on pursuing her own goals. Wrapped up in a conspiracy that Overwatch has not yet unraveled, her story could be essential for a future plot point in the game’s ongoing narrative.
Orisa - Hero 24: Created by a talented young girl named Efi Oladele, Orisa was a major curveball that Blizzard threw in the direction of fans. After hyping up Doomfist for several months, the Talon leader’s destruction of Numbani’s airport made it seem like he was set to come to the game. Instead, Orisa arrived on March 2, 2017, created by Efi to stop Doomfist and any other attackers from wreaking havoc in Numbani. The cheerful but powerful bot functions as another main Tank like Reinhardt, with deployable shields and an Ultimate used to boost allies.
Year 2: Doomfist, Moira, And Brigitte
Doomfist - Hero 25: While Blizzard did initially troll fans, it eventually delivered on its promise and made Doomfist the game’s first melee-focused hero. Arriving on July 6, 2017, holding a spot as one of the most unique playable heroes introduced, Doomfist’s moveset relies heavily on combo moves and clever positioning. The leader of the Talon terrorist organization, the villain’s goal of creating chaos will likely see the gauntlet-wearing Damage character slotted in as one of the main antagonists of Overwatch 2’s PvE mode.
Moira - Hero 26: Another interesting character and a key addition to Talon’s roster of characters, the twisted Irish scientist Moira O’deorain came to the game on November 3, 2017. Boasting the ability to drain enemies of health and reuse that energy to heal her allies, the character’s yin-yang gameplay style has made her a favorite of Overwatch players that like to deal damage. With the character having a key role in Gabriel Reyes’ transformation into Reaper, fans of Moira are excited to see what experiments she does next.
Brigitte - Hero 27: Overwatch’s second year of post-launch hero releases was capped off with Brigitte Lindholm, who made her in-game debut on February 28, 2018. The daughter of the turret-building Damage hero Torbjorn, Brigitte’s role as a squire to Reinhardt shows in her gameplay style. Boasting a small, personal shield that keeps her safe, Brigitte heals allies by dealing damage with her mace. She can also throw armor packs to allies and boost them with her Rally Ultimate, making her a strong successor to both Reinhardt and her father Torbjorn.
Year 3: Wrecking Ball, Ashe, And Baptiste
Wrecking Ball - Hero 28: Whether players are referring to him as Wrecking Ball or Hammond, June 28, 2018 saw the addition of the game’s most absurd character. A genetically engineered Hamster experimented on by the same scientists responsible for Winston's creation, Hammond lacks the caring exterior of the Overwatch team’s lovable primate. A renegade through and through, Hammond rolls around the map and excels at defending objectives. While he is not a good fit for every map, he is great to have on the team in certain situations.
Ashe - Hero 29: If McCree were to ever be killed off, a larger focus on Ashe would be a solid way to fill the void left by his absence. A fellow gunslinger that ran with McCree back when he was in the Deadlock Gang, Ashe brought her robotic butler and Viper rifle to Overwatch on November 2, 2018. Aggressive and dangerous, plenty of players have taken to the gameplay style of the red-eyed mob boss. Throwing dynamite and commanding BOB, while also boasting some amazing Overwatch skins, Ashe was a solid addition to the game’s cast of Damage characters.
Baptiste - Hero 30: Though Baptiste’s pal Mauga would be great to see in-game, since the Talon tank looks like he would be a formidable ally/foe in any match, the support hero Baptiste is plenty of fun to play, too. Boasting rocket boosts and a healing grenade launcher, the most interesting thing about Baptiste's addition on February 25, 2019 is his backstory. A Talon turncoat that saw how cruel the terrorist organization was firsthand, it will be interesting to see how Baptiste’s story evolves in Overwatch 2.
Year 4: Sigma And Echo
Sigma - Hero 31: While Sigma has recently been causing debates due to a possible bug with his Gravitic Flux ultimate, fans were happy to see the Tank hero show up on July 22, 2019. A true mad scientist, the classical music lover always looks imposing as he floats around the map. Boasting several gravity-based powers, as well as a neat ability to use incoming fire as a source of shields, Sigma can be thrilling to play as and tough to bring down.
Echo - Hero 32: Overwatch’s latest hero, and likely its last, Echo came to the game on March 18 of last year. Making her debut appearances in Ashe’s animated short, as well as Overwatch 2’s Zero Hour reveal trailer, Echo boasts the unique ability to copy the abilities of any hero on the enemy team. With a focusing beam to finish off foes, and the ability to shoot energy blasts as she flies above each battlefield, Echo is an awesome addition to the Overwatch lineup and a solid way to end the post-launch additions of the first game.
Overwatch is available now on PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.