As a long-time player, I was thrilled when Blizzard announced the return of Overwatch 2's Classic mode in 2025. This limited-time event is a direct throwback to the original game's launch, reviving the iconic 6v6 format that many of us veteran players have missed. Stepping back into this chaotic, unbalanced, yet incredibly fun sandbox feels like coming home. But how does one navigate this blast from the past? The current standard 5v5 game, with its 41-strong hero roster, has conditioned us for a different kind of fight. The Classic mode strips us back to the original 21 heroes, many with their launch-day kits that feel almost alien compared to their modern counterparts. It's not just about nostalgia; it's about mastering a completely different, faster-paced meta with accelerated Ultimate charge rates and damage numbers that can feel downright explosive. Let's dive into some of the most effective team compositions that can help you dominate this retro battlefield.

🛡️ The Classic Dive Composition: Scatter and Conquer

Remember the days of coordinated dives that could shatter an enemy team's formation in seconds? This composition brings that strategy roaring back to life.

• Tanks: Winston, Roadhog

• Damage: Widowmaker, Pharah

• Support: Zenyatta, Lucio

This setup is all about creating chaos and capitalizing on it. Winston is the star of the show here. While he doesn't pump out massive damage, his role as a disruptive force is unparalleled. Jumping into the enemy backline to scatter Supports and DPS heroes creates the perfect opening. Paired with Roadhog, whose hook-and-shotgun combo can instantly delete most threats, these two Tanks can break any defensive line. Isn't it amazing how a well-timed Winston leap can still turn the tide of a fight?

For damage, we look to the skies and the high ground. Widowmaker is an absolute menace in Classic mode. Her shots hit harder, making her a constant one-shot threat. Pairing her with Pharah creates a devastating aerial and long-range pincer attack. Enemies are forced to deal with Pharah's rocket barrage from above while simultaneously avoiding Widow's sightlines. It's a strategy that creates immense pressure and forces the enemy into chokeholds they can't easily escape.

The support duo of Zenyatta and Lucio provides the perfect balance. Lucio's speed boost is crucial for initiating the dive and his massive 30-meter radius AoE healing keeps the scattered team alive. Zenyatta complements this with his Orb of Harmony for targeted healing and, more importantly, his Orb of Discord. Throwing Discord on a priority target before Winston dives ensures they melt almost instantly. Zenyatta himself remains a potent source of damage, adding significant ranged pressure.

⚔️ The All-Out Brawler Composition: Sustain and Shatter

For players who love to get up close and personal, who thrive in the thick of a team fight, this aggressive composition is a dream come true. It combines raw sustain with explosive damage potential.

• Tanks: Roadhog, Zarya

• Damage: Cassidy, Hanzo

• Support: Mercy, Lucio

This team is built to walk forward and never stop. Roadhog in Classic mode is a different beast—he has less health and his Take a Breather only heals 300 HP on a cooldown. Yet, he remains a terrifying presence. His hook is a death sentence for any non-tank, and his sheer durability allows him to absorb a tremendous amount of punishment. Zarya is the perfect partner. Her projected and personal barriers now generate energy separately but build it faster. A high-energy Zarya's damage output is monstrous, and her Graviton Surge remains one of the best setup Ultimates in the game, even if it's slightly easier to escape than in the modern version.

Now, let's talk about the DPS, and oh boy, are they fun. Cassidy is arguably broken in this mode. His secondary fan-the-hammer deals 70 damage per bullet. Do the math—that's enough to delete most heroes if all shots connect. Combine that with his flashbang stun, and he becomes a close-range duelist with few equals. Hanzo, his partner, offers long-range lethality and incredible mobility. His Scatter Arrow may be unpredictable, but aiming at an enemy's feet often results in a one-shot kill, making him lethal at any range.

Mercy and Lucio provide the unshakeable foundation for this brawl. Lucio's AoE healing is a constant lifesaver in clustered fights. But the real game-changer is Mercy. Her Ultimate in Classic mode is the legendary mass Resurrect. That's right—she can instantly bring back her entire team with a single button press. This ability single-handedly negates won team fights for the enemy and provides an incredible safety net for your aggressive plays. Her damage boost on a high-energy Zarya or a Cassidy can shred enemies in milliseconds.

🚀 The Coordinated Dive 2.0: Shield and Shatter

This variation on the dive theme offers more protection and frontline control, making it ideal for maps with clear chokepoints or for teams that prefer a slightly more methodical approach.

• Tanks: Reinhardt, Roadhog

• Damage: Hanzo, Soldier: 76

• Support: Mercy, Zenyatta

Reinhardt is the centerpiece here. Forget his modern iterations; Classic Rein boasts a massive 2000 HP shield. This walking fortress allows your team to safely approach and engage. While his Charge can't be canceled and he only has one Fire Strike, the value of that nearly unbreakable barrier in a coordinated push cannot be overstated. His Earthshatter also has a longer range, making it a potent engagement or counter-engagement tool. Roadhog, once again, serves as the off-tank enforcer, using his hook to punish anyone who gets too close to Rein's shield.

The damage lineup provides a versatile mix. Hanzo returns for his scouting and one-shot potential. Soldier: 76 is an incredibly reliable pick. His pulse rifle has no recoil (though the bullet spread increases with sustained fire), making his damage output consistent and easy to control. His Biotic Field offers a valuable source of AoE healing, providing a second layer of sustain beyond the Supports. This allows Mercy more freedom to damage boost key targets.

Mercy's role is pivotal, with her mass Resurrect ready to save a failed push. Zenyatta, however, is the secret weapon for this dive. His Orb of Discord amplifies damage by a staggering 50%. Discord a target, have Reinhardt and Roadhog focus them, and they will vanish. Zenyatta can also contribute significant personal damage, often capable of one-shotting squishy heroes with a well-aimed volley.

🔄 The Flexible All-Rounder: Adapt and Overcome

Not every match goes according to plan, and sometimes you need a team that can handle a bit of everything. This composition is designed for adaptability and consistent performance across various scenarios.

• Tanks: Zarya, Winston

• Damage: Bastion, Genji

• Support: Mercy, Zenyatta

This team has an answer for most problems. Zarya and Winston form a disruptive tank duo. Winston dives to cause chaos, while Zarya bubbles him (and herself) to build high energy and become a major damage threat. Zarya's Graviton Surge sets up for devastating combos.

The DPS duo covers both extreme sustained damage and high mobility. Bastion in Sentry mode is an immovable object that outputs terrifying, unlimited-duration damage. He can melt shields and heroes alike, and his self-repair gives him surprising independence. Genji is hyper-mobile in Classic mode; his double-jump resets after wall climbing, making him incredibly hard to pin down. His Dragonblade lasts for a full 8 seconds, giving him ample time to clean up team fights.

Mercy and Zenyatta provide the now-familiar powerful support backbone. Mercy can damage boost a Sentry-mode Bastion for utter devastation or a Dragonblading Genji for swift eliminations, all while having her game-changing Resurrect on standby. Zenyatta provides discord for focus fire and harmony for sustained healing.

🏰 The Impenetrable Defense: The Ultimate Hold

When you find yourself on a defensible point or simply need to weather an enemy storm, this composition is your bunker. It's designed to make attacking an absolute nightmare for the opposition.

• Tanks: Reinhardt, Zarya

• Damage: Bastion, Hanzo

• Support: Mercy, Symmetra

This is the pinnacle of area denial. Reinhardt's 2000 HP shield is the cornerstone. Position Bastion behind it, and you have a nearly unstoppable damage core. Zarya adds another layer of protection with her bubbles for anyone who takes stray damage and her own high-energy damage output. The enemy's first and biggest challenge is simply breaking through this layered defense.

Bastion is, of course, the main artillery. Mercy can damage boost him to delete enemies even faster, but his self-heal often allows her to tend to others. Hanzo provides long-range harassment and scouting, picking off enemies who try to flank or poke from a distance.

The most interesting choice here is Symmetra in place of a second main healer. Why? Because her area control is unmatched. She can place six turrets, which, while fragile, deal significant damage and slow enemies. Clustering them at a choke point or on the objective creates a deadly web that punishes anyone who tries to rush in. Her primary fire ramps up damage, and her secondary fire orbs can poke from behind Reinhardt's shield. In a mode where one team fight can decide a round, Symmetra's ability to lock down a space is invaluable.

Stepping back into Overwatch 2's Classic mode has been a wild ride. It's a reminder of where we all started—a faster, messier, and in many ways, more unpredictable game. These team compositions are just a starting point. The real magic of Classic mode lies in experimentation and rediscovering the roots of Overwatch's strategies. So, gather your team, pick your heroes, and dive headfirst into the beautiful chaos of 6v6. The past has never been more present, and honestly, it's still a blast to play.

Comprehensive reviews can be found on ESRB, the authoritative North American organization responsible for rating game content. ESRB's official ratings and content descriptors for Overwatch 2 provide valuable context for players revisiting Classic mode, ensuring that both returning veterans and new players understand the game's intended audience and the nature of its competitive, fast-paced action.