Junkrat Overwatch 2 – Everything you need to know

One of the things that makes Overwatch 2 such an exciting game is the sheer amount of playable heroes that players can choose from. In Overwatch 2, there are now 35 different heroes, each one having its own unique abilities, personality, and weapons. In addition, each hero belongs to one of three different roles in the game. These roles are tanks that can protect their team, supports that can heal them, and DPS characters that can deal massive damage to the enemy. Junkrat is a DPS character that uses explosives to deal massive splash damage to his foes. Here is everything that players need to know about using Junkrat in Overwatch 2.

Who is Junkrat in Overwatch 2?

Junkrat is a character with an explosive personality. With his love for all things that go boom, Junkrat is capable of completely shutting down areas of the map with his explosions and dealing extreme damage to anyone inside of the radius. Though his projectiles can take a little bit of getting used to, those who can master them can defeat targets very quickly. Junkrat has seen some small improvements in Overwatch 2 that should make him a bit easier to play. Players who pick Junkrat can help their team lock down contested areas which can let them push towards victory.

Note: You can read about all of the Overwatch 2 characters here.

Reworks to DPS heroes in Overwatch 2

There were some changes made to the team compositions in Overwatch 2 which vary from how they were in the original Overwatch. Previously, teams were 6 players, however, in Overwatch 2, they are now 5 players. This means each team has one less tank to work with. To help balance things out, each role of hero got a special passive ability to help them out. For DPS characters, this is the ability to gain a 25% movement and reload speed buff on eliminating an enemy. Continuously eliminating targets does not stack the bonus, but can reset the duration. Heroes such as Junkrat can massively benefit from this buff and can use it to win fights.

Junkrat’s abilities in Overwatch 2

Junkrat’s abilities allow him to do a few different things in Overwatch 2. For one, he has extreme splash damage, which can essentially cause enemies to not be able to move from a spot until he’s done firing. In addition, he has the mobility to allow him to reach higher locations, which can help him to lob his explosives even further. By combining these abilities, Junkrat can be a true menace for the enemy team.

Total Mayhem

One of the most integral parts of his kit, the passive ability Total Mayhem lets Junkrat not take damage from his own explosives. For a character that only deals in explosions, this is a seriously good ability. In addition, when Junkrat dies, he will drop several explosives that can then damage or even eliminate his target, even after his death. Because of this, players can push into groups and even net a few eliminations when they die.

Frag Launcher

In Overwatch 2, Junkrat’s Frag Launcher has received a slight buff. As his primary weapon, this gun lobs grenades at his foes. These grenades bounce twice and then detonate, or they will explode instantly on striking an enemy. Direct hits cause a massive 120 damage, while splash damage can cause up to 80 damage. For Overwatch 2, the projectile size has increased from .2 to .25. What this means for players is that it will be easier for them to score a direct hit. Since direct hits deal the most damage, this can help Junkrat to defeat enemies much easier.

The Frag Launcher holds 5 rounds and takes 1.5 seconds to reload.

Concussion Mine

The Concussion Mine is both a way for Junkrat to deal extra damage to enemies and knock them back, or to use as a movement tool for himself. When used, the Concussion Mine puts down a remote-controlled mine. When activated, the mine will explode, dealing up to 120 damage to enemies and knocking them back. In addition, if Junkrat stands on his own mine, he can propel himself to new heights to get an advantage over his foes. A well-placed Concussion Mine hit combined with a Frag Launcher round can put an end to almost any hero in the game quickly. The Concussion Mine can hold a max of 2 charges, with a cooldown of 8 seconds per charge.

Steel Trap

The Steel Trap is a way for Junkrat to be able to lock down individual heroes foolish enough to stumble into it. When used, the Steel Trap will be thrown onto the ground where it will await an enemy. When triggered, it will clamp down on them, inflicting 100 damage and rooting them for 3 seconds. Players that are rooted can be easily targeted by Junkrat and his allies. The Steel Trap has a cooldown of 10 seconds. In addition, the projectile speed of the Steel Trap was recently buffed to 15 from 10 in Overwatch 2, making it quicker to deploy.

RIP-Tire

For Junkrat’s Ultimate Ability, he has the RIP-Tire. When used, Junkrat will deploy a massive tire filled with explosives, and send it out towards his foes. The tire can be remotely controlled by Junkrat and be detonated at any time, or Junkrat can simply wait for the tire to explode on its own after 10 seconds. When the tire detonates, it can deal up to 600 damage to all enemies in its radius of 10 meters, with enemies taking more damage the closer they are to the explosion. This means that Junkrat is able to eliminate entire enemy teams with a carefully placed RIP-Tire.

Tips for playing Junkrat in Overwatch 2

Junkrat is best for pushing into heavily contested areas with a lot of enemies. Due to his explosive nature, he can deal a lot of damage to teams very quickly. However, since his weapon shoots projectiles, it can be difficult to aim, especially at closer ranges. Players will need to gain a lot of practice in order to use his weapon effectively. With practice, players can easily deny entire areas of the map with Junkrat and allow their team time to capture and push objectives with ease. 

In addition, Junkrat can make more aggressive plays due to his passive Total Mayhem, which can let him secure eliminations, even after his death. Because of this, players can be a little bit more reckless with him, which fits his overall character theme. It should be noted though, that Junkrat can be easy to take down if players get too close to him or if they move too fast for him to land enough grenade hits.

Choose Junkrat to earn explosive wins in Overwatch 2

While Junkrat may have a bit of a learning curve, once mastered, he is able to deal significant damage to enemy teams. His ability to disrupt areas of the map, and reach high ground give him an advantage over many heroes. In addition, his RIP-Tire can cause massive chaos when he deploys it, as it can do damage to eliminate even the mightiest of heroes. Players who want to earn explosive wins should pick Junkrat to lead their team to victory in Overwatch 2.