Role Queue & the 5v5 Lineup
One tank, two damage, two support — why Overwatch locks the team composition and what it means for how you play.
By OWMAUK Staff
Overwatch is 5v5: every team runs exactly one Tank, two Damage and two Support. Role Queue is the system that enforces that split — you pick your role before the match, queue for it, and lock that slot for the game.
The three roles
- Tank — the frontline. You make space, soak damage and set the pace of every fight.
- Damage — the win condition. You secure picks and apply the pressure that opens fights.
- Support — the lifeline. You heal, enable and often hold the utility that decides teamfights.
With a single tank in 5v5, the tank player has outsized impact — a strong or weak tank swings games harder than any one DPS.
Role Queue vs Open Queue
Role Queue guarantees a balanced 1-2-2 composition and gives you a rank per role. Open Queue drops the restriction — any mix of heroes is legal — which is faster and more chaotic but rewards flexibility over specialisation. Most players climb in Role Queue; Open Queue is the playground.
Pick the role you genuinely want to master, not the one with the shortest queue. Depth in one role beats being mediocre across three.