Over the last day or so I’ve switched from 5v5 Quick Play back to 6v6, and it’s honestly made the tank role feel enjoyable again.
With the extra tank providing cover, my DPS and supports actually have space to operate. Team fights feel more stable and less chaotic, and there’s more room for positioning and decision-making instead of everything hinging on one player.
In 5v5, playing tank often feels like walking a tightrope. If you’re outclassed by the opposing tank, it can feel like the match is effectively over. So much rides on that single tank matchup, and while supports obviously play a big role, the pressure on the lone tank is enormous. One mistake, bad matchup, or imbalance in skill, and the whole team feels it immediately.
In 6v6, that burden is lifted. You can play more thoughtfully, coordinate with your co-tank, and recover from mistakes. The role feels less punishing and more strategic, which is what originally drew me to tank in the first place.
At this point, if I want to actually enjoy playing tank, 6v6 is all I’ll be queueing for.
It is so much better. In my opinion, not having to bear all the tank responsibility opens up more fun and creative off-tank plays.
I started playing it recently too because I was curious if Vendetta felt just as bad and it actually felt manageable to go up against her. A good one can still wreak havoc in the backline but having a second tank provides some protection where she can't get away with bad positioning as much as in 5v5. Granted I don't get to play support as much in 6v6 since I'm usually a tank, but I like peeling for supports when she tries to make a dive.
I have been exclusively playing Hazard in 6v6 so far because I enjoy his kit and being able to peel back and help my Supports when they get dove is a great feeling.
It's sooo rewarding! I've been sticking with Dva (used to main her in OW1), Zarya, and Orisa since I haven't really played tank in over a year, but I want to get to know the other tanks a little better. I played Hazard a few times in Mystery Heroes and he was a lot of fun too. His energetic voice cracks me up. :D
Yeah I think I played him purely because of his Scottish vibe haha
Yeah having someone to actually peel with makes such a difference. In 5v5 if Vendetta gets on your supports you're basically choosing between saving them or holding the front line, but with two tanks you can actually do both without throwing the entire match
Yep, I think she requires way too much focus to defend against in 5v5. Other dive dps like Tracer, Sombra, and a good Genji can be a problem but don’t require nearly as much attention from the team in my experience. She may still need some nerfing in 6v6 (I’m not sure since I haven’t played enough yet) but she feels closer to being balanced when you can have another tank on her so she’s not getting away with so much so easily.
6v6 felt much worse for me as tank and dps, just cluttered compared to 5v5 and less individual impact
I usually play tanks that need to tank and hold positions so tbh it usually feels worse than 5v5 because of the health and cooldown nerfs. I like the ideals of having double tanks but very often i get stuck as the lone tank with 5 dps. Honestly, I like playing tank in 5v5 because I like being the most powerful person on the board, so to speak (obviously not always skill wise but just being a tank commands a certain degree of attention)
I mean, you do you, I guess.
I tried playing 6v6 as Tank, and didn't really like it.
Sure, there is less preassure, because there is a second Tank that could help, and share the enemy CC's with you (Ana sleep darte and nade). The counters were less importnant as well. But it felt like I was doing nothing, and was still winning somehow. I could not initiate a fight. I could not go on the offensive for most part. I could only absorb damage, peel, and CAREFULLY push forward.
It was especially notable while playing Rein. I think I could unbind my attack button entirely, as I was barely using it anyway. I could only shiledbot for most part, and just walk forward. Technically, it worked, but there was no fun in it.
I suppose it's funier to play as an Off-Tank, but I was never really an Off-Tank main.
So, I stick to 5v5, despite its flaws. At least it feels like I'm doing something.
5v5 was only designed for faster queue times for everyone involved.
6v6 sucks substantially less.
6v6 is so bad imo, legit 5v5 is the only bearable way for me to play overwatch. So happy both modes exist
i've played it recently again and there were some fun games here and there but i had way too many games where my other tank was so clueless i just rather do it by myself (and sometimes i had to do it by myself too while having nerfed stats and more players shooting me! so fun)
i just rather have the responsibilities managed by my own hands then have another hog one trick or a doom that just spends all game chasing some random mercy all game
I prefer 5v5 because I am a good tank and hate sharing resources with a bad tank. I played 6v6 mostly for 2 seasons and still dislike it (as tank). I am playing Junk right now and LOVE 6v6. Two tanks to farm? Sign me up!
I guess what I am saying is that even being a good tank in 5v5 amounts to nothing if your supports and dps don’t come to the party too. 5v5 introduces too many variables.
6v6 means you get fewer resources because they have to get spread thinner and you're nerfed.
That’s my issue with 6v6 tbh. I feel so unbelievably squishy on tank, it feels like instead of being impactful I’m just a DPS with a fatter hitbox and a significantly bigger chance of getting flamed by my team. Solo tank feels more impactful (as long as I actually have at least 1 decent support) and if I have bad supports I’m at least not having to split the lion’s share of the heals with another tank.
5v5 by definition has less variables
Huh, just played 6v6 tank for the first time in a while today, had a much worse experience than in 5v5 playing ball and monkey. Felt total misery
6v6 open que is the only thing i play with my player 2. We main different characters in all 3 classes with a little overlap so im usually having fun
The game just feels so much more natural with the structure and space an off-tank provides. It's also still abundantly clear with several Tanks that they were designed for 6v6 and no amount of 5v5 changes has fixed that and even most of the 5v5 Tanks surprisingly feel better designed in 6v6.
DPS mostly feels light years better in 6v6 to me too. There's more space on average, you aren't totally doomed if your own Tanks are out-classed, and 5v5 Tanks are just so uninteractable from the DPS perspective. Double Tanks mean more sustain and peel but at least there's still a solid chance of being able to outduel em.
theres litterally less space to take lol
You objectively have less space
This!
I don’t mind 6v6 but I love 5v5 as tank aswell
Depends on what tank you're playing. some tanks excel in 5v5 and others perform better in 6v6
I.E if you play off tank you can have a lot of fun. Initiator feels terrible. Even in good matchups the weaker cds make it extremely punishing.
I find 5v5 more fun since as a tank I am in control of the match and I can carry, in 6v6 I feel less impactful.
6v6 tanks are useless, it's optimal to go full supports(or quad support + 2 dps) due to s9 health changes and nerfed tanks. It's sad how tanks have to run away in fear of enemy dps and supports in 6v6. I only play 6v6 when I'm not on tank.
what's optimal isn't always what's fun. that's why we don't all eat tasteless sugarless protein slurry for food every meal.
I'm a doom main I know what it's like to play a garbage hero for fun, people are complaining about solo tanking or not having enough tanks. Unless you're saying you can only have fun with tanks on your team this makes no sense.
let me recap: you said "it's optimal to go full supports or two dps four supports"
My response: optimal is not always fun.
your response: "this makes no sense"
just think about it for a little while.
Is there a way to play 6v6 with role queue? I tried playing it once and it was awful because I was the only healer with everybody else going dps until the last fight where it didn’t even matter
Nah only open queue unfortunately
Once you get higher rank people will switch for the team even in silver
I wish 6v6 role queue was the standard.
6v6 is objectively superior in every sense and 2/2/2 beats 1/2/2. Heroes like Juno feel so much better to play in 6s because of the added numbers from her alt fire.
I just can't enjoy 6v6 fully because of the constant bullshit matchmaking. Like wow, 5 support mains on my team? How thoughtful! I guess we're all taking turns playing healers! Oh, 4 people hover supports, 2 hover DPS? Nice, no tank!
5v5 is dogshit in every comparison. The tanks are overtuned and overpowered so they dictate the entire flow of the game. 5v5 tanks are worth 2-3 DPS and it's insane how their death practically stumps all progress and resets the team back to the choke point they came from compared to 6s where the fight goes on.
This is not what objectively means.
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Most of the time I play 6v6 no one wants to play support. So I'm stuck healing 5 other players and it's miserable.
Or one other person plays support and no one picks tank so I'm forced to either make them solo heal and have no tank. Or be the only tank. If I wanted to be the only tank I'd play 5v5.
I love 6v6 when it's 2-2-2 but without role queue it's miserable but with role queue, wait times are miserable.
I still think I overall like tanking more in 5v5 when the games are close, they make skill gaps feel really bad though.
I’ve been seeing so many tank mains funnel into 6v6 lately and this gives a lot of perspective as to why. Maybe it’s time to hop back into 6v6
Yeah 6v6 just so many options that its tough for anyone to feel oppressive. Its a good thing.
Want to hear something crazy? I feel like I enjoy 6v6 tanking more than 5v5 even when I'm solo tanking.
Truuuuuu
The only problem with 6v6 is few people play it. It’s the superior Overwatch experience right now
Maybe it isn't the superior overwatch experience for other people?
I meant the superior Overwatch tank experience
Maybe for you, i find it misserable to tank in
👍
6v6 is the only OW I play. This is the way.