Kiriko revealed as new Overwatch 2 Support hero: Release date, Battle Pass unlock, more

Following on from early leaks, Kiriko has now been formally revealed as the next Support hero coming to Overwatch 2. From her release date to a breakdown of her abilities, here’s everything you need to know about the upcoming character.

With the launch of Overwatch 2 on October 4 comes the arrival of three new heroes. 930 days will have passed since the launch of Echo in the original game, so Blizzard is looking to rebound in a big way with three distinct characters all at once.

We’ve already known Sojourn for quite some time given her reveal in 2019. Earlier this year we saw Junker Queen in action for the first time. With the former Damage-based hero and the latter a Tank, all that remains is a Support to round out the crew.

Now, we know for certain Kiriko is on the way to fill that void, as Blizzard has now revealed the hero in full after multiple leaks let slip key details early. Before she arrives, here’s a full rundown of all there is to know about the next Overwatch 2 hero.

Contents

• Does Kiriko have a release date in Overwatch 2?
• Kiriko trailer for Overwatch 2
• How to unlock Kiriko in Overwatch 2
• Kiriko abilities in Overwatch 2
• Who is Kiriko?

Does Kiriko have a release date in Overwatch 2?

Kiriko is confirmed to be included in the Season 1 Battle Pass, the first hero unlocked through this method. Given Season 1 goes live right away when Overwatch 2 launches, we can therefore lock the Support hero in for release on Tuesday, October 4.

Kiriko trailer for Overwatch 2

Check out Kiriko in action in the her Overwatch 2 trailer:

How to unlock Kiriko in Overwatch 2

Unlike every hero before her, Kiriko arrives in Overwatch 2 a little differently. Rather than simply being available for all players, she’s instead tied to the Season 1 Battle Pass. This gives you multiple ways in which to unlock her.

First up, for instant access, there are two methods. One is to purchase the Premium Battle Pass for 1,000 Overwatch Coins ($10 UDS). The second option is to redeem a Founder’s Pack if you’re a veteran player jumping over from the original game. Both will unlock Kiriko right away so you can begin mastering the Support hero immediately.

As a free option, Kiriko can be unlocked at Tier 55 of the Season 1 Battle Pass. Just by playing the game and completing both daily and weekly challenges, you can advance through the free track to acquire the hero without spending a dime.

If you happen to miss out on Season 1 altogether and don’t have a Founder’s Pack to redeem, fear not. Blizzard has assured new heroes will still be unlockable after the season in which they arrive. For Kiriko, we can expect a permanent challenge to arrive in Overwatch 2 when Season 2 begins. By completing this challenge, you’ll be able to unlock the Support for free.

Kiriko abilities in Overwatch 2

While Kiriko is a Support by definition, with the potential to both heal and protect her allies, she’s no chump when it comes to dealing damage too. Through her Kunai, she’s able to damage enemies from a distance, dealing far more if she can connect with critical hits. When combined with her agile wall climbing skills, and the ability to teleport through walls, she’ll be a difficult target to track down in any given team fight.

Moreover, with the Healing Ofuda and Protection Suzu abilities, Kiriko can keep her teammates alive. The former is a simple burst of healing that automatically float to targeted allies, while the latter provides a brief moment of invulnerability akin to Baptiste’s Immortality Field. It also clears “most” negative effects, so expect plenty of debuffs to vanish in the blink of an eye.

Below is a full look at Kiriko’s kit in Overwatch 2:

• Protection Suzu:
  • Upon impact, allies in the area become briefly invulnerable and are cleansed of most negative effects.
    
• Kunai:
  • Thrown projectile that deals increased critical damage.
    
• Swift Step:
  • Teleport directly to an ally, even through walls.
    
• Healing Ofuda:
  • Channel a burst of healing talismans that can seek targeted allies.
    
• Kitsune Rush (Ultimate):
  • Summon a fox spirit that rushes forward, accelerating the movement, attack speed, and cooldowns of allies that follow its path.
    
• Wall Climb (Passive):
  • Jump at walls to climb them.

Who is Kiriko in Overwatch 2?

Kiriko joins the Overwatch 2 roster as a character with close ties to a few others. Namely, she’s linked to both Genji and Hanzo as her mother actually trained the two Shimada brothers.

Having grown up in Kanezaka, the fictional Japanese town that also serves as a backdrop for the Deathmatch map of the same name, Kriko was largely raised by her mother and grandmother. The latter taught her to respect traditions and value community, while the latter was a ninja that believed in taking action.

As a teenager, Kiriko joined a group called the Yokai to serve and protect her community. It’s through her dealings with this ragtag cast of characters that she seemingly falls into cahoots with members of the Overwatch team.

So that’s everything we know about Kiriko coming to Overwatch 2.

For more Overwatch guides, check out some of the below articles below:

Everything in Overwatch 2 Season 1 | How to unlock new Overwatch 2 heroes | Overwatch 2 how new heroes will work | Overwatch 2 Season 1 Battle Pass: Tiers | Prestige tier titles in Overwatch 2 | Overwatch 2 Founder’s Pack | Overwatch League 2022 | Classic Overwatch skins return before Overwatch 2