Overwatch 2 Junkrat guide: Abilities, tips & how to unlock
Looking to become the ultimate Junkrat player in Overwatch 2? We'll show you how to unlock the character, his abilities, and essential tips.
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An Australian, explosives-obsessed damage hero who thrives and destruction and chaos, Junkrat's role in Overwatch 2 is well-put in his catchphrase "It's a perfect day for some mayhem". Check out how to cause all the mayhem you can.
Abilities explained
| Name | Type | Effect |
| Frag Launcher | Primary Fire | Bouncing explosive projectile weapon |
| Total Mayhem | Hero Passive | Deals no damage to self with explosives. Drop bombs on death |
| Concussion Mine | Ability | Throw a knockback mine and then manually detonate it |
| Steel Trap | Ability | Place an immobilizing trap |
| RIP-Tire | Ultimate | Drive and detonate an exploding tire |
| Role: Damage | Role Passive | Damaging an enemy temporarily reduces their healing received |
Even in his loadout, you can see that Junkrat's abilities aren't tailored towards dealing out damage in the traditionally direct way like other damage heroes.
Instead, his weapons and abilities are focused on being under-handedly both sneaky and annoying via traps, and explosives, and spreading extra damage across the battlefield wherever needed.
Tips for playing Junkrat
Junkrat's abilities are best used in strategies dedicated to the element of surprise - either hitting fast and hard in close-quarters combat or being an extra nuisance, taking enemy attention away from your allies in a more open firefight.
Junkrat's abilities allow the Australian explosives-lover to deal lots of damage in quick succession. However, not only does his Frag Launcher need added time to launch his bombs over wider distances, he only has 200 HP.
I recommend learning the arc of his fire or how to effectively bounce the frags off walls and stay behind walls or objects. This lets you rain down fire without being seen. The same goes with taking the high ground, as it's much easier to rain down frags on enemies.
The Concussion Mines are a lot more versatile than you might think. Firstly, with Junkrat being damage-proof to his own weapons and abilities, these knockback mines are perfect for launching Junkrat forward and upward to traverse maps quickly.
Secondly, the Concussion Mines can be detonated instantly after throwing them - capable of inflicting two brutal hits of massive damage twice in a row when you're against enemies in close-to-mid range.
They can also be used in combination with the Steel Trap - detonating after the trap has been triggered for a guaranteed blow to the victim in its clutches.
Getting high ground is also very useful for the RIP-Tire ultimate, as you can drop it down on unsuspecting groups of enemies for multi-kills.
If you can't get to high ground, the ult can still be useful on maps with tight areas and corridors, as you can manoeuvre the tire to be protected while moving. Plus, it will zone enemies who are afraid of dying, moving them away from objectives.
Although it's not the most damage-heavy tool in Junkrat's arsenal, the Steel Trap can be the difference between life and death, or defeat and victory when used the right way. In an intense team-wide firefight, players are almost never looking at what's happening on the ground beneath them - only ahead.
Whether from you or one of your allies, the Steel Trap is often just what's needed to take a foe by surprise and leave them open for a kill shot; it could even deal the final blow itself.
If you're at a vantage point, laying the Steel Trap at an entrance or exit is perfect for catching out a foe planning to take you out by surprise - leaving them vulnerable to a barrage of your bombs and/or Concussion Mines.
How to unlock Junkrat in Overwatch 2
Legacy players from Overwatch can unlock Junkrat if they are playing the second game with the same account. Otherwise, you can earn him by playing 12 matches.
About The Author
Ben Williams
Ben is a Senior Guides Writer at GGRecon. Alongside his BA (Hons) in Business Management is a wealth of gaming and entertainment writing experience, having previously occupied roles as a Copywriter in e-commerce at Overclockers and Guides & SEO Writer at GameByte and FragHero. When not whipping up guides and reviews, Ben’ll be off playing the latest Pokemon games, Overwatch 2, Spider-Man, The Witcher, and Final Fantasy - all before reading manga and listening to Ice Nine Kills.
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