Kiriko is a support character in Overwatch 2 who uses Healing Ofuda and Kunai to control the flow of the battlefield. She is both a sword and shield, switching seamlessly between healing and dealing damage as needed. Although Kiriko has abilities similar to Baptiste and Zenyatta, she possesses a unique and refreshing playstyle. Here’s how to play Kiriko in Overwatch 2.

Kiriko hero guide for Overwatch 2

What is Kiriko’s role in a team?

Kiriko is a support character, giving her the ability to automatically heal over time. Her role in a team is to respond to the needs of her allies, quickly transporting between teammates to reposition. Her high mobility keeps her from being stuck in sticky situations. If an ally is nearby, she can make a swift escape, drastically increasing her survivability. Kiriko is also adept at saving her teammates at the last second, using her Protection Suzu. Overall, Kiriko is a hero who provides massive utility to her team and frequently repositions.

Kiriko’s abilities, listed

Here are Kiriko’s abilities, along with their purpose in battle.

  • Healing OfudaLaunches projectiles that seek targeted allies and provide healing. These projectiles cannot travel through obstacles, so you must maintain line of sight while firing them. The talismans can be launched five times before having to reload.KunaiThrows a projectile that deals increased critical damage. These Kunai can be fired 12 times before having to reload. The best time to fire Kunai is when there is a lull in the fight, and your allies have already been healed. They deal a surprising amount of damage and should not be underestimated.Swift StepTeleports you directly to an ally after a short delay. Swift Step does not require line of sight and is best used as a repositioning ability. This ability also has a relatively short cooldown, allowing you to flit between teammates during combat.Protection SuzuThrows a charm that briefly makes allies become invulnerable and cleansed of most negative effects. This ability has a small area of effect and is similar to Baptiste’s Immortality Field. It only lasts a moment, so it should be used reflexively when allies are close to death. Protection Suzu has a long cooldown, so only use it when it is surely necessary.While Protection Suzu is typically used to prevent allies from dying, it can also be used to cleanse status effects. With Protection Suzu, you can remove the antiheal effect from Ana’s grenade, remove the stun from Reinhardt’s ultimate, and other similar status effects. This ability can be a lifesaver in teamfights, so make sure to be aware of its capacities.Wall Climb (Passive)When you jump at walls, you can climb up them. This ability is generous and hoists you over most high walls in the game.Role: Support (Passive)Automatically heals you over time. This improves your survivability and allows you to focus on healing your teammates. This passive is universal for all Support class characters.Kitsune Rush (Ultimate)Summons a fox spirit in the direction you’re facing, creating a straight road that increases movement speed, attack speed, and cooldown regeneration for all allies in its path. This ability is excellent when paired with Bastion and other fast-firing heroes. Kitsune Rush is most effective when used as a catalyst for a strong push, since it prepares allies for a potential teamfight.

Kiriko tips and tricks

After playing Kiriko for a period of time, there are a few gameplay tricks you learn. Here is some advice for newer Kiriko players.

  • While Kiriko does heal, it takes a while for her healing projectiles to reach their target. Try and predict when your allies will need help, and fire the projectiles early, so they will reach the target precisely when you need them to.Be unpredictable. One of the blessings of high mobility is that you can constantly reposition throughout the battlefield, making it hard for enemies to track you down. When you feel you’ve overstayed your welcome at one location, teleport to a teammate and try a different angle. This will make you difficult to catch.Don’t neglect your own safety. Since Kiriko’s Protection Suzu has a small area of effect, try standing next to allies when you use the ability. This will protect both you and your teammate, so you can continue healing them without issue.Test out hero combos with your ultimate. Kiriko’s ultimate boosts the attack speed of any allies in its radius, granting some heroes an inhumanly fast fire rate. Try pairing this ultimate with Zenyatta, Sojourn, and Junker Queen. You’d be surprised at how powerful this ultimate can be in a last-minute teamfight.

For more Overwatch 2 hero guides, come check out How to play Pharah in Overwatch 2 – Hero Guide here on Pro Game Guides.