What is Main and Flex Support in Overwatch?
In Overwatch, the terms "main support" and "flex support" are commonly used to describe the role of heroes in the support category. In this article, we will delve into the definitions, differences, and strategies for each role.
What is Main Support?
Main support heroes are characters that are primarily designed to provide sustained healing and protection to their teammates. These heroes are typically the team’s anchor, providing a steady supply of health to keep the team alive. Main support heroes are also responsible for crowd control, shielding, and protecting the team’s damage dealers. They often have abilities that can turn the tide of a battle, such as healing, shielding, and crowd control.
Some common main support heroes include Mercy, Lucio, Brigitte, and Kiriko. These heroes are typically played in the support role and are relied upon to keep the team’s health topped up and provide crowd control.
What is Flex Support?
Flex support heroes are characters that can adapt to different situations and roles within the game. They are often played flexibly, meaning they can be used in multiple roles, including support, off-tank, and even as a damage dealer. Flex support heroes often have abilities that can be used to heal, shield, and crowd control, but may not be as specialized in these areas as main support heroes.
Some common flex support heroes include Ana, Baptiste, Moira, and Zenyatta. These heroes can be played in a variety of roles, depending on the situation and the needs of the team.
Key Differences between Main and Flex Support
Here are some key differences between main support and flex support:
| Main Support | Flex Support |
|---|---|
| Specialization: Designed to provide sustained healing and protection | Adaptability: Can adapt to different situations and roles |
| Playstyle: Typically played as a support hero | Playstyle: Can be played in multiple roles, including support, off-tank, and damage dealer |
| Abilities: Often have abilities that are specifically designed for healing, shielding, and crowd control | Abilities: Have abilities that can be used in multiple ways, such as healing, shielding, and damage dealing |
| Responsibilities: Primary responsibility is to keep the team’s health topped up and provide crowd control | Responsibilities: Can be responsible for a variety of tasks, including healing, shielding, crowd control, and damage dealing |
When to Use Main Support vs. Flex Support
So, when do you use main support versus flex support? Here are some guidelines:
- Use main support when:
- Your team is composed of a lot of high-damage heroes who need protection and healing.
- You are playing against a team with a lot of crowd control and damage output.
- You want to prioritize keeping your teammates alive and healthy.
- Use flex support when:
- Your team has a balance of damage dealers and supports.
- You want to be able to adapt to different situations and roles.
- You want to have a hero that can provide crowd control, healing, and damage dealing.
Conclusion
In conclusion, main support and flex support are two different roles in Overwatch that require different playstyles and strategies. Main support heroes are designed to provide sustained healing and protection, while flex support heroes are adaptable and can be used in multiple roles. Understanding the differences between these two roles can help you improve your gameplay and make better decisions in matches.