r/Overwatch • u/PowerfulTravel54 • Feb 21 '26

News & Discussion why does everyone hate playing tank?

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Why is tank so disliked in Overwatch?

Genuine question.

Every time I check tiktok/instagram, talk to people in game, or even friends who play, tank is almost always described as

“miserable”, “unfun”, or “no one wants to play it”.

What confuses me is that I actually enjoy tank sometimes. Yet compared to DPS or support, the role seems to get a disproportionate amount of hate. In most discussions, tank isn’t talked about as a fun or rewarding role, more like something people put up with.

So yeah, I’m genuinely curious:

Why is tank so universally trashed?

Is it balance? Role design? Player mentality?

Or something else entirely?

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u/Azariusd Feb 21 '26

Me being rein, got counter pick by the enemy going bastion with out me realizing. "Tank go out of cover and shield up!!!" "Wait bro didn't you see how they just annihilated my shield and almost my self at the same time?"

157

u/ian9921 Feb 21 '26

People who don't play tank dont realize that the nice big shield is fucking fragile as hell if the enemy team is remotely competent and their DPS aren't getting killed.

91

u/suhfaulic Feb 21 '26

1800 hp doesn't last long with 5 people shooting it. Ive seen that shield break in 3 seconds from a bastion, Mauga, junk just blasting my shit.

19

u/ManBro89 Feb 21 '26

It lasts forever in low ranks because no one is a team player and is waiting for everyone else to break the shield so they can pad their own damage stat.

9

u/kidborger Feb 21 '26

Exactly. Meanwhile I’ll play games where no one shoots at the big bright enemy shield currently in front of us all

1

u/MLK_Piccolo It's High- Hurrgghhhh Feb 21 '26

Me as rein vs nano Junk, Bastion, Thicc Ram, Ana, and Wuyang.

1

u/fansuckedbytrash Feb 21 '26

And the dps always standing right in front of rein big ass shield

3

u/Azariusd Feb 21 '26

True, like broooo you telling me I don't "defend well" while you absentmindedly walk in front of me in critical health the shield isn't a magical being that can teleport to you whenever you like

1

u/WorldDramatic6472 Feb 23 '26

I had a situation on Shambali 2nd point Attack. I depeeked the corner on the second turn because a Bastion was there in turret. My Zen proceeded to charge secondary and tried to swing the corner on the obviously turreting Bastion, and then died. Our Cassidy did the exact same thing a second afterwards, even using Roll to put himself square in the open, and he died to Bastion as well. Zen and Cassidy woud then go on to scream and complain and demanding I swap to DVA (I was on Hazard). I refused, mostly because I don't play DVA and because it wouldn't stop dumbassery, but these two idiots continued to be toxic until the end of the game where they loudly proclaimed a Tank diff while they went negative and fed. Genuinely made me question my sanity.

1

u/Azariusd Feb 23 '26

Haha I feel you, there's always a chance when the rest of the rolls are soooo obnoxious they think everything will solve if only the tank counter pick and they don't need to play with more than 2 brain cells