Overwatch 2 is revisiting one of its most debated times: the GOATS meta.
Blizzard has brought back the dominant team composition from 2018 and 2019 through the ongoing Overwatch: Classic event.
Just like last time, it's already ruffling some feathers. Originally coined by the team that popularized it, GOATS refers to a lineup consisting of three tanks and three supports.
It thrived by surviving, chaining combos, and keeping that sustain rolling. It wasn't showy, but it got the job done. A little too well, actually.
At its peak, GOATS transformed each match into a drawn-out brawl, where your hero play barely mattered unless your team could stack ults and outlast the enemy.
The dominance got so bad that Blizzard eventually implemented Role Queue to put an end to it. But now, in Season 15, it's back—if only for a limited time.
The GOATS meta is the focus in the latest Overwatch: Classic mode, running from March 25 to April 7. Players can experience those 6v6 matchups again on classic maps like Rialto, Busan, and Blizzard World.
Blizzard set hero balances to 2018 levels, just with a couple of modern updates. The inclusion of newer heroes like Ashe, Moira, Brigitte, and Wrecking Ball adds a more current flavor.
The event also includes in-game challenges with cosmetic rewards. For those missing the original Overwatch or wondering what it was like, this is your chance to jump back in.
Not all are on board. Critics say it was never a fun meta to begin with. It rewarded deathball strategies while punishing creative plays. Back then, swapping first usually meant losing first, and DPS mains were often left out of the equation entirely.
Some players believe that, given the GOATS era's impact on viewer fatigue and meta stagnation, this revival could bring back similar problems, even if just for a while. That said, Blizzard has provided some alternatives.
You can still play non-GOATS 6v6 modes in the Competitive Open Queue until April 22, just no full tank-stacking.
Anyone wanting the old format without GOATS dominance can still go for it.