Overwatch 2 Kiriko Abilities: What affects them and how to use them?

What’s new in Overwatch 2 you ask? It seems very similar to Overwatch 1? Well, there is a new hero (a couple to be honest) and she’s a vigilante shrine caretaker.

While we will come to her abilities and how to play her later, her intro music once you open the game will capture your attention. The hero’s lively nature is perfectly captured with the intro music and this is even before you get to her voice lines and her abilities in-game. 

Not really a creative name, this one. Kiriko can climb walls, and it proves very useful for a hero that relies on her abilities to get through to her allies and an ultimate that can turn the tide of a fight.

This ability is set to toggle by default. So if you don’t want to use all 10 Healing Ofuda at once, toggle it off. 

Once thrown, Healing Ofuda talismans take on a color. A Yellow colored Talisman means it has a homing target (an ally) to heal. A blue talisman means it’s just going in a projectile without a target. 

Now allied heroes can still go towards a Blue talisman to get some heal upon impact. If they don’t the talisman will be destroyed upon impact with a surface. 

Kunai is basically the damage output of Kiriko. With a 40/120 damage (depending on whether it's a body shot or a headshot), Kunai can potentially single-handedly eliminate an enemy hero. The rate of fire (1 shot per .55 seconds) is not too bad, but this ability is limited only by the player’s aim. 

Swift Step cleanses Kiriko of most negative abilities (most because it cannot remove the negative debuff of Biotic grenade). 

Swift step allows Kiriko to port to an allied hero. The allied hero can be on the ground or up in the air (read: Pharah). Kiriko will teleport next to them and then of course, fall down. 

For a very short period after using this ability, Kiriko is invulnerable. With proper timing, one that comes with practice, Kiriko players can dodge some crucial enemy abilities. 

Kiriko cannot use Swift Step when she is locked down by Junkrat’s Steel Trap, Zarya’s Graviton Surge or Sigma’s Gravitic Flux.

For one second, all of Kiriko’s allies in an area of 5 meters will be invulnerable. This ability is extremely powerful if used properly and the short duration and the low AOE prevent this ability from being overpowered. 

All allies under the effect are also cleansed of most negative impacts. If thrown straight up, Protection Suzu lands in exactly 7 seconds (so get your lineups in place).

Kiriko releases a fox spirit that rushes through and any allies in the spirit’s path receive movement, attack speed, and cooldown reductions. The spirit follows the path and does not climb walls. It also goes through walls. However, certain abilities like Mei’s Wall and Cryo-Freeze act as terrain. So the spirit cannot pass through them as it does walls. 

Kiriko's abilities in Overwatch 2 make her potentially one of the most contested heroes in the game. Kiriko joined the game with Overwatch 2's release and has seen widespread acceptance from the community so far.

Stay tuned to esports.gg for the latest Overwatch 2 news and updates.