Overwatch
What Is Role Queue in Overwatch?
The Overwatch queue that locks each team to one Tank, two Damage and two Support, with a separate rank for every role.
What is Role Queue in Overwatch?
Role Queue is the Overwatch matchmaking mode where you pick a role before queuing and the game builds teams of one Tank, two Damage and two Support. In competitive, each role has its own rank, so you can be Diamond on Support and Gold on Tank at the same time.
How Role Queue works
Before searching for a match, you choose which roles you are willing to play. The matchmaker only places you in games where that slot is open, and once the match starts you can only swap between heroes of the role you queued for. This guarantees a balanced composition in every game and stops lobbies with five Damage players or no healer at all.
One rank per role
- Tank, Damage and Support are ranked separately. Winning on Support never moves your Tank rank.
- Each role has its own [MMR](term:mmr), so matchmaking compares you to players of similar skill in that role.
- New roles start with [placement matches](term:placement-matches) before showing a rank.
- [Open Queue](term:open-queue) is a different ladder with a rank of its own.
Example
A player mains Kiriko and sits in Diamond on Support, but rarely plays Tank, which is still in Silver. In Role Queue, those ranks never mix: queuing as Tank puts them against Silver tanks, while their Support games stay in Diamond lobbies.
Boosting a single role
Because every role is ranked on its own, a rank boost can target just one of them. You choose the role at checkout and only that rank changes, while the others stay exactly where they were.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I queue for more than one role at once?
Yes. You can select several roles before searching. The game assigns you one of them for that match, and only the rank of the role you played changes.
Is Role Queue the same as Open Queue?
No. Open Queue has no role limits and uses a separate rank, so your Role Queue ranks are not affected by Open Queue matches.