Winston · Tank
Winston abilities, perks and Stadium powers
More Winston guides
This guide is assembled by the site from match data and the game's own information — nobody wrote it by hand. Official and community guides appear alongside it when they exist.
Overview
Winston is a initiator tank hero in Overwatch with 425 health and 200 armor (625 in total). In competitive this season (PC, Americas, Europe and Asia averaged) it wins 52.0% of its games, is picked by 7.7% of teams and banned in 6.5% of matches: tier S on our ladder. Winston has 4 perks and 12 Stadium powers; below, each one is listed under the ability it changes.
Strengths
- Mobility: Jump Pack and Primal Rage get it in and out of fights.
Build cheat sheet
Pick the build that fits what you want to do this game.
- Winston · recommended perksBalancedRecommendedOne minor and one major perk, chosen by what each one's text adds to a tank hero. Blizzard doesn't publish how often each perk is picked, so this is a reading of the perks, not a pick rate.
- Winston · StadiumBalancedStadiumFour of the 12 Stadium powers of Winston, chosen by what their text adds to a tank hero and spread over different abilities so no single one carries the build.
- Winston · alternative perksUtilitySituationalThe other option of each perk level. Perks are chosen during the match, so switch to these when the enemy composition or the map asks for what they do.
Builds
Winston · recommended perks
When to use it
One minor and one major perk, chosen by what each one's text adds to a tank hero. Blizzard doesn't publish how often each perk is picked, so this is a reading of the perks, not a pick rate.
Minor perk
Electric ChargeWinston gains 10% movement speed for each enemy he is damaging with Tesla Cannon's primary fire, up to 30%.
Heavy LandingDuring Primal Rage, Jump Pack's damage and area increase by up to 75% while airborne.Picked for more damage: During Primal Rage, Jump Pack's damage and area increase by up to 75% while airborne.
Major perk
Chain LightningFully charged Secondary Fire hits bounce to up to 2 additional targets.
Revitalizing BarrierBarrier Projector heals allies within it for 35 health per second.Picked for more survival: Barrier Projector heals allies within it for 35 health per second.
Winston · Stadium
When to use it
Four of the 12 Stadium powers of Winston, chosen by what their text adds to a tank hero and spread over different abilities so no single one carries the build.
Stadium powers (4)
- 1
Lunar LeapJump Pack: Gain 3% bonus Ultimate Charge per enemy damaged by Jump Pack's landing. While using Jump Pack, gain 5% of Max Life as Overhealth every 1s, up to 100. - 2
Primal PunchTesla Cannon: Melee or Jump Pack or Tesla Cannon Secondary Fire eliminations reset Jump Pack cooldown. For every 25 Armor you have, gain 3% Melee damage. - 3
Pocket ProjectorBarrier Projector: Activating Barrier Projector attaches an additional, smaller Barrier Projector to Winston with 10% health. - 4
Primal SlamPrimal Rage: While using Jump Pack, press Jump to quickly slam toward your crosshair. During Primal Rage, slam speed is increased by 50%.
Winston · alternative perks
When to use it
The other option of each perk level. Perks are chosen during the match, so switch to these when the enemy composition or the map asks for what they do.
Minor perk
Electric ChargeWinston gains 10% movement speed for each enemy he is damaging with Tesla Cannon's primary fire, up to 30%.Heavy LandingDuring Primal Rage, Jump Pack's damage and area increase by up to 75% while airborne.When the situation calls for it: Winston gains 10% movement speed for each enemy he is damaging with Tesla Cannon's primary fire, up to 30%.
Major perk
Chain LightningFully charged Secondary Fire hits bounce to up to 2 additional targets.Revitalizing BarrierBarrier Projector heals allies within it for 35 health per second.When the situation calls for it: Fully charged Secondary Fire hits bounce to up to 2 additional targets.
Abilities
LMBTesla CannonElectric frontal-cone weapon. Hold to charge, release to fire focused electricity.Key: primary fire. Perks: Electric Charge
ShiftJump Pack5sLeap forward into the air. Landing on an enemy damages them.Key: Shift · cooldown 5 s
EBarrier Projector10sDeploy a protective energy dome.Key: E · cooldown 10 s. Perks: Revitalizing Barrier
QPrimal RageUltimateGain immense health, but you can only leap and punch enemies.Key: Q · ultimate. Perks: Heavy Landing
Strategy
1Tesla Cannon
primary fire · Tesla Cannon: Electric frontal-cone weapon. Hold to charge, release to fire focused electricity.
- Minor perk · Electric Charge: Winston gains 10% movement speed for each enemy he is damaging with Tesla Cannon's primary fire, up to 30%.
- Stadium · Electro Cluster: +15% Tesla Cannon Primary Fire Max Range. Tesla Cannon's Primary Fire deals 2% increased damage per enemy being hit.
- Stadium · Lightning Rod: Hits with Tesla Cannon's fully charged secondary fire bounce to all other enemies within 8m for 75% damage.
- Stadium · Volatile Volt: Tesla Cannon's Secondary Fire can critically hit for 250% damage.
- Stadium · Primal Punch: Melee or Jump Pack or Tesla Cannon Secondary Fire eliminations reset Jump Pack cooldown. For every 25 Armor you have, gain 3% Melee damage.
2Jump Pack
Shift · Jump Pack · 5 s: Leap forward into the air. Landing on an enemy damages them.
- Stadium · Moon Landing: Heal for 7% of Max Life per enemy damaged by Jump Pack's landing.
- Stadium · Lunar Leap: Gain 3% bonus Ultimate Charge per enemy damaged by Jump Pack's landing. While using Jump Pack, gain 5% of Max Life as Overhealth every 1s, up to 100.
3Barrier Projector
E · Barrier Projector · 10 s: Deploy a protective energy dome.
- Major perk · Revitalizing Barrier: Barrier Projector heals allies within it for 35 health per second.
- Stadium · Pocket Projector: Activating Barrier Projector attaches an additional, smaller Barrier Projector to Winston with 10% health.
- Stadium · Tesla Field: Enemies within Barrier Projector take 40 Electric damage every 1s.
- Stadium · Surge Protector: Allies within Barrier Projector are healed for 30 every 1s.
4Primal Rage
Q · Primal Rage · ultimate: Gain immense health, but you can only leap and punch enemies.
- Minor perk · Heavy Landing: During Primal Rage, Jump Pack's damage and area increase by up to 75% while airborne.
- Stadium · Primal Slam: While using Jump Pack, press Jump to quickly slam toward your crosshair. During Primal Rage, slam speed is increased by 50%.
- Stadium · Lucheng Launchers: Jump Pack's damage becomes Electric and increases by up to 75% while airborne. During Primal Rage, this is doubled.
5Perks
During each match you unlock a minor perk and, later, a major perk: one of two options each time. ★ marks this guide's pick.
- Electric Charge: Winston gains 10% movement speed for each enemy he is damaging with Tesla Cannon's primary fire, up to 30%.
- ★ Heavy Landing: During Primal Rage, Jump Pack's damage and area increase by up to 75% while airborne.
- Chain Lightning: Fully charged Secondary Fire hits bounce to up to 2 additional targets.
- ★ Revitalizing Barrier: Barrier Projector heals allies within it for 35 health per second.
Tips
- Jump Pack (Shift) moves you: if you spend it to engage, you won't have it to escape.
- Primal Rage (Q) is your ultimate: plan it with your team's ultimates instead of using it as soon as it's ready.
Matchups
Works well with
Both do better than their average on the same maps, such as Watchpoint: Gibraltar, Colosseo and Dorado: a good pairing when the map suits them.
Both do better than their average on the same maps, such as Esperança, New Queen Street and Busan: a good pairing when the map suits them.
Both do better than their average on the same maps, such as Colosseo, Watchpoint: Gibraltar and Dorado: a good pairing when the map suits them.
Both do better than their average on the same maps, such as Colosseo, Esperança and Runasapi: a good pairing when the map suits them.
Changelog
- Guide created for patch Season 4.
Was this helpful?
Your vote helps other players find the best guides.