Quick Play is the standard mode of playing matches, and where youll probably spend most of your time, especially early on.

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Characters like Mercy dont need to kill to be effective in Overwatch.

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Its got a massive fandom, even in surprising places.

You know, like porn.) Its fantastic, but if youre not a hardcore gamer, the prospect of investing your time in a big, multiplayer shooterespecially one with as many players as Overwatch is overwhelming.

Frankly, you might be wondering: Where do I start Fortunately, WIRED is here to help.

Below is our beginners guide for starting your life as an Overwatch obsessiveor at least someone who knows their way around.

OK, So Whats All the Fuss About Overwatch is an online, competitive multiplayer shooter developed by Blizzard Entertainment, the same folks who have made Starcraft, World of Warcraft, and Hearthstone, among others.

Theyre known for building shiny, compulsively playable online games, and this one is no different.

A team-based shooter starring a roster of 23 playable characters, with more being added each month, Overwatch emphasizes team coordination, character mastery, and situational awareness more than shooter skill, which makes it a great entry point for players who would never step foot in something like Counter-Strike.

In the core game modes, players face off in six-versus-six matches, in one of four game types: Escort: One team escorts a payload---essentially a fancy mobile cart---from one part of the map to the other, while the other team tries to stop them.

The payload moves whenver the escorting team is within close range of it, unless an enemy is blocking the path.

If you stick to the payload, it also heals you slowly over time.

This game type is on a timer, but pushing the payload to certain checkpoints buys the escorting team more time.

Assault: This is a pretty straightforward mode of territory control.

Defending team must protect a fixed square on the map while the attacking team tries to take it.

Most assault maps have two points that the attackers must try to take control of before the timer runs out.

Control: In gaming parlance, youd call this mode King of the Hill.

Its like Assault, except theres only one control point and everyones fighting over it.

First team to control the point for a set amount of time wins the round; best of three takes it (best of five in competitive, which well get to in a second).

Hybrid: Like the name implies, this type is half Assault, half Escort.

Once the attacking team takes the point---if they take it---it turns into a payload and the rest of the match continues like in Escort.

Advertisement There are a couple ways to play the core game: Quick Play and Competitive.

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