Introduction
Playing tank in Overwatch 2 can be frustrating. Your team crumbles, progress stalls, and at the end of the match, someone types “tank diff.” But here’s the truth: many of these situations stem from a simple mistake—not turning around.

This guide breaks down why turning around at the right moments can drastically elevate your tank gameplay by improving engagement timing, peeling, and healer line of sight. It’s a habit even high-level players sometimes overlook.

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Why Turning Around Matters

Turning around gives you instant feedback about your team’s position and readiness. Here’s why that matters:

1. Engagement Timing
   • If you push while your team is respawning or repositioning, you’ll fight alone—and lose.
   • A quick look back helps you sync with your team before engaging.
2. Peeling Opportunities
   • Your supports can’t scream for help in time.
   • Turning around lets you spot flankers, Genjis, or Tracers harassing your backline and intervene.
3. Line of Sight (LoS)
   • You’re not invincible—healers need to see you to keep you alive.
   • Turning around ensures you’re not overextending beyond your team’s healing range.

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Common Tank Mistakes (and How Turning Around Fixes Them)

1. Bad Engagement Timing

• What Goes Wrong: You dive solo while your team is still regrouping.
• How to Fix It: Glance back—if your DPS are still running from spawn, don’t go in yet.

2. Ignoring the Backline

• What Goes Wrong: Your Ana gets flanked while you tunnel-vision the frontline.
• How to Fix It: Turn around to check for threats—then peel with shields, CC, or pressure.

3. Losing LoS with Healers

• What Goes Wrong: You push past corners or elevation, cutting off heals.
• How to Fix It: Keep an eye on your supports and reposition if needed to stay visible.

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Examples of Turning Around in Action

Orisa: Nano Push Gone Wrong

• What Happened: Orisa gets Nano’d and charges ahead—but doesn’t check if her team is following.
• Result: Her supports are stuck behind cover, and she dies alone to a flanking Cassidy.
• Fix: A simple glance back would’ve revealed the distance and allowed for a smarter push.

Roadhog: Hook, Then Feed

• What Happened: Hog lands a hook on Doomfist and dives—but his DPS are still repositioning.
• Result: He ends up in a 1v3.
• Fix: Turning around first would’ve told him the timing was off.

Ramattra: Tunnel Vision Death

• What Happened: Ramattra charges forward during Nemesis form, unaware his supports are cut off.
• Result: He melts without heals.
• Fix: A quick check would’ve helped him adjust positioning and live longer.

D.Va: Textbook Team Awareness

• What Happened: D.Va turns back frequently, spots her Tracer dueling Ashe, times her boosters to assist.
• Result: The Ashe dies, and they win the fight.
• Why It Worked: D.Va aligned her plays with her team’s movements by simply looking behind.

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How to Build the Habit

1. Check Before & After Engagements
   • Quick 180° looks should become second nature.
2. Map Awareness = Win Conditions
   • Always know where your supports and DPS are before diving.
3. Use Pings & Comms
   • If you notice danger behind, call it. Better yet, respond to it.
4. Watch Your Replays
   • Look for fights you lost alone. Would turning around have changed anything?

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Key Takeaways

✅ Turn Around Regularly
You’re not just a battering ram—you’re the front of a formation. Keep tabs on it.

✅ Engage When Ready
Pushing too early gets you killed. Confirm your team is with you.

✅ Peel When Needed
Supports keep you alive—return the favor by protecting them.

✅ Stay in Healing LoS
Don’t run past walls or corners unless you know your healers can follow up.

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Final Thoughts

Playing tank isn’t just about brute force—it’s about awareness and timing. Turning around might seem small, but it’s one of the most underrated tools for smarter tanking. It helps you sync up, stay alive, and win more fights.

So next time you queue up, remember: turn around, assess, then engage. Your win rate—and your healers—will thank you.

Let me know in the comments what rank you’re pushing for, or what tank you’d like to see covered next!