What is Diff in Overwatch 2?

In a competitive role-based setting, it doesn’t take long to come across the word Diff in Overwatch 2. This word originated in League of Legends, but eventually made its way into the Overwatch 2 community. While Diff can be used with a positive outlook, it’s more often a critical measure of one’s gameplay.

This article will elaborate on the meaning of Diff in Overwatch 2, highlighting its use case, and its implications during a match.

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What is Diff in Overwatch 2?

Genji in Overwatch 2 (Image via Blizzard)

Diff is short for difference. It's used to compare a player’s performance against the opponent’s based on their role in the team and the hero they are playing. Since Overwatch 2 allows for the same heroes and hero types to be played on opposing teams, their difference in performance can be referred to as Diff. Calling Diff usually accuses the player of underperforming and is blamed for the loss.

Diff in Overwatch 2 is primarily used in four ways based on the hero roles:

1) Hero Diff

When two opposing teams are playing the same hero and one is outperforming the other, the hero’s name is called out. For instance, if both teams are playing Venture and your team’s Venture consistently gets fewer kills than your opponent’s, it is referred to as Venture Diff. This implies that your team is losing because of Venture.

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2) Tank Diff

When the tank in your team is playing better than the opposing team’s tank, it is referred to as Tank Diff. This implies that you’re winning the game because of your tank.

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3) DPS Diff

If the difference in damage done by both teams’ DPS heroes influences the outcome of the game, then it is referred to as the DPS Diff. For instance, if your team’s Cassidy is doing more damage than the opposing team’s Genji, someone might comment, "DPS Diff."

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4) Support Diff

When the support hero in one team is better than the opposing team, it is called out as "Support Diff." This signifies that the game was won or lost because of the performance of the support hero.

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Is it toxic to use Diff in Overwatch 2?

D.Va in Overwatch 2 (Image via Blizzard)

The term Diff in Overwatch 2 has become a reason for toxicity in the game because it shifts blame on another player. While judging a player's skills using this term can initiate a fruitful discussion on how to perform better, more often than not, it works against the entire team.

Diff can demoralize your teammate, which is never a wise choice mid-game. It is crucial to remain positive while trying to point out an individual’s performance. This can be done with constructive criticisms and healthier discussions on what can be improved.

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That covers everything you need to know about Diff in Overwatch 2. For more related topics check out our other Overwatch 2 articles:

• How to get Azure Flame Hanzo skin in Overwatch 2
• OWCS Major Dallas 2024: Schedule, teams, livestream details, and more
• Overwatch 2 Mirrorwatch explored: All changes, best Heroes, and more
• How to claim free Xbox Game Pass skins in Overwatch 2