Overwatch Capture the Flag
Teams compete to capture the enemy flag and return it to their base while protecting their own flag.
How to Win
Capture the enemy flag more times than your opponents within the time limit, or reach the point cap first.
History
Capture the Flag debuted during Overwatch's Lunar New Year event and later became a recurring arcade mode. Ayutthaya, set in Thailand, is the most iconic CTF map and was designed specifically for the mode.
Key Mechanics
- Both teams have a flag at their base
- A player carrying the flag cannot use movement abilities
- Your own flag must be at your base to score
- Dropped flags return to base after a short time
Attacking Tips
- Mobile heroes (Lucio, Tracer) are excellent for quick flag steals
- Use ultimates to clear defenders before a flag grab attempt
Defending Tips
- Split your team: some protect your flag, others attack the enemy
- Tanks with high HP work well as flag carriers for their survivability
Recommended Heroes
Carrier
Roadhog, Lucio, Tracer
Fast or tanky heroes that can carry the flag to safety under pressure
Defender
Torbjorn, Symmetra, Bastion
Turret heroes and area-denial abilities lock down your own flag location
Support
Ana, Moira, Baptiste
Healers that can sustain carriers and defenders across both sides of the map simultaneously
All Capture The Flag Maps (1)
Capture The Flag — Frequently Asked Questions
How do you score in Capture the Flag?
To score, a player must grab the enemy flag from their base and carry it back to their own flag location. Your own flag must be present at your base to score — if the enemy stole it, you must recover it first before a score counts.
Can flag carriers use abilities?
Flag carriers cannot use movement abilities while holding the flag. This is a deliberate design choice to prevent overpowered flag-running combinations, and it makes hero selection for carrying very important.
What heroes are best for carrying the flag?
Tanks with high HP like Roadhog or Reinhardt make excellent carriers since they can absorb damage while running back. Lucio is another top pick because Speed Boost is a team-wide passive that benefits teammates nearby rather than a personal movement ability.
Is Capture the Flag available year-round?
CTF appears in the Arcade pool regularly and is also prominently featured during the Lunar New Year seasonal event, which typically runs in January or February. Blizzard has also made a Competitive CTF version available during certain event periods.
What happens if both teams have each other's flags?
If both flags are away from their bases simultaneously, neither team can score. This creates a standoff where both teams must decide whether to send a sub-team to recover their own flag or push through to score first. Coordinating a simultaneous recovery and score attempt is an advanced tactic.
What are the dedicated CTF maps?
Ayutthaya (Thailand), Lijiang Tower: Night Market, Busan: Downtown, and Antarctica: Peninsula are among the maps used for CTF. Ayutthaya was the first map specifically designed for the mode and remains the most iconic CTF arena.
