Micromanage Your Ability Usage
As you already know, each character in Overwatch comes equipped with a kit, or set of abilities that make up what kind of character they are. Using an ability will place it on a cooldown. At first, each of these abilities seem like a shiny new toy that you can’t wait to play with every moment possible and while that’s fun at first, it can also be incredibly dangerous. Many of these abilities are given to their respective characters for a specific purpose and you want to maximize the value you get out of each and every one. For example, putting up a tank’s damage shield may not be as effective against one opponent and it may be wise to wait for multiple opponents to appear before activating it. This way your shield will absorb more damage and won’t time out when the rest of the enemy team shows up, leaving you defenseless.
In a similar vein, it is often important to save abilities for circumstances you hadn’t accounted for. The video above shows a Genji meleeing his way through the enemy team only to be pinned by Reinhardt and taken off map. However, because he had Swift Strike, Genji was able to use it to get back onto the map, thus rendering Reinhardt’s skill a complete waste. Moral of the story? Don’t spam your abilities. Pick and choose the right time to use them so as to gain an upper hand against the enemy team.
Learn To Take One For The Team
We can’t stress it enough. Overwatch is a team-based game. Because of this you will, at some point, be forced to make a sacrifice that you will not want to make. No, we don’t mean running into the enemy team guns blazing only to die. We mean a more metaphysical self-sacrifice. Overwatch doesn’t just require players to work together, but the team of characters to have synergy as well. Characters have a chosen classification such as Support or Offense for a reason, and a balanced team will likely give you the edge over teams that are less so.
At some point you’ll have to play a role or character that you either don’t like or aren’t familiar with. Don’t let this bother you though. Not only will you learn more characters, which will give you a clear advantage against someone less informed, but your team will also be happy.
Don’t Be Afraid to Change Characters Mid-Match
One of the key features in Overwatch is the ability to change your character during a match. This is definitely not a mechanic to be taken lightly and often times switching your active character will be vital to capturing/defending objectives and winning team fights. There are many characters in Overwatch and as such, certain characters will innately be weaker against others. Strategically using this imbalance between characters to your advantage is often referred to as a countering. The goal is to counter as much of the enemy team as you can, while keeping character synergy within your own team.
For instance, stationary characters, such as Bastion, have a difficult time avoiding high damage ranged characters, such as Widowmaker. Should the enemy team have a strong Widowmaker on their side, consider switching to D.Va who’ll have no trouble dealing with a squishy sniper with her high health pool and quick mobility. If you manage to capture an objective as Tracer, but now need to hold the position, consider switching to Torbjorn. Torbjorn’s turrets will most likely provide a stronger and safer defense than Tracer’s fast movements which are generally utilized to attack a team’s weaker members behind enemy lines. Just be sure to communicate your character swaps with the team so they don’t get a Winston bubble when they expected a Reinhardt shield.
Play For Objectives, Not For Kills
Many players have a tendency to focus on winning through their K/D spread instead of actually trying to complete objectives. It’s alright, in many cases we’ve been conditioned to do so. Unfortunately, that isn’t really going to fly in Overwatch. Objectives are the name of the game and without focusing on them you will lose. Overwatch has four game modes: Escort, Assault, Hybrid, and Control. Each of these maps requires a team to control, defend, advance, or capture points to win the game. While killing the enemy team is important as it puts them on a respawn timer, solely doing this will not actually lead to your team winning the game.
There will be a little voice in your head that will want you to chase down the enemy as they run away, but do your best to evaluate the situation. Will chasing that kill leave your objective vulnerable? If the answer is yes, then resist that urge and focus on the task at hand. Those few seconds you spent fighting in another area instead of holding the control point may be the biggest factor in your team losing the game. At the end of the day, what good is a high kill count if you lose every game?
Slow Down and Think
Overwatch is an incredibly fast-paced game. It’s very easy to split your attention and forget important things in the midst of all the chaos. This being said, it’s essential to understand each situation you find yourself in. Many times this means to take a breath and think of the best strategy you can employ. If your low health, find health. You’re a better use to the team refreshed at full health than running around while low. If the enemy team has a strong ranged player, examine your surroundings and position yourself away from choke points and sniper nests. Rushing head first into combat might net some kills, but getting behind the team and taking out their support may be a better option.
Take a moment and relax if you feel yourself getting swept up by all the action. It’s important to keep a clear head and think out game-winning plays than to just get one more kill. Overwatch is as much a game of the mind as it is a game of skill. Out-thinking your opponents is what will ultimately win you the game. Try to guess their strategies and counter their heroes. Play smarter, not harder.
Overwatch can seem hectic, crazy and confusing. But it can also be rewarding and an insane amount of fun. Follow these tips and you’ll undoubtedly make your away to the top. While you’re at it, check out some more of our Overwatch tips and character guides here. Now go blow something up!
About the author
