The tanks in Overwatch are a force to be reckoned with, but none are as scary and intimidating as Roadhog. A top tank in the game, he makes up for his lack of firepower in sheer durability and size. Mastering Roadhog is an excellent way to help you rise through the ranks when playing a tank in Overwatch.
Roadhog has a large and heavy build, like other tanks in the game, which makes him an easier target. However, his size is well compensated by his vast health pool. Unlike some tanks in Overwatch, Roadhog benefits from being aggressive and is often best used when your team is on the attacking side of the map. Here is how you can master him.
Roadhog Abilities
Roadhog wields the Scrap Gun, a shotgun-type weapon that fires shrapnel, dealing damage per piece to enemies. As such, it is very important to ensure you are up close and personal when attacking with Roadhog, as the more shrapnel that hits the opponent, the heavier the damage he deals.
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There are two firing modes for Scrap Gun. The basic mode is best used at close range as the shrapnel spread is very large. However, if you can shoot a hero at close range, you can take out most DPS and support heroes in a single hit. This is why he is the bane of squishy heroes like Tracer, Sombra, Zenyatta, and Mercy.
The alternate fire of Scrap Gun allows Roadhog to deal significant damage at medium range. The spread of the shrapnel is removed, but this results in a weaker blow to opponents. The alternate fire of Scrap Gun is best used to kill heroes trying to run away from Roadhog. It is also used to keep heroes at bay.
Roadhog’s best ability is Chain Hook, which allows him to pull enemy heroes towards him. If it connects, Chain Hook also causes a minor stun that can cancel the ultimate abilities of enemy heroes. The basic combo with Roadhog is to hook an enemy hero and then hit them with Roadhog’s Scrap Gun. This almost always kills most DPS and support heroes.
Take a Breather
Aside from having high HP, Roadhog also has Take A Breather. This ability allows Roadhog to heal his HP significantly. You can survive many slow damaging abilities like Reaper’s Death Blossom and Hanzo’s Dragon Strike using Take A Breather while Roadhog is targeted.
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Even better, Roadhog can generate ultimate charge while using this ability, so avoid med packs unless necessary when using Roadhog.
Chain Hook can also pull heroes off of the map. Once the chance connects, quickly turn your camera towards a hole on the map, and Roadhog can pull them out of the game.
Roadhog’s ultimate ability, Whole Hog, is one of the most underrated abilities in the game. It is one of the best abilities to defend points because it pushes the enemy away from your team. If you can push the enemies outside the map’s bounds, that is an easy kill for Roadhog. Truthfully, it does not damage much, but you should not aim for kills when using Whole Hog.
When To Use And When Not To Use Roadhog
Roadhog is a good counter against heroes that can get to hard-to-reach areas. These include Pharah, Widowmaker, and Hanzo. His Chain Hook is long-range, so you can easily pull those heroes within your reach. You can force players using these heroes to change and adjust most of the time, as Roadhog can easily kill them.
As for heroes, he is weak against; Roadhog is weak against high-damage heroes like Reaper, Bastion, and Soldier 76. His large frame makes him very easy to hit. Not only will you be a prime target for damage, but the enemy team can also use you to generate their ultimate abilities, so it is not a good idea to pick Roadhog against them.
You should not be afraid to charge at the enemy when playing as Roadhog. Roadhog has high sustainability thanks to his high HP and self-healing. The more you charge at the enemy, the faster you can regenerate your ultimate ability. It is okay to focus on kills when using Roadhog as a tank, but that is okay as that is what he is intended to do, after all.
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