Alright, let’s talk about dealing with Hanzo. For a while there, it felt like every game had a Hanzo just clicking heads, mine included. Super frustrating, you know? Just getting deleted from across the map. So, I decided I needed to actually practice against this, figure out what works instead of just complaining.
First thing I tried was just trying to out-shoot him with characters I usually play. Yeah, that didn’t go well. His arrows hit like a truck, especially those fully drawn headshots. You peek wrong once, and boom, back to spawn. Learned pretty quick that trying to win a long-range peek battle against a good Hanzo is usually a bad bet unless maybe you’re a cracked Widowmaker yourself.
So, next thought: shields. Gotta block those arrows, right? I spent some time playing tanks like Reinhardt and Sigma. Pushing forward with Rein’s big blue rectangle definitely helped the team move up. But a smart Hanzo just repositions, finds a new angle. You can’t keep the shield up forever. With Sigma, I practiced using that kinetic grasp thing to try and eat his Storm Arrows. It felt pretty good when I timed it right, just sucked them up. But man, sometimes I’d whiff it or use it too early, and then I’m just a big target. Using his shield to block off Hanzo’s perch was decent too, forced him to move.
Getting Up Close and Personal
After playing shield tanks, I started thinking maybe the answer wasn’t blocking, but rushing him down. If he wants to snipe, don’t let him snipe. I started experimenting with heroes who can close the distance fast.
- Winston: This guy actually felt pretty good. Jump right on Hanzo’s head, drop the bubble shield. The bubble messes up his arrows, and your tesla cannon doesn’t require perfect aim, which is great when you’re dancing around him. He really hates being zapped inside that bubble.
- Similar idea. Boosters in his face, use Defense Matrix to eat the initial arrows and maybe the Storm Arrow volley. Then just unload cannons and missiles. She’s got the health pool to survive a body shot or two usually.
- Genji/Tracer: These guys are trickier. If you can sneak up on Hanzo, great. Deflect can sometimes save you from an arrow. But man, one wrong move, one lucky shot from him, and you’re done. High risk, high reward kinda thing. Found I needed really good map knowledge and timing for this to work reliably.
Other Stuff I Tried
Played some Sombra too. Hacking a Hanzo is super annoying for him. Takes away his leap and storm arrows for a bit, makes him feel vulnerable. Plus, just knowing where he is with the hack or opportunistic pings helps the whole team avoid his sightlines.
Sometimes, if the enemy Hanzo wasn’t too cracked, just playing someone like Soldier or Cassidy and applying constant pressure from medium range worked. Force him to focus on you instead of your supports. Make him move, keep him uncomfortable.
So, What Actually Works?
After all that time messing around, here’s what I figured out from my own games. It’s not always about picking one specific hero. It’s more about how you play against him.
You gotta deny him space and easy shots. Use cover, constantly. Don’t stand still. Don’t peek the same corner twice. If you have a shield, use it smart, block his angles. Pressure is key. Dive tanks like Winston and * are probably my most consistent go-to’s now because they force him off his perch and make him fight up close, where he’s weaker. Flankers work if you’re patient and pick your moment. Even just coordinating with your team to focus him down makes a huge difference.
Basically, make his life difficult. Don’t let him just sit back and click heads for free. That was my process, lots of trial and error, but feels much better playing against him now.
