Yesterday I cranked up the previous disappointment machine to play Overwatch 2 and see what season 2’s new hotness, Ramattra, was talkin’ about in opposition to my mains. What I shortly found was that the sport’s newest tank hero not solely kicks their asses in one-on-one bouts as a rule, however that he’s additionally the sport’s most stimulating adversary.
Each Overwatch participant is aware of that with each new patch the query returns, “However what of my mains?” Possibly your faves are blessedly unchanged (for now), or possibly a capability of theirs that completely rips has been nerfed, thus ending your reign as a golden god. My specific model of Overwatch 2 mind rot is much less about how patches change my mains and extra about how my mains match up in opposition to the brand new heroes they introduce. My mains, for many who weren’t asking, are D.Va, Moira, and Soldier 76. Effectively, truly I don’t actually have an assault major as a result of their queue occasions take perpetually however Soldier 76’s “not Kamen Rider” pores and skin guidelines.
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For many who need a complicated analogy for what enjoying in opposition to a talented Ramattra participant is like, right here’s my contrived stab: Ramattra is an amalgamation of Doomfist’s aggro, Sigma’s zoning, Moira’s cheese, and Zenyatta’s poise for good measure. As Overwatch 2’s new tank, he can kinda do a little bit of the whole lot.
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Whereas I encountered many a inexperienced participant who was nonetheless getting the dangle of Ramattra’s talents in my play session, every time I had the misfortune of coming into contact with a participant who exhibited indicators of what I’ll dub “new hero extremely intuition,” my staff was dealt a swift defeat. As a substitute of throwing up my arms and, consequently, throwing my controller throughout the room at Ramattra’s bullshit, I used to be truly excited by it. Like a complacent anime villain who’s been ready for a worthy challenger, Ramattra’s toolkit, when put into succesful arms, grants OW2 a brand new supply of pleasure. Way back, I’d solved gamers’ fears of an ulting Genji with a well-placed helix rocket to the bottom by Soldier 76 (free tip, btw), however Ramattra’s toolkit at all times discovered a approach to elude me as an attacking or defending pressure. So right here’s my recounting of how Ramattra reignited my OW2 hearth because of how good of a matchup he was in opposition to my mains.
D. Va
After I first reported that Ramattra’s Doomfist-esque punch capability, Pummel, sends out an power wave that may pierce shields, hit a number of enemies, and negate D.Va’s protection matrix, I scoffed whereas typing away at my laptop computer on the audacity of this bitch breaking via my woman’s AT-Discipline. In principle, it was annoying. In observe, it was invigorating. Sometimes, D.Va’s protection matrix works as the nice equalizer in opposition to a mess of projectile hero ults. Gonna shoot a Hanzo arrow at me? Negated. Gonna rain Pharah rockets from the heavens? By no means occurred. So on and so forth. However every time I pounced on, say, a lonesome Mercy for a simple decide, good Ramattras would body-block me. Instinctively, I’d put up my protection matrix to counter any incoming assaults and proceed my assault, however Ramattra’s pummel pierced its veil. Naturally, my follow-up can be a barrage of micro missiles to chip away at his 450 well being factors however he’d have a solution for that together with his defensive capability. The eloquently named “Block” soaked up the would-be injury from my panicked response and quickly elevated his already sturdy well being factors.
At this juncture, the one possibility I had left was the tried-and-true Joestar strategy of operating away. This prompted the Ramattra to freeze my cowardly D.Va in her tracks together with his projectile, Ravenous Vortex, extract her from her mech, and extract her soul from this mortal aircraft. RIP in items.
Soldier 76
Jack Morrison, my finest pal, my candy cheese, my good time boy, my rotten Soldier 76, Ramattra has your quantity. Normally once you unload a clip from Soldier 76’s rifle geared up with a helix rocket, enemy well being factors drastically go down. Nonetheless, Ramattra is constructed like a shit brickhouse and should be handled as a high-priority goal. Each time I felt like I had the drop on Ramattra, his sturdy AF mechanical physique would shortly humble me for having had the temerity to interact him in a firefight all by my lonesome. Very similar to D.Va getting her mech time-stopped by Ramattra, Soldier 76’s rickety leg joints cave beneath the non secular strain of Ramattra’s imposing aura and I die. Additionally, the dude can shrug off Soldier 76’s final with a mixture of his defend and block capability so yeah, he’s a tough counter to Jack’s bullshit.
Moira
I’m ignoring the “learn extra” hyperlink beneath as a result of participant sentiment on OW2’s piss woman being too OP is a smooth-brained criticism and they need to be taught to get higher. I’m completely a “damage-focused Moira” who tops the staff rankings and aids our battle effort by recovering my very own well being, thus permitting me to bandage up you helpless lot. Jealousy appears to be like ugly on you. Don’t hate me as a result of I’m stunning and filled with piss and vigor. Anyway…
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Squaring up in opposition to Ramattra as Moira was particularly thrilling due to their comparable playstyles. We each drain the lives of our enemies with the intention to higher ourselves, and we each have ults that double down on that admittedly annoying capability. We’re kindred spirits. Star-crossed heroes, even. For this reason, after I ulted and wiped half of an enemy staff on Nepal, I audibly yelled “nani?” at a blocking Ramattra who survived my Kamehameha piss beam and overwhelmed my staff together with his ult: Annihilation. Hmm, Ramattra obtained arms.
Each time I’d tango with a Ramattra participant as Moira, I felt like Sonic combating Metallic Sonic due to how comparable our total methods have been. I would know the whole lot they’re going to do to comb my staff however that isn’t essentially going to assist me, since a talented Ramattra would additionally know the whole lot I’m going to do to attempt to forestall it. Fortunately, I’ve but to run right into a Ramattra that may hard-read my warp vacation spot like when Doomfist obliterated Tracer in his animated quick. Additionally, PSA to any OW2 groups with a Moira healer: her ult solely works in case you stroll into the scary beam. Cease operating away from its loving embrace. Christ.
Finally, Ramattra performs finest each with a dive comp staff and in opposition to one. His barrier-piercing assaults, zoning, and health-siphoning space of impact talents open up heroes like Genji, Tracer, and Winston for assaults and supply them with simple picks from the enemy staff. Whereas I may uncharitably complain about how he has each high-skilled hero’s finest talents, it’s additionally what makes him one of the thrilling heroes to play in opposition to.
Admittedly, enjoying OW2 had grow to be extra a muscle-memory train for me than an enthralling team-based shooter. Encounters had began to really feel much less like conditions that get dynamically resolved primarily based on one’s ability and gameplay intuition and extra like eventualities with fastened outcomes, because of veterans unearthing laborious counters to heroes. A shakeup was sorely wanted. Firefights with Ramattra disrupted the rhythm I’d developed with my mains and compelled me to work tougher to strategize the right way to take him and his teammates down. And that’s thrilling. It received’t shock me if a future patch replace makes Ramattra much less viable however, in the intervening time, I’m having enjoyable participating him within the free market of payload firefights.