Gaming
Want to know how to hit the ground running with the new hero’s oversized paw? We’ve got all the advice you need right here.
To say Doomfist has been a long time coming would be a massive understatement. Rumoured for as long as the game has been out, Overwatch’s gauntlet wearing bearer of… well, doom, is the second new offense character to come from Blizzard after Sombra’s release in late 2016.
The thing is, the scary looking dude is a tricky hero to master because of what you need to do to get the most out of him. Where Soldier, Pharah, McCree, or Genji can attack from distant with a combination of speed, skill, and sheer variation in attacks, Doomfist needs to get in close and combo his moves to truly dominate. It’s difficult, but it can be done: here’s how.
Combo your moves, stay mobile
A lot of Doomfist’s moves are just as good as evading as they are dealing damage. Seismic Slam can get you into a battle with a bang, but it can also help you escape. On that topic, it’s important to know that Doomfist is a combo character: think fighting games. Jumping high into the air with a Rising Uppercut means you are higher up when you activate Seismic Slam.
There are a few cases where Rocket Punch will excel. First up, newer players will be scared by the onrushing Doomfist, in the same way a charging Winston scatters a team. Second of all, it’s going to be able to put some weaker characters into a state where they’re nearly dead if you can aim it so you punch them into a wall. The standard 100 damage is upped to 150 if you factor in a wall.
Finally, it’s also a get out of jail card. If you’ve jumped in and are causing destruction on an onrushing team, it’ll also get some distance between you and them if needed. A good healer will be able to get you back up to full health quickly, so you can get back into the fight.
Build your shield, rely on abilities
With a relatively low cooldown (4 seconds) you can use Rocket Punch to your advantage a lot, and combo it into a Rising Uppercut when you’ve knocked an opponent into the wall. Remember you’ll be gaining shield just by using these abilities, so don’t sit on the back of the battlefield waiting to get involved. In and out, combo, retreat.
That said, your primary fire (Hand Cannon) won’t build your shields up, isn’t hugely powerful, and doesn’t have a great range. Doomfist is going to make short work of support characters and slower moving ones, but if you’re up against Sombra you’re going to have a terrible time, thanks to her ability hacking options: taking away Doomfist’s abilities basically make him a weak shotgunner. On top of that you’ll want to avoid Tracer due to her speed, and remember he’s a big character so her guns will tear you to shreds pretty quickly.
Combo with teammates for Meteor Strike
Doomfist’s ultimate is devastating, hitting for 300 damage in the epicentre of the attack (and up to 300 on the outer circle), but people are also going to learn how to dodge it pretty quickly and it has a large tell. We shouldn’t need to tell you this, but despite all the modes Blizzard have added, Overwatch is a team game, all about getting the right balance that will help you win.
It’s vital you remember at all times that Doomfist might be big, but he’s also very, very mobile. His large hitbox is a drawback but if you’re moving at pace, nailing your combos and then getting out to safety you should be able to build your barrier, and do constant damage.
To that end, if you’re playing solo it’s about picking Doomfist when the team composition is right. If someone is playing Reinhardt or Zarya, you’re going to be a good match because they both have ults that can put an entire opposing team at risk of a wipe. For example, if Reinhardt’s ult is used well, all six enemy heroes are on their back which potentially allows Doomfist to rain down and take them all out.
But again, Overwatch is best played with a co-ordinated team. Rather than struggle as Doomfist because he’s new, get your friends to pick heroes that will complement one another. Study the meta, keep an eye on new, evolving strategies, and make sure you remember your strengths and weaknesses. Play as a team, above all, and Doomfist can be a monster.
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