Does Kiriko Heal a Lot? A Deep Dive into Overwatch 2’s Agile Healer
The short answer is yes, Kiriko can heal a lot in Overwatch 2. Her primary healing ability, Healing Ofuda, coupled with her mobility and other utility, allows her to provide substantial healing output to her team. While her healing style differs from that of a dedicated main healer like Mercy or Ana, Kiriko’s burst healing potential and ability to weave in and out of fights make her a potent force on the battlefield. This effectiveness hinges on a player’s skill in aiming her Ofuda and utilizing her other abilities to keep allies alive.
Understanding Kiriko’s Healing Mechanics
Kiriko’s healing output revolves around her Healing Ofuda, which are paper talismans that home in on targeted allies. While they have a slight travel time, their homing capability makes them more forgiving than projectiles from heroes like Ana or Baptiste. This allows Kiriko to prioritize targets quickly and efficiently, even in chaotic team fights.
The Healing Ofuda deliver a burst of healing rather than a constant stream. While the theoretical maximum healing per second (HPS) can reach high numbers if all talismans land, the practical HPS in a real match usually varies depending on factors like:
- Accuracy: Missing shots reduces healing output.
- Travel Time: The time it takes for the talismans to reach their target lowers the sustained HPS.
- Target Prioritization: Focusing on critical targets versus spreading heals across the team.
- Enemy Pressure: Needing to reposition or use defensive abilities impacts healing time.
Kiriko’s kit isn’t just about raw healing output, though. Her Protection Suzu provides temporary invulnerability and cleanses negative status effects, turning the tide of battles. This utility is invaluable in negating enemy ultimates, preventing crucial eliminations, and enabling aggressive plays.
Comparing Kiriko’s Healing to Other Supports
When compared to other support heroes, Kiriko’s healing output places her somewhere in the middle ground. While she might not reach the sustained HPS of a pocketing Mercy or the burst-healing potential of a well-aimed Ana grenade, Kiriko offers a unique blend of healing, utility, and damage potential.
- Ana: Ana boasts the highest potential single-target healing in the game due to her Biotic Rifle and Biotic Grenade. However, she requires precise aim and is vulnerable to flankers.
- Baptiste: Baptiste’s Biotic Launcher provides area-of-effect healing, and his Immortality Field offers temporary protection. He’s more stationary than Kiriko but can provide consistent healing.
- Moira: Moira’s Biotic Grasp and Biotic Orbs allow her to heal multiple targets simultaneously. She’s effective in close-quarters combat but lacks long-range utility.
- Mercy: Mercy’s consistent healing beam and resurrection ability make her a valuable asset, but she relies heavily on her team for protection.
- Lucio: Lucio’s passive healing aura and Amp It Up ability provide sustained healing and speed boosts. He excels in enabling dive compositions and contesting objectives.
- Zenyatta: Zenyatta’s Harmony Orb provides consistent, albeit lower, healing to a single target. His primary focus is often on dealing damage with his Discord Orb.
- Lifeweaver: Lifeweaver brings unique utility with his Life Grip and Petal Platform, offering both protection and strategic positioning options alongside his healing.
Kiriko differentiates herself with her combination of burst healing, cleanse, and mobility. Her Swift Step allows her to teleport to allies in need, making her highly adaptable to different situations. The GamesLearningSociety.org emphasizes the importance of understanding game mechanics to improve strategic gameplay.
Maximizing Kiriko’s Healing Potential
To maximize Kiriko’s healing effectiveness, consider these tips:
- Prioritize Critical Targets: Focus your healing on allies who are taking the most damage or are at risk of being eliminated.
- Utilize Swift Step Strategically: Use Swift Step to quickly reach injured allies, reposition during fights, or escape dangerous situations.
- Master Ofuda Aim: Practice your aim to ensure that your Healing Ofuda consistently hit their targets.
- Coordinate with Your Team: Communicate with your team about your cooldowns and healing priorities.
- Balance Healing and Damage: Don’t neglect your damage output. Weaving Kunai attacks between healing bursts can help secure eliminations and pressure enemies.
- Anticipate Damage: Try to predict when your allies will take damage and pre-emptively heal them to prevent them from dying.
- Be Aware of Enemy Abilities: Use Protection Suzu to counter enemy ultimates and prevent negative status effects.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Kiriko’s Healing
1. What is Kiriko’s primary healing ability?
Kiriko’s primary healing ability is Healing Ofuda, which are paper talismans that home in on targeted allies.
2. How much does each Healing Ofuda heal?
Each Healing Ofuda delivers a burst of healing, with the total amount depending on how many talismans hit the target.
3. What is Kiriko’s healing per second (HPS)?
Kiriko’s theoretical maximum HPS can be high, but her practical HPS varies based on factors like aim, travel time, and target prioritization. The article states if she lands all of her talismans, heals for an astonishing 72 health per second.
4. Can Kiriko heal through barriers?
No, shields can block her healing. That makes Reinhardt, Sigma, and Winston capable of preventing such healing from taking place.
5. What does Kiriko’s Protection Suzu do?
Protection Suzu provides temporary invulnerability and cleanses negative status effects, such as anti-heal and stun, turning the tide of battles.
6. Is Kiriko a main healer or off-healer?
Kiriko can effectively fill both main and off-healer roles, depending on the team composition and the playstyle.
7. How does Kiriko’s healing compare to Ana’s?
Ana has higher single-target healing potential, but requires more precise aim. Kiriko offers a blend of burst healing, utility, and mobility.
8. What are Kiriko’s strengths as a healer?
Kiriko’s strengths include burst healing, mobility, utility (Protection Suzu), and damage potential.
9. How can I improve my Kiriko healing accuracy?
Practice your aim in training mode, focus on tracking your teammates, and anticipate their movements.
10. Is Kiriko easy to play?
Kiriko’s mechanics are relatively straightforward, but mastering her requires understanding positioning, target prioritization, and cooldown management.
11. Does Genji deflect Kiriko heals?
Yes, So we found out in an old Mythbuster episode. that if you deflect an enemy kiriko’s healing. while it’s yellow and trying to seek her teammate, your deflected heals. will still try to follow kiriko’s initial target.
12. Can enemies interrupt Kiriko’s healing?
Yes, enemies can interrupt Kiriko’s healing by killing her. Also if you teleport away, the healing doesn’t go with you.
13. Who is a good support to pair with Kiriko?
Kiriko pairs well with various supports. The article mentions Kiriko And Lucio are a great pair.
14. How old is Kiriko?
According to her bio in Overwatch 2, Kiriko is 21 years old.
15. What is Kiriko’s ultimate ability?
Kiriko’s ultimate ability is Kitsune Rush, which summons a spirit fox that creates a path boosting movement speed, attack speed, and reload speed for allies who follow it.
In conclusion, Kiriko is a capable healer in Overwatch 2 who offers a unique blend of healing, utility, and damage. Her effectiveness depends on player skill and strategic decision-making. Understanding her strengths and weaknesses allows players to maximize her potential and contribute significantly to their team’s success. For further exploration of game mechanics and strategies, resources like the Games Learning Society offer valuable insights. Learn more at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.