Who Pairs Best with Roadhog in Overwatch 2? A Comprehensive Guide
Roadhog, the hulking, hook-wielding tank, is a force to be reckoned with in Overwatch 2. However, even this formidable character shines brightest when paired with the right teammates. The optimal pairings for Roadhog revolve around enabling his burst damage potential, sustaining his survivability, and covering his weaknesses. Excellent pairings include heroes that offer damage amplification, healing, and flanking support. Zenyatta and Ana are particularly strong, followed by Soldier 76, Reaper, Sombra, Kiriko, and Widowmaker. Understanding the synergies between Roadhog and these heroes is crucial for maximizing your team’s effectiveness.
Maximizing Roadhog’s Potential: Synergies and Strategies
Roadhog thrives when he can quickly eliminate isolated targets. Therefore, heroes who can set up these opportunities or enhance his damage output are invaluable. Here’s a breakdown of some top pairings:
Zenyatta: The Discord Harmony
- Synergy: Zenyatta’s Discord Orb is arguably Roadhog’s best friend. By applying Discord Orb to a hooked target, Zenyatta amplifies the damage Roadhog deals, making it almost guaranteed to one-shot most 200-HP heroes. This combo is deadly and reliable.
- Strategy: Zenyatta should prioritize applying Discord to targets that Roadhog hooks. This requires good communication and quick reaction time.
Ana: The Support Powerhouse
- Synergy: Ana’s abilities synergize exceptionally well with Roadhog. Her Biotic Grenade not only heals Roadhog for a substantial amount but also prevents enemies from being healed, making them easier to eliminate. Additionally, Ana’s Nano Boost can turn Roadhog’s Whole Hog ultimate into a devastating area-denial tool.
- Strategy: Ana should focus on keeping Roadhog alive with Biotic Grenades and Nano Boosting him during opportune moments, especially during Whole Hog or when he’s engaging a group of enemies.
Soldier: 76: Sustained Damage and Healing Support
- Synergy: While Roadhog has his own self-healing through Take a Breather, Soldier: 76’s Biotic Field provides supplemental healing, particularly useful in prolonged engagements. Also, Soldier: 76 provides sustained damage output that covers for the downtime between Roadhog’s hooks.
- Strategy: Soldier: 76 should use Biotic Field to support Roadhog during pushes and help him stay alive longer.
Reaper: The Flanking Partner
- Synergy: Reaper and Roadhog can create chaos in the enemy backlines together. Reaper can easily teleport and wraith form into advantageous positions. Reaper can use his teleport and Wraith form to get into enemies’ backlines and create chaos.
- Strategy: Reaper should flank the enemies, and then Roadhog can hook the enemies to Reaper’s location and create a deadly trap.
Sombra: The Disabler
- Synergy: Sombra can disable the enemy, and then Roadhog can take advantage of the situation and eliminate the target. Sombra can work well in close-range and mid-range combat alongside Roadhog.
- Strategy: Sombra should hack the enemies and then inform Roadhog to engage.
Kiriko: The Agile Support
- Synergy: Kiriko’s healing and mobility offer excellent support for Roadhog. Her Swift Step allows her to quickly reach Roadhog, even in precarious situations.
- Strategy: Kiriko should use Swift Step to stay near Roadhog and provide timely healing.
Widowmaker: The Long-Range Scout
- Synergy: Widowmaker’s Infra-Sight provides valuable information about enemy positions, allowing Roadhog to anticipate engagements and prepare his Chain Hook.
- Strategy: Widowmaker should consistently provide intel to Roadhog, allowing him to make informed decisions.
Understanding Roadhog’s Role and Weaknesses
To effectively pair with Roadhog, it’s essential to understand his strengths and weaknesses.
Strengths:
- High Burst Damage: Roadhog’s Chain Hook and Scrap Gun combo can instantly eliminate many heroes.
- Self-Sustain: Take a Breather provides significant self-healing, allowing him to stay in the fight longer.
- Area Denial: Whole Hog is a powerful ultimate for pushing enemies off objectives or creating space.
- Crowd Control: He shares a passive with the rest of the Tank heroes that reduce the knockback he receives from enemy abilities.
Weaknesses:
- Large Hitbox: Makes him an easy target for enemy damage.
- Lack of Mobility: He lacks movement abilities, making him vulnerable to flanking heroes.
- Vulnerable During Breather: He is defenseless during the cast time for Take A Breather.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can Roadhog still one-shot in Overwatch 2?
Yes, with a well-executed Chain Hook and Scrap Gun combo, especially when combined with Zenyatta’s Discord Orb, Roadhog can still one-shot many heroes.
2. What is Roadhog’s most effective combo?
The standard combo is: Chain Hook -> Primary Fire (Scrap Gun) to the chest -> Melee Attack. This can instantly kill most 200-HP heroes.
3. Is Roadhog a good tank in the current meta?
Roadhog can be effective, especially in compositions that enable his burst damage potential. However, he requires good support and team coordination.
4. Who are Roadhog’s counters?
Heroes that can exploit his large hitbox and lack of mobility are effective counters. These include Reaper, Tracer, and heroes with high sustained damage output.
5. What support heroes work best with Roadhog?
Zenyatta, Ana, and Kiriko are excellent choices. They provide damage amplification, healing, and utility that complements Roadhog’s playstyle.
6. What DPS heroes work well with Roadhog?
Reaper, Sombra, and Soldier: 76 can provide flanking support, sustained damage, and help secure kills.
7. How do I get better at landing Roadhog’s hooks?
Practice is key. Focus on predicting enemy movement, aiming accurately, and understanding the range and cooldown of Chain Hook.
8. What is the best map for Roadhog?
Maps with enclosed spaces and opportunities for environmental kills are generally favorable for Roadhog. Ilios: Well and Lijiang Tower: Garden are good examples. To get the cute spray for Roadhog, you need to knock two enemies off the map with a single use of his ultimate Hog Wild. This can be a tricky spray to get but one of the best maps for this is Lijiang Tower, where both teams need to go over bridges to get to the point giving a great opportunity to push them off the map.
9. How do I use Whole Hog effectively?
Use Whole Hog to displace enemies, push them off objectives, or create space for your team. Be mindful of your positioning and aim to control the direction of enemy movement.
10. What is the lore behind Roadhog?
Roadhog, real name Mako Rutledge, is Junkrat’s bodyguard and enforcer. He was displaced from his home and became a ruthless killer. The two were eventually kicked out of Junkertown for the chaos they caused. He and other Outback residents were displaced and formed the Australian Liberation Front to take back the land. The rebels fought the omnics until they sparked an explosion that irradiated the outback. Mako adapted to the new environment by donning a mask and riding the broken highways on his chopper.
11. Is Roadhog a healer?
While Roadhog can self-heal with Take a Breather, he is not primarily a healer. His self-sustain helps him stay alive longer, but he relies on dedicated support heroes for consistent healing. For the entire duration of the ability, Roadhog gains 50% damage resistance and is able to move and look around normally, but cannot use his Scrap Gun or Chain Hook. After pressing the ability button, the healing begins after 0.6 seconds and lasts 1 second, restoring up to 300 HP in one use.
12. What is Roadhog’s real name?
Roadhog’s real name is Mako Rutledge.
13. Why does Roadhog wear a mask?
He adapted to the irradiated environment of the Australian Outback by donning a mask and riding the broken highways on his chopper.
14. Is Roadhog fat or strong?
Actually Roadhog was very VERY strong as he could pull any hero from a distance in a brief period of time. He could drag a huge Mech, a giant Gorilla, a full-armored muscular Knight, large-sized Robots and even… another Roadhog.
15. What is Roadhog’s primary weapon?
Roadhog wields a Scrap Gun that fires shrapnel in a mid-range automatic firing mode, or a short-range shotgun-like single shot.
Conclusion
Roadhog is a powerful tank when paired with heroes that complement his strengths and cover his weaknesses. By understanding the synergies between Roadhog and heroes like Zenyatta, Ana, and Soldier: 76, you can significantly improve your team’s chances of success. Always communicate with your team, adapt to the enemy composition, and practice your aim to maximize Roadhog’s potential.
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