She shoots rockets and makes people cry
Blizzard has just released the latest footage in their Overwatch preview series. Today’s feature shows Pharah, an offensive hero class that uses a rocket launcher and her jetpack to slay her enemies.
If you aren’t familiar with Overwatch, this game is Blizzard’s latest foray into first person shooters. It features a style of gameplay similar to Team Fortress 2 in that it pits two teams of 6 against each other, but it borrows the skill system of MOBA games like League of Legends. Each hero has a unique set of skills and one ultimate they must charge up before they can unleash it.
Just in case you need it, here is an overview of Pharah:
Rocket Launcher
An enemy team getting pushed away by a well placed rocket
It has 6 shots per clip and a fast travel time. On impact, it explodes into a small area of effect that can knock away opponents and deal damage. Fans of Team Fortress 2 may find this weapon similar to the Soldier’s Rocket Launcher since this weapon allows Pharah to juggle her opponents to their deaths.
Jumping Jets
Useful in those moments where you want the high ground on your side
On pressing the Shift key, Pharah will quickly leap into the skies. This skill is useful for a variety of situations since it can be used as an escape mechanic, a good way to get into an ambush positions, or to make yourself a harder target to hit momentarily. This ability compliments Pharah’s rocket launcher since rockets are harder to avoid if you fire them from a higher angle and it’s easier to catch people with splash damage.
Gliding
The fuel bar will make sure you will always know how far you can fly
Using her jetpack’s fuel, Pharah can temporarily glide from point to point. Fuel is shown on the right side of the targeting reticle and indicates how far the player can glide before running out. This ability makes Pharah a useful partner to Mercy since Mercy cannot ascend to higher locations without help, but she is able to also glide and keep pace with Pharah.
Concussive Blast
Concussive shot flies fast and knocks opponents away to where you want them to be (like off a cliff)
Pharah launches a fast projectile that explodes on contact with anything and knocks all enemy characters away. This ability can be useful for picking off wounded characters, launching enemies away if they are a threat to teammates, or, if the shot is placed behind an enemy, launching enemies out of position and into your teammates’ waiting guns.
Ultimate Ability: Barrage
This ability is pretty straight forward: Pop Ultimate and make it rain like you were in the club trying to impress someone
Pharah launches a flurry of missiles at the target in the center of her screen, causing massive damage to those unfortunate enough to remain in her sights. While a useful ability for killing one target, it also leaves Pharah open to attacks from other enemies.
Multiple trailers and gameplay videos have shown Pharah players use Jump Jets and, at the peak of their jump, use Barrage. I would't recommend doing that since, although you get a better angle, it leaves you visible for all of your opponents to shoot at and places you far away from any cover that can help protect you. However, the benefits to this technique are that opponents caught in the spray will be damaged by both the rocket's direct hit and the explosive splash from other rockets (meaning you will do more damge). If this is the case then weighing when would be the right time and place to use Barrage will be a crucial to playing Pharah well.
Overall Opinion
Teammates are useful as emergency bullet sponges
Pharah looks like a solid offensive class. Her rockets make short work of light classes and can bounce away more tankier classes so they can no longer be a threat. If characters like Reinhardt rely on being in a specific position to be useful to their team then Pharah’s concussive shot can knock them away, leaving their teammates wide open.
All of her abilities are also geared toward putting her into amazing ambush points, or appearing in areas where your opponents will not expect you. This can be accomplished by using Jump Jets to land on perches where you can rain rockets from above onto unsuspecting foes, and use her glide to move from perch to perch, effectively circumnavigating a map without ever needing to touch the ground floors. Concussive shot allows you to spread crowds thin or single out one opponent for you to pick off. This turns Pharah into a massive threat if the opposing team is not keeping an eye on her location at all times.
As a teammate, Pharah provides plenty of offensive punch and makes a perfect healing target for Mercy (who can get up to Pharah's altitude and glide with her). She can also knock away bothersome players or take care of soft targets that are preventing the team from accomplishing their goals.
Overall, Pharah looks like a great character with a tool for almost any situation. She possesses plenty of mechanics to help her dish out damage and escape from taking too much damage. It looks as though she is shaping into a solid choice for anyone interested in high maneuverability and massive amounts of damage.
