Overwatch League Hero Spotlight: Genji

So you want to play as a ninja? And you want to play as a robot? In one of the most satisfyingly competitive games out there? Genji, the cyberninja, might be the Overwatch hero for you. Genji’s variety-filled kit makes him one of the strongest and most mobile Damage per Second (DPS) heroes in Overwatch. Pair his numerous abilities with coordinated team members, and he becomes one of the deadliest Heroes in the game. After much practice with Genji, many professional Overwatch players can use his abilities to the fullest, creating a huge impact in team fights. Genji, while perhaps one of the hardest heroes to master in the game, is also one of the most rewarding.

Genji’s Kit

Genji has many tools to make him a deadly assassin. First, Genji’s passive ability, Cyber-Agility, lets him climb walls and double jump. This helps close the gap between him and his enemies, allowing him to sneak into certain areas, or escape from enemies. When it comes to dealing damage, Genji’s basic attack throws three shruriken projectiles, dealing a considerable amount of damage if they all hit the enemy. These three shurikens can either be thrown in a straight line or a fan, depending on how big the target is. The key is to land as many shurikens as possible.

Courtesy of Blizzard Entertainment/Overwatch

Genji also has two other abilities that can be extremely useful. Deflect is an ability that allows players to reflect any incoming enemy projectile damage for a short period of time. This is an effective tool for reducing incoming damage when enemies are trying to focus on Genji. Deflect can also be used to reflect damage back onto enemies – if enough damage is reflected at a single time, it can kill the enemy.

Genji’s other ability, Swift Strike, is perhaps his greatest tool, as activating this ability causes Genji to dash through enemies, dealing damage to them. If he helps eliminate an enemy with this ability, Swift Strike is reset. This ability is crucial when an entire enemy team is low. Genji can repeatedly dash and reset until everyone is eliminated. Both Deflect and Swift Strike are very strong skills; however, they do have rather long cooldown times, so use them sparingly.

Finally, when Genji earns his Ultimate, Dragonblade, all breaks loose. Genji can swing his Dragonblade to deal massive damage to enemies. Usually, two hits from this Ultimate will finish off enemies. Dragonblade can eliminate enemy heroes, especially Supports, very quickly. The clip below is of San Francisco Shock’s Min-ho “Architect” Park. In this clip, Architect makes a huge impact with Genji’s Dragonblade.

Altogther, Genji’s very powerful kit gives the character a lot of potential in competitive play.

Why is Genji a Well-Versed Hero in OWL?

Genji is one of the more prevalent Heroes in Overwatch because of his ability to dive, deal damage, and finish off enemies. In the Overwatch League, when more than two people die on a team, the opposing team can easily clean up and win the rest of the fight. Genji makes performing this task much easier. Additionally, professional players know the limits of Genji and can use him to his fullest potential. With the proper team coordination, Genji can be very impactful. The clip below once again features San Francisco Shock’s Min-ho “Architect” Park, who easily cleans up a fight.

Looking Ahead

Genji can have a measurable impact when played at his potential. To get there, however, one must first master his array of abilities. Genji’s abilities can be used in a variety of different styles. Some styles may prioritize making him survive in team fights, while others may prioritize more aggressive play by quickly eliminating enemies. Discovering when and when not to use abilities is key for being successful with Genji. Professional players such as George “ShaDowBurn” Gushcha, Hye-sung “Libero” Kim, Byung-sun “Fleta” Kim, Brady “Agilities” Girardi, and Min-ho “Architect” Park have shown their proficiency with Genji, exemplifying just how much this hero can do. To see more thrilling Genji Dragonblades, as well as the best teams and players go head-to-head, tune into the Overwatch League.

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Featured Image Credit: Blizzard Entertainment/Overwatch

Videos Clips: Overwatch League