Where did this trend come from?
It’s like being back in Overwatch 1, it has been happening often, and when asked, their logic for the request rarely goes beyond “shields give protection”.
Maybe i’m just going crazy?
Shield is one of the most powerful effects in all of OW on par just about with doing damage and healing people. Healing keeps momentum. Damage lets you actually win fights.
Shield stops all ultimate generation from the stuff it blocks.
It blocks most all CC effects.
It blocks most all healing effects.
It blocks the damage.
All while letting your own team effects through unphased.
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Ok? I know why barriers are strong. But tanks that don’t have them are still strong you know. That’s why i’m asking this.
Just because blizzard removed a tank, it doesn’t mean the foundations of the game have changed. If anything, having a shield tank is now more necessary than ever when there is only 1.
Why would chose no shield over having a shield anyway?
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The game seems a bit more fun when you have a shield than when you don’t. If you don’t have a shield what is your tank doing exactly to help you at all?
A reason supports are usually highly endorsed and liked many times over DPS because its like these supports are actually designed to help their team in a very direct way. Every support heals or nearly has some other direct team buff effect.
Tanks can’t usually help their team much beyond killing something directly or the few which actually can use a life saving ability for another. Shields, bubble, defense matrix, etc. These are often the most beloved tanks to have on your team compared to a roadhog.
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Ok. So. I’m going to reference some high level player’s opinions now. They don’t apply for everyone, but it’s just so i can make my point.
Over the course of overwatch 2, throughout different patches, Orisa, Mauga, D.va, Zarya, and Roadhog have all been at some point considered either THE strongest, or among the strongest tanks in their respective metas, and maybe minus orisa they are all considered good to use currently.
Furthermore, Reinhardt, THE shield tank, has all but recently gotten out of the absolute lowest tier of viability at high level play.
Now, i’m not going to go into details as of why this all was the case. But my point is, you can absolutely run tanks with no shield and still do well, there’s should be no reason to ask specifically for a shield tank beyond personal preference of the non-tank player, or as a suggestion for counterpicking.
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Barriers don’t block healing.
Mercy, Brigitte, Zenyatta, Moira are not impacted by barriers for at least more than half their healing; or have enough range/mobility to avoid this issue.
The only Supports truly impacted by barriers is Baptiste, Ana, and Lifeweaver.
Reinhardt is consistently the most successful tank amongst all ranks and skill levels of play. Tends to have very positive win rates even in the highest levels of play.
Isolated or anecdotal comments don’t really apply when it comes to Reinhardt’s successes.
Tanks that don’t have shields often put great pressure on the enemy team to force them to fall back
I get that shields are comfortable. But these are competitive games we’re talking about. Players should be able to adapt to different tank combinations in order to become better at the game. You can’t be forcing, not asking, a stranger to adapt to your needs just because it’s what you prefer.
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Inspire is blocked by shield, but follows an ally through shield if proc’d before hand.
Rally is blocked by shield, but follows ally through shield as a buff.
Repair can go through shield.
Mercy healing goes through shield.
Tree and LW healing pulses are blocked by shield.
Moira healing is blocked by shield, but you have a residual buff if applied before a person blocked by shield.
Orb goes through shield, but not the healing tendrils.
Only her ult truly pierces shields.
Ana nade/gun stopped by it.
Kiriko suzu/healing blocked by shields.
Bap regen burst follows allies through shield if proc’d before losing LoS.
Illari pylon + healing is the same.
Lucio aura is blocked by shields.
Zen orb can apply through shield.
Yes, a LOT of supports are screwed over by shield even if a few have situational things that miitigate the effects (such as inspire). Winston is an incredibly annoying tank to get around for supports because shield put a bunch of restrictions on their ability to keep allies up.
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Why was this your only takeaway from what i said? I don’t even know if what you just said is true, but it certainly is not relevant to what i was trying to say
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Balance wise you are saying nothing wrong, but people often don’t care about balance completely. They care about feel the most. Which is all subjective, but the general trends you will see is that you’ll generally have more fun when you aren’t constantly being hit or dead.
Which is what shields are the most obvious ways of seeing, “WOW! I’m not dead trying to walk through this choke point or have to fear that widowmaker back there.”
Shields will always be desired among many players. Many of the complaints tanks have regarding eating too much CC or taking too much DMG is solved by shields. I’m perfectly happy playing tank if I get to play WInston, Rein, Sigma, or Ramattra. Any other tank and I dont’ want to play the role.
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you can ignore him, he just says things
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This is derailing too much from the point of the thread, but i’m going to say this, cause i think it’s important to clarify.
In this game, when the skill of the players in both teams is well distributed, if you die, 90-95% of the time, it’s YOUR fault, not anyone else’s. And that last 5 to 10 percent is due to ultimates.
This is my mentality when playing, and this is how i’ve managed to keep getting better at this game at a steady pace.
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A lot of people don’t use cover, and so they get attached to shields that make up for it, since shields can protect them (somewhat) while they’re still standing out in the open widepeeking. At least that’s the answer I’ve always known.
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Ive been seeing alot more Widow and Pharah lately. Shield tanks allow you to contest them without getting blown away shooting at them.
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That could be a good reason. Still, a good chunk of these were when none of these heroes where in play. It’s really weirding me out
Always asking my tank not to duel the Winston in his bubble when their health is low…
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babysit me with shields please, i have an instinctive fear of dive tanks and playing angles /s
to the people who ask me to swap shield in my matches, No.
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This is completely on topic. I’m giving you all the reasons why people request shield.
It makes having the game more fun to make up for the short comings. Its reduces the spam in the game. It reduces CC spam in the game. It gives more DIRECT co-op play when you have choices which can be used to help allies beyond what can I do to screw the enemy team over more than they screw over my team.
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Mean while I as mei, get on a bit of high ground and two tap that support in your back and eat your tanks ult with a wall.
Only barrier tank that can deal with me their is winston, and if he burns the bubble while I’m up their that’s a win for my team.
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