So i heard a while ago that if you battle mercy even in comp, as long as you actively TRY to kill enemies it doesn’t count as throwing. But at what point does it become throwing, if I play Torb and only use his hammer to try and kill people, does that count as throwing, even if I still TRY to kill enemies?
1 Like
Technically it doesn’t count as throwing. 55 DPS on top of the turret is still more than Moira can output. But if the torb is simply running in and feeding, that’s just bad teamwork.
i tried this at team deatchmatch, i was with a friend (he was lucio) when i had my ultimate it was time to accelerate SPEEEEEEEEEEED BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOST while i used my MOOOLTEEEEEEN COOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORE, it was the funiest thing ever
“molten cored torbjorn running at incredible high speed while smashing the air with his hammer trying to reach you”
i want to try it again but this time with a nano boost on top of that
People will be the judges of what is and isn’t throwing in the end. But in general terms, throwing is when you intentionally do things that unnecessarily disadvantages your team.
It all comes down to situation. If you had a good reason to shoot somebody with Mercy, that’s fine. If it made no sense, and on top of that it even cost you (i.e. teammate died, lost point, whatever), then it’s considered questionable, maybe even throwing to some people.
To me throwing is when I tell somebody to stop doing something, but they ignore me and carry on doing the same dumbassery. That’s when reports start flying.
It doesn’t count in quick play. 
I may be wrong but I’m pretty sure even Jeff K said that battle mercy wasn’t considered throwing.
That is irrelevant for two reasons.
One, people are the judges, not the devs. Two, you cannot pick things in vacuum and give them general rules. Battle Mercy can be either throwing or not, depending on the current situation. Compensating for your dps players’ ineptitude isn’t throwing, finishing off low hp enemies or defending yourself etc… not throwing. Whipping out the pistol while your teammates are slowly dying is throwing. Just to give some examples.
Just like all those dps Moiras that let me die 24/7 are throwing.
I guess it’s technically not throwing, but it’s annoying as hec.
Who are you asking, us or Blizzard? I cannot tell you what definition Blizzard uses, but to my mind this is clear, obvious, and report-worthy throwing.
If you want to do fun, silly things like this or Battle Mercy there’s a fancy little game mode called “Custom Game”.
I used to have a custom game mode like that. It was just 6 hammer torb only vs 1 big boss Reinhardt
Torb’s hammer has no range, therefore making it so he has to be incredibly close to an enemy. The damage output is also not that great either? (Not positive on how much it does)
Mercy’s gun is ranged, therefore allowing her to do some damage without being so close to the fight.
But I’d much rather have a Torb using his gun than a Torb using his hammer only to die in two shots.
So… poor gameplay is not de facto throwing, but some people who want to throw, will do so through poor gameplay.
Keep in mind that 99% of throwers want you to know that they are throwing; it’s part of the psychology. They are sending you (or someone) a message, and they want that message received. You can’t for instance get in an argument with someone and then pick your worst hero and play them incredibly badly, without expecting to be viewed as throwing… because that is in fact what you are doing. This is why I usually say, if you are not sure the behavior is throwing, it is very unlikely that it is.
I can’t say for sure what the official line is, and Blizzard is wise to leave some wiggle room for judgment calls. Battle Mercy and Hammer Torb are pretty extreme behaviors that I think fall into the category of obvious intentional throwing, and I think people that engage in them should be wary of repercussions.
The Jeff said that as long as the battle mercy is trying to kill the enemy it isn’t throwing.
opinion:
a “good” battle mercy uses all parts of her kit, but prioritizes doing damage, initiating 1v1s, etc. over being a heal dispenser or backline support. may opt to finish off an enemy herself with teammates at half health instead of keeping the dps topped off, and return to heal up the team once the fight is won.
a “bad” battle mercy is more focused on actively not healing rather than winning via aggression and aim. similar vein as people who wall off spawns as mei, cliff TPs, etc. basically, misusing a hero’s kit for their own enjoyment and detriment of their team.
two different intentions, i think, with only the latter being reportable for poor teamwork, griefing, etc.
In all honesty, I sometimes forget I have Torb’s hammer out and try to shoot people with the hammer and then wonder why I die. I feel so stupid, but I also have to laugh at myself, because I’m in the zone.
Still, battle Mercy has to happen on occasion. I’ve been that Mercy who’s been cornered and needed to finish off that Sombra or Tracer who was heading right for me, while the DPS and tanks were too busy emoting on the point.
If you used “hammer torb”, then yes. I would call it throwing and report it. Because we BOTH know good and well, if you were trying to win, you’d use the gun. Being bad at the game or a character isn’t throwing, but if you’re taking a character, and actively choosing to avoid things that you know would help win… it’s throwing.
Would you be willing to do this if instead of SR being on the line, if it were say… 10 bucks cash that you’d lose? If the answer is no, it’s probably throwing.