This is one of those cases that really make you wonder - and when the logic is so clear its not a lock-on but a visual effect only, you have to wonder about the cognitive processes at work with some folks. It doesnât surprise me now that in the face of clear evidence some people simply refuse to seeâŚ
lock on means the continuing hitbox is larger than the connecting hitbox. Which Moira doesnât have.
Her weapon DOESNâT stay connected for a bit when line of sight is lost.
Lock on weapons KEEP attacking the same target even if another target gets in the hit box in front of the other target, which Moiraâs weapon doesnât.
It ISNâT a lock on.
Just like Hanzo isnât hitscan.
But if you are going to argue âit MAY as well be a lock on, so I will call it a lockonâ means you open yourself up to people saying Hanzo is hitscan, because hey, nothing has meaning any more right?
Lock on is a specific mechanic. Which Moira does not have.
but hey, if you want to call it lockon, then I am free to call Hanzoâs weapon hitscan, or Zaryas weapon lockon (because it has the same mechanics as Moiras).
Moira has a large hitbox, non piercing, non spy checking, hitscan, non headshotting beam.
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I swear it does stay connected, someone even posted a video showing it staying connected to a sigma while he went behind a wall, I also feel like it stays connected for tiny bit when I play with and against her. Its super noticeable when a Genji dashes behind you and the beam bends with him.
IMO it functions so similar to a lock on that it might aswell be, I donât understand why people get so hung on the semantics or why your so concerned that it must not be called a lock on.
It doesnât, but it looks like it. There was a really good set of videos where people were testing the beam (AND Sombraâs hack - which is lockon, but shouldnât keep connected when LOS is lost)
It shows the beam until the next damage tick (which happens 30 times a second), when it stops being connected (and does no damage).
So I should call Hanzoâs weapon a hitscan then right? because hey, it may as well be.
No I donât believe that Hanzoâs weapon functions like a hitscan at all, Moiraâs weapon does behave like a lock on though.
Absolutely. You are looking at the thread beyond face value. People dislike when others âcheatâ. When a hero can achieve the same goals as another one but with greater ease, it feels like you are being cheated.
Example: two employess do the same job for the same pay. But one of them also has to open and close the store. I dont know anyone who likes extra work without extra pay
I donât think Hanzoâs weapon is a hitscan EITHER, but, then again, I think we should call abilities by their proper name.
So, her hitbox chances after firing starts? Because that is what lockon means.
Can you start firing and place your crosshair in a place where it will keep firing at the target, where if you stopped firing, and restarted it would not reconnect?
Now it either does, or it doesnât, and we have had a LOT of people test it, and the tests come back that it doesnât.
The animation is NOT the weapon.
Itâs Hitbox does NOT change due to it hitting a target. You can go test it in the firing range, and I SERIOUSLY think you should.
Just Genji mains who get countered by her.
No, youâre relying on a fallacy.
That video creates an arbitrary definition of lock-on to disprove. Itâs a straw man
Moira 
has lock on
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why does it matter if itâs a lock on, all that matters is that itâs easy to hit people with
No lock-on for sure. However, the hitbox is roughly the size of the moon.
You are incorrect.
but, please, establish the truth of your claim.
Here is a basic argument that you probably canât refute
Choose Mercy and latch your beam onto someone. Now move your screen such that the beam target is no longer on the screen or is no longer centered at all
See how the beam stays latched on? Thatâs a lock-on
Now do the same with Moira.
You see how the beam stops doing damage when the character is no longer centered?
Not a lock-on
I look forward to you attempt to show how this is wrong
See how the beam stays latched on? Thatâs a lock-on
This is the fallacy. Who says thatâs lock-on? Itâs not defined by the devs/in the game. If you want to make a division between soft and hard lock, fine, but Iâm perfectly within my right to say Moira has lock on as much as you are to say she isnât. Itâs a completely arbitrary definiton.
I guess I can say Hanzo is a hitscan then. If we are going to ignore what words mean. Projectile / Hitscan is arbitrary as well, they are just arbitrary words used to describe VERY specific game mechanics.
I think Iâll next move hero names around, and ability names around, they are arbitrary as well.
So this hack ability Hanzo has. it is crazy strong.
She doesnât have a lock on. My issue is her INSANELY large hit box. 
But a hitscan is a very clearly defined concept, unlike lock-on. Hitscan just means the server checks to see if your crosshair was on the target before registering a hit.
Devs have defined lock-on with their changes to Symmetra:
Symmetra
- New Abilities
Photon Projector
- No longer locks onto targets
That was the day Symmetra was changed from her lock-on beam to the non-locking beam she has now, and the lock-on version is shown in the OPâs video @ 3m03sec.
Moiraâs damage beam works exactly the same way as current day Symmetra/Zaryaâs beam now, which is a straight beam with no locking at all.
Lock on is ALSO very well defined. The devs have been using it to describe abilities which change in size after the first touch.
See Mercy beams, Sombra hacks, Old Sym, etc.
What youâve just posted explains that Sym had a lock on beam, which we all already agreed upon. It did not say Moira didnât.
You wanted Blizzard to define lock on, there it is. Symmetra had a lock-on, then it was removed.
Moira works the same way as current Symmetra, which does not have any locking.