Pharah's survivability is still very low while she could help counter GOATS

General Discussion
1

While discussing the recent changes with redditors, looking at the upcoming hero Baptiste and testing him and other heroes out of the PTR.

A lot of Pharah player are just concerned, not so much of her damage output, as we got used to her nerf, more in the lines of her survivability is in serious question overall. We adapted to it and the change for splash damage increase from 16.25 to 20 is very welcomed, just that she’s still falls prey to hitscans with relative ease in gold and above as she doesn’t have much maneuverability speed while in the air or survivability. Outside of JumpJet just her slow flight speed around makes her a VERY predictable and ease to counter in this 3 year old game. With the addition of 2 more hitscan heroes, it’s almost throwing a match at this point when she’s picked. The problem is also that she’s mainly only viable with Pharmercy to survive any assault on her and it’s a requirement at higher levels. While again, jumpjet and concussion can push her away from a fight, she’s still very predictable. In all, she cannot be roaming or flanking solo without having some significant skill involved.

Examples of counters we’ve witnessed while playing with and against that generates frustration:

  • Widow - At certain levels, she can easily snipe a Pharah out of the sky as Pharah’s maneuverability is relatively slow, she can reach higher ground with grapple hook, making her an even bigger threat. The only way to avoid is jumpjet or concussion dodge IF the space is available.

  • McCree - Picking off Pharah is relatively ease as primary shots of 35 - 70 dmg at 30 to 40 meters away can know her out of the sky in half a McCree then a clip.

  • Ashe - At around 85 damage per scoped shot at decent range, can take down a Pharah with 2 direct shots, like Widow with relative ease ,as her maneuverability is predictable.

If not encountering a limited pool of hitscans in the opposite team, the fact that she does have a better overall view of the battlefield and has been seen at the pro level, using Pharmercy to try and counter GOATS has been a very interesting avenue that could be explored even further. Especially with the boop buff that has a more predictable outcome will certain help dispatch D.VAs, Brigs and Lucios

Proposed changes:

  • Increase her health pool and add either 50 armor or shields to give her a better sense of reactivity on the battlefield and who she’s fighting against and possibly counter.

OR

  • Increase her flight mobility.
  • Can include a thurster dodge mechanic from in any direction to try and avoid incoming shots and she’ll be a bit less predictable. The thurster can be on a cool down, or use up fuel.

AND

  • removal of self rocket damage. There literally no benefit to keep this in the game at this point. Several other heroes got theirs removed, it’s time that she got hers axed as well.

Thanks for taking a lot comdev, please pass this along :slight_smile:

3 Likes
2

I like to see Pharah mobility get rework to work like Boba Fett jet pack technique or style.

3 Likes
3

I disagree with removing self harm, but either of your proposed changes could make her more viable.

1 Like
4

why not remove her self damage? curious

5

It’s pretty easy to land direct hits in close range so there needs to be downsides to it I guess. Also her self damage allows her to rocket jump.