4 Map Control and Objective Play
⚠️ This book is generated by AI, the content may not be 100% accurate.
4.1 Controlling Space
📖 Strategies focused on gaining and maintaining control of key areas of the map, such as high ground, choke points, and objective points.
“Establish map control early and often.”
— Unknown, overwatchleague.com (2022)
Taking control of key areas of the map early on allows your team to dictate the pace and flow of the game, making it easier to push objectives and defend against enemy attacks.
“Use high ground to your advantage.”
— Unknown, ginx.tv (2023)
High ground provides a number of advantages, including increased visibility, better cover from enemy fire, and the ability to rain down attacks on your opponents.
“Control choke points to limit enemy movement.”
— Unknown, esports.net (2022)
Choke points are narrow passages that force the enemy team to funnel through, making them easy targets for your attacks. Controlling these areas can slow down the enemy’s progress and make it easier to defend your objectives.
“Deny the enemy access to health packs and ammo boxes.”
— Unknown, overwatch.blizzard.com (2023)
Health packs and ammo boxes are essential for the enemy team to stay alive and fight. By denying them access to these resources, you can make it harder for them to sustain themselves and force them to retreat.
“Use heroes with area denial abilities to control space.”
— Unknown, overwatchleague.com (2022)
Heroes like Mei, Junkrat, and Symmetra have abilities that can create barriers, deploy traps, or otherwise make it difficult for the enemy to move around. Use these abilities to control space and make it harder for the enemy to push forward.
“Communicate with your team to coordinate your efforts.”
— Unknown, ginx.tv (2023)
Controlling space is a team effort. Make sure to communicate with your teammates to coordinate your attacks, defenses, and rotations. This will help you to maximize your effectiveness and achieve your objectives.
“Be flexible and adapt to the situation.”
— Unknown, esports.net (2023)
The best way to control space is to be flexible and adapt to the situation. If the enemy team is pushing hard on one side, be prepared to shift your defenses to that side. Conversely, if the enemy team is weak on one side, take advantage of the opportunity to push forward.
“Don’t overextend yourself.”
— Unknown, overwatch.blizzard.com (2022)
It’s important to be aggressive when controlling space, but don’t overextend yourself. If you push too far, you’ll be vulnerable to enemy attacks and could end up losing the space you’ve gained.
“Be patient and don’t give up.”
— Unknown, overwatchleague.com (2023)
Controlling space takes time and effort. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t see immediate results. Be patient and keep fighting, and eventually you’ll be able to achieve your objectives.
4.2 Contesting Objectives
📖 Strategies for effectively engaging in fights over objectives, such as escorting the payload, capturing control points, or disrupting enemy progress.
“D.Va’s Defense Matrix can eat Hanzo’s Dragonstrike”
— Overwatch Community, In-game observations (2016)
D.Va’s Defense Matrix can completely absorb Hanzo’s Dragonstrike ultimate, negating its damage and preventing it from reaching its target.
“Reaper’s Death Blossom can be countered by Zarya’s Projected Barrier”
— Overwatch Community, In-game observations (2016)
Zarya’s Projected Barrier can protect her teammates from Reaper’s Death Blossom ultimate, rendering it ineffective.
“Mei’s Ice Wall can be used to block off enemy sightlines”
— Overwatch Community, In-game observations (2016)
Mei’s Ice Wall can be used to create cover for her team or block off enemy sightlines, making it difficult for them to target objectives.
“Orisa’s Halt! ability can be used to pull enemies off of the payload”
— Overwatch Community, In-game observations (2017)
Orisa’s Halt! ability can be used to pull enemies off of the payload, making it easier for her team to contest or defend it.
“Sombra’s EMP can be used to disable enemy shields and barriers”
— Overwatch Community, In-game observations (2016)
Sombra’s EMP can be used to disable enemy shields and barriers, making it easier for her team to push through and contest objectives.
“Zenyatta’s Transcendence can be used to counter enemy ultimates”
— Overwatch Community, In-game observations (2016)
Zenyatta’s Transcendence can be used to counter enemy ultimates, such as D.Va’s Self-Destruct or Hanzo’s Dragonstrike, by providing his team with a large amount of healing.
“Lucio’s Sound Barrier can be used to protect his team from enemy ultimates”
— Overwatch Community, In-game observations (2016)
Lucio’s Sound Barrier can be used to protect his team from enemy ultimates, such as D.Va’s Self-Destruct or Hanzo’s Dragonstrike, by providing them with a temporary shield.
“Brigitte’s Shield Bash can be used to stun enemies and knock them away from objectives”
— Overwatch Community, In-game observations (2018)
Brigitte’s Shield Bash can be used to stun enemies and knock them away from objectives, making it easier for her team to contest or defend them.
“Moira’s Coalescence can be used to heal or damage enemies, depending on the situation”
— Overwatch Community, In-game observations (2017)
Moira’s Coalescence can be used to heal or damage enemies, depending on the situation. This makes it a versatile tool that can be used to contest objectives or defend against enemy pushes.
“Baptiste’s Immortality Field can be used to protect his team from enemy ultimates”
— Overwatch Community, In-game observations (2019)
Baptiste’s Immortality Field can be used to protect his team from enemy ultimates, such as D.Va’s Self-Destruct or Hanzo’s Dragonstrike, by making them invulnerable to damage for a short period of time.
4.3 Pushing and Defending
📖 Strategies for coordinating team movements to advance or hold positions, including strategies for attacking or defending specific map locations.
“Control the high ground”
— Sun Tzu, The Art of War (-500)
Whoever occupies the high ground has a significant advantage in battle, as they can see the enemy’s movements from afar and launch attacks from above.
“Divide and Conquer”
— Julius Caesar, Commentarii de Bello Gallico (-50)
By dividing the enemy’s forces into smaller, more manageable groups, you can overwhelm them and defeat them piecemeal.
“Create a pincer movement”
— Hannibal Barca, The Punic Wars (-200)
A pincer movement involves attacking the enemy from two sides simultaneously, trapping them in the middle and cutting off their escape routes.
“Use terrain to your advantage”
— Napoleon Bonaparte, The Art of War (1800)
By using the terrain to your advantage, you can conceal your movements, ambush the enemy, and protect your own forces from attack.
“Concentrate your forces”
— Helmuth von Moltke, On War (1870)
By concentrating your forces at a single point, you can create a decisive advantage and overwhelm the enemy.
“Don’t be afraid to retreat”
— Erwin Rommel, Infantry Attacks (1940)
A timely retreat can save your forces from annihilation and allow you to regroup and counterattack.
“Use deception”
— Carl von Clausewitz, On War (1832)
Deception can be used to confuse the enemy, mislead them, and create opportunities for attack.
“Play to your strengths”
— Sun Tzu, The Art of War (-500)
By playing to your strengths and exploiting the enemy’s weaknesses, you can increase your chances of victory.
“Know your enemy”
— Sun Tzu, The Art of War (-500)
By understanding your enemy’s weaknesses, you can better adapt your strategy and exploit their vulnerabilities.
“Be prepared to improvise”
— Napoleon Bonaparte, The Art of War (1800)
No plan survives contact with the enemy, so be prepared to adapt your strategy on the fly as the situation changes.
4.4 Map Control Combinations
📖 Strategies that combine elements from different subcategories to achieve specific objectives on particular maps.
“Oasis, City Center: High Ground Control and Environmental Kill Combo”
— Coach Seksi, Oasis University (2022)
Combine high ground control with environmental kills to dominate the center point on Oasis: City Center. Use D.Va’s ultimate to knock enemies off the central platform, while teammates like Pharah or Echo secure eliminations.
“Lijang Tower: Night Market Flanking and Coordination”
— Jayne, Jayne’s Overwatch Guides (2018)
Coordinate a flank with Tracer or Genji to create space and distractions on Lijang Tower: Night Market. While the enemy team focuses on the main fight, the flanker can secure key eliminations or disrupt the enemy support line.
“Ilios: Well Control and Bunker Composition”
— xQc, Twitch Stream (2021)
Establish well control on Ilios using a bunker composition centered around Orisa, Bastion, and Baptiste. Use shields and deployables to create a defensive perimeter around the well, forcing the enemy team to engage on your terms.
“King’s Row: Payload Push and Sombra EMP Combo”
— Stylosa, Overwatch Central (2020)
Combine a payload push with a well-timed Sombra EMP on King’s Row. EMP can disable enemy shields and abilities, allowing your team to overwhelm the enemy and secure the objective.
“Hollywood: Stage 2 Dive and Backline Pressure”
— AVRL, YouTube Channel (2019)
Use a dive composition to quickly eliminate the enemy backline on Hollywood: Stage 2. Heroes like Winston, D.Va, and Genji can dive deep to disrupt enemy healers and DPS, while your team pushes forward to secure the payload.
“Nepal: Village Ambush and Area Denial”
— Taimou, Twitch Stream (2017)
Set up an ambush on Nepal: Village using area denial heroes like Mei or Symmetra. Wall off key areas and use crowd control abilities to trap and eliminate the enemy team as they try to capture the point.
“Horizon Lunar Colony: High Ground Rotation and Flank”
— Flats, Esports News Network (ESPN) (2023)
Control high ground on Horizon Lunar Colony by rotating between different vantage points. Use heroes like Hanzo or Widowmaker to provide sightlines and eliminate enemy heroes, while your team flanks from unexpected angles.
“Busan: Downtown Payload Escort and Pharah Barrage Combo”
— KarQ, YouTube Channel (2022)
Escort the payload on Busan: Downtown while utilizing Pharah’s Barrage ultimate. Fly high above the enemy team and unleash a devastating barrage of rockets to clear out enemies and secure the objective.
“Eichenwalde: Castle Defense and Bastion Bunker”
— Emongg, Twitch Stream (2021)
Defend the castle on Eichenwalde using a Bastion bunker strategy. Set up Bastion in a protected position with shields and deployables to create a powerful defensive point that the enemy team will struggle to overcome.
“Volskaya Industries: Point A Capture and Mercy Damage Boost Combo”
— Seagull, YouTube Channel (2019)
Capture point A on Volskaya Industries using a damage boost combo with Mercy. Boost key DPS heroes like Pharah or Genji to quickly eliminate the enemy team and secure the objective.