In Overwatch Tracer is one of the most famous and notorious heroes in the game. The lively damage dealer zooms around the battlefield giggling and grinning via teleportation, taking out opponents in droves – if played correctly. We will show you how to do that in our Tracer guide!
You either hate her or love her, but everyone knows her! We are talking about Tracer, the face of Overwatch, who was the first heroine from Blizzard’s hero shooter to make it into their own MOBA Heroes of the Storm. But how do you play this giggling nuisance optimally?
Tracer at a Glance
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Tracer is one of currently six offensive characters in Overwatch. Thanks to her teleport ability, she is extremely fast and mobile and can appear and disappear almost anywhere on the battlefield. Additionally, she deals immense burst damage with her two pistols when she gets up close to the enemy and can shoot freely. With the ability Recall, she can and should quickly disappear when encountering resistance, as with only 150 health points, Tracer is one of the frailest heroines in the game.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| · Extremely mobile
· Can use Recall to get to safety · High burst damage · Can catch and take down any opponent · Ideal counter to slow enemies | · Few health points, a good shot and it’s over
· Little support potential · Not very good for holding or capturing points · Vulnerable to turrets, especially from Symmetra · Not suitable for people with orientation difficulties |
Tracer’s Abilities in Detail
Tracer has two abilities, a single firing mode, and an ultimate ability.
- Warp: Tracer’s most important skill. This allows Tracer to teleport a considerable distance in the direction she is facing, allowing her to overcome gaps but not obstacles. Additionally, Warp only works on a horizontal plane, so you cannot teleport upwards. Warp has three charges, one of which regenerates every three seconds.
- Recall: Tracer’s “Oh-Shit-Button”. When Tracer encounters resistance and needs to take damage, you should activate this skill. When you use Recall, you will be returned to exactly where you were a few seconds ago, with the ammunition and health points you had at that time. This makes Tracer a real terror in duels, as compared to her enemy, she has a second chance to finish off the damaged opponent from the first skirmish.
- Pulse Bomb (Ultimate): A devilish ability that makes Tracer even more annoying than she already is. This skill allows you to throw a sticky mine at the enemy from close range. It explodes after a short time, dealing 400 damage to the target and the surrounding area. Ideal for taking out healers and other supporters or Symmetra’s teleporter.
- Pulse Pistols (Primary Attack): Tracer’s standard attack is nothing special, and she only has a primary attack, no alternative firing mode. Tracer’s pistols have a total of 40 shots, which she fires in just one second. The reload time is also only one second. Each hit deals 1.5 to 6 damage points, so you always need to make sure to keep the entire magazine consistently pumped into the enemy.
Strategies and Tips for Tracer
When playing Tracer, you should remember one thing: You are a flanker, and your job is to disrupt the enemy – a classic “harasser.” Tracer has no place at the front. Instead, you should lurk in the enemy’s flanks or backlines and always attack when the enemy is distracted or when you catch a straggler alone. Teleport to him, deal some damage, and depending on his reaction, either use Recall to escape or continue chasing him with Warp until he is dead. Then disappear again and look for a new target. This way, your opponents will be massively unsettled and live in constant fear when they hear Tracer’s laughter.
However, avoid groups of enemies, as just one good hit can take you out, and you have little potential for group fighting. Only a bold use of the Pulse Bomb against a group of distracted enemies can mean success. Warp to the enemies, stick the bomb on, and immediately activate Recall to escape.
The following tips for Tracer should always be kept in mind:
- Manage your Warp charges well and don’t waste them unnecessarily. If one Warp is enough, you shouldn’t waste another.
- If the enemy survives your first attack, you should immediately follow up and finish him off with a melee attack. Just like Tracer does in Heroes of the Storm.
- Use your Pulse Bomb as often as possible and don’t hold onto it for long. When playing Tracer effectively, you’ll have the bomb back in no time.
- The bomb is a good counter to Torbjörn’s turrets. Teleport to the turret, stick the bomb on, and use Recall to escape. That should take out the turret immediately.
- Watch out for Roadhog’s hook! If he catches you, you should hammer the Recall button like crazy. If you’re lucky, it will activate in time, and you’ll escape a deadly scrap shot while the rampaging hog grunts at you stupidly.
Tracer’s Arch-Enemies
Tracer is an excellent duelist who can effortlessly wipe out many opponents in duels. However, you should be careful with the following heroes on the enemy team:
- Roadhog: As already mentioned, his hook is a major problem for you. Thanks to “hitscan,” he only needs to have you in his sights and pull the trigger to reel you in. Only a well-timed Recall can save you.
- McCree: If you encounter McCree, you have a problem. His flashbang combined with his rapid-fire mode will kill you IMMEDIATELY. Make sure you shoot first and then immediately escape with Warp or Recall. Then you can take down the cowboy in retaliation.
- Bastion: If you unexpectedly run into a position defended by Bastion, the hail of bullets should quickly take you out. Use Recall at the first sign of fire, or else it’s curtains for you. However, if you know where Bastion is hiding, you can easily bypass him with Warp bursts and blow him up from close range with a Pulse Bomb.
- Reaper: Reaper has a similar gameplay to Tracer, and since he can also use his Shadow Step to escape, encounters between these two “harassers” will always turn into extended cat-and-mouse games. Reaper can take more hits and can quickly kill Tracer, but Tracer is more mobile and can outmaneuver an inattentive Reaper and potentially catch him if he tries to escape.
- Soldier: 76: If you encounter Soldier: 76 and he is prepared for you, you have a problem. He can withstand more than you and deal significant damage. If he has his healing field active, you should avoid engaging him altogether. Instead, try to surprise him from behind and take him down quickly.
- Torbjörn: Torbjörn’s turrets are very dangerous, and you should only engage him and his turrets with a full charge of Warp and Recall, as well as an available Pulse Bomb.
So much for our guide on Tracer. What do you think of the heroine? Let us know in the comments. And don’t forget that we have plenty more guides and tips for the game on our Overwatch topic page.
