Alright, so today I’m gonna share my experience on how to counter Hammond. That wrecking ball can be a real pain, right? So, let’s dive in.
It all started when I kept getting rolled over in Quick Play. Seriously, every match had a Hammond zooming around, booping me off the map or just generally being a nuisance. I knew I had to figure something out, so I decided to dedicate some time to figuring out counters.
First thing I did was hop into the practice range. I picked a few heroes that I thought might work. Initially, I tried McCree (now Cassidy). The idea was to flashbang Hammond while he’s rolling around. It worked sometimes, but a good Hammond player can anticipate the flashbang and grapple away or use his adaptive shield.
Then, I switched to Roadhog. The hook seemed like a good option to interrupt Hammond’s momentum. I practiced timing the hook to grab him mid-swing. It was tricky, but definitely had potential. The problem was that Hammond could just shield up and take the hit, or a teammate would peel for him.
Next, I gave Sombra a shot. Hacking Hammond seemed like the perfect counter. No grapple, no shields, just a big, slow target. But the timing was crucial. You gotta hack him right before he swings in, or he’ll just roll away. Plus, a good Hammond player will be aware of Sombras and play around them.
After those initial tests, I realized that no single hero was a perfect counter. It really depended on the situation and the Hammond player’s skill level. So, I shifted my focus to teamwork and coordination.
Here’s what I learned through trial and error:
- Focus Fire: Hammond is a big target. If the whole team focuses fire on him, he melts pretty quickly. Call out when he’s low health so everyone can pile on.
- Interrupt His Grapple: This is key. Characters with knockback abilities like Lucio or Brigitte can disrupt his grapple, making him an easier target. Even a well-timed boop can throw off his momentum.
- Use CC (Crowd Control) Wisely: Stuns, sleeps, hacks, and slows are your best friends. Save them for when Hammond is vulnerable, like when he’s swinging in for a piledriver or setting up his mines.
- Positioning is Crucial: Don’t bunch up! Hammond loves to piledrive a group of enemies. Spread out and use natural cover to avoid getting booped off the map.
During my practice, I found some heroes that synergize well against Hammond:
- Orisa: Fortify makes her immune to boops, and her halt ability can pull Hammond away from his desired path.
- Sigma: Accretion is great for interrupting his movement, and his shield can block Hammond’s attacks.
- Ana: Sleep dart is a game-changer. Sleeping Hammond mid-air is incredibly satisfying and can completely shut down his engage.
- Junkrat: Traps can catch Hammond off guard, and his grenades can deal consistent damage.
Ultimately, countering Hammond is a team effort. It requires awareness, coordination, and a little bit of luck. Don’t get discouraged if you lose a few matches. Just keep practicing, communicating with your team, and experimenting with different strategies.
And remember, sometimes the best counter is just a well-timed “Hello!” to tilt the Hammond player.
Good luck out there, and happy countering!
