Genji guide – 2018 – Overwatch

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Genji’s abilities and strategy tips

Genji is, as we’ve mentioned, a rather tricky Hero to master in Overwatch. To help you get started though, here’s a quick look at how each of his combat Abilities actually work on the battlefield, and what you can do to sharpen up your own skills with them. It’ll take a lot of practise to perfect playing him, but the effort will be well rewarded.

Shuriken [LMB | RMB] – There are two different methods for using Genji’s principal attack. First of all, you can use the left-mouse button to fling a fast-moving line of vertically aligned shurikens at your target. Alternatively, you can use the right-mouse button to fire them in a horizontal spread instead. As you might imagine, the former’s good for long-range targeting, while the latter – somewhat faster – assault works great when you’re getting up-close and personal with a potential victim.

Swift Strike [LSHIFT] – This Ability allows Genji to slice and dice his way forwards and through anyone stupid enough to be standing in his way! Even better, if you kill someone with this manoeuvre, the Ability refreshes so that you can keep up your delicious murdering spree. You can also use Swift Strike either as an escape tool, or as a means to simply close the gap on a target. It’s also great for getting on the other side of a stubborn defensive shield, or when you need to pick off a turret and reach it in one piece.

Deflect [E] – The first important thing to note about Deflect is that it doesn’t only protect Genji from incoming projectiles, it also aims them straight back towards the attacker (Hi Bastion!). To return the fire, you simply need to make sure your targeting reticule is aimed where you want the deflected shot to land. Note, however, that if you’re being hit by a melee weapon, you’ll only negate the damage and the same goes for channelled fire too. As is perhaps becoming clear, you need some rather sharp reflexes to get the most out of this Hero.

Dragonblade [Q] – Fire up Genji’s awesome Ultimate Ability and you’ll be able to slash and crash your way through victims using a super-charged sword. The effect lasts for 8 seconds (or, of course, until you’re killed…), and you should keep in mind that you can still use your Deflect and Swift Strike skills while it’s active. The only thing you can’t do is throw your normal projectiles around the place – that would be a bit ridiculous.

Map-specific advice for Genji

Genji: Assault tips (Hanamura, Temple of Anubis, Volskaya Industries)

When it comes to working Assault maps on the attacking team, Genji excels at picking off bothersome defensive forces such as Torbjorn turrets or well-positioned Bastions. His Deflect skill allows him to return damage to these problematic characters, while also gaining enough ground to get close and finish the job off if if extra work is required.

He’s also good at harassing backline Support Heroes, or picking off a Widowmaker if they’re not quick to move once the damage starts rolling in. If his Ultimate is up and the team is making a collaborative push within the confided space of the objective, Genji can tear the attackers to ribbons.

Genji: Control tips (Ilios, Lijiang Tower, Nepal)

Control maps are a Genji’s playground as he’s got the space to dance around enemies and use the environment to defend, attack or stall the point.

Your primary job is to relentlessly pursue vulnerable targets whenever a fight breaks out. With this said, avoid being too aggressive and wait for fights to break out before springing to action. Once you’ve eliminated the healers, move onto the damage dealers. Even if you can’t drop them, at least force them to deal with you – or die.

Genji: Escort tips (Dorado, Route 66, Watchpoint: Gibraltar)

It’s all about using the environment to your advantage when pushing the payload. Otherwise, we wouldn’t recommend Genji on defense unless you’re supremely confident in your own abilities.

If attacking, it’s best to deal damage from a distance while pushing the cart with your team. When you sense a fight brewing, start flanking or clamber up to a high spot so you can locate some squishy targets. As chaos commences, dive in and begin your assassination mission!

Genji: Hybrid tips (Hollywood, King’s Row, Numbani)

Taking much of the advice from the points above, playing Genji on Hybrid requires adaptation. When you’re escorting the Payload, focus on sticking with your team until a fight breaks out before peeling away and hunting for the main enemy healers or damage dealers.

Once you’ve got an objecive to capture, play patiently and wait for clear opportunities to strike. There’s no value in getting greedy, dying prematurely and wasting time for your team.

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Genji counters and match-ups

Just like every other Hero in Overwatch, Genji has his counters. That also means that he has some preferential targets too! Here’s a quick overview of how he stacks up against the overall roster of Heroes in the game.

As well as being particularly strong against the three Heroes above, Genji also does a pretty handy job of dealing with the likes of Tracer, backline Support enemy Heroes in general, and snipers like Widowmaker. If he’s got Deflect up as well, he can bring it to McCree and Soldier: 76 as well.

If Genji doesn’t have Deflect up, then those same characters can cause him a lot of trouble. Mei is another natural counter to Genji because she nullifies his mobility advantage. Zarya and Winston both have plenty of bothersome shields to throw around, and the latter can almost match our ninja-like friend in terms of mobility.

For help with other Heroes, make sure you check out our complete Overwatch: Counters guide.

Genji’s Skins, Victory Poses, Emotes and Voice Lines

Whether you’re looking for a new way to make your mark on the world, or you just want to rub your success in the enemy team’s face in a new and amusing way, Genji’s got loads of customistaion options available to him.

In the table below, you’ll find details of all of this Hero’s skins, victory poses, highlight intros and the like. There are tonnes of sprays to add as well, but for clarity’s sake we’ve left them out of this particular round-up.