Tracer · Ranged Assassin
Tracer Guide
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This guide is assembled by the site from match data and the game's own information — nobody wrote it by hand. Official and community guides appear alongside it when they exist.
Overview
Tracer is a ranged Ranged Assassin in Heroes of the Storm. In this guide you play it as Ranged Assassin: your job is to deal consistent damage from range and clear waves. The kit brings mobility with Blink and sustain with Reload. At level 10 you choose between the heroics Sticky Bomb, Quantum Spike and Pulse Rounds.
Strengths
- Has escape tools, according to Blizzard's own hero tags.
- Strong gank potential around the map.
- Sustain from Reload.
Weaknesses
- Relies on basic attacks: blinds and armor hurt its damage.
- Fragile when divers reach it.
Build cheat sheet
Pick the build that fits what you want to do this game.
- Balanced talentsBalancedRecommendedAt each level, the talent that serves more than one plan. A safe default when you don't know the enemy team yet. Built by reading the talent texts; Blizzard publishes no pick rates.
- Survival talentsDefensiveSituationalAt each level, the talent with the most healing, shields or armor. Choose it against dive or heavy burst.
- Utility talentsUtilitySituationalAt each level, the talent with the most control, cooldown reduction or vision. Choose it when your team needs setup more than damage.
Builds
Balanced talents
When to use it
At each level, the talent that serves more than one plan. A safe default when you don't know the enemy team yet. Built by reading the talent texts; Blizzard publishes no pick rates.
Map job
Battlegrounds change every match, so this is its job on any of them.
- Solo laneHolds a lane alone and wins it.
Double soakMainSoaks experience in a lane, usually alongside a teammate, and clears waves fast.- RotatePriority 2Rotates between lanes to create kills and pressure.
- Mercenary campsTakes mercenary camps when it is safe.
- With the teamStays with the team for fights and objectives.
Talents by level
One-Two PunchReduce the cooldown of Melee by 1 second and it gains an additional charge.W
Parting GiftRecall leaves behind 6 bombs that deal 240 (+4% per level) damage each to different targets. Heroes hit with these bombs are Slowed by 50% for 0.75 seconds and grant 7% Pulse Bomb charge.E
Tracer RoundsIncrease Basic Attack range by 10%. Basic Attacks against Heroes reveal a small area around them for 3 seconds.Trait
- 1Upgrades Recall for more damage.
- 4Fits more than one plan at level 4: survivability and utility.
- 7The most damage-focused option at level 7.
- 10Fits more than one plan at level 10: damage and survivability.
- 13Fits more than one plan at level 13: utility and damage.
- 16Fits more than one plan at level 16: damage and utility.
- 20Upgrades Pulse Bomb for more damage.
Survival talents
When to use it
At each level, the talent with the most healing, shields or armor. Choose it against dive or heavy burst.
Map job
Battlegrounds change every match, so this is its job on any of them.
- Solo laneHolds a lane alone and wins it.
- Double soakMainSoaks experience in a lane, usually alongside a teammate, and clears waves fast.
- RotatePriority 2Rotates between lanes to create kills and pressure.
- Mercenary campsTakes mercenary camps when it is safe.
- With the teamStays with the team for fights and objectives.
Talents by level
- One-Two PunchReduce the cooldown of Melee by 1 second and it gains an additional charge.W
- Parting GiftRecall leaves behind 6 bombs that deal 240 (+4% per level) damage each to different targets. Heroes hit with these bombs are Slowed by 50% for 0.75 seconds and grant 7% Pulse Bomb charge.E
- Tracer RoundsIncrease Basic Attack range by 10%. Basic Attacks against Heroes reveal a small area around them for 3 seconds.Trait
- 1Upgrades Melee for more utility.
- 4The most survivability-focused option at level 4.
- 7The most damage-focused option at level 7.
- 10Heroic ability focused on survivability.
- 13Upgrades Blink for more survivability.
- 16Upgrades Melee for more survivability.
- 20Upgrades Recall for more survivability.
Utility talents
When to use it
At each level, the talent with the most control, cooldown reduction or vision. Choose it when your team needs setup more than damage.
Map job
Battlegrounds change every match, so this is its job on any of them.
- Solo laneHolds a lane alone and wins it.
- Double soakMainSoaks experience in a lane, usually alongside a teammate, and clears waves fast.
- RotatePriority 2Rotates between lanes to create kills and pressure.
- Mercenary campsTakes mercenary camps when it is safe.
- With the teamStays with the team for fights and objectives.
Talents by level
- One-Two PunchReduce the cooldown of Melee by 1 second and it gains an additional charge.W
- Parting GiftRecall leaves behind 6 bombs that deal 240 (+4% per level) damage each to different targets. Heroes hit with these bombs are Slowed by 50% for 0.75 seconds and grant 7% Pulse Bomb charge.E
- Tracer RoundsIncrease Basic Attack range by 10%. Basic Attacks against Heroes reveal a small area around them for 3 seconds.Trait
- 1The most utility-focused option at level 1.
- 4The most utility-focused option at level 4.
- 7The most damage-focused option at level 7.
- 10Heroic ability focused on utility.
- 13Upgrades Recall for more utility.
- 16Upgrades Melee for more utility.
- 20Upgrades Melee for more utility.
Abilities
QBlink9sDash towards an area. Stores up to 3 charges.Basic ability — moves you. Keep it to escape unless the kill is certain.- WMelee8sDeal 220 (+4% per level) damage to a nearby enemy, prioritizing Heroes. Gain 5% Pulse Bomb charge when using Melee against an enemy, and 10% against Heroes.
ERecall20sAfter 1.25 seconds, Tracer returns to the position she was at 2 seconds prior to casting, refilling her ammo, and removing all negative status effects from herself.
RPulse BombHeroicFire a short range bomb that can attach to an enemy if it hits them. The bomb explodes after 2 seconds dealing 298 (+6% per level) damage to them and 149 (+6% per level) damage to other nearby enemies. This ability is slowly charged over time by dealing damage to enemies with Basic Attacks and Melee.Heroic — hits an area. Plan your fights around its cooldown.- DReloadTrait1sTracer can Basic Attack while moving, and after attacking 10 times she needs to reload over 0.75 seconds. Tracer can manually reload early by activating Reload. Basic Attacks heal Tracer for 10% of the damage dealt.Trait — heals. Time it for the enemy's burst, not for chip damage.
Strategy
1Early game
Early, soak experience, clear waves quickly and poke the enemy from a safe distance. Don't trade health you can't get back. Trade at the edge of your range, and walk away as soon as the enemy starts to close the gap.
- Early talents: Parting Gift and Is That a Health Pack?!.
2Mid game
After level 10, stay behind your frontline and deal damage without being reached.
- Heroics: Sticky Bomb, Quantum Spike and Pulse Rounds.
3Late game
Late, you're a priority target: keep your distance, respect the enemy's heroics and never walk ahead of your tank.
- Level 20: Composition B.
4Team fights
Hit the closest target you can reach safely and keep Blink for the enemy dive.
Tips
- Keep Blink for when the enemy dives you, not to chase.
- Arrive at map objectives and mercenary camps before they start: the team that is there first chooses the fight.
- Keep Blink for getting out, not for chasing.
- Before each fight, check which key abilities the enemy has available.
Matchups
Strong against
Blizzard classifies Qhira as a Melee Assassin, and they have to close the gap before they can do anything to Tracer, who fights at range.
Blizzard classifies Samuro as a Melee Assassin, and they have to close the gap before they can do anything to Tracer, who fights at range.
Blizzard classifies The Butcher as a Melee Assassin, and they have to close the gap before they can do anything to Tracer, who fights at range.
Weak against
Gravity Lapse (stun) lets Kael'thas pin Tracer down before Blink gets them out.
Dragon's Arrow (stun) lets Hanzo pin Tracer down before Blink gets them out.
Black Arrows (stun) lets Sylvanas pin Tracer down before Blink gets them out.
Works well with
Feral Spirit from Thrall holds enemies in place for Pulse Bomb from Tracer.
Healing Beam from Lt. Morales keeps Tracer alive, and Tracer is the damage the team needs to protect.
Force of Will from Medivh keeps Tracer alive, and Tracer is the damage the team needs to protect.
Changelog
- Updated for patch 2.57.0.98304.
- Updated for patch 2.57.0.98297.
- Updated for patch 2.57.0.98285.
- Guide created for patch 2.55.17.98025.
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