Widowmaker · Damage
Widowmaker 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
Widowmaker is a sharpshooter damage hero in Overwatch with 225 health. In competitive this season (PC, Americas, Europe and Asia averaged) it wins 50.2% of its games, is picked by 5.1% of teams and banned in 6.5% of matches: tier B on our ladder.
Strengths
- Shines on Havana, King’s Row and Junkertown (up to 54.3% won).
Weaknesses
- Struggles on Aatlis, New Junk City and Oasis (down to 40.3% won).
- Fragile for its role: 225 hit points against an average of 253 among damage heroes.
- None of its abilities is described as a dash, jump or teleport: position before the fight, not during it.
Build cheat sheet
Pick the build that fits what you want to do this game.
- Widowmaker · recommended perksBalancedRecommendedOne minor and one major perk, chosen by what each one's text adds to a damage hero. Blizzard doesn't publish how often each perk is picked, so this is a reading of the perks, not a pick rate.
- Widowmaker · alternative perksUtilitySituationalThe other option of each perk level. Perks are chosen during the match, so switch to these when the enemy composition or the map asks for what they do.
Builds
Widowmaker · recommended perks
When to use it
One minor and one major perk, chosen by what each one's text adds to a damage hero. Blizzard doesn't publish how often each perk is picked, so this is a reading of the perks, not a pick rate.
Minor perk
Scoped EfficiencyScoped shots cost 3 ammo instead of 5.
Sniper's InstinctScoped shots charge 100% faster for 2 seconds after using Grappling Hook.Picked for more damage: Scoped shots cost 3 ammo instead of 5.
Major perk
Seeker MineVenom Mine now fires poison darts at enemies within 10 meters and remains active after triggered.
Widow's BiteScoped shots can charge up to 125%, piercing enemies when fully charged.Picked for more damage: Scoped shots can charge up to 125%, piercing enemies when fully charged.
Widowmaker · alternative perks
When to use it
The other option of each perk level. Perks are chosen during the match, so switch to these when the enemy composition or the map asks for what they do.
Minor perk
Scoped EfficiencyScoped shots cost 3 ammo instead of 5.Sniper's InstinctScoped shots charge 100% faster for 2 seconds after using Grappling Hook.When the situation calls for it: Scoped shots charge 100% faster for 2 seconds after using Grappling Hook.
Major perk
Seeker MineVenom Mine now fires poison darts at enemies within 10 meters and remains active after triggered.Widow's BiteScoped shots can charge up to 125%, piercing enemies when fully charged.When the situation calls for it: Venom Mine now fires poison darts at enemies within 10 meters and remains active after triggered.
Abilities
LMBWidow's KissAutomatic assault weapon. Hold for long-ranged sniper weapon.Key: primary fire
ShiftGrappling Hook10sLaunch a hook that pulls you towards a ledge.Key: Shift · cooldown 10 s. Perks: Sniper's Instinct
EVenom Mine15sLaunch a poison trap.Key: E · cooldown 15 s. Perks: Seeker Mine
QInfra-SightUltimateProvide your team with a view of the enemy's location.Key: Q · ultimate
Strategy
1Your job
In Role Queue each team fields two damage heroes: you secure eliminations, pressure the enemy supports and turn the numbers advantage your tank creates into won fights.
2Abilities
- primary fire · Widow's Kiss: Automatic assault weapon. Hold for long-ranged sniper weapon.
- Shift · Grappling Hook · 10 s: Launch a hook that pulls you towards a ledge.
- E · Venom Mine · 15 s: Launch a poison trap.
- Q · Infra-Sight · ultimate: Provide your team with a view of the enemy's location.
3Perks
During each match you unlock a minor perk and, later, a major perk: one of two options each time. ★ marks this guide's pick.
- ★ Scoped Efficiency: Scoped shots cost 3 ammo instead of 5.
- Sniper's Instinct: Scoped shots charge 100% faster for 2 seconds after using Grappling Hook.
- Seeker Mine: Venom Mine now fires poison darts at enemies within 10 meters and remains active after triggered.
- ★ Widow's Bite: Scoped shots can charge up to 125%, piercing enemies when fully charged.
4In competitive
Blizzard's official stats for this season, division by division (PC, the three regions averaged).
- Bronze: 47.5% won, picked by 5.5% of teams
- Silver: 48.6% won, picked by 4.7% of teams
- Gold: 50.4% won, picked by 4.8% of teams
- Platinum: 51.3% won, picked by 5.1% of teams
- Emerald: 51.2% won, picked by 5.5% of teams
- Diamond: 49.6% won, picked by 5.7% of teams
- Master: 47.8% won, picked by 5.9% of teams
- Grandmaster: 49.4% won, picked by 7.2% of teams
5Best and worst maps
Win rate of Widowmaker on each competitive map compared with its 50.2% overall.
- Havana: 54.3% won (11.1% pick rate)
- King’s Row: 53.8% won (8.8% pick rate)
- Junkertown: 53.7% won (9.2% pick rate)
- Aatlis: 40.3% won (1.0% pick rate)
- New Junk City: 40.6% won (1.2% pick rate)
- Oasis: 41.1% won (1.5% pick rate)
6Common mistakes
- Trading shots with the enemy tank while the enemy backline goes untouched.
- Staying on an angle after it's been found and focused.
Tips
- Infra-Sight (Q) is your ultimate: plan it with your team's ultimates instead of using it as soon as it's ready.
- Pick your angle before the fight starts: a second line of fire splits the enemy's attention.
- Focus the same target as your team; spread damage gets healed.
Matchups
Works well with
Both do better than their average on the same maps, such as Havana, Junkertown and Circuit Royal: a good pairing when the map suits them.
Both do better than their average on the same maps, such as Circuit Royal, Havana and Junkertown: a good pairing when the map suits them.
Both do better than their average on the same maps, such as Circuit Royal, Havana and King’s Row: a good pairing when the map suits them.
Both do better than their average on the same maps, such as Havana, Junkertown and Circuit Royal: a good pairing when the map suits them.
Changelog
- Guide created for patch Season 4.
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