Around the fight · fundamentals

Rotations and the map

Playing the map: take key space and high ground, move along cover instead of the open middle, use the lulls between fights, and own one side of the map.

At every rank

The game is space

Space wins kills, kills win space, and the objective follows: you push the payload or hold the point by owning the space around it. Every map has a few spots that decide fights there, usually high ground that sees the objective. Take them, keep them, and make the enemy pay to move you.

Rotate along cover

Moving from one spot to the next (rotating), take the side route with cover and walls, not the open main road everyone is aiming down. A rotation that costs no health and no abilities is a good one; the main road costs both.

Top-down sketch: the main road through the middle is in the enemy's sight lines. Your team takes the side route behind walls up to the high ground beside the objective.Rotate along the covered side to the high ground, not down the main road they're aiming at.High groundTheir sight linesTSCovered routeTDMain
Rotate along the covered side to the high ground, not down the main road they're aiming at.

Use the quiet between fights

  • Right after a fight, take the space they've left before they're back: the next angle, the high ground.
  • With nobody in your way, keep walking into free space. Stop when there's an enemy to fight, or when you're getting too far from your team.
  • Remember the objective: a few seconds on the point or payload can decide the match.

At your rank

What matters changes as you climb. Pick your rank to open that section. We'll remember it next time.

Bronze–Silver Gold–Plat Emerald–Diamond Master+
Bronze and Silver2 tips

Take the high ground and keep it

High ground makes the enemy spend abilities to reach you and gives you cover. Giving it up for free makes every option worse. Don't drop off it without a reason.

Move along cover, not down the middle

  • Leave spawn by the covered side, not straight down the middle.
  • When the clock is low, don't chase kills off the objective: standing on it for a few seconds can win the map.

By role

  • TankGet to cover or high ground fast at the start; a tank in the open does too little.
  • DamagePick the side of the map that suits your hero and leave spawn that way.
  • SupportRotate with your team, not alone to a high ground away from them.
Gold and Platinum2 tips

Know the key space

Learn which spot decides fights on each map, usually a high ground over the objective, and get there before the enemy is back. Filling empty space between fights is free.

Lanes, not just heroes

  • Think about taking and denying space, not about fighting particular heroes.
  • Standing in a side room or flank route takes it away from the enemy.
  • As a tank, take the space in front of the payload so your team can push it, rather than standing on it yourself.

By role

  • TankTake space for the payload instead of pushing it yourself.
  • DamageKnow the flank routes, and take one once the fight has started and the enemy is looking at your team.
  • SupportTake the high ground your team needs held, and keep it.
Emerald and Diamond2 tips

Make the map bigger

  • Spread your team's sight lines: your tank, a support and a damage hero in a wide triangle, not all five down the main road.
  • If your teammates already cover two lanes, take the one nobody is in.
  • Get off the payload and take space wide; leave it to whoever plays near it anyway, usually a support.

Clear the map piece by piece

Take the high ground first, then push the objective. Rushing the objective with an enemy still above you hands them free shots at your supports.

By role

  • TankGet close enough to their backline that their angles stop being free.
  • DamageTake the lane nobody on your team covers.
  • SupportKeep your team healed first, then take a wider angle once the fight starts.
Master to Champion2 tips

Commit to one side

Choose your side of the map early, ideally in spawn, and take all of it. Every switch to the other side gives up space, time and your angle, and lets the enemy rotate for free.

No downtime

  • With nothing to do on your lane, move toward where the next fight will be before it starts.
  • Take space after a kill instead of all walking down the main road.
  • Space and angles can matter more than numbers: your tank dying doesn't mean the fight is lost if you still have the space and cooldowns to trade.

By role

  • TankPush the standard route unless your team calls something else.
  • DamagePick a lane in spawn and keep pushing further along it: angle to angle to their backline.
  • SupportPick spots that let you follow the fight wherever it moves.

Take it into your games

Hardstuck reviews every match you play and shows what keeps coming up. This guide is in the app too, opened at your rank.

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For a hero's own matchups and counters, see the hero guides.