Who to shoot, who to heal
Target choice at every rank: pick one and finish it, take the closest and easiest, punish whoever's out of position, and heal just enough to keep shooting.
At every rank
Pick one and finish it
Damage spread across five enemies heals back. Damage on one of them gets a kill, and a kill wins fights. Pick a target, stay on it until it dies or gets away, and only then pick the next.
It works even better as a team: when you and your team shoot the same enemy, from the same place and at the same time, their healing can't keep up.
The easiest target, not the 'right' one
- Shoot what your angle shows you and what's close. Reaching for a far target costs time and cooldowns, and it gets away.
- An enemy out of position is worth more than an 'important' one: a support standing alone is worth more than one hiding behind their tank.
- Pressure counts even without the kill: an enemy forced to back off or spend a cooldown is out of the fight for a while.
For supports
Heal teammates enough that they don't die, then shoot. Your damage helps win fights, builds your ultimate and forces their cooldowns. Heal whoever is in danger first: the teammate taking the fight, not the healthy tank in front of you.
At your rank
What matters changes as you climb. Pick your rank to open that section. We'll remember it next time.
Bronze and Silver2 tips
One target, then the next
Pick one enemy and finish them. Leaving two enemies at a sliver of health each is worth nothing; one kill is worth a fight. Any choice is fine at these ranks as long as you pick one: the easiest to kill, or the one out of position.
Don't lock onto the tank
- Shoot the damage heroes and supports near you instead of only the big enemy tank. Once their supports are dead or forced back, the tank has no healing and goes down too.
- Supports: don't spend the whole fight healing a tank who can heal themselves. Heal enough, then shoot.
Gold and Platinum2 tips
The path of least resistance
Shoot the easy kill close to you, not 'support first' or 'tank first' by rule. A fight you're winning two against one on your side is worth finishing before you look for anything else.
Take the closest, slowest or squishiest target, and stay on it instead of flicking between people.
Heal and boost with a plan
- Heal first when a teammate is about to die; everything else after.
- Put your damage boosts on whoever is taking the most aggressive or isolated angle: they need it most.
Emerald and Diamond2 tips
Punish the one out of place
Look for the most aggressive or isolated enemy, often a damage hero or support who stepped too far, and spend everything on that player. The tank in the middle of their team is the worst target on the map.
Take the free kills
- When an enemy is alone and in reach, go for it: skipping a free kill to stay on a bigger target is the most common miss here.
- Don't pocket one teammate (heal only them) for a whole fight; give them what they need, then look around.
Master to Champion2 tips
Your angle picks your target
- Shoot whoever your angle shows. If an overextended tank is in your lane, trade with them until they back off and give you the lane.
- Don't reach across the map for a far target when a close one is there; let your teammates have theirs.
- Hit the close tank or diver to force their cooldowns: it opens up the squishies behind them.
Damage before the fight
In the quiet before a fight, take a safe angle and chip the enemy tank or their backline. A few shots now decide who starts the fight at full health.
Find the habit in your own games
After every match, Hardstuck's match review points out games where their team out-damaged or out-healed yours, and links each one to this guide in the app, opened at your rank.