Marvel Rivals: How To Play Hawkeye

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As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of experience under my belt, I must say that the strategy guide for Hawkeye in Marvel Rivals is nothing short of brilliant. It’s clear that the author has not only played the game extensively but also understands the intricacies of each character’s abilities.

As a seasoned gamer, I can’t wait to get my hands on Hawkeye, the skilled marksman, in Marvel Rivals! Fellow players are buzzing about his capabilities, the ideal team compositions to pair him with, and the most effective strategies for utilizing this hero to our advantage. Here’s a rundown of Hawkeye’s abilities, tips for maximizing them during combat, and suggestions for powerful combos with other heroes to help you dominate the arena!

As a ranged Duelist specialist, Hawkeye excels at hitting targets from afar, boasting the longest-range attack among all characters in the roster. Mastering this character requires a good amount of skill due to the challenge of making accurate shots during the chaos of combat.

Hawkeye Abilities Overview

  • Piercing Arrow: A charged basic attack that shoots a projectile in an arcing line, and can cause severe precision damage.
  • Blast Arrow: A charged basic attack that loads three explosive arrows. These arrows land in a trident trajectory and explode upon impact, causing AoE damage.
  • Hunter’s Sight: An Ultimate ability that boosts Hawkeye’s reflexes for 10 seconds, allowing him to cause damage to enemies even if they are moving by targeting their afterimages. Landing a shot in any of the afterimages will transfer the damage to the corresponding enemies.
  • Crescent Slash: A lateral slash with the Katana that knocks back enemies and causes moderate damage.
  • Hypersonic Arrow: A charge-type ability that can knock down flying enemies, and inflicts Slow on targets hit by the AoE.
  • Ronin Slash: A Melee Attack that can also deflect incoming projectiles.
  • Skyward Leap: Double Jump in the air with great directional control.
  • Passive – Archer’s Focus: Focusing the aim on an enemy improves Piercing Arrow’s damage. The meter fills slowly as Hawkeye tracks down foes.
  • Team-Up Passive – Supersensory Vision (Black Widow): When playing with Black Widow, Hawkeye’s ultimate ability also grants the same buff to the player who is using her, allowing her to target enemy afterimages.

Hawkeye, possessing exceptional sniping skills, can inflict significant damage and constrain enemies. Given his susceptibility in close combat, he’s armed with various abilities such as Crescent Slash and Skyward Leap, designed to navigate through challenging circumstances.

The exceptional skill, Hunter’s Sight, is significantly malfunctioning. Many opponents won’t be able to grasp what’s occurring or why their health decreases, even when they’re moving swiftly. Utilizing this skill is the most effective method to neutralize quick adversaries such as Star-Lord, Spider-Man, Iron Fist, and Black Panther.

Hawkeye’s “Archer’s Focus” is tailored for players who enjoy a more covert approach to gameplay. They have the ability to position themselves strategically, observing enemies from advantageous vantage points, and subsequently launch a potent charged shot that typically eliminates most characters in the game with a single hit.

As a devoted admirer, I’d like to highlight Hawkeye’s remarkable skill, Piercing Shot, which has an impressive spam potential. While the damage may diminish in each shot, the rapid-fire mode becomes indispensable for keeping adversaries at bay and safeguarding allies during retreat. Moreover, this ability can effortlessly overpower Strategists due to their typically lower health compared to Vanguards or Duelists.

How To Play Hawkeye In Marvel Rivals

Managing Hawkeye in gameplay isn’t a walk in the park. His health bar (250) is quite low, giving him a ‘glass cannon’ characteristic, meaning he deals significant damage but is vulnerable to enemy attacks. Additionally, compared to other Duelists, his mobility leaves much to be desired, which makes him an appealing target for characters like Wolverine, Iron Fist, and Venom who thrive in close combat situations. To maximize Hawkeye’s potential, it’s best to maintain a distance and find vantage points or high-ground areas where he can take advantage of his abilities.

Hawkeye can pose a significant threat to characters such as Iron Man and Storm, who rely on air superiority to instill fear in other groundbound heroes. Strategically placed Hypersonic Arrows can force them to retreat, enabling crucial goals to be achieved by the team.

Having Hawkeye on your squad ensures two key aspects: offensive power and defensive coverage. During objective-focused games, position Hawkeye at mid-range, employing swift firing techniques and deploying Explosive Arrows to create a distance between Vanguards and Strategists. This strategy is optimal for securing objectives. When other active operatives like Black Widow, Loki, or Psylocke are targeting your team’s Strategists, Hawkeye can switch to Sniper mode. Leveraging his passive ability, he can swiftly overpower them, aiding in their escape.

Here’s a detailed Hawkeye strategy for each of the different game modes in Marvel Rivals.

Convoy Mode

In a defensive situation, aim to secure an advantageous vantage point that offers a clear line of sight towards your objective. The battlefield narrows significantly in defense mode, making high ground particularly strategic as it allows players with abilities like Hawkeye to concentrate their firepower more effectively. Prioritize eliminating key targets such as healers (Strategists) and snipers (Ranged Duelists), and retreat towards your team’s backline when faced by melee fighters. Avoid engaging melee duelists alone, instead opt for strategic evasion or support from your allies.

While on the offensive, aim to outmaneuver the opposing team and employ rapid-fire mode to eliminate Strategists and sow confusion among your adversaries. When possible, find a sniping position, but generally it’s best to avoid enemy fire and seek cover instead. Gain an advantage by supporting allied frontliners with Blast Arrow and Hypersonic Arrow to disrupt the enemy team’s Vanguards.

Domination Mode

In this game type, Hawkeye finds himself at a significant disadvantage due to his poor performance in tight combat scenarios, as he’s required to engage in them frequently. For success in this game mode, the squad must seize an area and defend it, aiming to build up a score of 100%.

Hawkeye players have two options in this situation: they can move to higher ground and take aim from there, or stay near their target to block the enemy team from swarming the area, thus creating a bottleneck along with the Vanguards. In either scenario, Hawkeye remains exposed, so it’s crucial to be vigilant for sneaky Duelists attempting a flank.

Convergence Mode

During the defense phase, Hawkeye will be able to find a strategic advantageous spot, as Defender’s move before Attackers. Aim for higher ground and thoughtfully plan an exit strategy if the opposing team deploys a Duelist to challenge him.

While on the offensive, stay in the backline and help your team with suppressive fire. Focus on taking out Duelists, then Strategists, followed by Vanguards. Pay special attention to high-value targets like Jeff (the Land Shark), Magick, Iron Fist, and Psylocke; prioritize eliminating them first, so be vigilant about their locations.

In combat situations, Hawkeye excels when he’s perched on elevated areas. Utilize the landscape to your advantage, but be aware that many terrains (like balconies, platforms) can be destroyed. Always stay vigilant for characters such as Spider-Man, Venom, Moon Knight, and Iron Fist. These heroes often focus on Hawkeye first due to their mobility skills which let them navigate obstacles with ease.

How To Counter Hawkeye In Marvel Rivals

It’s likely that many players have figured out by now, based on this guide, that Hawkeye can be tricky to manage. His performance largely hinges on two elements: the team setup and his position within the battlefield. To defeat an expert Hawkeye player, consider deploying a Duelist with excellent mobility to disrupt him and stop him from utilizing elevated ground and sniping spots.

As a seasoned gamer, I can attest that Iron Fist is a reliable choice with his robust resilience and swift combo attacks. However, when it comes to countering Hawkeye, characters like Wolverine, Venom, Spider-Man, and Moon Knight stand out. At the onset of each round, Hawkeye will strategically position himself to flank allies, particularly Strategists and other Duelists. Here’s a breakdown of optimal strategies for each game mode:

Convoy Mode

As we move into Offense, Hawkeye might find himself up high or hidden among enemy lines. For now, let’s hold off on chasing him head-on, but instead, deploy one of our Duelists to sneak around and create some trouble for him. This will help us keep the advantage, especially with Psylocke’s stealth abilities and Spider-Man’s agility causing quite a nuisance. Let’s stay alert and adaptive!

While defending, aim to anticipate Hawkeye’s maneuvers by moving in small teams of three. Keep an eye on his movements and predict the route he may choose for a flanking attack. Once you identify this, swiftly converge on him to force a respawn. Repeat this strategy as needed.

Domination Mode

Employ an overpowering strategy. Hawkeye may find himself at a significant disadvantage in this game type, necessitating him to stay near the objective zone. On the other hand, Wolverine with his rapid charges and Iron Fist with his swift attack pace will pose serious threats to him. However, Captain America and Psylocke might prove useful against these challenges.

Convergence Mode

While on the offensive, Hawkeye transforms into a moving turret and focuses on annoying the Strategists. Position Psylocke, Venom, or Spider-Man for flanking maneuvers, then capitalize on the opportunity to eliminate him with precision shots using heroes like Black Widow who excel in ranged attacks.

During combat, Hawkeye will aim to subdue the frontline with swift gunfire and area-of-effect abilities. It’s best to keep airborne heroes out of the fray as they won’t last long against his barrage. Instead, deploy Wolverine, Moon Knight, or Spider-Man to distract the enemy advance and make Hawkeye a more vulnerable target for the rest of your teammates in the skirmish.

As a gamer, I’ve got a tip: Don’t underestimate Hawkeye at melee range or think he’s defenseless there. On the contrary, he can skillfully deflect mid-range attacks. My strategy? Lure him into using his Crescent Slash and Skyward Leap. Once he does, it’s the perfect moment to strike back with overwhelming tactics because during those moves, he’ll be left exposed and vulnerable.

Best Team Composition For Hawkeye In Marvel Rivals

As a dedicated fan, I can’t help but appreciate the advantage Hawkeye derives from having Black Widow on his side. Her skills make her an exceptional ally, and together, we can amplify each other’s abilities. For instance, I can pass my Ultimate to her, transforming her into a deadlier sniper than ever before. However, it’s crucial to remember that in certain game modes, I require protection as much as she provides it, ensuring our team stays strong and victorious.

Essential characters such as Thor, Captain America, Venom, Penny Parker, or Bruce Banner/Hulk are crucial to showcase their unique skills at their best. Conversely, Hawkeye players who wish to engage in a destructive rampage and obliterate everything around them might find an alliance with Rocket Raccoon beneficial. His C.Y.A. damage boost ability temporarily transforms Hawkeye into a team devastator, capable of annihilating an entire squad if left unchecked for a few seconds.

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2024-12-08 21:04