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Critical hit is a property that allows a weapon or ability to deal bonus damage under certain conditions. Most commonly critical hits are caused by headshots.

Headshot[ | ]

Headshots are critical hits caused by most - but not all - weapons and some abilities upon hitting an opponent's head hitbox. Melee and beam weapons are usually incapable of dealing headshots.

Generally, a headshot gains a 2.0x damage modifier, meaning that they deal double the damage of a bodyshot (for example, Cassidy's Ability-mccree1 Peacekeeper deals 70 damage to the body, but 140 damage to the head against a non-tank hero). Some weapons do, however, have a differing multiplier:

Genji's Ability-genji2 Deflect and Echo's DUPLICATE Duplicate inherit the property from the original hero's weapon or ability.

Some abilities, such as Ramattra's Block Icon Block and Wrecking Ball's Roll Roll, can partially hide or completely disable the hero's head hitbox, preventing them from taking the bonus critical damage. They are still vulnerable to other forms of critical damage, however.

List of weapons and abilities that can headshot[ | ]

Hero Weapon / Ability Official description Headshot multiplier Details
Icon-Ashe
Ashe
The Viper
Ability-ashe1
The Viper
Semi-automatic rifle. 2
The Viper (ADS)
Ability-ashe1
The Viper (ADS)
Hold to zoom in, increasing damage and accuracy but slowing rate of fire. 2
Icon-Bastion
Bastion
Configuration: Recon
Ability-bastion1
Configuration: Recon
Mobile, with a lightweight and highly accurate weapon. 2
Icon-Baptiste
Baptiste
Biotic Launcher
Baptiste-ability1
Biotic Launcher
Three-round burst gun. 2
Icon-Cassidy
Cassidy
Peacekeeper
Ability-mccree1
Peacekeeper
Accurate, powerful revolver. 2
Icon-D.Va
D.Va
Fusion Cannons
Ability-dva1
Fusion Cannons
Automatic short-range spread weapons. 2
Light Gun
Ability-dva5
Light Gun
Automatic weapon. 2
Icon-Doomfist
Doomfist
Hand Cannon
Hand cannon
Hand Cannon
Short-range weapon with spread. Reloads automatically. 2
Icon-Echo
Echo
Tri-Shot
TRI SHOT
Tri-Shot
Fires 3 shots at once, in a triangle pattern. 2
Duplicate
DUPLICATE
Duplicate
Become a copy of the targeted enemy hero. They cannot swap heroes for the duration.
  • Depends on the duplicated hero's weapon.
Icon-Genji
Genji
Shuriken
Ability-genji1
Shuriken
Throw an accurate burst of 3 projectiles. 2
Shuriken Alt Fire
Ability-genji1
Shuriken Alt Fire
Throw a fan of 3 projectiles in an arc. 2
Deflect
Ability-genji2
Deflect
Deflect incoming projectiles towards the direction you are aiming and block melee attacks.
  • Depends on deflected projectile.
Icon-Hanzo
Hanzo
Storm Bow
Ability-hanzo1
Storm Bow
Hold to charge then release to launch arrows further. 2
Storm Arrows
Ability-hanzo03
Storm Arrows
The next 5 arrows ricochet and fire instantly at reduced damage. 2
Sonic Arrow
Ability-hanzo2
Sonic Arrow
Reveals enemies for a short time upon impact. 2
Dragonstrike
Ability-hanzo4
Dragonstrike
Launch a deadly Dragon Spirit that devastates enemies it passes through. 2
  • Only initial arrow before turning into AoE.
Icon-Illari
Illari
Solar Rifle
Solar rifle icon
Solar Rifle
Long-range auto charging rifle. 1.5
Icon-Junker Queen
Junker Queen
Scattergun
Scatter Gun Icon
Scattergun
Pump action shotgun. 2
Icon-Kiriko
Kiriko
Kunai
Kunai Icon
Kunai
Thrown projectile that deals increased critical damage. 2
Icon-Lifeweaver
Lifeweaver
Thorn Volley
Thorn Volley Icon
Thorn Volley
Rapidly fire a spread of projectiles. 2
Icon-Lúcio
Lúcio
Sonic Amplifier
Ability-Lucio1
Sonic Amplifier
Sonic projectile launcher. 2
Icon-Mauga
Mauga
Incendiary Chaingun
Incendiary Chaingun icon
Incendiary Chaingun
Automatic weapon that ignites enemies on repeated impacts. 2
Volatile Chaingun
Volatile Chaingun icon
Volatile Chaingun
Automatic weapon that deals critical damage to burning enemies. 2
Icon-Mei
Mei
Endothermic Blaster Alt Fire
Ability-mei1
Endothermic Blaster Alt Fire
Long-range icicle launcher. 2
Icon-Mercy
Mercy
Caduceus Blaster
Ability-mercy2
Caduceus Blaster
Automatic weapon. 2
Icon-Orisa
Orisa
Augmented Fusion Driver
Ability Orisa Fusion Driver
Augmented Fusion Driver
Automatic heat-based weapon. 2
Icon-Ramattra
Ramattra
Void Accelerator
Void Accelerator Icon
Void Accelerator
Fire a stream of projectiles. 2
Icon-Reaper
Reaper
Hellfire Shotguns
Ability-reaper1
Hellfire Shotguns
Short-range spread weapons. 2
Icon-Roadhog
Roadhog
Scrap Gun
Ability-Roadhog1
Scrap Gun
Short-range spread weapon with a medium-range shrapnel volley. 1.5
Whole Hog
Ability-Roadhog4
Whole Hog
Damage and knock back enemies in front of you. 2
Icon-Sojourn
Sojourn
Railgun
Railgun Icon
Railgun
Rapid firing projectiles that generate energy on hit. 2
Railgun Alt Fire
Railgun Alt Fire Icon
Railgun Alt Fire
High impact shot that consumes stored energy and pierces enemies. 1.5
Icon-Soldier: 76
Soldier: 76
Heavy Pulse Rifle
Icon-ability.hpr
Heavy Pulse Rifle
Automatic assault weapon. 2
  • Can headshot also during Icon-ability.tacticalvisor Tactical Visor, but auto-aimed shots are always bodyshots.
Icon-Sombra
Sombra
Machine Pistol
Ability Sombra Machine Pistol
Machine Pistol
Short-range automatic weapon. 2
Icon-Torbjörn
Torbjörn
Rivet Gun
Ability-torbjorn1
Rivet Gun
Slow firing, long-ranged weapon. 2
Rivet Gun Alt Fire
Ability-torbjorn1
Rivet Gun Alt Fire
Inaccurate but powerful short-range weapon. 2
Icon-Tracer
Tracer
Pulse Pistols
Ability-tracer1
Pulse Pistols
Short-range automatic weapons. 2
Icon-Widowmaker
Widowmaker
Widow's Kiss
Ability-widowmaker1
Widow's Kiss
Automatic assault weapon. 2
Widow's Kiss (ADS)
Ability-widowmaker1
Widow's Kiss (ADS)
Hold for long-ranged sniper weapon. 2.5
Icon-Wrecking Ball
Wrecking Ball
Quad Cannons
Quad cannons
Quad Cannons
Automatic assault weapons. 2
Icon-Zenyatta
Zenyatta
Orb of Destruction
Ability-zenyatta1
Orb of Destruction
Energy projectile weapon. 2
Orb of Destruction Alt Fire
Ability-zenyatta1
Orb of Destruction Alt Fire
Charge to release more projectiles. 2

Other sources of critical damage[ | ]

Some weapons and abilities can deal critical damage to enemies without needing the weapon to land on an opponent's head hitbox. However these weapons/abilities typically require some condition to deal critical damage instead. Like headshots, these instances generally deal double damage compared to a normal hit.

Critical damage mitigation[ | ]

In addition to general damage reduction effects, there are currently two effects in the game that can specifically mitigate damage dealt by critical hits. The first is Orisa's Ability Orisa Fortify Fortify which completely prevents any critical damage, causing them to be treated as normal attacks. The second effect is the tank role passive, which grants a 25% reduction against critical hits. This reduction stacks additively with general damage reductions and counts toward the 50% damage reduction cap.

Fortify functions against all sources of critical damage, however the tank role passive appears to have no effect against headshots with a 1.5x multiplier, as well as Ability Sombra Virus Virus or Volatile Chaingun icon Volatile Chaingun crits on burning targets.

Media[ | ]

Example video visualizing hitboxes.[1]

Trivia[ | ]

  • In game modes that restrict all damage to headshots only, some heroes and deployables may not deal any damage whatsoever (like Symmetra, Moira, turrets, and B.O.B.), while others may become immune to damage (like Hammond, Bastion, turrets and barriers).

References[ | ]

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