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Hanzo
"Honor is all I have left."

Real Name
Hanzo Shimada (島田 半蔵)[1]
Age
40[2]; Birthday: November 3rd
Nationality
Japan Japanese
Occupation
Assassin
Base
Hanamura, Japan (formerly)
Affiliation
Shimada Clan (formerly)
Relations
Sojiro Shimada (father)

Icon-Genji Genji Shimada (younger brother)

Paul Nakauchi[3] (English)

Lionel Tua (French)
Bernd Vollbrecht (German)
Lorenzo Scattorin (Italian)
Shūhei Sakaguchi (Japanese)
Han Shin (Korean)
Liu Beichen (Chinese Mandarin)
Kang Dian-Hong (Taiwanese Mandarin)
Krzysztof Cybiński (Polish)
Rodrigo Horta (Brazilian Portuguese)
Reginaldo Primo (Brazilian Portuguese, formerly)
Ilya Isaev (Russian)
Miguel Ángel Montero (European Spanish)
Dan Osorio (Latin American Spanish)

Cosmetics
Cosmetic page
Quotes
Quotation page
Role
Damage
Health
250
Character Video

Hanzo is a Damage hero in Overwatch. He is one of the 21 heroes included in the game's release on 24 May 2016.

Overview

Hanzo’s versatile arrows can reveal his enemies or rapid fire to strike multiple targets. He can scale walls to fire his bow from on high, or summon a titanic spirit dragon.

Abilities

Role: Damage
Hero-ability-circle
OffenseIcon
Type
Passive Ability
Damaging an enemy temporarily reduces their healing received.
Duration:
2 seconds

Ability details:
  • Reduces the target's healing received by 20%.
  • Does not stack with itself or the passive from another damage role hero.
  • Stacks multiplicatively with other modifiers that affect healing received.
  • Objects that deal damage, such as turrets, may also apply the effect.
  • Self-damage does not apply the effect.


Wall Climb
SPACE
Hero-ability-circle
Ability-hanzo5
Type
Passive Ability
Effect Type
Movement Movement
Jump at walls to climb up them.
Duration:
Up to 1 second
Move. speed:
7.15 meters per second (vertical)

Ability details:
  • Landing on ledges allows Hanzo to mantle them, even after wall climb has already been used.
  • Can reach up to 8.8m height (10m with Lunge) due to momentum being kept after wall climb ends.


Storm Bow
Key mouse 1
Hero-ability-circle
Ability-hanzo1
Type
Weapon
Effect Type
Arcing projectile Arcing projectile
Blocked by barriers.
Ignores barriers.
Blocked by Defense Matrix/Kinetic Grasp.
Ignores Defense Matrix/Kinetic Grasp.
Blocked by Deflect/Javelin Spin.
Ignores Deflect/Javelin Spin.
Affected by damage boosts.
Ignores damage boosts.
Affected by Amplification Matrix.
Ignores Amplification Matrix.
Hold to charge then release to launch arrows further.
Damage:
27.2 - 120 (depending on charge)
Headshot:
Rate of fire:
0.5 seconds recovery
Ammo:
Spread angle:
None
Move. speed:
-30% penalty
Projectile speed:
25 - 110 m/s
Projectile radius:
0.175 meters
Hanzo nocks and fires an arrow at his target.

Ability details:
  • Damage per second: ~97.4 while firing and overall (to full charge)
  • Fire recovery stops while using melee
  • The max cast time is not limited.
  • The arrow can deal damage no earlier than 0.032 second after being launched.
  • Takes 0.732 seconds to reach maximum draw.
  • The minimum draw time required to kill a full health target (without armor) with a single headshot:
    • 150 HP = ~0.46 seconds.
    • 175 HP = ~0.53 seconds
    • 200 HP = ~0.61 seconds.
    • 225 HP = ~0.69 seconds.
  • Hanzo can undraw with Reload or Secondary Fire.
  • An arrow takes ~6 seconds to land when fired straight up with minimum charge.

Example Video


Sonic Arrow
LSHIFT
Hero-ability-circle
Ability-hanzo2
12 seconds
Type
Ability
Effect Type
Arcing projectile Arcing projectile
Blocked by barriers.
Ignores barriers.
Blocked by Defense Matrix/Kinetic Grasp.
Ignores Defense Matrix/Kinetic Grasp.
Blocked by Deflect/Javelin Spin.
Ignores Deflect/Javelin Spin.
Affected by damage boosts.
Ignores damage boosts.
Affected by Amplification Matrix.
Ignores Amplification Matrix.
Reveals enemies for a short time upon impact.
Duration:
6 seconds
Area of effect:
9 meter vision radius
Hanzo launches an arrow that contains a sonar tracking device. Any enemy within its detection radius is visibly marked, making them easier for Hanzo and his allies to hunt down.

Ability details:
  • Pressing the ability key turns the next arrow from Storm Bow or Storm Arrows into a Sonic Arrow. (This does not change the speed or damage.) Pressing the key again before firing changes it back.
  • If the arrow becomes stuck on a moving target (e.g. an enemy hero), the effect follows.
    • If the target becomes invalid (e.g. destroyed, retracted, cleansed), the arrow will fall off and continue its effects in its current location.
  • A visual effect indicating the scan area is shown to enemies when Sonic Arrow lands.
  • Enemies can hear a sound while near an attached Sonic Arrow.

Example Video


Storm Arrows
E
Hero-ability-circle
Ability-hanzo03
8 seconds
Type
Ability
Effect Type
Arcing projectile Arcing projectile
Blocked by barriers.
Ignores barriers.
Blocked by Defense Matrix/Kinetic Grasp.
Ignores Defense Matrix/Kinetic Grasp.
Blocked by Deflect/Javelin Spin.
Ignores Deflect/Javelin Spin.
Affected by damage boosts.
Ignores damage boosts.
Affected by Amplification Matrix.
Ignores Amplification Matrix.
Damage:
75
Headshot:
Rate of fire:
1 shot per 0.24 seconds
Ammo:
5
Cast time:
0.24 seconds
Duration:
Up to 5 seconds
Spread angle:
None
Projectile speed:
110 meters per second
Projectile radius:
0.175 meters
Hanzo’s next several arrows fire instantly, but at reduced damage.

Ability details:
  • Damage per second: ~270 while firing
  • Storm Arrows travel at the same speed as fully charged Storm Bow arrows.
  • Can be manually cancelled by pressing the ability key again.
  • Each arrow from Storm Arrows will bounce off a surface once.
    • If a Ability-hanzo2 Sonic Arrow is fired while Storm Arrows is active, it will stick to a surface only after it has bounced once.
  • The enemy cannot interrupt the ability with crowd control, such as a stun or sleep.


Lunge
SPACE
Hero-ability-circle
Ability-hanzo01
4 seconds
Type
Ability
Effect Type
Movement Movement
Double Jump.
Max. range:
7.85 meters
Move. speed:
15 meters per second (horizontal)
Hanzo can double jump, allowing him to change direction mid-jump.


    Dragonstrike
    Q
    Hero-ability-circle
    Ability-hanzo4
    1850 points
    Type
    Ultimate Ability
    Effect Type
    Projectile Projectile (initial shot)
    Area of effect Area of effect (dragons)
    Blocked by barriers.
    Ignores barriers.
    !
    Partially blocked by Defense Matrix/Kinetic Grasp.
    Ignores Defense Matrix/Kinetic Grasp.
    !
    Partially blocked by Deflect/Javelin Spin.
    Ignores Deflect/Javelin Spin.
    !
    Partially affected by damage boosts.
    Ignores damage boosts.
    !
    Partially affected by Amplification Matrix.
    Ignores Amplification Matrix.
    Launch a deadly Dragon Spirit that devastates enemies it passes through.
    Damage:
    Arrow: 125
    Dragons: 150 damage per second, per dragon
    Up to 993.6 damage against a stationary target
    Headshot:
    Arrow: ✓
    Dragons: ✕
    Cast time:
    0.91 seconds (charging)
    Duration:
    0.6 seconds (arrow fly time)
    Max. range:
    Infinite travel distance
    Area of effect:
    4 meter radius
    Projectile speed:
    20 meters per second
    Projectile radius:
    0.175 meters
    Hanzo summons a Spirit Dragon which travels through the air in a line. It passes through walls in its way, devouring any enemies it encounters.

    Ability details:
      • Hanzo gain ultimate charge while Dragonstrike is active, but the damage dealt by it does not generate any charge.
    • The initial arrow and the AoE pierce enemies and cannot be blocked by walls.
    • The initial arrow can be destroyed by Ability-dva3 Defense Matrix, Abilities-sigma3 Kinetic Grasp and Ability JavelinSpin Javelin Spin and reflected by Ability-genji2 Deflect before turning into AoE.
    • The AoE cannot damage enemy objects and barriers or be affected by damage amplification.
    • If shot directly and the target is still, the damage will last for 3.33 seconds.
    • The hitbox is actually both dragons, meaning the ultimate deals less damage at the edges, and combined at the center.[1]
      • Deals ~60 damage every 0.192 seconds if the target is between the dragons.
      • Deals ~30 damage every 0.192 seconds if the target is not between the dragons
    • Does not drain nor interrupt Storm Arrows.

    Example Video


    Hero-specific options

    Setting name Options Description
    Automatically climb walls Off (default) While facing a wall, hold Jump and Forward to wall climb.
    On While facing a wall, hold Forward while airborne to wall climb.

    Strategy

    Hanzo is a medium-range sniper with strong team utility and area denial abilities. The relatively silent and hard-to-see nature of his arrows makes him a stealthier sniper than Widowmaker, able to get kills and then retreat before his enemies see him. His downsides include the poor aim of Storm Bow at long range, often requiring him to get dangerously close to his opponents to accurately hit them.

    Weapons & Abilities

    • Ability-hanzo5 Wall Climb (Passive): Hanzo can climb up any flat, vertical surface by pressing and holding the jump button while next to that surface. Hanzo can release the jump button and press it again to leap off the wall at any point during the climb.
      • Hanzo's main method of moving around the map. Use side routes to appear in the areas your enemies least expect, as it will make it easier for you to get kills.
    • Ability-hanzo1 Storm Bow: Hanzo's main weapon. Pressing and holding the primary fire button will cause Hanzo to draw the bow back. Releasing the primary fire button will fire a projectile arrow from the bow. The damage and range of the arrow depends on how long the primary fire button was held down, up to a maximum amount. You can press the secondary fire button at any time to drop the shot without firing an arrow.
      • The arrows from Storm Bow can headshot, greatly increasing the damage they deal. You should try to aim for headshots if your enemy is either stationary or moving in a predictable way. Otherwise, aim for bodyshots.
      • The arrows travel in a slight arc. Be sure to compensate for this at longer distances by aiming slightly above your target.
      • Try to always charge your shots fully before firing. You should only quick nock (press and immediately release the primary fire button) if it will guarantee you a kill. This is typically only done at close range when combined with a quick melee attack.
    • Ability-hanzo2 Sonic Arrow: When activated, Hanzo prepares a special Sonic Arrow, which is fired the next time he uses his Storm Bow. After the Sonic Arrow impacts a solid surface, it sends out a series of sonic pulses for a brief period of time, revealing all nearby enemies by silhouetting them in red (akin to Widowmaker's Infra-Sight). Hanzo can cancel Sonic Arrow's deployment by activating the ability again.
      • Sonic Arrow allows Hanzo (and other teammates) to see enemies as they round corners, making it easier for him to prepare shots with his Storm Bow.
      • Sonic Arrow is relatively silent and has a greater arc in comparison to Hanzo's other arrows.
    • Ability-hanzo03 Storm Arrows: Upon activation, the Storm Bow will be pulled to the maximum, and will be engulfed in wind. For a few seconds, Hanzo will be able to fire multiple arrows instantly, at full projectile speed, but reduced damage.
      • This greatly, but briefly improves his fire rate and damage per second, making it a great tool for attacking enemies or barriers.
      • The reduced damage means Hanzo can no longer kill certain enemies in one hit with headshots.
      • Each arrow from Storm Arrows will bounce off a surface once, which can be helpful in hitting enemies behind cover and getting a sonar arrow to specific angles without the risk of peeking.
    • Ability-hanzo01 Lunge: When Hanzo jumps in midair, he will jump horizontally in the direction currently held, much like Tracer's Blink.
      • Useful for either engaging or disengaging from enemies, reach locations that are farther away, and get back to the fight faster.
    • Ability-hanzo4 Dragonstrike (Ultimate): Hanzo's Ultimate ability. When activated, Hanzo will, after a short cast time, fire a special arrow that creates a pair of spiraling twin dragons that will fly straight forwards in the direction of his crosshairs. These dragons will pass through all solid surfaces or barriers, dealing damage over time to any enemies that come in contact with them. The closer an enemy is to the center of the twin dragons, the more damage they will take.
      • Dragonstrike is mostly used as an area denial tool, like a more powerful Storm Arrow attack. Use it when your enemies are occupied fighting in a tight space that they have few ways of escaping from.
      • Dragonstrike can be combined with abilities that prevent movement like Reinhardt's Earthshatter or Zarya's Graviton Surge to deal extremely high damage. When used in this way, Dragonstrike can be just as powerful as Ultimates like Pharah's Barrage.
      • An enemy Genji can deflect Dragonstrike if he is close and clever enough. Shooting it against walls will prevent this.

    General Strategies

    • While Widowmaker can usually be played from long range, Hanzo often has trouble accurately hitting shots at this distance, unless his enemies are moving through a narrow space. Use Hanzo's mobility to move to the side or behind your opponents to get into a position that you can both stealthily fire on them and can easily escape from if they choose to go after you. Keep in mind that Hanzo is somewhat deadlier than Widowmaker at close range if he is able to land headshots well, so don't be afraid of standing your ground if only a single person comes after you.
    • Hanzo can have a high level of burst damage at close range. A single well-placed arrow from the Storm Bow, combined with a quick melee attack, can instantly kill Tracer.
    • Storm Arrows' rather high damage per second is useful for taking down high health targets quickly.
    • Lunge can be used in a variety of ways, like in chases, disengaging, and general mobility. For example, it can be used to alternate between the three high platforms in the initial stage of Rialto.
    • Dragonstrike, much like Cassidy's Deadeye, can be used either to score kills or to force enemies away from a certain position. If using it to clear a position, try to fire it in such a way that your enemies will have little choice but to either retreat or move to the side and into the line of fire of your own team. Alternatively, if you have an ally like Reinhardt or Zarya on your team, coordinate your Ultimate with theirs in order to deal devastating damage.

    Match-Ups and Team Synergy

    Tank

    Hero Match-Up Team Synergy
    Icon-dva
    D.Va
    D.Va can cause a lot of problems at close range, and is more than capable of getting there. She is, however, easy to hit while she's firing, as her movement speed slows to a crawl in the process. Try not to activate Storm Arrows if she has Defense Matrix ready, as she will cause you to waste its duration. Instead, bait it with standard shots while remaining agile, and always try to land critical hits on her cockpit. If you manage to destroy her Mech, one or two arrows will be enough to snuff her out. (To be added)
    Icon-orisa
    Orisa
    With her very long barrier uptime, Orisa can easily deny Hanzo most of his damage, since he has no means of getting around a barrier outside of either flanking or his ultimate. In addition, Halt can be used to prevent Hanzo from getting away once she closes the distance. However, once her barrier goes down, her large hitbox makes her an easy target. Although somewhat difficult to do, Orisa can use her Halt to pull opponents into a Dragonstrike, similar to Zarya's Graviton Surge.
    Icon-reinhardt
    Reinhardt
    Like Orisa, Reinhardt's barrier makes it difficult for Hanzo to get his damage off. In addition, should Reinhardt somehow close the distance, Hanzo will be easily dispatched in just a couple of swings. However, once his barrier goes down, Reinhardt can be easily shot down in a few moments. Earthshatter and Dragonstrike make for a powerful combo, as the long stun duration means the opponent likely won't be able to get out of the way before the dragons hit them.
    Icon-roadhog
    Roadhog
    If Hanzo gets hooked, he will be easy pickings for Roadhog. However, at every other time, Roadhog will be little more than an ultimate battery, as his large hitbox and lack of armor means Hanzo can quickly charge his ultimate off of him. Just be wary of his hook and always have Lunge ready if you suspect he has it off-cooldown. (To be added)
    Icon-sigma
    Sigma
    (To be added) (To be added)
    link=http://overwatch.gamepedia
    Wrecking Ball
    (To be added) (To be added)
    Icon-winston
    Winston
    Winston can quite literally get the jump on you, and once he approaches you he'll most likely put down a Barrier Projector to prevent your allies from helping at range. However his large body is easy to hit with arrows. Use Lunge to get some distance from him and try to lure him out of his barrier where you can land your shots. If he's waiting to lunge on you again, though, try to regroup with your team; even if you land your shots, the damage from his landing in addition to his Tesla Cannon can kill you quickly, no matter how nimble you are. (To be added)
    Icon-zarya
    Zarya
    She can quickly build off charge from Hanzo due to his high burst, and if he's caught at close range with her at high charge, he stands little chance. However, without her personal bubble, she is an easy target. Graviton Surge combos fantastically with Dragonstrike, as it will line up a good number of opponents to be run through by your dragon. Be cautious of an enemy or Zenyatta or Lúcio, though, as their Ultimates can protect their team from this combo.

    Damage

    Hero Match-Up Team Synergy
    Icon-ashe
    Ashe
    With higher burst at every range as well as more consistent mobility, a Hanzo of equal skill to Ashe can easily kill her without issue. Her large head hitbox also makes it easy to take her out in a single shot. Be wary of her dynamite when alone, however, as it can put you at a massive disadvantage. (To be added)
    Icon-bastion
    Bastion
    (To be added) (To be added)
    Icon-Cassidy
    Cassidy
    Much like Ashe, you out-damage Cassidy at all ranges and can easily dispatch of him at a distance due to his large headshot hitbox. However, be very careful of him at close-range: if he catches you with his Flashbang, you're as good as dead. (To be added)
    Icon-doomfist
    Doomfist
    You have advantages over Doomfist, at range, you can easily shoot at him with barely any means for Doomfist to retaliate and be left exposed without abilities, Sonic arrow can be used to more easily track him, and if he manages to get close to you your storm arrows can deal devastating damage, if not outright kill him, don’t get too cocky though, if you’re missing your shots or the enemy Doomfist is flanking you, he can usually kill you before you can kill him. (To be added)
    Icon-genji
    Genji
    If you let Genji approach you (which should be easy for him with Cyber-Agility and Swift Strike), he will trump you at close range. However, you have the upper hand at a distance. Use Sonic Arrow to keep track of his position, and if he tries to approach you, climb walls or air dodge to stay away from him. While it's best to kill him before he can even get to you, if he does make his way towards you, try to fall back to your team while using Storm Arrows to keep him from attacking you. Additionally, try to charge up a shot in front of him without actually firing, this may bait him into using Deflect early and drastically swing the fight in your favor. Use your sonic arrow to assist Genji in killing other players.
    Icon-echo
    Echo
    (To be added) (To be added)
    Icon-hanzo
    Hanzo
    (To be added) (To be added)
    Icon-junkrat
    Junkrat
    (To be added) (To be added)
    Icon-mei
    Mei
    Always maintain your distance from Mei: you stand no chance against her at close range by yourself. Her Ice Wall can block your arrows for a short period of time, and her Cryo-Freeze can make it difficult to burst her down with anything that isn't a fully-charged headshot. Overall, just keep your distance and don't hesitate to run if she hits you with an icicle. Thanks to her strong CC capabilities, Mei can combo up well with Hanzo's massive concentrated burst. Like Earthshatter and Graviton Surge, Mei's Blizzard can set up an enemy team for a Dragonstrike for massive damage.
    Icon-pharah
    Pharah
    Despite not technically being hitscan, Hanzo's projectiles are fast and accurate enough so that a good player can hit her fairly consistently. A tip to use is to try and aim at her abdomen or lower half while she's airborne: more often than not she will descend slightly between shots, so trying to go for only headshots will end up in you missing. (To be added)
    Icon-reaper
    Reaper
    At anything other than close range, Reaper will do little more than tickle you and be an easy target. However, if he closes the distance, he can burst you down easily before you can get away. Always watch your back when he's around, and use Sonic Arrow to ruin his element of surprise. If he does get up-close, use Lunge to disengage while firing some shots back at him. (To be added)
    Icon-Soldier 76
    Soldier: 76
    (To be added) (To be added)
    Icon-sombra
    Sombra
    Your high burst makes you an imminent danger to Sombra at all times, and your Sonic Arrow can reveal her for your team and foil her element of surprise. As such, a good Sombra will try to make you one of her priority targets. Keep Sonic Arrow up as often as possible to make it difficult for her to sneak up easily, and if you get hacked, stand your ground: one good shot can either end the fight or force her to retreat. (To be added)
    Icon-symmetra
    Symmetra
    At a range, Symmetra is an easy target that can be downed in one or two shots. In addition, since Hanzo is not usually someone to lead a charge, it is unlikely he will get hit by one of her turret nests. However, one must be wary of her Teleporter, as it can easily allow enemies to catch you off-guard at close-range, where you will be very vulnerable. Thankfully, your high burst can allow you to destroy her Teleporter before it has a chance to send allies through it. Whenever you see an opportunity, burst down her teleporter ASAP to relieve pressure both on you and your team. (To be added)
    Icon-torbjörn
    Torbjörn
    Torbjorn's turret is completely static and can be destroyed in just two shots, making you very effective at taking it down. In addition, Torbjorn himself is a very wide target too, so unless he's up close, he stands little chance in a one-on-one fight. (To be added)
    Icon-tracer
    Tracer
    Tracer's slim frame is hard to hit with arrows, especially at close range. Her Blink also makes her slippery at long range. With Sonic Arrow, though, you can keep tabs on where she's hiding, and you can prepare an arrow for when she peeks her head out from cover. If Tracer does try to flank you, use Storm Arrows to run through her before she can kill you, or use Wall Climb to get to a higher location where she can't chase you. Another thing to note is that Tracer's 150 hp pool opens up new avenues to reliably one-shot her that aren't possible on other heroes, namely a fully-charged body shot or Storm Arrow headshot immediately followed up by a quick melee. With this in mind, it's sometimes worth it to stand your ground against Tracer instead of running away as soon as she tries to approach. as you can kill her before she even gets a chance to fight back. (To be added)
    Icon-widowmaker
    Widowmaker
    A battle with Widowmaker is ultimately decided by what distance you decide to fight. At close to mid-range, your higher mobility while firing puts you at an advantage. If she's a far distance away, don't risk it: your arrows' travel time will make it difficult to hit her while her hitscan nature makes you an easy target. (To be added)

    Support

    Hero Match-Up Team Synergy

    Icon-ana
    Ana
    Ana's lack of mobility (especially while scoped-in) makes her an easy target for Hanzo, who can kill her quickly without much issue. Additionally, since Hanzo will usually fight close to teammates, Sleep Dart won't be too detrimental to him outside of just leaving him out of the battle momentarily. Even so, don't underestimate her at long range: unlike your arrows, her scoped shots are hitscan and can kill you in just three shots. (To be added)
    Icon-baptiste
    Baptiste
    (To be added) (To be added)
    Icon-brigitte
    Brigitte
    Storm Arrows can quickly burst down Brigitte's shield and leave her virtually defenseless, and her larger-than-average hitbox makes her easy to down with just a few shots from a distance. One must be wary of her up-close, however, as she can quickly set you up for her teammates with a Shield Bash. (To be added)
    Icon-lúcio
    Lúcio
    Lucio's high speed can make him difficult to hit, though his Wall-Ride can sometimes cause him to move in predictable patterns. As for an up-close battle, provided you aren't alone, he likely won't be able to burst you down before you do the same to him. (To be added)
    Icon-mercy
    Mercy
    (To be added) (To be added)
    Icon-moira
    Moira
    Never let yourself be caught alone by Moira: if you do, she won't hesitate to take you out. Stick close to teammates to minimize the damage of her orbs and her right-click, and try to burst her down with either Storm Arrows or a headshot before she can use Fade to escape. (To be added)
    Icon-zenyatta
    Zenyatta
    Like Ana, Zenyatta lacks mobility of any kind, and his large head hitbox in particular can make it easy to kill him in just one shot. Even so, don't get too reckless fighting him: his damage may not be as strong as yours, but it is still strong enough so that he can take you down quickly if you run in carelessly. (To be added)

    Story

    Icon-hanzo
    "With every death comes honor. With honor, redemption."

    Mastering his skills as a bowman and an assassin, Hanzo Shimada strives to prove himself as a warrior without peer.[2] He has a cynical view on the nature of the world,[4][5] and believes that compassion has no place in battle.[4]

    In addition to his skills with the bow, Hanzo is likewise skilled with the sword, but has sworn off using such a weapon. He considers crossbows to be "toys for children,"[4] and refuses to use firearms, as "they make killing too simple." He carves wooden charms as a hobby.[6]

    Background

    You cared too much about how the family perceived you
    Have you ever been the eldest son?
    ~ Genji and Hanzo

    The Shimada family was established centuries ago, a clan of assassins whose power grew over the years, enabling them to build a vast criminal empire out of Hanamura that profited from lucrative trade in arms and illegal substances. As the eldest son of Sojiro Shimada, the family's head, Hanzo was bound by duty to succeed his father and rule the Shimada empire,[2] dealing with expectations that his younger brother, Genji, did not. While he overshadowed Genji in his status, Hanzo preferred to have his brother beside him.[6]

    AsaKirikoGenjiHanzo

    The Shimada brothers train under Asa

    From a young age, Hanzo was trained for that responsibility, displaying a natural aptitude for leadership and possessing an innate understanding of strategy and tactics. He also excelled in more practical areas: he was a prodigy in martial arts, swordplay, and bowmanship.[2] He was instructed in the ways of the sword by Asa Yamagami[7] alongside his younger brother, Genji.[8] She also taught them how to wall climb.[9] Through Asa, the brothers learned alongside Asa's daughter, Kiriko, who became a "cute, little niece" figure to them.[8]

    One night, after the End of Summer Festival, Sojiro told Hanzo, Genji, and Kiriko a story from the history of the Shimada clan. How centuries ago, a rival clan attempted to end the Shimada's rule by setting their orchards aflame, as well as the city's Fox Shrine. The rival clan anticipated that the Shimada would move to protect their fields rather than the people of Kanezaka, but instead, the opposite happened. The Shimada aided their people first, and united with the clan, the Kanezakans made short work of the rival clan lying in wait at the orchards. The lesson, as Sojiro imparted to the three children, was that a leader's relationship must be mutually beneficial with their people, or else, they were nothing more than a parasite.[10]

    Hanzo Skin Scion

    Hanzo in Shimada attire

    Upon the death of his father, the clan elders instructed Hanzo to straighten out Genji, so that he, too, might help rule the Shimada empire. When his brother refused, Hanzo was forced to kill him. Unbeknownst to Hanzo, however, Genji narrowly survived the attempt with the help of Overwatch. This act broke Hanzo's heart and drove him to reject his father's legacy, ultimately leading him to abandon the clan and all that he had worked so hard to attain.[2] His leaving the clan removed his access to its finances,[11] and he began roaming the world in solitude as self-punishment.[12] Hanzo swore to never again wield a sword, and would forevermore rely on his skills with the bow.[4] He began to write poetry in an attempt to find peace.[6] Seeing his abandonment as betrayal, the clan declared Hanzo an enemy and assassins were sent time and again to kill him.[5]

    That was ten years before the Overwatch recall.[13] Over the following decade, Hanzo travelled the world, perfecting his skills as a warrior, attempting to restore his honor and put the ghosts of his past to rest,[2] honing his murderous skills all the while.[13] At some point he visited Numbani, but did not find the city to be to his liking.[11]

    Dragons

    Real life is not like the stories our father told us. You are a fool for believing it so!
    Perhaps I am a fool to think that there is still hope for you, but I do. Think on that, brother.
    ~ Hanzo and Genji part ways
    Hanzo-dragons2

    Hanzo returns to Hanamura

    On the tenth anniversary of Genji's death, as he had done every year, Hanzo broke into Shimada Castle and took down the guards before they could alert anyone. In the main room in front of the sword display he lit an incense offering and prayed to honor Genji. He however called out an apparent assassin that he knew to be there, revealed to be a cybernetic ninja. The ninja asked Hanzo about honoring his brother, yet also being his killer.

    Hanzo initiated a battle between them, openly admitting that his actions were about duty, but also a burden he carried and that it didn't mean he didn't honor Genji. The ninja countered that to show honor, it should be done through one's actions, not incense offerings. Hanzo tried the Dragonstrike to take down his opponent, only to be shocked when the ninja revealed the Shimada ability to control dragons as well, turning the Dragonstrike right back at him, and took the full brunt of the attack.

    Hanzo-dragons

    Hanzo draws his bow at Genji

    Defeated and with the ninja's wakizashi at his neck, Hanzo told him to go ahead and kill him, but the ninja refused, saying he would not grant Hanzo's wish for death and that he still had a purpose in life. To Hanzo's shock, the ninja then called him "brother", revealing himself to be Genji, still alive, and to prove it unlocked his facemask to show his eyes. Hanzo was a bit disturbed at seeing Genji's physical changes, but Genji stated that he was at peace with it and had forgiven Hanzo's actions: now Hanzo needed to forgive himself. Times were changing, stated Genji, and Hanzo would soon have to pick a side. Retrieving a loosed arrow Hanzo aimed it, angrily declaring Genji a fool in believing that real life was like their father's stories. Genji conceded that he might be a fool for believing that there was hope for Hanzo, but nevertheless did, which gave Hanzo pause. Asking him to think about it, Genji vanished with a smoke screen into the night, leaving nothing but a single drifting sparrow feather in his wake. With much to contemplate, Hanzo returned to the main room to finish his offering.[5]

    Tokyo

    Hanzo was present in Tokyo when it was attacked by Null Sector.[14]

    Achievements

    Name Icon Description Reward
    The Dragon Is Sated
    Ability-hanzo4 Kill 4 enemies with one of Hanzo's Spirit Dragons in Quick or Competitive play. Spray Hanzo Cute
    Cute
    Simple Geometry
    Ability-hanzo03 Get 3 killing blows with a single use of Hanzo's Storm Arrows in Quick or Competitive play. Spray Hanzo Pixel
    Pixel

    Trivia

    • Hanzo and Genji were the first playable heroes in Overwatch to be related, followed by Pharah and Ana, and Torbjörn, Reindhardt and Brigitte.
    • Hanzo has delicate ankles, leading him to wear greaves.[15]
    • Hanzo "loves" geometry.[16]
    • Despite popular belief, Hanzo's Dragonstrike is not magic.[17]
    • Equipping Hanzo's Lone Wolf or Okami skins will change his Dragonstrike's appearance to wolves and will change his voice lines to reference wolves instead of dragons.
    • Both Genji and Hanzo are playable heroes in Heroes of the Storm.[18]
    • Hanzo is one of the four heroes not to speak in their native language, The others are Reinhardt, Torbjörn, and Pharah.
    • Hanzo appears in Loverwatch, taking on the role of Cupid.[19]

    Cultural References

    • The design on Hanzo's pants and scarf is a Japanese pattern called seigaiha, which means "blue sea and waves".[20]
    • Hanzo's name could be a reference to the famous samurai and Japanese historical icon, Hattori Hanzō.
    • Hanzo's archery theme may have been inspired by Kyūdō, a Japanese martial art of archery.
    • The Hanzo National Church was founded in Brazil by Mateus Mognon. This was done to demonstrate the ease of founding a religion in the country.[21]
    • Hanzo's voice line "Shot through the heart. And I'm to blame" is a paraphrase/reference to American rock band Bon Jovi's 1986 hit song You Give Love a Bad Name.

    Merchandise

    • The Hanzo vs. Genji LEGO Overwatch, featuring a segment of the dojo where the two fought in Dragons, was revealed by Target in 2018.[22]
    • A "Demon Hanzo" Cute but Deadly figure is available.[23]
    • A Genji vs. Hanzo Nendoroid diorama is on sale.[24]
    • As part of Hasbro's Overwatch Ultimates Series, they released a Hanzo and Genji 6" figure dual pack in August, 2019.[25]

    Development

    HanzoGenji

    An early Hanzo concept, featuring elements of both Genji and Hanzo

    Genji and Hanzo were originally envisioned as a single cyborg ninja hero named Hanzo who wielded both a bow and a sword, used parkour, and had an assassinate ability, using artwork for the Assassin class from the cancelled Project Titan.[26] They were split into two distinct heroes early in development.[27]During development Hanzo was known as "Bow Ninja" and Genji as "Sword Ninja."[28] Both Hanzo and Genji's kits drew heavily from an early version of Sombra that predated both heroes, which resulted in the Sombra concept being temporarily shelved.[29] His kit may have also taken inspiration from that of Huntress, a character created for the original Prometheus pitch.

    Hanzo's old Scatter Arrow is one of the few abilities that have been removed/replaced in the game.

    Removed Abilities

    Scatter Arrow
    Hero-ability-circle
    Ability-hanzo3
    10 seconds
    Type
    Ability
    Effect Type
    Initial shot: Arcing Projectile
    Blocked by barriers.
    Ignores barriers.
    Blocked by Defense Matrix/Kinetic Grasp.
    Ignores Defense Matrix/Kinetic Grasp.
    Blocked by Deflect/Javelin Spin.
    Ignores Deflect/Javelin Spin.
    Affected by damage boosts.
    Ignores damage boosts.
    Affected by Amplification Matrix.
    Ignores Amplification Matrix.
    Hanzo shoots a fragmenting arrow that ricochets off walls and objects and can strike multiple targets at once.
    Damage:
    Initial shot: See Storm Bow
    Scattered:
    • Fully charged: 75 per arrow
    • Uncharged: 22 per arrow
    Headshot:
    Initial shot: ✓
    Scattered: ✕
    Rate of fire:
    Bullets per shot:
    6 scattered arrows
    Projectile speed:

    Ability details:
    • The projectile will scatter if it directly hits an enemy.

    Example Video


    Images

    Videos

    Balance Change Logs

    For more information, see Patch Notes.

    Overwatch 2 PvP
    Patch
    Description
    General
    • Global projectile size modifier for travel time projectiles with a speed greater than 50 meters per second reduced from 0.1 to 0.075 meters.
    Hero
    Developer Comments: We’re reverting the previous change to the base projectile size of Hanzo's arrows and replacing it with the general global reduction, which affects all travel time projectiles with a speed greater than 50 meters per second, resulting in Hanzo's arrow projectile staying the same total size as before this patch.
    • Base projectile sizes increased from 0.075 to 0.1 meters. The total projectile size, when combined with the general hero change, is still 0.175 meters.
    • Base projectile sizes reduced from 0.1 to 0.075 meters. Total projectile size is now 0.175 meters.
    General updates

    Most damage-dealing projectile sizes have been increased by a new global modifier added to their base size.

    • +0.05 meters for hitscan projectiles with a high rate of fire or spread (e.g., Tracer's Pulse Pistols or Reaper's Hellfire Shotguns).
    • +0.08 meters for hitscan projectiles that are more precise (e.g., Cassidy's Peacekeeper or Soldier:76's Heavy Pulse Rifle).
    • +0.05 meters for travel time projectiles that are shotguns or have a very high rate of fire (e.g., Roadhog's Scrap Gun or Ramattra's Void Accelerator).
    • +0.10 meters for travel time projectile with a speed greater than 50 meters per second (e.g., Zenyatta's Destruction Orb).
    • +0.15 meters for travel time projectile with a speed less than or equal to 50 meters per second (e.g., Pharah's Rocket Launcher).
    • Very large projectiles with a base size greater than 0.5 meters have been excluded from these increases (e.g., Orisa's Energy Javelin or Reinhardt's Fire Strike).

    Hero combined HP (base health/armor/shields) increased by 15-25%.

    • 150-175 HP heroes increased by 25 HP.
    • 200-300 HP heroes increased by 50 HP.
    • 300+ HP (Tanks) increased by 75-100 HP.
    • Each hero's precise health increases are listed in their patch notes below.

    Ultimate Charge

    • All Ultimate ability costs increased by 10%.

    Regenerative Passive for All Heroes

    • All heroes now regenerate 20 health per second after 5 seconds of not taking damage.

    Damage Role Passive

    • Reload speed bonus on elimination has been removed.
    • New role passive: Dealing damage reduces enemy healing received by 20% for 2 seconds.

    Quick Melee

    • Damage increased from 30 to 40.
    Hero updates
    • Health increased from 200 to 250.

    Ability-hanzo03 Storm Arrows

    • Damage increased from 65 to 75.
    • Cooldown reduced from 10 to 8 seconds.
    Developer Comments: Despite being conceptually strange, this gameplay mechanic felt good and fluid to use as Hanzo. However, it often resulted in some frustrating behavior for enemy players that can be alleviated without impacting Hanzo’s overall effectiveness too significantly.

    Ability-hanzo1 Storm Bow

    • Arrow draw progress is no longer preserved while wall climbing.
    Developer Comment: The Storm Bow damage adjustment is a small but significant change so that heroes with 250 health won't be eliminated with one critical damage shot. We've also updated the sound and visual for when Sonic Arrow initially lands to give nearby enemies more awareness that the ability was used.

    Ability-hanzo1 Storm Bow

    • Maximum damage reduced from 125 to 120.

    Ability-hanzo2 Sonic Arrow

    • Impact sound effect now plays for enemies.
    • Visual effect is now briefly visible to enemies when first deployed.
    Developer Comment: Hanzo has high burst damage potential with Storm Bow and Storm Arrows and strong utility with Sonic Arrow but still underperforms compared to other heroes in the same role. This change increases his survivability without directly improving his strengths.

    Ability-hanzo01 Lunge

    • Lunge cooldown decreased from 5 to 4 seconds
    28 Apr 2022
    (beta)

    Ability-hanzo03 Storm Arrows

    • Damage reduced from 70 to 65

    Overwatch 1
    Patch
    Description
    Ability-hanzo03 Storm Arrows
    • Arrows ricochet once upon impact
    Ability-hanzo03 Storm Arrows
    • Shot recovery time reduced from 0.3 to 0.25 seconds

    Developer Comment: This rate of fire change improves the feel and effectiveness of the Storm Arrows ability and though small, adds up over the course of firing 5 arrows.

    Ability-hanzo03 Storm Arrows
    • Can now be manually canceled
    Ability-hanzo03 Storm Arrows
    • Damage increased from 60 to 70

    Developer Comment: The previous combination of changes to the projectile speed and the damage of Storm Arrows impacted Hanzo more than intended so we're reverting the Storm Arrow damage back its previous value.

    Ability-hanzo03 Storm Arrows
    • Damage reduced from 70 to 60
    Ability-hanzo1 Storm Bow
    • Maximum projectile speed reduced from 125 to 110

    Developer Comment: The increased projectile speed Hanzo received in his rework ended up making his arrows too good at longer ranges. Decreasing the speed will reduce his sniping capability while still keeping him strong at mid-range.

    Ability-hanzo03 Storm Arrows
    • Storm Arrows ammo reduced from 6 to 5

    Developer Comment: The overall damage output of Storm Arrows was too high so we’re reducing the maximum number of shots.

    Ability-hanzo2 Sonic Arrow
    • Detection radius increased from 7 to 9 meters

    Developer Comments: Because of how dense the environment is on some maps, the Sonic Arrow can feel ineffective in some areas. Increasing Sonic Arrow’s detection radius should make it more effective.

    Ability-hanzo01 Lunge
    • Cooldown increased from 4 to 5 seconds

    Developer Comments: Hanzo’s Lunge ability allows him to be a bit too evasive, so we’re increasing the cooldown to make him easier to catch.

    Ability-hanzo03 Storm Arrows
    • Duration reduced from 6 to 5 seconds
    • Cooldown increased from 8 to 10 seconds

    Developer Comments: Hanzo’s new kit has proven to be a bit too powerful, especially his new Storm Arrows ability. We’re lowering the frequency that he can have this ability available to make it more reasonable to play around.

    Ability-hanzo03 Storm Arrows
    • Damage reduced from 80 to 70

    Developer Comments: Hanzo’s Storm Arrows are doing too much damage considering his other changes, such as Lunge and projectile speed. This damage reduction will give Hanzo’s enemies a more reasonable chance to react and fight against him while using Storm Arrows.

    Ability-hanzo1 Storm Bow
    • Projectile speed increased from 85 to 100

    Ability-hanzo2 Sonic Arrow Cooldown decreased from 20 seconds to 12 seconds

    • Duration decreased from 10 seconds to 6 seconds
    • Radius decreased from 10 meters to 7 meters

    New Abilities

    Ability-hanzo01 Lunge

    • Press jump while in the air to leap horizontally

    Ability-hanzo03 Storm Arrows

    • Replaces his existing Scatter Arrow ability
    • Hanzo can now rapidly fire up to 6 arrows that deal reduced damage but are always fired at full power

    Developer Comments: The goal of these Hanzo changes is to allow him to have new options and maintain his high damage output, while removing the frustration of fighting against the old Scatter Arrow. Hanzo is now much more mobile with his new Lunge ability, and with the combination of the bow projectile speed increase and the new Storm Arrows ability he can now deal his high damage more consistently than ever before.

    General
    • Removed the attack cooldown from Hanzo’s wall climbing ability, allowing him to engage with enemies immediately after he finishes climbing

    Ability-hanzo1 Storm Bow

    • Increased charge speed by 10%
    • Charged arrows now maintain their charge after climbing a wall, provided the button is continuously held

    Developer Comments: Decreasing Hanzo’s draw time gives him more overall DPS, while also letting him fully charge an arrow and more quickly return to full movement speed when needed. And, like the change to Genji’s wall climbing, this is a quality of life change that will make climbing feel better.

    General
    • Hanzo will now experience a 30% decrease in speed while aiming (formerly 40%)
    • Maximum projectile speed has been increased by 30%
    • Arrow size has been reduced by 33%

    Developer Comments: Hanzo has the potential to deal a lot of damage, but he can feel really inconsistent, even at a medium distance. By increasing the projectile speed, we’re extending his reliable range, making it easier to land shots without having to perfectly predict enemy movement. To compensate for the increased projectile speed, we’ve decreased the size of his arrows, meaning his shots now require a bit more accuracy.

    References

    1. Square Enix uses katakana "ハンゾー・シマダ".
    2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Hanzo (Overwatch), Blizzard Entertainment. Accessed on 2015-01-20
    3. 2015-05-05, "Watch for the release of Blizzard's new game! Hanzo is my voice!". Twitter, accessed on 2016-05-18
    4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Heroes of the Storm
    5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 Dragons
    6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 Overwatch 2, Hanzo Quotes
    7. 2021-01-11, CORRESPONDENCE POST FOR TOSHIRO YAMAGAMI. Blizzard Entertainment, accessed on 2021-01-13
    8. 8.0 8.1 2022-09-15, Overwatch 2 Reveals New Hero Kiriko, A Ninja Support Hero And The Protector Of Kanezaka. GameSpot, accessed on 2022-09-15
    9. 2022-09-21, Kiriko Origin Story. YouTube, accessed on 2022-09-27
    10. Yōkai
    11. 11.0 11.1 Overwatch, Hanzo Quotes
    12. Hanzo (Overwatch 2), Blizzard Entertainment. Accessed on 2022-10-05
    13. 13.0 13.1 2014-11-24, BlizzCon 2014 – Overwatch Unveiled Panel Transcript. Blizzplanet, accessed on 2015-03-08
    14. Overwatch 2: Heroes Ascendant
    15. 2016-12-10, Blizzcon 2016 Overwatch Q&A Panel Transcript. BlizzPlanet, accessed on 2018-11-16
    16. 2023-02-14, FEEL THE LOVE WITH THE ULTIMATE VALENTINE EVENT!. PlayOverwatch, accessed on 2023-02-15
    17. Michael Chu and Renaud Galand of Overwatch Development Team at Blizzcon 2017 Online Station, accessed on 2018-12-05
    18. 2017-11-03, Dragons of the Nexus – BlizzCon 2017 Hero Trailer. YouTube, accessed on 2017-11-04
    19. 2023-02-06, OVERWATCH 2 SEASON 3 STARTS FEBRUARY 7: NEW ANTARCTIC PENINSULA CONTROL MAP, ONE-PUNCH MAN COLLAB, LOVERWATCH DATING SIM, AND SO MUCH MORE!. PlayOverwatch, accessed on 2023-02-08
    20. Seigaiha (Blue Sea And Waves) Project Japan, accessed on 2016-12-19
    21. 2017-07-12, A Brazilian Overwatch Fan Has Founded an Official Hanzo Church. The Escapist, accessed on 2017-07-13
    22. 2018-10-22, Full lineup of LEGO Blizzard Overwatch sets revealed. The Brothers Brick, accessed on 2018-10-22.
    23. 2018-10-09, OVERWATCH HALLOWEEN TERROR GEAR AVAILABLE NOW. Blizzard Entertainment, accessed on 2018-10-10
    24. 2017-10-26, Genji and Hanzo are the latest adorable Nendoroid figures, and I must have them. Blizzard Watch, accessed on 2017-10-27
    25. Hasbro Overwatch Action Figures, BlizzPlanet
    26. Blizzcon 2017, Overwatch: Archives
    27. 2015-12-10, How Blizzard is making up Overwatch's story as it goes. PC Gamer, accessed on 2015-12-24
    28. 2017-12-22, Every Overwatch Hero Explained by Blizzard’s Michael Chu | WIRED (1:13). Youtube, accessed on 2017-12-23
    29. Blizzcon 2016, Overwatch - What's New

    External Links

    Heroes in Overwatch 2
     
    Icon-hanzo
    Hanzo
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