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Reinhardt
"Justice will be done."

Real Name
Reinhardt Wilhelm
Age
61
Nationality
Germany German
Occupation
Crusader (formerly)
Overwatch agent (formerly)
Adventurer
Base
Stuttgart, Germany
Affiliation
German Armed Forces (formerly)

Crusaders (formerly)
Overwatch

Relations
Balderich von Adler (mentor)
Brigitte Lindholm (goddaughter)[1]
Darin De Paul[2] (English)

Patrice Mellenec (French)
Gerhard Jilka (German)
Paolo Marchese (Italian)
Kenji Nomura (Japanese)
Kwon Hyeok-su (Korean)
Eduardo Borgerth (Brazilian Portuguese)
Humberto Solórzano (American Spanish)
Antonio García Moral (European Spanish)

Cosmetics
Cosmetic page
Quotes
Quotation page
Role
Tank
Health
300 (Open queue)
450 (Role queue)
Armor
200
Character Video

Reinhardt is a Tank hero in Overwatch.

Overview

Clad in powered armor and swinging his hammer, Reinhardt leads a rocket-propelled charge across the battleground and defends his squadmates with a massive energy barrier.

Abilities

Steadfast
Hero-ability-circle
Passive-Reinhardt
Type
Passive Ability
Resistant to knock back effects.

Ability details:
  • Reduces the initial velocity from knock back effects by 50%. For example, Soundwave sends its victims back 17 m/s, but for Reinhardt, it is 8.5 m/s.
  • The distance in which Reinhardt is knocked back is NOT reduced by 50%; it is reduced by more. This is because the velocity has to accelerate back to normal; a higher initial velocity means more time at higher velocities and more time with a velocity in general.
  • Does not affect Halt!, Chain Hook, Graviton Surge, or Gravitic Flux because they are not knock back effects.


Rocket Hammer
Key mouse 1
Hero-ability-circle
Ability-reinhardt1
Type
Weapon
Effect Type
Melee Melee
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.
Reinhardt’s Rocket Hammer is an exemplary melee weapon, able to deal punishing damage in a wide arc with every swing.
Damage:
75
Headshot:
Rate of fire:
1 swing per 0.95 seconds
Cast time:
0.42 seconds (initial swing)
Max. range:
5 meters
    Example Video


    Barrier Field
    Hero-ability-circle
    Ability-reinhardt2
    5 seconds after being broken
    Type
    Ability
    Reinhardt projects a broad, forward-facing energy shield, which can absorb substantial damage before it is destroyed. Though Reinhardt can protect himself and his companions behind the shield, he cannot attack while sustaining it.
    Healing:
    Regenerates 200 shields per second, after being down for 2 seconds
    Health:
    1600 shields
    Move. speed:
    -30% penalty

    Ability details:
    • By holding the primary fire key, Reinhardt can look around at his surroundings without turning.
    • The barrier cracks once at 50% and once at 25%. At 20%, Reinhardt will say his barrier is failing.

    Example Video


    Charge
    Hero-ability-circle
    Ability-reinhardt3
    10 seconds
    Type
    Ability
    Reinhardt charges forth in a straight line, grabbing hold of enemies in his path. If he collides with a wall, foes he’s carrying suffer extreme damage.
    Damage:
    Pinned to a wall: 300
    Bump with no pin: 50
    Cast time:
    0.6 seconds
    Duration:
    3 seconds
    0.65 second stun at the end of a pin
    Max. range:
    49.5 meters
    Move. speed:
    +200% buff

    Ability details:
    • Reinhardt can turn while charging but his control is reduced.
    • If Charge directly collides with an enemy, that enemy is "pinned" (stunned), and if they hit a wall, the pinned target takes 300 damage. If Charge ends before hitting a wall, no damage is inflicted, but the target will remain stunned for an additional 0.65 seconds. Only 1 enemy can be pinned at a time.
    • If Charge indirectly collides with an enemy, or if there is already a target pinned, the enemy is knocked away and takes 50 damage.
    • If Charge collides with Rocket Punch, Shield Bash, a charging B.O.B., or another Charge, both participants get knocked down for 2 seconds. Any pinned targets will be damaged as if they hit a wall.

    Example Video


    Fire Strike
    Hero-ability-circle
    Ability-reinhardt4
    6 seconds
    Type
    Ability
    Effect Type
    Projectile 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.
    By whipping his Rocket Hammer forward, Reinhardt slings a flaming projectile which pierces and damages any enemies it touches.
    Damage:
    100
    Headshot:
    Cast time:
    0.5 seconds
    0.6 second recovery
    Projectile speed:
    25 meters per second

    Ability details:
    • Pierces barriers, enemies, and other damageable entities.
    • This ability can animation cancel Rocket Hammer, allowing for faster attacks.

    Example Video


    Earthshatter
    Q
    Hero-ability-circle
    Ability-reinhardt5
    1540 points
    Type
    Ultimate Ability
    Effect Type
    Area of effect Area of effect
    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.
    Reinhardt forcefully slams his rocket hammer into the ground, knocking down and damaging all enemies in front of him.
    Damage:
    50
    Cast time:
    0.45 seconds
    0.5 second recovery
    Duration:
    3 second knock down
    Max. range:
    20 meters

    Ability details:
    • Reinhardt passively generates 1% Ult Charge every 3.08 seconds.
    • Requires line of sight.
    • Earthshatter has a small amount of vertical height (2 meters), allowing it to affect enemies in the air or on the payload.

    Example Video


    Strategy

    Reinhardt is the sturdiest of the Tanks, boasting high base Health and a massive barrier that allows him to protect his team from harm. While largely defense-oriented, Reinhardt can be a deadly offensive threat as well thanks to the high damage of his Rocket Hammer and ability to crush enemies against a wall with Charge. The price he pays for all of this is that he is almost solely restricted to fighting at short range, having only a single, infrequent ranged attack.

    Weapons & Abilities

    • Rocket Hammer: Reinhardt's primary weapon. Pressing the primary fire button causes Reinhardt to swing the hammer, dealing damage to all enemies in a cone in front of Reinhardt.
      • The damage from this hammer is significant, so don't be afraid to start swinging when close to an enemy. Look for opportunities where you can hit more than one enemy with the Rocket Hammer to maximize its effectiveness.
      • Rocket Hammer can be swung in 360 degrees by rotating Reinhardt mid-attack, striking everyone in a 10 meter diameter rather than a 5 meter cone.
      • Although this is a melee weapon, the range is greater than a normal quick melee attack. Reinhardt does not have a normal quick melee attack like other heroes.
      • Rocket Hammer is strong enough to knock enemies back depending on which direction the hammer is being swung especially when they are airborne. This can be used to cause environmental kills.
    • Barrier Field: The Barrier Field is a powerful, rectangular barrier that Reinhardt carries like a shield, blocking most projectiles and bullets that hit it. It can be activated by pressing and holding down the secondary fire button. The barrier has its own separate Health pool, and Barrier Field is disabled if the barrier's Health drops to 0. Reinhardt will regenerate lost barrier Health after a few seconds of not activating Barrier Field.
      • Use Barrier Field to block incoming attacks from your opponents. This is especially helpful for your team, as you can use Barrier Field to let them move through a contested area without taking damage. Try to always stay at the front to keep your team safe.
      • Try to check if your teammates are behind your cover or not. You can keep an eye all around while holding the barrier.
      • Keep an eye on your barrier Health. If you start to get low, look for a place to take cover so that you can let your barrier Health regenerate.
      • Since Barrier Field only blocks attacks from one direction, be cautious of attacks from above or behind.
      • While dangerous in some situations, you can move faster to where you are needed (or out of danger) with your shield by taking it down for an instant, jumping in any direction and bringing Barrier Field up while you're in the air - Reinhardt's movement is not slowed by Barrier Field if it is activated during the jump.
    • Charge: When activated, Reinhardt will use rocket boosters to propel himself forwards. He gains significant speed, but loses most of his ability to turn. Reinhardt will stop his charge after a period of time or when he collides with a solid surface, whichever comes first. The first enemy Reinhardt collides with during his charge will become "pinned" to Reinhardt, and will be dealt heavy damage if Reinhardt then impacts a solid surface. All other enemies will be knocked away from him. Stuns, such as those from Roadhog or McCree, will immediately end Charge.
      • While it may be tempting to use Charge to leap into battle, Reinhardt cannot turn well while charging, making it easy for enemies to avoid it. It's best to use Charge at short or medium range, where enemies have less time to respond.
      • Charge has a relatively short cooldown and can be used to get closer to the fight after spawning.
      • Crushing a pinned target against a wall will deal massive damage, enough to kill almost any non-Tank instantly.
      • Watch your aim! On certain maps, it's very easy to Charge straight into an open pit, as Reinhardt has no way to stop his Charge early short of hitting a wall. Charge also automatically destroys fences without stopping.
        • When you catch someone in a charge and take them off the map, you die before they do. D.Va (and presumably other flying heroes), will be able to fly away to avoid dying.
    • Fire Strike: When activated, Reinhardt will hurl a flaming projectile forwards that deals decent damage to any enemy it hits. This projectile passes through enemies and barriers, meaning that a single projectile can hit multiple opponents. It stops upon impacting a solid surface.
      • Fire Strike is Reinhardt's only ranged attack. It's useful for hurling down choke points to deter enemies from coming through, as well as for hitting distant, stationary targets like Bastion.
      • While it's easy to think of this as only being a ranged ability, Fire Strike deals a lot of damage no matter the range it's used at. Don't forget to use it in melee engagements as well.
      • Reinhardt can use Fire Strike to "animation cancel" his Rocket Hammer swing. As soon as the Hammer impacts an enemy, use Fire Strike to deal fast burst damage to a target. This is useful against evasive targets like Tracer, where you may only have a limited opportunity to hit them. This also assists in quickly finishing tanks after charging them, such as Winston.
    • Earthshatter (Ultimate): Reinhardt's Ultimate ability. When activated, Reinhardt slams his hammer into the ground, creating a cone of force that damages and stuns enemies who are hit by it. This ability respects line of sight, so anyone Reinhardt can't see is not affected by it.
      • A simple but devastatingly powerful Ultimate when used correctly. An enemy who is stunned cannot perform any action, leaving them helpless and easy to kill.
      • Look to hit as many targets as you can with Earthshatter, as it can easily turn a fight in favor of your allies. Stunned enemies are an easy target for your area-of-effect attacks, and may also set them up for a potent Charge for future displacement.
      • Try to use Earthshatter in an area without much cover, as enemies can duck out of sight of you and completely avoid Earthshatter otherwise.
      • Earthshatter has a small amount of vertical height. Jumping enemies can still be hit by it.
      • If Reinhardt is knocked into the air when activating Earthshatter, he will not use it until after he lands.
      • Be careful when using Earthshatter on tanks, as it will not pass through barriers like that of Zarya, Winston or even other Reinhardts.

    General Strategies

    • Reinhardt is incredibly hardy, able to absorb the most damage out of any of the Tanks, but suffers from being mostly restricted to melee attacks. As a result, Reinhardt works best as a team player. Stay at the front of your team and use your Barrier Field to absorb incoming attacks as you approach your opponents, allowing your team to move safely through an area and fire back without taking damage. Try to move between points of cover using Barrier Field instead of walking straight towards your enemies. Reinhardt may be tough, but he's not invincible.
    • One of Reinhardt's strengths is that he protects high damage-output teammates. If your team is composed mostly of flankers, Reinhardt might be less effective, as flankers generally do not wish to stand behind Reinhardt's shield.
    • Using Charge properly can be a challenge. In general, look for targets that are near corners or walls who are distracted by your team. Tanks like Winston and Roadhog are prime targets, as they are easier to hit with Charge due to their larger hitboxes. Charge will only pin enemies who are more-or-less directly in front of Reinhardt, so don't be surprised if you simply sail on by a jumping enemy. Remember, the closer you are to your enemy when you charge, the less time they have to get out of the way.
    • Try to avoid charging in a direction that will lead you deep into enemy territory, as that will leave you alone and flanked.
    • Reinhardt's shield is a powerful defense, but remember that any enemy can simply walk right through it. When shielding, try to always keep a few meters between you and enemies.
    • Reinhardt's defense depends on all enemies being in roughly one direction. Always keep your eyes open for flankers.
    • Reinhardt's shield is very effective against certain ultimates such as Graviton Surge, Deadeye, or Self Destruct, while being highly ineffective against others such as Blizzard, Dragonblade or Rip Tire. His shield can protect your team from much of the damage from Barrage, but he will most likely die in the process.
    • Earthshatter is most effective when used as a combo. A common Earthshatter combo is to use Earthshatter followed up by a Fire Strike, with Rocket Hammer attacks or a Charge to finish off anyone who survives. Remember that Fire Strike can hit multiple enemies when used; aim it so that it hits as many stunned enemies as possible. Make sure that all of your cooldowns are done when using Earthshatter.
    • Reinhardt works well when paired with Bastion or marginally Torbjörn, as he can protect their stationary defenses with his shield.
    • Reinhardt works extremely well in any kind of situation, as he can defensively protect his team's assets with Barrier Field and aggressively cause havoc among his enemies using Charge.

    Match-Ups and Team Synergy

    Tank

    Hero Match-Up Team Synergy
    Icon-dva
    D.Va
    D.Va can put a lot of continuous pressure onto your barrier. Her mobility allows her to run circles around you if the two of you are alone, ram you out of position, and get behind your barrier to start attacking you point blank. However, her large hitbox makes her a prime target for Charge, and a successful pin will weaken her enough that a hammer swing or two will knock her out of her Mech. D.Va in Pilot form is no match for Reinhardt's Hammer, and she won't be able to outrun you, so be sure to quickly kill her before she can retreat to her team. If D.Va sends her Mech your way on Self-Destruct, make sure you have your barrier up; while it will most likely end up shattered, in the process you'll protect both yourself and any teammates behind you. A wily D.Va may be prepared for this, though, so be wary of her teammates comboing with her to take you or your barrier down before Self-Destruct detonates. Your sturdy barrier frees D.Va to be a more aggressive Tank while you play a more defensive role. She also helps cover some of your checks, specifically Pharah. A well-timed Earthshatter combined with D.Va's Self-Destruct can take out a large number of opponents in one fell swoop.
    Icon-orisa
    Orisa
    (To be added) (To be added)
    Icon-reinhardt
    Reinhardt
    It is not uncommon to find a Reinhardt on each team, and it's just as likely for said Reinhardts to be staring each other down on the battlefield, protecting their respective teams the other. Killing a Reinhardt as a Reinhardt ultimately comes down to mind games; get your team to focus down the enemy Reinhardt, throw Fire Strikes at him, and if there's a safe opportunity to hit him with a Charge, do it immediately. You will always beat him if he has no support from his team. Try to anticipate the enemy Reinhardt's Charge and either dodge it or Charge into it, cancelling it. Try to keep open areas at your back, as a charging enemy Reinhardt will have to travel farther from their team before they pin you. Reinhardt's Barrier Field is capable of blocking Earthshatter; both you and your enemy will likely be trying to lure the other into wasting their Ultimate with a well-timed block. In No Limits, multiple Reinhardts can create a sturdy, impenetrable wall of defense. Just keep in mind that, in doing so, you are robbing your team of its offensive potential and will most likely have to resort to turtling.
    Icon-roadhog
    Roadhog
    Roadhog cannot throw his hook through Reinhardt's barrier, but if he can somehow flank behind him, he's more than capable of completely throwing Reinhardt out of position and dealing massive damage to him. Roadhog's high damage also allows him to quickly break Reinhardt's barrier, leaving him and his team vulnerable. While you should always keep your barrier active around Roadhog, ensure that your team either kills him or scares him off. (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 do very little to Reinhardt; while his electricity does pierce through your barrier, your high amount of armor, barrier-piercing Fire Strike and Winston's vulnerability to Charge makes him nothing more than a nuisance to you. Winston's barrier-piercing attacks can be a problem when shielding allies, however; he can hit everyone behind the barrier, including most low health characters which are vulnerable. As such, if a Winston is heckling your team behind your barrier, drop it and focus on fending him back with attacks. (To be added)
    Icon-zarya
    Zarya
    With enough charge, Zarya can deal a lot of damage to Reinhardt's barrier or Reinhardt himself with her primary fire. She is capable of withstanding an impact from Charge and, provided she has her Personal Barrier ready, can reap a lot of charge off the following hammer swings or the charge pin itself. Those she gives barriers to cannot be damaged by the Fire Strike or Charge, either. As Reinhardt, be wary about charging enemies when an enemy Zarya is present, as with quick reflexes she can project a barrier onto your victims, nullifying Charge's damage and spiking her energy charge immensely. Try to block her secondary fire with your shield, as they do not deal as much damage as her primary, and leave her to your teammates. If really needed, charge her before she can react or while her personal barrier is on cooldown. (To be added)

    Damage

    Hero Match-Up Team Synergy
    Icon-ashe
    Ashe
    (To be added) (To be added)
    Icon-bastion
    Bastion
    Bastion's extremely high damage output is more than capable of ripping your barrier to shreds, or at least leaving it in a critical condition. However, while immobile in Configuration: Sentry, Bastion is a prime target for a Fire Strike, which will cut off all of its armor. It is also much less of a threat in Configuration: Recon too. If you can catch Bastion unaware with Charge, this will force him out of Sentry Configuration, even if you can't smash him against a wall. Guarding a friendly Bastion will be mutually beneficial; you'll be protecting him from oncoming fire, and he'll be able to mow down oncoming opponents. Just keep in mind that you are only able to guard what's in front of you; be wary of enemies trying to flank you from the rear. While you are able to walk off with ease, your Bastion will need a second to convert to Recon Configuration. While you should try to protect your Bastion, you also need to be in a mutual agreement of when you need to hold your ground and when you need to retreat, because if you run off and the Bastion didn't get the memo, he'll be torn apart, and you will be next.
    Icon-doomfist
    Doomfist
    (To be added) (To be added)
    Icon-genji
    Genji
    Genji can slip past your barrier and cause trouble for you at extreme ranges, flinging shirukens to chip away your health and distract your. However, a 1 on 1 fight will usually tip in Reinhardt's favor, with his high durability outclassing Genji's mediocre damage and rendering his Deflect mostly useless due to how infrequent Fire Strike is used. Even with Dragonblade active, you can usually defeat Genji in single combat if you are anywhere near full health and if you time your swings well. Take note that Genji is able to block physical attacks with Deflect as well, but like projectiles, can only block in front of him. This gives Genji a chance to slip away again using Swift Strike or his agility to get to a safe distance. In general, try having an ally deal with Genji so you can focus on the main offense. (To be added)
    Icon-hanzo
    Hanzo
    Hanzo's arrows will be stopped cold by Reinhardt's barrier, but enough pressure from his Storm Arrows could bring your barrier close to breaking, so be careful. His Sonic Arrow will warn his allies about any pushes you and your team may be attempting, as teammates often tend to gather behind Reinhardt for protection. Your barrier will provide no protection from Dragonstrike; if you hear Hanzo activating it, drop your barrier and move out of the way. (To be added)
    Icon-junkrat
    Junkrat
    Junkrat can deal a significant amount of damage to your barrier, and his Concussion Mine can be thrown over your barrier to disrupt you. However, his Steel Trap isn't particularly effective against you, since you can still use your barrier to protect against incoming attacks. The trap can stop the mighty Crusader mid-charge, though, so if you see a Steel Trap, don't ignore it. Your barrier can protect you and your team from RIP-Tire, but only if it detonates on the other side of the barrier, and due to its free-rolling nature, it can roll right up into your face for a massive detonation. Only try protecting your team from it if your teammates have enough firepower to gun it down before it can pass through the barrier, otherwise scatter to avoid getting killed at once. (To be added)
    File:Icon-mccree.png
    McCree
    A smart McCree is capable of angling his Flashbang so that it arcs over your Barrier and hit you, causing you to drop your shield. However, Fan the Hammer is less effective against your due to your high amount of armor, and you can smack McCree about with your hammer should the latter be alone. Keep your barrier up if McCree is trying to shoot you at a long range. (To be added)
    Icon-mei
    Mei
    Mei deals little damage to both the barrier and Reinhardt (who is capable of absorbing multiple headshots from her, even while frozen), and her Ice Wall often just gives Reinhardt the opportunity to lower his barrier to recharge it. Be careful about being separated from your team by Ice Wall as it allows you along with your team to be picked off. Also, hitting Mei in Ice Block form stops Reinhardt's charge. If Mei is activating Blizzard, a quick Charge away from her may be your best bet to avoid being frozen. (To be added)
    Icon-pharah
    Pharah
    Pharah will try to distract you when you're guarding your team as she is more than capable of getting behind them with her jetpack. You have little to no way to fight off an airborne Pharah; focus on guarding your team while they fend her off. (To be added)
    Icon-reaper
    Reaper
    Reaper's necessity to get into close range to damage you makes him an easy target for Charge, which will kill him instantly. However, he is able to easily slip behind you unnoticed, and it will only take a few of his high-powered shots to take you down, not to mention he has a reliable escape in Wraith Form should the need arise. Unless you can ram him with a charge, you'll need your team to help keep Reaper at bay. (To be added)
    Icon-Soldier 76
    Soldier: 76
    Your barrier will allow you to soak up a lot of damage from Soldier: 76's standard attacks, and it is capable of completely stopping his Tactical Visor cold. However, Soldier: 76 still stands a chance against you in close-long range skirmishes as his damage is far greater than most offense heroes. You have no means with which to attack Soldier: 76 at long-range; stick with your team when he's around, or if necessary try to bait him into a close-quarters fight where you can smash him with your hammer. (To be added)
    Icon-sombra
    Sombra
    If an enemy team has a Sombra, you're going to be one of her top targets. Sombra's Hack will force you to drop your Barrier Field and leave your team open, as well as strip you of your Fire Strike and Charge. Thankfully, Sombra cannot hack through Barrier Field itself. If you know a Sombra is about, always be ready to turn your barrier in her direction to avoid a hack. In addition to protecting yourself, this should be able to protect nearby teammates from being Hacked as well. If you catch a Sombra still on cooldown from using Hack, a quick Charge can finish her off instantly. (To be added)
    Icon-symmetra
    Symmetra
    Your greatest concern when combating an enemy Symmetra is her Photon Projector primary weapon. Not only does it gain more power the longer she's training it on a stationary target (read: you), damaging shields gives her ammo rather than depleting it, meaning if you're not careful, not only will she run through your shield in seconds, she'll then have a full-stocked laser ready to shred you and your team to bits. If a Symmetra is being daring by approaching her with her laser, drop your shield and slap her back with your hammer. If you're in a larger team fight, you may need to keep your barrier up to protect your team, but ask your teammates to focus on her before she becomes too big of a threat. Her turrets can also cause a lot of problems for you if you're focusing on defending your allies, with one or two being enough to slow you to a crawl and to allow her and her team to dogpile you. You can clear out turrets with a single hammer swipe, but this will be difficult if they're placed in higher places your hammer can't reach, and dropping your barrier leaves you and your team vulnerable. A wily Symmetra may deploy her Photon Barrier just before you use Earthshatter, so if you think she may have it ready, try to either kill her first or catch her off guard with your Ultimate. (To be added)
    Icon-torbjörn
    Torbjörn
    Torbjörn's turret deals little damage to Reinhardt's barrier, even with supporting damage from Torbjörn's Rivet Gun. The turret's immobility makes it vulnerable to a Fire Strike, which will cut off a whole third of its health. Be more careful when dealing with Torbjörn himself, as he can effectively deal damage at all ranges when Reinhardt's barrier is down. When Overloaded his gun can put out a large amount of damage. When he activates Molten Core, your barrier won't save your feet from melting; if you can swiftly kill him with a hammer strike then do so, otherwise backpedal away with your shield up. (To be added)
    Icon-tracer
    Tracer
    Tracer can blink behind your barrier and rapidly unload her pistols into your large hitbox. Pulse Bomb can bring you down to 105 health, leaving you in a critical condition. 2 blows from the Rocket Hammer is enough to kill Tracer if she does not have Recall, consider doing so when needed, otherwise stick with your team and try to be ready to change direction to block her flanking attacks.. (To be added)
    Icon-widowmaker
    Widowmaker
    (To be added) (To be added)

    Support

    Hero Match-Up Team Synergy

    Icon-ana
    Ana
    All of Ana's attacks are blocked by your barrier: rounds from her Biotic Rifle, her Sleep Dart, the Biotic Grenade, you name it. However, being hit yourself with the Sleep Dart can leave your team in a critical situation. Don't be tempted to drop your barrier and attack Ana with your hammer, as you're just leaving yourself open to a Sleep Dart. Keep the barrier up and leave her to your teammates. As Reinhardt, you are one of the best potential choices for a Nano-Boost. Sturdier and stronger, you can Charge through a crowd of enemies and smash up the remains with your hammer. Aside from Ana's Ultimate, your hitboxes are massive and you move slowly, making yourself an easy target for her continuous healing, and your barrier can help keep her safe.
    Icon-baptiste
    Baptiste
    (To be added) (To be added)
    Icon-brigitte
    Brigitte
    (To be added) (To be added)
    Icon-lúcio
    Lúcio
    Lúcio's weak weapon deals very little damage to your barrier. However his area heal effect, especially with Amp It Up, can negate quite a portion of any damage dealt by you. Do not be afraid to keep your shield up, and use Fire Strike to weaken Lúcio so your teammates can finish him off. Be careful when shielding allies near environmental hazards ; while Lúcio may have difficulty knocking you back, your teammates may be vulnerable to being sent to their doom. Seeing how you act as an "anchor" for your team to rally behind, Lúcio can reliably stay within your protection and keep your team healthy. His speed boost can also improve your slow walking speed while your barrier is up, helping your team advance upon the enemy team.
    Icon-mercy
    Mercy
    As Reinhardt, killing Mercy should be a priority for more mobile heroes on your team than for you yourself. However, he does have tools that can force her to retreat when used correctly: landing a Fire Strike will take away 100 HP, and in a situation where she's alone, an accurate Charge will guarantee her elimination. (To be added)
    Icon-moira
    Moira
    (To be added) (To be added)
    Icon-zenyatta
    Zenyatta
    While an enemy Zenyatta cannot cast his Orb of Discord through your barrier, anyone already afflicted with the Orb will still suffer its effects. This includes Reinhardt himself, who will find the Discord Orb to be a great hindrance. When your barrier is down, Zenyatta can also use long range attacks and Discord Orb to deal heavy damage to you, though at close range he is defeated easily. If you catch him alone, either keep your barrier up and back off or close the distance to quickly take him out. While Zenyatta is generally best suited to fight on the back lines, your barrier can keep him safe while he heals and hurts from behind it. Just be careful not to Charge off without him if he's depending on you for protection.

    Story

    Icon-reinhardt
    "Justice Will Be Done."

    Reinhardt Wilhelm styles himself as a champion of a bygone age, who lives by the knightly codes of valor, justice, and courage.[3] Possessing an "active imagination," he enjoys eating currywurst,[4] is talkative,[5] and is a fan of David Hasselhoff's music.[6] He spars with Brigitte every day, after which they go to a pub or tavern to relax.[7]

    Honor and Glory

    Reinhardt. Live with honor...
    Die with glory... old friend...
    ~ Reinhardt and Balderich's final exchange
    Reinhardt-HonorGlory1

    Reinhardt as a Crusader

    A highly decorated soldier,[3] Reinhardt joined the German Armed Forces at a young age, seeking glory.[8] He later became a lieutenant in the Crusaders. During the Omnic Crisis, he was stationed at Eichenwalde alongside his mentor Balderich von Adler, leader of the Crusaders. Balderich was chosen to join the strike force that would become Overwatch, and was given a medal in the shape of the organization's logo with its name etched on the back, indicative of his selection. The night before he was set to leave and join his new team he and Reinhardt spent time together at Braueret Mittagskrug where Reinhardt balked at the idea of vanishing into a secret organization instead of staying in Eichenwalde, serving as a Crusader, and the glory that came with it. Before master and pupil could further debate the issue any further, Eichenwalde came under direct attack by omnic forces, and the two shook hands reciting the Crusader's oath before entering the fray.

    Reinhardt-HonorGlory2

    Reinhardt after losing sight in his left eye

    Young and reckless, Reinhardt disobeyed orders to stay with his unit in favor of charging headlong into battle on his own determined to destroy as many omnics as he could in the name of glory. Though he destroyed every Bastion unit unfortunate enough to cross paths with him Balderich caught up to him and angrily ordered him back to his unit which was, unknown to the two, under extremely heavy fire. Insistent that they were not only fine but simply slowing him down Reinhardt continued to carve a path through the omnic forces until a then-unknown OR14 unit dropped onto the field. Thrilled with the idea of a new foe Reinhardt rocketed towards the new adversary only for his opponent to stop his charge and slash Reinhardt's left eye with its heat blade. Ordering their forces to fall back, Balderich was forced to intervene to save his defenseless student. Though he succeeded, Balderich's shield emitter was destroyed and he was mortally wounded by the OR14's heat blade. With the German forces in full retreat the pair fell back to the great hall of Eichenwalde castle.

    ReinhardtBalderich

    Reinhardt and Balderich part ways

    Barricading the door, Balderich ordered Reinhardt back to the rally point with the rest of the Crusaders. Cheerfully insistent on fighting his way back with Balderich it wasn't until his master removed his helmet and insisted that he was staying did Reinhardt notice the gravity of Balderich's wound. Distraught, Reinhardt tried to reason with Balderich only for him to remind Reinhardt of his Crusader's oath and demanded that he keep it as he extended his hand. Unable to simply leave Balderich to die Reinhardt still refused. Instead of ordering him away, Balderich gently reminded him that the team needed him to be their shield, which at last caused Reinhardt to relent and he took his master's hand one final time. When their grip broke Reinhardt found Balderich's Overwatch acceptance medal in his hand. Exchanging the Crusader's oath one final time Reinhardt left Balderich his hammer and left him to his fate.

    Reinhardt successfully rejoined his unit, shielding them with his body when his barrier gave out. The German forces ultimately pushed the omnics back enough to give the rest of the armed forces time to counterattack, but Eichenwalde and Balderich were lost and with the exception of Reinhardt himself no other crusaders escaped the battle alive. Balderich's death changed Reinhardt and his mentor's sacrifice would weigh on him for decades after the fact, but until then Overwatch awaited.[9]

    Overwatch

    The team needs you. Be their shield.
    ~ Balderich to Reinhardt
    Reinhardt-cine

    Reinhardt as a member of Overwatch

    Reinhardt was inducted as part of the original Overwatch strike team that put an end to the Omnic Crisis. After the conflict's resolution, Overwatch grew into a global institution, keeping the peace in a war-torn world. Reinhardt proved himself to be one of its most stalwart champions. In personal matters, he would trim back his long hair and grew a beard instead of just a goatee.

    Reinhardt's unique ethics and larger-than-life persona earned the admiration of his peers and superiors alike. Never afraid to speak his mind, he was Overwatch's most vocal supporter and, when necessary, its harshest critic, providing a constant reminder that Overwatch was meant to be a force for good.[3] He got on well with Torbjörn (who maintained his armor).[10]

    At some point he was stationed at Watchpoint: Gibraltar, where he got a tan.[6] While in Overwatch, he took part in an operation in Prague that he bungled, apparently because Morrison thought Reinhardt could be stealthy.[11]

    Operation White Dome

    You may have heard that Reinhardt is responsible for saving my life. I've heard the story at least four different times myself, already, each time more unbelievable than the last. Exaggerations, as you know how he can be. All the same, they've decided to award him a commendation for "conspicuous bravery." Could two words better describe the big oaf?
    ~ Torbjörn writing to his wife

    During or after the Omnic Crisis, Reinhardt took part in Operation White Dome, as part of a mission to root out omnic forces near Istanbul. As soon as he and his team were deployed, they came under fire by the entrenched omnic forces. While the battle saw all the omnics subdued, Reinhardt was lightly injured. Torbjörn was seriously injured, losing his arm,[1] but Reinhardt was able to save his life in the battle. In the after-action report, Ana recommended that Reinhardt receive a commendation for his actions.[12] He did indeed receive a reward for his "conspicuous bravery."

    Brigitte Origin Story art 1

    Spending time with the Lindholms

    As Torbjörn recovered in hospital, Reinhardt spent a great deal of his time at Torbjörn's bedside. Half in jest, Torbjörn stated that if Reinhardt shut up, he would be allowed to name his newest daughter (who was due to be born very soon, and which the German had been asking about for several months). In correspondence to his wife Ingrid about what had happened to him, he admitted that he had already been considering making Reinhardt the baby's godfather anyway. Reinhardt agreed, and when Torbjörn's daughter was born he named her Brigitte, which her mother apparently agreed with.[1] Reinhardt was close with Brigitte as she grew up, telling her tales of valor and chivalry.[13]

    Uprising

    Seven years before the present day, Reinhardt was part of an unsanctioned mission authorized by Strike Commander Jack Morrison to end the Kings Row Uprising in London, England. While preparing to board an aircraft, Reinhardt welcomed the team's newest member, Lena Oxton, to the team.[10]

    Retirement

    Papa told me, after so many years of service. You gave Overwatch everything, and then they pushed you out.
    ~ Brigitte Lindholm

    Having served into his late fifties, Reinhardt was faced with mandatory retirement from combat operations. Torbjörn, only four years younger than him, was particularly incensed that the organization simply "pushed Reinhardt out" after giving everything of himself in years of service. The Swede would not forget the incident, and related the unfairness of it all to at least Brigitte.[9] Despondent about being removed from active duty, Reinhardt feared that his days of purpose and glory had ended. As times grew darker and Overwatch came under suspicion of corruption and sedition, Reinhardt could only watch as the cause he had dedicated his life to defending surrendered in disgrace.[3]

    One year prior to its disbandment, Overwatch's Swiss headquarters was destroyed, apparently killing Jack Morrison in the blast. Reinhardt spoke fondly of his former commander at his memorial service.[14]

    Taking up Arms

    Brigitte Origin Story art 3

    Brigitte tends to Reinhardt

    Though Overwatch was eventually disbanded, Reinhardt was not content to sit idly by while the world fell to disorder. Once again donning his Crusader armor, he vowed to fight for justice across Europe like a knight of old, defending the innocent and winning hearts and minds with the promise of better days to come.[3] In this he was now accompanied by an adult Brigitte, who helped maintain his armor just as her father did,[4] acting as his squire.[13] The pair would get into numerous scraps.[4] More and more, Brigitte was forced to tend to Reinhardt in addition to his armor, as while his body was breaking down from years of combat, his enthusiasm wasn't.[13]

    Reihnhart-theatrical

    Reinhardt in King's Row

    At some point he was present in King's Row, where he protected omnics and their sympathizers from rioters.[15]

    Dragon Slayer

    This armor can still serve its purpose. One day it may fall apart, but until then, we will fight. Overwatch may be gone, buts its legacy endures through us. We have sworn to carry on its ideals and restore hope to this troubled world...To seek out tyranny and evil wherever they take root...And bring the hammer of justice down upon the wicked.
    ~ Reinhardt
    Reinhardt-Dragon Slayer

    Reinhardt battles the Dragons

    While traveling with Brigitte, Reinhardt and his companion found themselves low on fuel and money. They stopped off in a town to get some of the former, but found it practically abandoned. They discovered that the area was being menaced by the Dragons, a group of scavengers who were seizing territory, unopposed by the local authorities. They encountered some of the Dragons themselves, and Reinhardt stepped in, demanding they leave. They refused, and proceeded to beat him into the ground. Laughing at his now inability to fight back, they headed off, warning Reinhardt that he should do likewise. Not following that advice, Reinhardt and Brigitte got his armor back into fighting shape. With Brigitte having located the Dragons' base of operations in a nearby factory, Reinhardt headed off to confront them. Willingly or otherwise, Reinhardt saw the Dragons as actual dragons of myth, and fought them as the proverbial knight. In this he succeeded, and demanded that they leave these lands and never return.

    The next day Reinhardt was back in the town, telling the mayor that the Dragons would bother his people no longer. Their job done, he and Brigitte headed off to get some fuel. And currywurst.[4]

    Recall

    When Winston initiated the Overwatch recall from Watchpoint: Gibraltar, Reinhardt's location was shown to be in southwestern Greenland.[16]

    Reflections

    Reinhardt-Reflections

    Reinhardt and Brigitte with her nieces and nephews

    At Christmas that same year, Reinhardt and Brigitte spent Christmas at her parents' home.[17]

    Answering the Call

    I have been called. I must answer. Always.
    ~ Reinhardt

    Following Winston's initiation of the Overwatch recall, Reinhardt had apparently agreed with Brigitte that he did not have to respond. However, when they eventually returned to Braueret Mittagskrug in Eichenwalde, where he had first learned of Overwatch years ago, Reinhardt indicated that he was reconsidering his decision. Brigitte, remembering the story of his forced retirement by Overwatch, was apprehensive at the idea. Staring at Balderich's worn acceptance medal, Reinhardt reflected on the events of his master's death. Visiting Balderich's remains, Reinhardt placed the medal on the arm of the throne, returning it to the man who made him what he was. Echoing his master's words to him, he quietly declared to Brigitte that he had been called and that he would always answer.[9]

    Post-Recall

    Zero Hour

    BrigitteReinhardtTracerMei

    Reinhardt reunites with Overwatch

    Donning his armor once more, Reinhardt and Brigitte travelled to Paris, where they aided the newly-refounded Overwatch in repelling Null Sector's forces after the opposition began pushing them toward an early retreat. Demonstrating a new shield inter-locking system alongside his companion, both held off the terrorist organization's Titan while Mei and Winston devised a strategy; ultimately granting them enough time for Tracer to deal the final blow from the inside. After the omnic fell, Reinhardt joyously rejoined Overwatch alongside Genji, Echo, Mercy, and Brigitte; the old crusader happily greeting his comrades and welcoming newcomer Mei into the team.[18]

    Aftermath

    You're with me. We're getting aboard that ship.
    ~ Reinhardt to Tracer and Mei
    Ow2-upgrades

    Brigitte and Winston upgrading Reinhardt's armor.

    Following the battle in Paris the team traveled to Watchpoint Gibraltar, where Brigitte took advantage of Winston's technical expertise to enhance Reinhardt's armor, upgrading it to version 09.[19]

    As it turned out, Paris was just the beginning of Null Sector's attacks. One of them was Rio de Janeiro. Alongside Tracer, Mei, and Lúcio, Reinhardt fought his way through the city streets to the omnics' command ship.[20]

    Achievements

    Name Icon Description Reward
    I Am Your Shield
    Achievement I Am Your Shield Block 8000 damage with Reinhardt's Barrier Field without dying in Quick or Competitive play. Spray Reinhardt Pixel
    Pixel
    Storm, Earth and Fire
    Ability-reinhardt3 Land Reinhardt's Fire Strike and Charge after an Earthshatter stun in Quick or Competitive play. Spray Reinhardt Cute
    Cute

    Trivia

    • An inflatable Reinhardt hammer was available in the "goodie bag" of BlizzCon 2016.[22]
    • Darin De Paul performs Reinhardt as an exaggerated version of his father's voice.[23]
    • Reinhardt is one of only two heroes to not have a "Quick Melee" attack, as his basic attacks are melee attacks. The other being Brigitte.
    • A Reinhardt-themed hoodie is available from JINX.[24]
    • Reinhardt is currently the second oldest character in the hero line-up, with the oldest being Sigma, who is one year older.
    • During the game's late alpha (and possibly before), Barrier Field was called Shield.[25]

    Development

    Juggernaut

    The Juggernaut class

    Reinhardt's design stems from the playable Juggernaut class in the cancelled Project Titan. During the initial pitch for the project that would become Overwatch, the Juggernaut was envisioned as wielding a flamethrower and a flail, and used the Charge ability; a flamethrower was also considered for Roadhog's primary weapon early in the development for Overwatch.[26] Early ideation for Reinhardt's design in Overwatch involved several different versions of humanoid robots, eventually progressing into a robotic hero from Numbani[27] named Wildebeest, outfitted with red body armor incorporating tribal motifs and wielding a shield and a mace or flail. An early version of Wildebeest appeared in several early promotional illustrations depicting potential hero lineups for the game, and was also seen as one of the former Overwatch agents contacted by Winston in the Recall animated short. Elements of this hero concept would later serve as a basis for Orisa, while the flail and shield combination would eventually be incorporated into the hero design for Brigitte. One of Wildebeest's unused designs shares its color scheme with the OR15 defense robots, while another strongly resembles Doomfist's Spirit skin.[28]

    Arnold Tsang revealed that Reinhardt's new design for Overwatch 2 marks the ninth iteration of his armor, progressing from the eighth in the original game. This continues a legacy that dates back to Arnold's concept art for the Juggernaut class in Project Titan, which went through seven iterations before the game was cancelled. Reinhardt's new design incorporates some elements from those scrapped Juggernaut concepts, and features a more technologically advanced appearance to show that Winston helped upgrade it after Reinhardt rejoined the team.[29]

    Videos

    Official

    Curse

    Watchpoint: O.A.K

    Balance Change Log

    December 10, 2019

    • Ability-reinhardt2 Barrier Field
      • Health reduced from 2000 to 1600
      • Movement speed penalty reduced from 50% to 30%
    • Passive-Reinhardt Steadfast
      • Knockback resistance increased from 30% to 50%

    Developer Comment: The above changes to armor, Orisa, Sigma, and Reinhardt are aimed at decreasing the overall amount time players spend damaging barriers while improving the individual heroes in other areas. This is a significant change to the pace of the game and we’ll be monitoring these heroes closely to ensure they retain impactful gameplay in the tank role.

    August 13, 2019

    • New Passive: Passive-Reinhardt “Steadfast”
      • Reduces knock back effects by 30%

    Developer Comment: As a frontline, melee-range tank Reinhardt was more adversely affected by knock back abilities than most heroes. To reduce some of this frustration and enable Reinhardt to more easily fulfill his role, he is now more resistant to being knocked back.

    September 11, 2018

    • Ability-reinhardt5 Earthshatter
      • Now consistently hits enemies near walls
      • No longer hits enemies that enter the damage cone after the “wave” has passed that area
      • No longer damages enemies behind barriers blocking it, even if the barrier is later dropped or destroyed
      • Always travels up inclines and around the payload

    Developer Comments: We’ve given Earthshatter a complete overhaul to combat inconsistencies with its performance. These changes will make Earthshatter’s behavior more predictable and effective.

    August 9, 2018

    • Ability-reinhardt2 Barrier Field
      • Decorative insignia no longer protrudes from the shield’s surface

    Developer Comments: By smoothing out Reinhardt’s Barrier Field, he now will be able to consistently block enemy abilities and projectiles that could sometimes unintentionally sneak through (e.g. Junkrat’s grenades).

    September 19, 2017

    • Ability-reinhardt2 Barrier Field
      • Holding primary fire while your shield is active now allows you to rotate the camera

    Developer Comment: This change gives Reinhardt more situational awareness while using his shield, allowing him to keep an eye on the battlefield while still protecting his team.

    July 27, 2017

    • Ability-reinhardt1 Rocket Hammer
      • Swing speed increased by 10%

    Developer Comment: In the last update, Reinhardt’s Rocket Hammer had an issue that allowed players with higher latency to swing faster. We fixed this bug, which suddenly made the swing speed feel too slow, so we’re compensating by increasing his standard swing speed. During this process, we also found and fixed a few bugs with Rocket Hammer’s hit registration. Overall, the hammer should feel much better.

    May 23, 2017

    • Ability-reinhardt5 Earthshatter
      • Effective height has been lowered from 3 meters to 2 meters
      • The height threshold of objects that Earthshatter can "climb" has been lowered from 3 meters to 2 meters, making Earthshatter less likely to climb tall objects as it moves along the ground.

    Developer Comments: Earthshatter tended to climb unexpectedly high, frequently hitting targets that were significantly above the ground. These changes help the ability stay more grounded.

    References

    1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 2018-02-24, Story Update: A Letter to Torbjörn to his Wife PlayOverwatch. Accessed on 2018-02-24.
    2. 2015-??-??, "Darin's Resume". Darin De Paul Voice Over. Accessed on 2016-05-18
    3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Reinhardt, Blizzard Entertainment. Accessed on 2015-02-15
    4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Overwatch: Reinhardt: Dragon Slayer
    5. Valkyrie
    6. 6.0 6.1 Overwatch, Reinhardt Quotes
    7. 2018-03-21, STORY UPDATE: BRIGITTE Q&A. Blizzard Entertainment, accessed on 2018-03-24
    8. Overwatch, Reinhardt Cosmetics
    9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 Honor and Glory
    10. 10.0 10.1 2017-04-05, Overwatch Digital Comic: "Uprising" PlayOverwatch. Accessed on 2017-04-05
    11. Bastet
    12. 2018-02-22, Overwatch Twitter, Twitter'. Accessed on 2018-02-25
    13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 Brigitte, Blizzard Entertainment. Accessed on 2018-03-01
    14. 2015-07-07, Fading Glory: On the Trail of Jack Morrison. Blizzard Entertainment, accessed on 2015-08-24
    15. 2015-12-18, Overwatch Theatrical Teaser | "We Are Overwatch". YouTube, accessed on 2015-12-19
    16. Recall
    17. Tracer: Reflections
    18. Zero Hour
    19. Blizzcon 2019 Overwatch: Evolving the Art Panel
    20. 2019-11-01, Overwatch 2 Gameplay Trailer. YouTube, accessed on 2019-11-08
    21. 2014-11-24, BlizzCon 2014 – Overwatch Unveiled Panel Transcript. Blizzplanet, accessed on 2015-03-08
    22. 2016-07-21, BLIZZCON 2016 GOODY BAG. Blizzpro, accessed on 2016-07-22
    23. 2016-10-30, The voice of Reinhardt: Interview with Darin De Paul Break The Game, accessed on 2016-11-17
    24. 2017-11-22, Overwatch Hoodies. Blizzplanet, accessed on 2017-11-23
    25. "Overwatch Pre-Beta Livestream Recap", Overpwn, 16 October 2015. Retrieved on 17 October 2015.
    26. Blizzcon 2017, Overwatch: Archives
    27. 2017-5-21, 6 Secrets about Overwatch's Tank Heroes by Jeff Kaplan. IGN, Youtube. Accessed 2017-10-28
    28. The Art of Overwatch, page 81
    29. Blizzcon 2019 Overwatch: Evolving the Art Panel

    External links

    Heroes in Overwatch 2
     
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    Reinhardt
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