Reinhardt

Reinhardt
Overwatch 2 Overwatch 1
"Together we will strike them down!"
Real Name	Reinhardt Wilhelm
Birth	June 26th
Age	63 (Overwatch 2) 61 (Overwatch)
Nationality	German
Occupation	Crusader (formerly) Overwatch agent (formerly) Adventurer
Base	Stuttgart, Germany (formerly) Watchpoint: Gibraltar
Affiliation	German Armed Forces (formerly) Crusaders (formerly) Overwatch
Relations	Balderich von Adler (mentor) Brigitte Lindholm (goddaughter)
Voice	Darin De Paul (English) Patrice Melennec (French) Gerhard Jilka (German) Paolo Marchese (Italian, first voice) Pietro Ubaldi (Italian, second voice) Yuan Guoqing (Mandarin (China)) Chen You-wun(Mandarin(Taiwan)) Kenji Nomura (Japanese) Kwon Hyeok-su (Korean) Gennadii Novikov (Russian) Eduardo Borgerth (Brazilian Portuguese) Humberto Solórzano (American Spanish) Antonio García Moral (European Spanish)
Cosmetics	Cosmetic page
Quotes	Quotation page
Role	Tank
Health	250 (Open queue) 400 (Role queue)
Armor	300
Character Video

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

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

Role: Tank

Type

Passive Ability

Reduces knockbacks and critical damage received. Less ultimate generated by healing and damage received. Increases base health in Role Queue game modes.

• Details

Ability details:

• Reduces the speed of knockbacks received by 25%
• Ultimate generation is reduced by 40%.
• Reduces the total damage received from critical hits, such as headshots, by 25%.
  • Weapons with a lower 1.5x headshot modifier ignore this damage reduction completely.
  • The effectiveness on abilities that deal critical damage through other means than headshots is ambiguous: Earthshatter and Overrun are affected by the damage reduction, but Virus and Volatile Chaingun's forced critical hits against burning targets are not.
  • The reduction stacks additively with other modifiers affecting damage taken.
• All tanks have 150 more health in Role Queue. The amount of armor and/or shields remains the same.

Rocket Hammer

Type

Weapon

Effect Type

Melee

Devastating melee weapon.

Damage:

100

Headshot:

✕

Rate of fire:

1.04 shots/s

Cast time:

0.4 + 0.5 seconds

Duration:

0.208 seconds (hitbox active)

Max. range:

5 meters

Reinhardt’s Rocket Hammer is an exemplary melee weapon, able to deal punishing damage in a wide arc with every swing.

• Details

Ability details:

• Damage per second: ~104 while swinging
• Reinhard does not have a quick melee attack. Attempting to use it swings the Rocket Hammer instead.
• Rocket Hammer knocks back enemies in the direction of the swing.
• The direction of consecutive swings alternates, starting counter-clockwise.
• Activating Fire Strike, Barrier Field, Charge or Earthshatter interrupts the swing animation.
• The hitbox of the swings lingers slightly longer at the end position of the hammer.
• Rocket Hammer is not reflected when blocked by Deflect.

Example Video

Barrier Field

5 seconds if destroyed

Type

Ability

Hold to deploy a frontal energy barrier.

Barrier health:

1600

Cast time:

0.1 + 0.29 seconds

Area of effect:

Height: 4.250 meters
Width: 6.800 meters.

M. speed penalty:

-30%

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.

• Details

Ability details:

• Using Fire Strike, Charge or Earthshatter automatically puts down the barrier to cast the ability. To use Rocket Hammer, the barrier must be first manually released.
• Barrier health regenerates at a rate of 160 per second after being down for 2 seconds.
• Barrier Field is a channeled ability, If Reinhardt is hacked, slept, stunned and knocked down, it will be released.
  • Holding secondary fire also raises back the barrier automatically when the cast resolves if Fire Strike or Earthshatter was used.
• The center of shield relative to Reinhard is shifted ~0.075 m to the left.
• Changing the direction of the character's gaze (and hence the shield zone) takes time. It takes ~0.14 seconds to be able block something what was exactly behind you.
• By holding the primary fire key, Reinhardt can look around at his surroundings without turning.
• The barrier cracks once at 50% and again at 25%. At 20%, Reinhardt will say his barrier is failing.

Example Video

Charge

LSHIFT

7 seconds

Type

Ability

Effect Type

Melee
Movement

Charge forward and smash an enemy against a wall.

Damage:

300 (pinned to wall)
50 (collision w/out pin)

Headshot:

✕

Cast time:

0.6 + 0.5 seconds (wall impact)
0.6 + 0.1 seconds (canceled)

Duration:

3 seconds (charge, max)
0.3 seconds (charge, min)
0.65 seconds (stun on wall hit)

Max. range:

50.2 meters

M. speed buff:

+200%

Knockback speed:

31.2 m/s (indirect hit)
11 m/s (canceled pin)

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.

• Details

Ability details:

• Reinhardt can cancel the charge by pressing the ability button again.
• 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 the wall hit 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.
• Colliding with any immovable entity, such as Orisa during Fortify or Turret, is also treated as a wall impact.
• Abilities that make the target phased out, like Protection Suzu or Wraith Form, can prevent a target from being pinned, but once hit the effect can only be removed by Life Grip.
• Abilities that make the target invincible, like Projected Barrier or Transcendence, do not prevent or remove the pinned effect, but can prevent the target from taking damage.
• If Charge collides with Rocket Punch, Shield Bash, a charging B.O.B., or another Charge, both participants get knocked down for 1.7 seconds. Any pinned targets will be damaged as if they hit a wall.
• Reinhardt's visible character model is shifted to the right in the Charge animation, causing his left shoulder, rather than the middle of his body, to align with the hitbox. Due to this disparity, players should focus on the crosshair position over the character model when aiming.
• Charge's movement speed buff does not count towards global movement speed buff cap.

Example Video

Fire Strike

E

6 seconds,
2 charges

Type

Ability

Effect Type

Projectile

Launch a fiery projectile.

Damage:

120

Headshot:

✕

Cast time:

0.5 + 0.6 seconds

Projectile speed:

25 m/s

Projectile radius:

0.85 meters

By whipping his Rocket Hammer forward, Reinhardt slings a flaming projectile which pierces and damages any enemies it touches.

• Details

Ability details:

• Fire Strike stops if it collides with terrain or a terrain-like object, like Ice Wall.
  • Pierces barriers, enemies, and other damageable entities.
  • Collision against walls is checked against the center of the projectile.

Example Video

Earthshatter

Q

1800 points

Type

Ultimate Ability

Effect Type

Area of effect

Knock down all enemies in front of you.

Damage:

50 (base)
150 (close range bonus, <1.75m)

Headshot:

✕

Cast time:

0.4 + 0.5 seconds

Duration:

3 seconds (knockdown)

Area of effect:

25 meters radius
~54 degrees arc
1.770 meters height

Projectile speed:

40 m/s

Reinhardt forcefully slams his rocket hammer into the ground, knocking down and damaging all enemies in front of him.

• Details

Ability details:

• Requires line of sight.
  • Earthshatter will be stopped by barriers, even if the damage from Earthshatter breaks the barrier.
• Earthshatter has a small amount of vertical height (1.770 meters), allowing it to affect enemies in the air.
  • This distance is calculated as the difference between the height of the enemy and the height of the surface over them.
  • By jumping off the payload at the right time, you can usually gain enough height to avoid being hit.
• Earthshatter is a channeled ability and it is interrupted by becoming hacked, stunned or knocked down.
• Earthshatter deals an additional 150 damage within 1.75m of the impact area. This counts as a critical hit.
• While casting Earthshatter Reinhardt ingnores collision with other heroes.
• If Reinhardt is/becomes airborne while casting Earthshatter, the cast will not finish until he hits the ground.
• Reinhardt is unaffected by Graviton Surge while casting Earthshatter.
• Life Grip cannot be used on Reinhardt while he is casting Earthshatter. Activating Earthshatter will also interrupt an active pull.

Example Video

Hero-specific options

Setting name	Options	Description
Toggle Barrier Field	Off (default)	Barrier Field deactivates when player stops holding the button.
	On	Barrier Field deactivates when player presses the button again.
Hold to use Charge	Off (default)	Charge deactivates when player presses the button again.
	On	Charge deactivates when player stops holding the button.
Movement relative to camera during barrier free look	On (default)	Movement during free look (hold Primary Fire during barrier) is relative to the camera's facing direction.
	Off	Movement is relative to Reinhardt's facing direction.
Relative aim sensitivity during Barrier Field	0% ... 500% (default: 100%)	Multiplier to base aim sensitivity during Barrier Field.
Charge cancel input	Ability 1 (default)	Charge deactivates when player presses the Ability 1 button only.
	All	Charge deactivates when player presses Ability 1, Primary Fire or Secondary Fire.
	Primary Fire	Charge deactivates when player presses Primary Fire only.
	Secondary Fire	Charge deactivates when player presses Secondary Fire only.
Hide Charge cancel text	Off (default)	Cancel text UI element is displayed to the left of the crosshair.
	On	Cancel text UI element is hidden.

Strategy

Reinhardt is the sturdiest of the Tanks, boasting high base Health and a massive barrier that allows him to protect himself and 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.
  • Due to the lingering hitbox, 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 much of his ability to turn. Reinhardt will stop his charge after a period of time, when he collides with a solid surface, or if the player cancels the charge, 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 Cassidy, will immediately end Charge.
  • Charge can be canceled. This is useful in many situations. It can be used to simply close the distance, bait out key abilities by canceling into Barrier Field, as enemies are likely to use them, because you are vulnerable and moving predictably during Charge, or - most importantly - prevent you from getting out of position when it looks like you won't be hitting an enemy or it is dangerous to keep charging.
  • 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 or around corners, 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.
  • If Reinhardt has an enemy pinned and cancels his Charge just as he reaches a pit or ledge, his now-released pin target will continue moving forward due to momentum. This can be used to eliminate heroes by effectively throwing them off map.
    • Remember that movement abilities, such as D.Va's Boosters, Genji's Swift Strike, and Mercy's Guardian Angel, may allow them return to the map.
  • Jumping right at the end of Charge causes Reinhardt to retain momentum, allowing him to close more distance and jump up slightly higher than normal. On certain maps, this allows him jump over gaps and ledges he normally wouldn't be able to.

• Fire Strike: When activated, Reinhardt will hurl a flaming projectile forwards that deals 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 and slow or stationary targets like Bastion or Torbjörn's Turret.
  • 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.
  • While hitting many targets is great, often nailing just one target, is enough to win a teamfight. You can easily burst down even low HP tanks, like Zarya, by yourself, following up with Hammer -> Fire Strike -> Charge combo and more durable tanks with your team's help or, if applicable, by pinning them off the map.
  • 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.
  • Reinhardt must be on ground to finish casting Earthshatter. Avoid jumping and look out for being knocked into the air when activating Earthshatter, as that will delay the activation, giving enemies time to react or even completely messing up the cast.
  • 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 Mei's Blizzard, Genji's Dragonblade or Junkrat's 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
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. Use your barrier to block her Micro Missiles. If D.Va uses Self-Destruct, try to quickly take her out and then put your barrier up to block the explosion. 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. Also, remember that D.Va cannot block your Earthshatter.	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.
Doomfist	Doomfist's high mobility makes him hard to deal with if he avoids you. Swing at him if he gets close however. Charge can be used to counter Rocket Punch, causing you both to get knocked down. This is generally better for you as you are sturdier, however, as the punch can be canceled, good Doomfist players may use this to bait out your charge. Instead, look to use Charge when Doomfist is using his Power Block. It is very easy to hit him, as his movement speed is reduced and he is likely waiting for his other abilities to come off cooldown. When Doomfist uses Meteor Strike, block the AoE with your barrier to prevent him gaining overhealth and immediately Charge him, as he is briefly unable to move after landing.	(To be added)
Junker Queen	(To be added)	(To be added)
Orisa	Orisa is not a very fun match up for Reinhardt, as all of her abilities deny you in one way or another: Energy Javelin can interrupt your Charge and ultimate and knock you out of melee range, Javelin Spin blocks your hammer and also knocks you back, Fortify makes her immune to Charge and Earthshatter and lastly her ultimate ignores your shield - while making her Fortified. Try to ignore her the best you can, but if she is focused on you, you'll have to wait for your team to create openings or her to mess up her ability rotations. If she exhausts Fortify, you can look to shatter her and pin her off the map. Remember that while Fortify does make her immune to Earthshatter, it will not block it, so you can also use it to stun everyone behind her and set up easy kills for your team.	(To be added)
Ramattra	Ramattra is very similar to Reinhardt and can square off rather well against you in his Nemesis Form. Ramattra's punches, however, have more range than your hammer, so avoid getting stuck at a range where you cannot hit him back, and either go agressively at him or stay out of his way. When he enters Nemesis Form, it is usually good to wait a bit before engaging, as its duration is limited and you may be able to catch Ramattra when he returns to Omnic form, where he is no longer a threat to you. If you are the only hero in Ramattra's Annihilation use your shield to block it to burn down its duration.	(To be added)
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.
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. When Roadhog uses Take A Breather, try to Charge him to interrupt it. Be careful of your positioning when he has his ultimate Whole Hog as it can easily knock you of the map or push you against a wall, where it will quickly mow you down even with your shield at full health.	(To be added)
Sigma	Sigma is a rather easy matchup for Reinhardt. If you can get up close, you can easily beat him in fist fight. Use your Barrier to block Sigma's Accretion.	(To be added)
Wrecking Ball	There isn't much you can do against a good Wrecking Ball as Reinhardt. You can attack him when he gets close, but do not attempt to chase him. It is impossible for Reinhardt to keep up with Ball's mobility, so it is often better to just ignore him and play the objective or try to attack the enemy backline yourself.	(To be added)
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 will usually rather attempt to ignore you and kill your backline,o be agressive and take swings at him when you can to soften him up before he engages. When he does, it is often better to try to put pressure on his backline in return rather than peel for your team as you cannot really keep up with Winston's mobility.	(To be added)
Zarya	The most important thing against Zarya is keeping track of her barrier cooldowns. They can nullify the damage from your high-damage abilities, while granting her a spike of energy. Zarya can do a lot of damage if she is allowed to get high charge, so avoid attacking her when she uses them and use your barrier to block her damage. When she is not using her barriers, swing at her to bait them out, and only engage on her or her teammates when she has exhausted her charges. Zarya's barriers can block Earthshatter, however, because the close range damage is applied before the shockwave, if your crit breaks the barrier, you will be able to stun her and everyone behind her. Additionally, if you get caught in Zarya's Graviton Surge, you can escape it by using Earthshatter and potentially surprise the enemy team getting ready to attack you.	Zarya work well with Reinhardt, as she can cover his engages with her barriers, making Reinhardt very difficult to kill.

Damage

Hero	Match-Up	Team Synergy
Ashe	Your barrier can take her Viper's shots well, but lobbing a Dynamite over your shield to take you out is Ashe's go-to tactic when she comes across an enemy Reinhardt. As such, be prepared to face upward while shielding when you fight Ashe, but remember that she can also throw her trusty explosive underneath your shield if you do that. Unless it is very necessary, avoid using Charge against her, as she has a small hitbox and can utilize Coach Gun to blast out of harm's way. On the other hand, if need may be, you can remove her B.O.B from the battlefield with Charge, as he stands still after his initial sprint and has the potential to pummel your team.	(To be added)
Bastion	Bastion's extremely high damage output in Configuration: Assault is more than capable of ripping you to shreds through your barrier, if you get caught in the open. Even if you manage to pin him with Charge Bastion's high health, armor and Ironclad passive allow him survive the impact and often leave him healthy enough even to kill you right after. If Bastion is in Assault configuration, back off behind cover, and engage when the ability ends.	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.
Cassidy	Cassidy can do a lot of damage to you with his Flashbang and Fan the Hammer when up close. When he uses Deadeye put up your barrier, to give your team time to get behind cover. Do not try to block it for extended amount of time with your barrier, as the first bullet fired at your ally will break the barrier, making it unable to protect anyone else.	(To be added)
Doomfist	(To be added)	(To be added)
Echo	(To be added)	(To be added)
Genji	Genji can slip past your barrier and cause trouble for you at extreme ranges, flinging shurikens to chip away your health and distract you. 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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
Reaper	Reaper can deal deal high damage to you up close with his shotguns, and can be very difficult to deal with if he is supported. He also has a reliable escape in Wraith Form should the need arise. As Reaper has 250 HP, you cannot kill him from full health with Charge and he can Wraith to escape before you can swing at him. Unless you catch him off guard, you'll need your team to help keep Reaper at bay.	(To be added)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
Widowmaker	A one-on-one matchup at close range with an enemy widowmaker are very uncommon, due to her staying in the backlines waiting for targets to snipe and you sticking close to your team to protect them, there's very little you can do at long range, other than throwing an easily avoidable projectile or attempt to charge at them, which the enemy widow has time to react to, however your barrier will prove to be a big nuisance to the enemy widowmaker, due to it's large size and high endurance, there's no practical way for an enemy widowmaker to destroy it, making her either wait for you to drop it for whatever reason, wait for her team to destroy it, or try to sneak up in a position in which she can shoot freely at you and your teammates, should the latter option happen try to get your team to deal with her instead of yourself, if you decide to deal with the enemy widow yourself you run the risk of the rest of her team taking the chance you're distracted to attack anyone you were currently protecting.	(To be added)

Support

Hero	Match-Up	Team Synergy
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.
Baptiste	(To be added)	As you tank your way through enemy fire, Baptiste's superb area-of-effect healing will keep you well alive. His secondary fire and Regenerative Burst can save you from the copius amount of damage you take, and an Immortaility Field can keep you from meeting an untimely demise as you move forward to wallop nearby enemies. Amplification Matrix has a very powerful combo with Fire Strike, allowing it to one-shot 200 HP enemies.
Brigitte	(To be added)	(To be added)
Kiriko	While Kiriko's Protection Suzu cannot remove pin from Charge, it can negate its damage or prevent it from hitting. It will also completely negate your Earthshatter, so do not use it before Kiriko has used her Suzu or try to bait her into using it with your Charge.	(To be added)
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.
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.	Naturally, as a main healer, Mercy will often want to take you in as her pocket due to your high health pool and impressive defensive support. As you charge into the fray, keep your shield up for your teammates, but most especially for Mercy, who is a fragile support hero. With her on your side, you now have the insurance for a bit more recklessness, as the extra healing can allow you to get even closer to enemies and bash their heads in with your Rocket Hammer. Be prepared to be resurrected when you die as well, as you are a main target for it in a good Mercy's eyes.
Moira	(To be added)	Moira serves as a support who is, at the same time, an offensive threat. By staying near a friendly Moira's side to protect her, you have not only a healer to bail you out, but a powerful and mobile damager as well. Her ultimate, Coalescence, may not be the most game-changing, but can offer great value when used smartly. Stay in Moira's beam when she uses it, so that you can be healed while foes are being damaged.
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. Enemies marked by Zenyatta's Orb of Discord are also prime targets for your Fire Strike, as it already does a large amount of damage by itself.

Story

"Justice Will Be Done."

A highly decorated soldier with a strong moral compass, Reinhardt Wilhelm styles himself as a champion of a bygone age, who lives by the knightly codes of valor, justice, and courage. Possessing an "active imagination," he enjoys eating currywurst, is talkative, and is a fan of David Hasselhoff's music, along with Krankenwagen Grün. He spars with Brigitte every day, after which they go to a pub or tavern to relax. He is not good with computers.

Early Life

Reinhardt was born to working-class parents in Stuttgart, Germany, and grew up dreaming of knights, chivalry, and adventures of old. He was a decent student, but upon graduation from secondary school, he entered the German Armed Forces, seeking glory and pursuing his childhood ideals. Reinhardt's superior officers labeled him a powerful, dedicated soldier with a strong moral compass, but he struggled with unit cohesion and following orders he disagreed with. Nevertheless, he served two full terms with the GAF before he transferred to the Crusader Initiative.

Reinhardt and Balderich

As a Crusader, Reinhardt was made a lieutenant. He served under Balderich von Adler, who saw a spark in the young lieutenant and took him under his mentorship.

Omnic Crisis

When the Omnic Crisis began, the Crusaders became the lynchpin of all Germany military operations. Reinhardt was among the first to petition for more mobility and weaponry, claiming that the Crusaders could claim victory if given the proper tools. He was also one of a few Crusaders to advocate removing regular infantry from Crusader tactics, asserting that Crusaders would be slowed down while protecting their comparatively unarmored counterparts. Von Adler attempted to broaden Reinhardt's mind, but Reinhardt refused to be swayed.

Honor and Glory

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

Reinhardt as a Crusader

Reinhardt and his fellow Crusaders, von Adler included, took part in the Battle of Eichenwalde. 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 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.

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 Crusader 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.

As one of the few survivors of the battle, Reinhardt never spoke publicaly about the horrors he had experienced, but his personality changed, demonstrating a more generous approach to the ideals he had always espoused.

Early Missions

Reinhardt was inducted as part of the original Overwatch strike team, becoming its fourth member after Gabriel Reyes, Jack Morrison, and Ana Amari. Ten days after the arrival of Torbjörn Lindholm as the strike team's fifth member, the Overwatch strike team was dispatched on its first set of missions. Reinhardt and his fellow operatives took part in missions in Darkhan, Shenzhen, and Kyoto. The initial missions were unqualified successes, and the team was dispatched on several more operations, including Chicago.

Later Actions

Reinhardt on the frontlines

During one battle, Reinhardt held the line against advancing omnic forces, while awaiting the arrival of human infantry. An ATW-Huntsman came within point blank range of his shield, but it had suffered so much damage, it began to detonate. Reinhardt waved at the advancing infantry to get clear, but it was too late—the ATW detonated and sent the infantry hurling through the air.

After the Awakening, Overwatch moved in for the kill against Anubis in Cairo. In the ensuing operation, Reinhardt, Reyes, and Morrison took point in infiltrating Anubis's facility with a combined troop of Overwatch forces, and Egyptian Army personnel temporarily under Overwatch's command. The team fought through Anubis's forces, clearing the way for Overwatch engineers to arrive to isolate the god program. While this was the battle that effectively sealed humanity's victory in the war, the Omnic Crisis waged for months afterwards, as Overwatch fought against Anubis's warbots and omnics that remained loyal to the AI. The strike team's final missions included Wellington, Jakarta, and Baltimore before the war reached its end. By this point, all of Reinhardt's extended family had been killed by the omnics.

Post-Crisis

“	The team needs you. Be their shield.	„
	~ Balderich to Reinhardt

Reinhardt as a member of Overwatch

Following the Crisis, a brief but vicious political battle erupted over the future of Overwatch, as its record was put under the microscope. This extended to its strike team, and in Reinhardt's case, his prior insubordination as a Crusader was called into question. Despite these objections however, Overwatch's charter was extended and expanded, their mission rescoped to rebuild the world Anubis had left in ruins. 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.

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. He got on well with Torbjörn (who maintained his armor). While a member of Overwatch, Reinhardt denied multiple offers of promotion, insisting that his duty was to the people first, and that no member of Overwatch should be too far from the frontlines, where true heroes were forged every day.

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

Reinhardt in Istanbul

Not long after the Omnic Crisis, Reinhardt took part in Operation White Dome, as part of a mission to root out omnic forces in Istanbul who remained loyal to Anubis. 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, but Reinhardt was able to save his life in the battle, stabilizing him. However, Torbjörn lost his left arm.

In the after-action report, Ana recommended that Reinhardt receive a commendation for his actions. He did indeed receive a reward for his "conspicuous bravery."

Spending time with the Lindholms

Because of their wounds, both Reinhardt and Torbjörn were left temporarily out of comission. Both were sent to recover in Gothenburg. As Torbjörn recovered in the 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. Reinhardt was close with Brigitte as she grew up, telling her tales of valor and chivalry, and he effectively became part of the Lindholm family himself.

Money for Floods

Reinhardt and Morrison aid those displaced by the floods

Sometime after the Omnic Crisis, massive flooding struck Canada, the worst of which was in Vancouver. Reinhardt, Morrison, Vivian Chase, and Jesse McCree were among the Overwatch members who worked alongside the Canadians in rescue and evacuation efforts.

Uprising

“	Welcome to the team, rookie.	„
	~ Reinhardt to Oxton

Reinhardt greets Oxton

Seven years before the Overwatch recall, Reinhardt was part of an unsanctioned mission authorized by Strike Commander Jack Morrison to end the King's Row Uprising. While preparing to board an aircraft, Reinhardt welcomed the team's newest member, Lena Oxton, to the team.

The team fought their way through the streets, even as hordes of Null Sector omnics tried to bar their way. The events that transpired were classified within Overwatch's archives.

Misc. Events

Morrison's birthday celebration

At some point Reinhardt was stationed at Watchpoint: Gibraltar, where he got a tan. One night, he and Ana Amari danced in the command center until dawn.

While in Overwatch, he took part in an operation in Prague that he bungled, apparently because Morrison thought Reinhardt could be stealthy.

At some point after the Uprising, Reinhardt was among those present at Morrison's birthday celebration.

Asunción

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

As Overwatch entered its twilight years, Reinhardt entered his midfifties. This was not unusual in of itself (as many of the members of the original strike team were of similar ages), and his enthusiasm for fieldwork had not diminished. Still refusing promotion, Reinhardt continued to chase the honor and glory he'd first found as a Crusader, and was more than happy to take point on missions alongside younger agents.

Still, nothing good could last forever, as Reinhardt discovered when he was dispatched on a mission to Asunción, responding to a hostage situation at the Global Energy Summit. The terrorist Hivemind had struck the Palacio de los López, taking fifty hostages while she remained locked in a room with proprietary security data. Reinhardt's commanding officer ordered him to wait for negotiators, but Hivemind began executing her hostages. Knowing that obedience would lead to further loss of life, Reinhardt refused the order to stand down and, with the full support of his team, went charging in.

In the resulting action, 47 lives were saved, but Hivemind escaped with the data she'd sought—the hostages had been a distraction. While many within Overwatch saw Reinhardt's actions as heroic, the world's militaries didn't see it that way. In a joint missive, the militaries of various nations that had been represented at the summit demanded reparations for the stolen data, and an accounting as to why Reinhardt had disobeyed his orders.

Reinhardt is forced to retire

As mission commander, Reinhardt was forced to take the fall. A confused Reinhardt confronted Morrison and Chase, citing his success in Paraguay and countless other missions. An exasperated Morrison and Chase explained that disobeying direct orders had consequences. This was no longer the Omnic Crisis, and Overwatch had to operate within the red tape. Reinhardt was forced to retire from mandatory combat operations, and while this was officially due to his age, there was no precedent to be found in Overwatch's charter.

Reinhardt's loss was a heavy blow to the strike team's morale. 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. The general public was also sympathetic, and with the loss of Reinhardt, there was the sense that Overwatch had lost one of its best. One who had guided the organization, and given voice to its better angels.

Retirement

Despondent about being removed from active duty, Reinhardt feared that his days of purpose and glory had ended. He returned to Germany, but only briefly before he relocated to Sweden so he could be close to the Lindholms.

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.

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.

Taking up Arms

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. In this he was now accompanied by an adult Brigitte, who helped maintain his armor just as her father did, acting as his squire. The pair would get into numerous scraps. 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.

Reinhardt in King's Row

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

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 battles the Dragons

While in Romania, Reinhardt and Brigitte 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.

Recall

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

At some point after receiving Winston's recall, Reinhardt forwarded it onto Fareeha Amari. However, she refused to join Overwatch, as her place remained with Helix Security International.

Reflections

Reinhardt and Brigitte with her nieces and nephews

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

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.

A New War

Zero Hour

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.

Interlude

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.

Resistance

“	You're with me. We're getting aboard that ship.	„
	~ Reinhardt to Tracer and Mei

Reinhardt lays out the plan

As it turned out, Paris was just the beginning of Null Sector's attacks. One of them was Rio de Janeiro. Reinhardt and his fellow Overwatch members arrived and allied with Lúcio Correia dos Santos. Reinhardt ordered the team to split up into two squads, with one focusing on getting the civilians to safety, and the other taking the fight to the command ship. The ship was destroyed and Rio saved, though there were reports of Null Sector attacking other cities.

Reinhardt and the team return to Watchpoint: Gibraltar

The team returned to Watchpoint: Gibraltar, where they were greeted by Cole Cassidy and his new recruits. This boosted their numbers, but given the size of Null Sector's forces, Winston declared that they couldn't take them head on. Cassidy suggested recruiting Vivian Chase.

After their arrival, Reinhardt wrote in his journal. He noted that the younger members of the team looked up to him, and reflected that he didn't blame them. He expected their future battles to go just as well as Rio, and was confident that Overwatch would defeat Null Sector promptly, after which a new Overwatch would take shape, even better than the old one.

Liberation

“	Things are much worse than I thought. Null Sector is putting helmets on omnics, and these helmets cannot be taken off, even if you are very strong (I tried). Whoever is behind this is truly evil and must be stopped. It is good that we reached Vivian when we did. She was in the middle of the city fighting on her own, as if looking to make a foolish sacrifice! It is worrisome... this sort of behaviour is not like her. I wonder if the past few years have been as difficult for her as they have been for me. I think people like us need a purpose or we start to go a little verrückt.	„
	~ Reinhardt in his journal

Reinhardt and Cassidy in Toronto

Overwatch arrived at Toronto, which was under assault by Null Sector. They reunited with Sojourn, and fought their way through the city to evacuate civilians. In this, Overwatch succeeded, but ultimately, Toronto fell to Null Sector. During the fighting, they observed Subjugators fitting metal clamps to Toronto's omnics, incapacitating them. After the battle, Reinhardt tried removing one of the clamps by force, but Sojourn intervened. If there was a way to remove the devices, it had to be done safely. To this end, Brigitte suggested visiting Torbjörn, and Reinhardt agreed, confident that the engineer would have answers. Plus, it would be good to see him again.

While en route to Gothenburg, Reinhardt wrote in his journal. He noted that things were worse than he had thought, and whoever was behind it had to be stopped. He also noted his concerns about Sojourn—when they'd arrived in Toronto, they'd found her fighting against Null Sector alone, as if looking to sacrifice herself. Reinhardt found her behavior troubling, as it wasn't like her. He wondered if the past few years had been as difficult for Chase as they had been for him. He reflected that people like he and Sojourn needed purpose, or else they started to go a little "verrückt." On a happier note, he was confident that Torbjörn would find a means of removing the clamps, and that he would rejoin Overwatch as well.

Ironclad

“	"Bastion?" It's not a pet. It's a killing machine! No. Not anymore. How many friends did we lose to these things in the old war? And now, now you put your family at risk? Reinhardt, that war was a lifetime ago. I've changed. He's changed. The only one who hasn't...is you.	„
	~ Reinhardt and Torbjörn

Reinhardt and Brigitte arrived in Gothenburg with one of the incapacitated omnics. They showed it to Torbjörn, who after some reminiscing, examined the subject. He explained that while it might be possible to remove the clamp, he wasn't reading anything in the omnic's databanks. The omnic was alive, but its 'essence' was gone. Reinhardt suggested restoring it using a backup, but Brigitte pointed out it wasn't that simple, given the nature of omnic sapience.

Torbjörn intervenes

The bliss was interrupted by the arrival of a Bastion unit. Thinking it was part of Null Sector, Reinhardt charged it, but Torbjörn intervened, explaining that this Bastion wasn't like the ones they'd fought in the Omnic Crisis. Reinhardt refused to back down, and Torbjörn pointed out that he, and the omnic, had changed. That out of everyone here, the only person who hadn't changed was Reinhardt himself.

Reinhardt and Torbjörn part ways

The confrontation was interrupted by Null Sector invading Gothenburg. Reinhardt commented that it was likely that Null Sector had followed them here. Regardless, the four of them worked together to repel the invaders; they successfully defended the city, and inflicted critical damage against Null Sector's command ship. For Reinhardt and Torbjörn, it was like old times, but contrary to Reinhardt's expectations, Torbjörn refused to rejoin Overwatch. He was willing to let Brigitte join Overwatch, but he had to stay here, to protect his home and family. He offered Reinhardt the chance to stay as well, for as he pointed out, it was time for a new generation to lead Overwatch.

Reinhardt with new company

Reinhardt remained committed to Overwatch however. For him, it was his second chance. He, Brigitte, Ganymede, and Bastion departed, while Torbjörn told them he'd continue to study the omnic.

After Gothenburg, Reinhardt returned to his journal. While he had been disappointed, he noted that in retrospect, he shouldn't have been surprised, given the size of Torbjörn's family. If anything, he actually agreed with Torbjörn, that it was time for a new generation of Overwatch heroes. However, he would be there to teach them, and save the world in the process. In the meantime, he was up to ch. 3 of Dawn of the Empire of Dawnfire, and was surprised at its plot developments.

Achievements

Name	Icon	Description	Reward
I Am Your Shield		Block 7500 damage with Reinhardt's Barrier Field without dying in Quick or Competitive play.	Pixel
Storm, Earth and Fire		Land Reinhardt's Fire Strike and Charge after an Earthshatter stun in Quick or Competitive play.	Cute

Trivia

Reinhardt statue

• Chris Metzen has described Reinhardt as "kinda a Don Quixote".
• Darin De Paul performs Reinhardt as an exaggerated version of his father's voice.
• 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.
• 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.
• Reinhardt appears as a skin for Johanna in Heroes of the Storm.
• Reinhardt's Agent ID number is 3945_47.

Merchandise

• An inflatable Reinhardt hammer was available in the "goodie bag" of BlizzCon 2016.>
• A Reinhardt-themed hoodie is available from JINX.
• A Reinhardt statue will go on sale in November, 2022.

Development

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.

Early ideation for Reinhardt's design in Overwatch involved several different versions of humanoid robots, eventually progressing into a robotic hero from Numbani named Wildebeest. When Reinhardt was solidified, the fantasy was of him being a heroic knight; a protector for his team.

When Reinhardt was prototyped, he was able to throw his hammer against the enemy. However, this was awkward to implement, as he had to pick up his hammer every time he threw it. This ability would later inspire the Junker Queen's Jagged Blade ability.

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.

Removed Abilities

Steadfast

Type

Passive Ability

Resistant to knock back effects.

• Details

Ability details:

• Replaced in Overwatch 2 by the new tank role passive.
• Reduces the initial velocity from knock back effects by 30%. For example, Soundwave sends its victims back 17 m/s, but for Reinhardt, it is 11.9 m/s.
• The distance in which Reinhardt is knocked back is NOT reduced by 30%; 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.

Media

Concept Art

• 

  Guan Yu Skin Concept Art by Lipan Liu

• 

  Guan Yu Skin Weapon Concept Art by Lipan Liu

• 

  Imperius Skin Concept Art by Allison Yu

• 

  Minotaur Skin Concept Art by Nesskain

• 

  Minotaur Skin Weapon Concept Art by Nesskain

• 

  Raynhardt Skin Concept Art by Kejun Wang

Videos

Official

Curse

Watchpoint O.A.K

Balance Change Log

For more information, see Patch Notes.

• Overwatch 2 PvP
• Overwatch 1

Overwatch 2 PvP

Patch

Description

9 Jul 2024

Developer Comments: One of the core design goals for Reinhardt is to be the hero that shields his team. In the past we've reduced the barrier health significantly in order to improve other offensive aspects of his kit to better fit the fast-paced gameplay of Overwatch 2, but perhaps it was too much. We still want to avoid barriers feeling mandatory due to how useful they can be and keep tank diversity at a healthy level. However, with this patch looking at the tank role in particular, we're increasing Reinhardt's barrier health again and will evaluate further.

Barrier Field

• Maximum health increased from 1400 to 1600.
• Barrier regeneration rate increased from 140 to 160 health per second.

Charge

• Wall impact damage increased from 275 to 300.

20 Jun 2024

General

• Knockdown time when two charging abilities collide reduced from 2 to 1.7 seconds.

Developer Comments: This stun time reduction applies to the knockdown that happens when two charging abilities collide and result in a tie (with Reinhardt, Doomfist, Brigitte, Mauga, Bob). The counterplay and interaction of two charging abilities impacting each other is great, but it took both players out of the fight a little too long.

16 Apr 2024

Earthshatter

• Knockdown duration increased from 2.75 to 3 seconds.
• Shockwave range increased from 20 to 25 meters.

12 Mar 2024

• Armor Increased from 275 to 300.

Fire Strike

• Damage increased from 100 to 120.

13 Feb 2024

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.

Hero updates

• Health increased from 200 to 250.
• Armor increased from 250 to 275.

Rocket Hammer

• Damage increased from 85 to 100.

Charge

• Wall impact damage increased from 225 to 275.

Earthshatter

• Close range damage increased from 170 to 200. (undocumented)

11 Jul 2023

Developer Comments: We are increasing Reinhardt's barrier uptime to help him better protect his allies. We'll be keeping an eye on this, as we want to avoid situations where players feel like they are always shooting at barriers.

Barrier Field

• Maximum health increased from 1200 to 1400.

11 Apr 2023

Developer Comment: Reinhardt has been overperforming after the recent increases to his offensive capabilities. Those changes have been playing well, so to adjust his overall power, we’re reducing his overall health through this armor reduction.

• Armor health reduced from 300 to 250
• Base health increased from 175 to 200

7 Feb 2023

Developer Comment: In similar fashion to Roadhog's Chain Hook combo changes last season, we'd generally like to avoid heroes in the Tank role from killing enemies in one shot. Earthshatter direct hit damage is being reduced with that goal in mind. In most cases, targets on the receiving end would die anyway during the knockdown stun, but it does open up some potential for their allies to intervene.

For now, we're fine with Charge pin staying lethal to many characters due to the difficulty and risk involved. The Fire Strike damage increase does mean it could once again one-shot when combined with Baptiste's Amplification Matrix, but that requires an ultimate combo with another hero. We'll see how it plays out and adjust if necessary.

The Rocket Hammer knockback reduction sounds like a loss of power though it is actually aiming to reduce the number of times Reinhardt accidentally knocks enemies out of his melee range.

• Base health in Role Queue modes remains the same at 325
• Base health in non-Role Queue modes reduced from 325 to 175

Rocket Hammer

• Knockback impulse reduced from 10 to 6

Charge

• Cooldown reduced from 8 to 7 seconds

Fire Strike

• Damage increased from 90 to 100

Earthshatter

• Direct hit damage reduced from 250 to 170
• Knockdown duration increased from 2.5 to 2.75 seconds
• Ultimate cost increased 7%

28 Jun 2022
(beta)

• Armor reduced from 350 to 300
• Health increased from 300 to 325

26 Apr 2022
(beta)

• Base armor increased from 200 to 300
• Base health increased from 300 to 350

Steadfast

• Removed and replaced by Tank passive

Barrier Field

• Health reduced from 1600 to 1200
• Regeneration rate reduced from 200 to 144 health per second

Charge

• Steering turn rate increased by 50%
• Can now be manually cancelled
• Charge Pin wall impact damage reduced from 300 to 225
• Cooldown from 10 to 8 seconds

Fire Strike

• Now has 2 ability charges
• Damage reduced from 100 to 90

Overwatch 1

Patch

Description

22 Apr 2021

• Armor reduced from 250 to 200 (Health/armor total reduced from 550 to 500)

10 Dec 2020

• Base Armor increased from 200 to 250

Rocket Hammer

• Damage increased from 75 to 85

Developer Comment: The intent of these changes is to slightly bolster Reinhardt's frontline presence once he closes the distance with an enemy. The increased Rocket Hammer damage will reduce the number of swings necessary to eliminate some heroes so we'll be keeping a close eye on the overall impact of this change.

13 Oct 2020

Earthshatter

• Added a voice line stating, "For the Crusaders!", that allies will hear when Reinhardt uses Earthshatter

19 May 2020

*Reduced the height of Reinhardt's head hit volume, making it harder to hit him in the head from behind

29 Apr 2020

Earthshatter

• Knockdown duration lowered from 3 to 2.5 seconds

6 Apr 2020

Steadfast

• Passive knockback resistance reduced from 50% to 30%

10 Dec 2019

Barrier Field

• Health reduced from 2000 to 1600
• Movement speed penalty reduced from 50% to 30%

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.

13 Aug 2019

Steadfast - New passive ability

• 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.

11 Sep 2018

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.

9 Aug 2018

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).

19 Sep 2017

*A new “Movement Relative to Camera During Barrier Free Look” option can be found under Settings > Controls. Simply select “Reinhardt” from the dropdown menu. This allows players to change the way Reinhardt moves when Barrier Shield is active and players are controlling the third-person camera movement

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.

27 Jul 2017

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.

23 May 2017

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.

External links

• Official Site - Reinhardt
• Reinhardt Guide on Icy Veins