Overwatch Reinhardt guide: How to play, abilities, tips, lore, skins

One of the most essential heroes to any successful Overwatch team, Reinhardt has an interesting playstyle that takes some time and practice to master. Thankfully, once you get the basics down, it is a blast to play! 

Overwatch’s ample amount of heroes is one of the shining aspects of the team-based game from Blizzard. With Overwatch 2 well into development, there is no better time to jump into the game to get ready for the second title.

Tanks are one of the hero classifications used in Overwatch, these super-human characters are the first ones to engage in team battles and offer support to your DPS characters. Reinhardt is viewed as one of the best in the game, and this has been a constant since release. If you are looking to master Reinhardt, then you have come to the right place.

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Overwatch Reinhardt lore

As Reinhardt’s appearance suggests, he was once a famed warrior within the German Armed Forces and eventually found himself stationed in the Crusaders. In the early years of Reinhardt’s service, he befriended a character named Balderich. The two grew close within the army, and the night the Omnic forces attacked Eichenwalde, they recited the Crusader’s oath and shook hands.

Reinhardt was a careless soldier, he often neglected superior orders; and during this conflict, he was scolded by Balderich and ordered to rejoin his actual unit on the front lines. After doing so, Reinhardt saw an opportunity to charge towards an enemy and was countered and suffered a deadly blow to his left eye. While the battle carried on, the Crusaders eventually had to fall back to a certain point, and this is where Balderich and Reinhardt reunited.

This is where Reinhardt’s story becomes tragic, as Balderich commanded Reinhardt to rejoin the forces behind the gate, leaving him to perish to the enemy forces. Reinhardt was reluctant at first but eventually left his best friend behind, only taking his hammer as a memory.

Reinhardt Weapon

Reinhardt’s main weapon is Balderich’s hammer, which is called Rocket Hammer. This powerful weapon can deal immense damage to players’ close range and is a personal reminder of the war to him.

• Rocket Hammer
  • Damage: 85
  • Max. range: 5 meters
  • Rate of fire: 1 swing per 0.96 seconds
  • Casting time: 0.432 seconds (initial swing)

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

Overwatch Reinhardt Abilities

Reinhardt’s abilities are some of the best in Overwatch especially in regards to the Tank role. His Barrier Field offers vital support in team fights, and players can safely stay behind Reinhardt’s barrier when pushing an objective.

As well, Reinhardt has a stellar ultimate that can be devastating in certain scenarios for the other team!

• Passive: Steadfast
  • +50% knockback resistance

NOTE: Resistant to knock back effects.

• Barrier Field
  • Health: 1600
  • Healing: Regenerates 200 barrier health per second, after being down for 2 seconds
  • Move. speed: -30% penalty
  • Cooldown: 5 seconds if destroyed

NOTE: 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.

• Charge 
  • Damage: Pinned to a wall: 300
  • Bump with no pin: 50
  • Move. speed: +200% buff
  • Max. range: 49.5 meters
  • Casting time: 0.6 seconds
  • Duration: 3 seconds
    • 0.65 second stun at the end of a pin
  • Cooldown: 10 seconds

NOTE: 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.

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• Fire Strike
  • Damage: 100
  • Projectile speed: 25 meters per second
  • Casting time: 0.48 seconds
    • 0.64 second recovery
  • Cooldown: 6 seconds

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

• Reinhardt Ultimate Ability: Earthshatter 
  • Damage: 50
  • Max range: 20 meters
  • Casting time: 0.45 seconds
    • 0.5 second recovery
  • Duration: 2.5 second knockdown
  • Ultimate cost: 1540 points

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

How to play Reinhardt: Tips

Playing Reinhardt can be a daunting task at first, as his ability to be a defensive juggernaut along with a credible force on offense is a deadly combination that not a lot of Tanks offer. On the defensive side, his Barrier Shield is the shining star of his kit. Using this when entering objectives and pushing choke points will greatly benefit your team, and your teammates will be more thankful to have a barrier in front of them.

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On the offensive side, Reinhardt’s combination of Fire Strike and his ultimate ability is an aspect players should spend some time practicing. If you are able to knock down players with Earthshatter you can more than likely immediately kill them with a Charge. Furthermore, the Charge can be used when opposing players are caught on their own without a shield to protect them, breaking the front lines even more.

While Fire Strike is his only ranged attack, it is one that can be used efficiently given the right scenario. Finding the perfect balance between defensive and offensive is key to mastering him, and it is hard to play a game of competitive Overwatch and not go up against one.

Overwatch Reinhardt skins

Overwatch 2 Reinhardt changes

Coming into Blizzard’s highly anticipated sequel, Reinhardt’s looking a little bit different. Sporting a long beard and new silver and gold armor, the Crusader is back in black. Additionally, he’s got a more futuristic look to him, with the iconic lion symbol welded into armor’s chest and elbows.

In terms of gameplay, Overwatch’s developers have confirmed that there are some considerable changes coming to the German tank. Focusing more on adapting tanks to be skirmishers, he can now cancel his Charge.

Additionally, Overwatch 2 will now be played 5v5, meaning there’s one less tank slot. If you want to make sure it’s you, make sure you follow this guide to put yourself in the best position!

Fancy trying your hand at other epic heroes from Overwatch? We’ve got a whole host of guides to help you master their unique playstyles right here: Ana | D.Va | Genji | Lucio | Mei | Mercy | Moira | Reaper | Sombra | Tracer | Widowmaker

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