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Countering Illari in Overwatch 2 might seem challenging at first, but with the right strategies and hero picks, you can quickly turn the tide. Illari’s healing and long-range damage make her a formidable support, but heroes like Sombra and Genji can neutralize her effectiveness with ease.

Here are some tips and strategies to Counter Illari:

1. Focus on Her Healing Pylon

• Illari’s Healing Pylon provides strong support for her team, allowing her to heal without actively doing so. Destroying the Pylon should be a priority to limit her healing capabilities.
• Heroes to counter the Pylon:
  • Sombra: Can hack or disable the Pylon with ease.
  • Junkrat: His grenades can take it out quickly, especially if it’s hidden behind cover.
  • Pharah: Can fly above and shoot the Pylon from a distance.

2. Dive Heroes to Pressure Illari

• Illari’s movement isn’t the most mobile, making her vulnerable to dive heroes who can close the distance and overwhelm her.
• Heroes to use:
  • Genji: His swift movement and Deflect can put pressure on Illari while dodging her shots.
  • Winston: Can leap onto her and deal consistent damage, forcing her out of position.
  • Tracer: With her speed and mobility, Tracer can get behind Illari and force her to focus on defending herself rather than supporting her team.

3. Avoid Direct Fights from Long Range

• Illari’s primary weapon is strong in mid to long-range fights, making it dangerous to challenge her in open spaces.
• Tips:
  • Use cover to minimize her line of sight.
  • Engage her from unpredictable angles to avoid getting picked off by her high-damage shots.

4. Use Shield Tanks

• Tanks like Reinhardt or Sigma can block Illari’s long-range shots with their barriers, making it harder for her to land effective hits.
• Reinhardt’s shield can absorb Illari’s damage and help your team push forward without taking too much chip damage.

5. Close the Gap with Mobility

• Illari performs better at range, so heroes who can quickly get in close will give her a hard time.
• Heroes to use:
  • Reaper: Can teleport behind her and quickly burst her down with shotguns.
  • D.Va: Can dive in with Boosters, block her damage with Defense Matrix, and finish her off with micro missiles.

6. Utilize Burst Damage

• Illari can heal herself with her abilities, but burst damage can take her down before she has a chance to recover.
• Heroes to use:
  • Hanzo: His arrows can deal significant burst damage, potentially eliminating her with a headshot.
  • Cassidy: Can deal high damage from mid-range and finish her off with his Magnetic Grenade if she gets close.

7. Coordinate Ultimate Abilities

• Illari’s ultimate ability, Captive Sun, can deal massive damage, so spreading out and using mobility to avoid her beam is essential.
• Heroes with high mobility or defensive ultimates can help mitigate her damage and turn the fight in your favor.

Here are the top 7 heroes for countering Illari in Overwatch 2:

1. Sombra

• Strengths: Sombra’s ability to hack can disrupt Illari’s Healing Pylon, temporarily disabling it and making her vulnerable. She can also hack Illari herself, preventing her from using her healing or movement abilities, and follow up with burst damage.
• Strategy: Flank behind Illari and focus on hacking her or her Pylon. Use EMP during team fights to shut down her healing and damage output.

2. Genji

• Strengths: Genji’s mobility allows him to quickly close the gap on Illari, who is less effective at close range. He can dodge her shots with Deflect and pressure her into bad positioning.
• Strategy: Dash in with Swift Strike and target Illari from unexpected angles. Use Deflect to counter her damaging shots, then follow up with your shurikens and Dragonblade to finish her off.

3. Junkrat

• Strengths: Junkrat’s explosive damage is excellent for dealing with Illari’s Healing Pylon, even when it’s hidden behind cover. His unpredictable projectiles can force her to reposition or get caught off-guard.
• Strategy: Focus on lobbing grenades into areas where Illari might place her Pylon. You can also use Concussion Mine to close the distance or displace Illari from her defensive spots, making her easier to eliminate.

4. Winston

• Strengths: Winston’s dive capability allows him to leap onto Illari and pressure her with his Tesla Cannon, which bypasses shields and doesn’t require precise aim. He can also block her healing and damage with his Barrier Projector.
• Strategy: Use Jump Pack to dive onto Illari, focusing her and her Pylon. The AoE damage from your Tesla Cannon will weaken both, and the Barrier can provide cover for your team to follow up.

5. Pharah

• Strengths: Pharah’s vertical mobility makes it difficult for Illari to hit her consistently. Pharah can rain rockets from above, targeting both Illari and her Pylon without exposing herself too much to counter-fire.
• Strategy: Stay airborne and maintain distance while bombarding Illari and her team with rockets. If her Pylon is placed behind cover, use splash damage to destroy it. Be mindful of Illari’s burst damage, as it can still be dangerous if she gets a clear shot.

6. Tracer

• Strengths: Tracer’s speed and quick burst damage allow her to dart around Illari, making it hard for Illari to land precise shots. She can also quickly get behind Illari and take out her Pylon before Illari can react.
• Strategy: Blink around Illari, making it hard for her to hit you, while focusing on disrupting her positioning. Target her Pylon first, then use your mobility to dodge her shots and land burst damage with your pulse pistols.

7. Reinhardt

• Strengths: Reinhardt’s Barrier Field can block Illari’s long-range shots and provide cover for his team to push. His hammer can deal heavy close-range damage once he gets within range, and his Fire Strike can take out her Pylon.
• Strategy: Use your barrier to lead the team’s push, protecting them from Illari’s damage. Once in close range, swing your hammer to destroy her Pylon and pin her if she’s in a vulnerable position.

Illari has several weaknesses that players can exploit to counter her effectively.

1. Limited Mobility

• Illari lacks strong mobility abilities, making it difficult for her to escape quickly from dive heroes or reposition when under pressure.
• How to exploit: Use dive heroes like Genji, Tracer, or Winston to quickly close the gap and force her into bad positioning where she can’t easily flee.

2. Reliance on Healing Pylon

• Illari’s Healing Pylon provides a significant portion of her healing. If it’s destroyed or disabled, her healing output drops dramatically, making her more vulnerable.
• How to exploit: Target the Healing Pylon early with heroes like Junkrat, Sombra, or Pharah to disable her support for the team and make her easier to eliminate.

3. Vulnerable to Dive Heroes

• Illari performs best at mid-to-long range but struggles against fast, close-range heroes who can quickly get in her face.
• How to exploit: Heroes like Reaper, Winston, or Tracer can overwhelm her in close combat, preventing her from utilizing her range advantage.

4. Exposed During Ultimate (Captive Sun)

• When using her ultimate, Captive Sun, Illari has to focus on aiming and deploying it effectively, which leaves her exposed and unable to protect herself during that time.
• How to exploit: Take advantage of her distraction during her ultimate activation. Heroes with high mobility can dodge her beam and punish her vulnerability after she uses it.

5. Limited Area Healing

• Illari’s healing is focused around her Healing Pylon, which has limited range. Teammates outside its range won’t receive healing unless Illari actively shoots them with her secondary fire, which reduces her offensive output.
• How to exploit: Force fights away from her Pylon or keep pushing her and her teammates out of its range, reducing her ability to support them consistently.

6. No Self-Sustain During Attacks

• While Illari can heal herself passively with her Healing Pylon, she doesn’t have any active abilities that provide self-sustain during engagements, making her reliant on positioning.
• How to exploit: Heroes that apply constant pressure like Genji or Sombra can drain her health and force her into a retreat or elimination before she can recover.

7. Weak Against Shields

• Illari’s primary fire relies on landing precise shots at range, but shields from heroes like Reinhardt or Sigma can block her damage output and prevent her from picking off targets.
• How to exploit: Use shield tanks to block her damage and allow your team to close the gap or pressure her from behind cover.

Does Kiriko counter Illari?

Kiriko counters Illari by using her Protection Suzu to nullify Illari’s ultimate, her high mobility to avoid Illari’s attacks, and her healing to keep teammates alive outside Illari’s range. Kiriko’s high skill ceiling, headshot potential, and versatile kit make her a solid pick against Illari in the right hands.

Is Illari main or off support?

Illari is generally considered an off-support in Overwatch 2.

In conclusion, while Illari may seem formidable with her powerful damage and passive healing abilities, she has several exploitable weaknesses that make her vulnerable to the right strategies. Heroes like Sombra, Genji, and Winston excel at disrupting her Healing Pylon and pressuring her in close-range engagements, where she struggles to defend herself.

By focusing on Illari’s lack of mobility, reliance on her Pylon, and weaknesses against dive and flankers, your team can effectively shut her down and control the fight.