Ramattra, the former Omnic monk turned revolutionary leader, presents a unique and formidable challenge in Overwatch 2. As a tank, his dual forms allow him to seamlessly transition between long-range poke and aggressive brawling, making him adaptable to various team compositions and combat scenarios. Successfully countering Ramattra requires a deep understanding of his abilities and selecting a tank hero whose kit can directly mitigate his strengths while exploiting his weaknesses. This guide delves into Ramattra’s threat profile and identifies the most effective tank picks to neutralize his impact on the battlefield.
Understanding Ramattra’s Threat Profile
Before diving into counter-picks, it’s essential to dissect Ramattra’s capabilities across his two distinct forms and his devastating ultimate ability. Recognizing when and how he poses a threat allows for informed strategic decisions.
Omnic Form: Poke and Shield Pressure
In his default Omnic form, Ramattra operates primarily as a medium-range artillery tank. His Void Accelerator primary fire launches a stream of projectiles that apply consistent pressure to enemies and quickly chew through shields. This allows him to initiate engagements from a safe distance, farm ultimate charge, and chip away at enemy health pools. His Void Barrier is a deployable shield that offers temporary cover, creates choke points, or provides safe passage for his team, much like Sigma’s Experimental Barrier but with a fixed position. While in this form, he is relatively squishier and more susceptible to focused fire, making it a key window for engagement.
Nemesis Form: Brawling and Annihilation
Ramattra’s Nemesis Form is where he truly shines as a frontline brawler. Upon activation, his health increases, gaining a significant armor boost, and his primary fire switches to Pummel — powerful melee attacks that pierce through defensive abilities and deal heavy damage. During Nemesis Form, he gains the Block ability, which dramatically reduces incoming frontal damage, allowing him to absorb massive amounts of punishment while advancing. His Ravenous Vortex ability, available in both forms, creates an area of effect that slows enemies and grounds airborne targets, trapping them within his brawling range or denying escape. This form makes him incredibly difficult to kill in close quarters and is designed to dominate objective points and push through enemy lines.
Void Barrier and Annihilation Ultimate
Ramattra’s ultimate, Annihilation, transforms him into his Nemesis form and projects a swirling field of energy around him. This field continuously damages and slows enemies caught within it, and its duration becomes infinite as long as at least one enemy is within its radius. Annihilation is a game-changing ultimate for contesting objectives, locking down choke points, and securing team fight wins, especially when combined with other crowd-control abilities. The strategic placement of his Void Barrier often complements his ultimate, creating a safe zone for his team or forcing enemies into a disadvantageous position within the Annihilation field.
Key Counterplay Principles for Tanks
Successfully countering Ramattra isn’t just about picking the right hero; it involves strategic play, intelligent ability usage, and often, team coordination. Tanks playing against Ramattra should prioritize specific principles.
Mobility and Disengagement
Ramattra thrives on sustained engagement, particularly in his Nemesis form and during Annihilation. Tanks that possess high mobility can effectively disengage from his punishing melee range, escape the Annihilation ultimate, or reposition to target his more vulnerable allies. The ability to quickly initiate or break off fights dictates the tempo and denies Ramattra the continuous proximity he needs to maximize his damage output. Being able to dive his backline while he’s committed to a frontline brawl can also isolate him.
Sustained Damage and Burst Potential
Ramattra’s substantial health pool, coupled with the armor bonus and damage reduction from Block in Nemesis Form, makes him incredibly durable. Tanks that can either apply consistent, high-impact damage or facilitate burst damage from their team are crucial. The goal is to break through his defenses swiftly, especially when he’s caught in his weaker Omnic form or when he’s just exited Nemesis Form. Focusing fire on him as a team is paramount to overcoming his resilience.
Ultimates and Cooldown Management
Timing is everything against Ramattra. Tracking his Nemesis Form cooldown allows tanks to engage aggressively when he is weakest, forcing him to either retreat or commit his ultimate. Conversely, holding onto a powerful ultimate to counter Annihilation can swing team fights. Whether it’s to create separation, negate damage, or force him out of the objective, intelligent ultimate usage can completely nullify Ramattra’s most impactful ability.
Top Tank Picks Against Ramattra
Several tank heroes in Overwatch 2 possess the specific tools and playstyles to effectively counter Ramattra’s multifaceted threat.
D.Va: The Omnic Disruptor
D.Va is arguably one of the most consistent and potent counters to Ramattra, largely due to her Defense Matrix. This ability can absorb nearly all of Ramattra’s projectile damage from Void Accelerator and, crucially, completely negate the continuous damage from his Annihilation ultimate. By flying directly into Annihilation with Defense Matrix active, D.Va can protect her team, force Ramattra to reposition, or simply outlast the ultimate if he lacks follow-up damage.
Her Boosters provide excellent mobility, allowing her to dive Ramattra’s backline or disengage rapidly from his Nemesis Form. The combination of Micro Missiles and primary fire delivers a surprising amount of burst damage, useful for pressuring Ramattra when he’s vulnerable or focusing down his supports. D.Va’s Self-Destruct can zone Ramattra away from objectives or even kill him and his team if he’s caught without cover, making her a highly disruptive force.
Orisa: The Immovable Object
Orisa’s kit is designed for unwavering frontline presence and direct confrontation, making her a strong counter to Ramattra’s brawling style. Fortify grants her temporary overhealth, immunity to crowd control, and a significant damage reduction, allowing her to stand her ground even against Ramattra’s Pummel attacks in Nemesis Form. She can absorb incredible amounts of punishment, out-brawling him in a direct face-off.
Her Javelin Spin can push Ramattra back, breaking his momentum during Nemesis Form or forcing him out of his Annihilation radius. It also blocks incoming projectiles, further reducing his poke damage. The Energy Javelin is excellent for interrupting Ramattra’s actions, such as when he’s trying to deploy a Void Barrier or engage with Nemesis Form. Orisa’s high sustained damage output with her primary fire can also melt through Ramattra’s health and shield. Her ultimate, Terra Surge, can pull Ramattra into a vulnerable position or zone him off an objective, effectively denying his Annihilation.
Winston: Dive and Punish
Winston excels at bypassing Ramattra’s frontline presence entirely, instead focusing on his vulnerable backline. Ramattra struggles to protect his damage dealers and healers from a well-executed Winston dive, especially when he commits to Nemesis Form at the front. Winston’s Jump Pack allows him to quickly traverse the battlefield, isolate targets, and disengage from unfavorable fights, including escaping Annihilation.
His Barrier Projector can shield allies from Void Accelerator fire or create a small pocket of safety within Annihilation’s radius. While his Tesla Cannon may not burst Ramattra down, its constant cleaving damage bypasses armor damage reduction and can pressure him even in Nemesis Form. More importantly, Primal Rage is a powerful counter-ultimate. Winston can use it to survive Annihilation’s damage, knock Ramattra away from his team, or chase him down if he attempts to escape.
Sigma: The Strategic Duelist
Sigma’s unique abilities allow him to effectively duel Ramattra while providing significant utility. His Kinetic Grasp is invaluable for absorbing Ramattra’s Void Accelerator projectiles, converting them into temporary shields and boosting Sigma’s survivability. It can also absorb Nemesis Form’s Pummel damage, though it’s more effective against projectiles. This ability allows Sigma to sustain and gain an advantage in direct engagements.
The Experimental Barrier can be strategically placed to block Ramattra’s primary fire, protect allies from his ultimate, or create separation. Accretion offers a crucial stun that can interrupt Ramattra’s momentum, cancel his Block, or momentarily halt his advance in Nemesis Form, opening him up for focused team fire. Sigma’s Gravitic Flux is a potent counter-ultimate to Annihilation. By lifting Ramattra into the air, Sigma can pull him out of his effective range, allowing his team to escape or punishing him with follow-up damage as he falls.
Situational Counters and Advanced Tactics
While the aforementioned tanks are generally the most reliable, other tanks can offer situational advantages or contribute through specific tactical approaches.
Reinforcing with Roadhog (Post-Rework Considerations)
Following his rework, Roadhog has become a more viable option against Ramattra, primarily due to his enhanced self-sustain. Take a Breather now provides significant damage reduction in addition to healing, allowing Roadhog to absorb a surprising amount of Ramattra’s consistent damage, even in Nemesis Form. His Chain Hook can pull Ramattra out of his optimal melee range or interrupt his Block, creating opportunities for his team to focus fire. Whole Hog can be used to push Ramattra away from an objective or burst him down if he’s caught in a confined space. However, Roadhog’s lack of mobility means he can be susceptible to being trapped in Annihilation if not positioned carefully, making him a pick that requires more tactical foresight.
Communication and Team Synergy
Ultimately, no single tank hero can single-handedly counter a well-played Ramattra. Effective counterplay hinges on strong team communication and synergy. Tanks should actively call out Ramattra’s form changes, especially when he activates Nemesis Form or Annihilation. DPS heroes can focus Ramattra when he’s in his weaker Omnic form or when his Nemesis Form cooldown is active. Supports can provide crucial utility like Ana’s Biotic Grenade to deny his healing (especially during Annihilation) or Kiriko’s Protection Suzu to cleanse slows and provide invulnerability, allowing teammates to escape his ultimate. A coordinated effort is key to dismantling Ramattra’s powerful presence.
By understanding Ramattra’s kit, prioritizing mobility, sustained damage, and intelligent ability management, tanks can turn the tide against this formidable Omnic threat, ensuring their team maintains control of the battlefield.
aViewFromTheCave is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Amazon, the Amazon logo, AmazonSupply, and the AmazonSupply logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. As an Amazon Associate we earn affiliate commissions from qualifying purchases.