How To Counter Venture In Overwatch 2: Tips & Strategies

by Omar Yusuf 57 views

Venture, the non-binary, blue-haired barista-turned-Overwatch hero, has certainly made a splash in the Overwatch 2 community. This damage hero, armed with their trusty Smart Excavator, brings a unique blend of mobility, damage, and disruption to the battlefield. But don't let their charming demeanor fool you; a skilled Venture player can be a formidable opponent. If you're struggling against this ground-breaking hero, you're not alone. Many players are asking, "How the HELL do you counter this non-binary blue hair barista from Starbucks, Venture?" Well, fear not, my friends! This guide will delve into Venture's abilities, strengths, and weaknesses, and most importantly, provide you with the knowledge and strategies you need to effectively counter them in your Overwatch 2 matches.

Understanding Venture's Abilities

Before we dive into specific counters, it's crucial to understand Venture's kit. Venture is a damage hero who excels at close-to-mid range engagements, disrupting enemy formations, and securing eliminations. To effectively counter Venture, you need to be familiar with their abilities and how they're typically used. Let's break down their abilities one by one:

  • Burrow: This is Venture's primary mobility tool and a key part of their kit. Burrow allows Venture to dive underground, becoming invulnerable and gaining increased movement speed. While burrowed, Venture can travel relatively quickly and reposition themselves for an ambush or escape. At the end of the burrow, Venture bursts upwards, dealing damage and knocking enemies into the air. This ability is crucial for initiating fights, escaping dangerous situations, and setting up combos.

  • Drill Dash: Drill Dash is Venture's secondary mobility ability and offensive tool. It allows Venture to dash forward a short distance, dealing significant damage to enemies they pass through and knocking them back. This ability can be used to quickly close the gap between Venture and an enemy, secure a kill, or reposition in a fight. It's also great for disrupting enemy formations and pushing them off objectives.

  • Smart Excavator (Primary Fire): Venture's primary fire is a projectile weapon that fires seismic charges. These charges deal significant damage upon impact and can be effective at mid-range. The key to using Smart Excavator effectively is to lead your shots and predict enemy movement. It's a versatile weapon that can be used to poke enemies, finish off low-health targets, and pressure the enemy team.

  • Clobber: This is Venture's melee ability, and it packs a punch! Clobber allows Venture to swing their drill in a wide arc, dealing damage and knocking enemies away. This ability is perfect for close-quarters combat, disrupting enemy pushes, and creating space for your team. It can also be used to finish off low-health enemies or set up combos with other abilities.

  • Tectonic Shock (Ultimate): Venture's ultimate ability is a game-changer. Tectonic Shock allows Venture to launch multiple seismic waves that travel along the ground, dealing significant damage to enemies caught in their path. These waves can travel through barriers and can cover a large area, making it a powerful tool for zoning enemies, securing kills, and turning the tide of a fight. The ultimate can be devastating in enclosed spaces or when used to disrupt enemy formations.

By understanding each of Venture's abilities, you can begin to anticipate their movements and plan your counter-strategies effectively. It's like knowing your opponent's playbook before the big game! Now, let's move on to the core of our strategy: selecting the right heroes to counter Venture.

Hero Counters: Picking the Right Tool for the Job

Okay, guys, now we get to the juicy part: who should you pick to shut down Venture? Selecting the right hero is crucial when countering any opponent, and Venture is no exception. Certain heroes have kits that naturally exploit Venture's weaknesses, while others can mitigate their strengths. Let's break down some of the most effective hero counters, categorized by their role:

Tank Counters:

When it comes to tank matchups, a few heroes stand out as strong choices against Venture. These tanks can either mitigate Venture's damage, disrupt their dives, or outright out-duel them in close combat.

  • Orisa: Orisa is an excellent choice against Venture due to her Fortify ability and consistent damage output. Fortify makes Orisa immune to crowd control effects, including Venture's knock-ups, allowing her to stand her ground and punish Venture's dives. Orisa's primary fire can also shred through Venture's health pool quickly, and her Javelin Spin can knock Venture away, disrupting their combos. Orisa's ultimate, Terra Surge, can pull Venture out of their burrow, leaving them vulnerable to follow-up damage.

  • Roadhog: Roadhog's hook is a nightmare for Venture. A well-timed hook can pull Venture out of their burrow or dash, rendering them vulnerable to Roadhog's devastating shotgun blast and melee combo. Roadhog's Take a Breather ability also allows him to sustain through Venture's damage, making him a tough opponent to kill. Roadhog's ultimate, Whole Hog, can knock Venture away and prevent them from engaging, buying time for your team.

  • Zarya: Zarya's ability to bubble herself and allies makes her a strong counter to Venture's burst damage. Projecting a bubble onto a teammate who is being targeted by Venture can absorb the damage and deny Venture a potential kill. Zarya's primary fire also deals increasing damage as she absorbs energy, making her a formidable threat in close-quarters combat. Zarya's ultimate, Graviton Surge, can trap Venture and their team, making them easy targets for follow-up damage.

Damage Counters:

As a damage hero, Venture's job is to deal damage and secure eliminations. To counter Venture effectively, you need damage heroes who can out-duel them, pressure them from a distance, or punish them for diving into your team.

  • Pharah: Pharah's aerial mobility makes her a difficult target for Venture to hit. Venture's Smart Excavator projectiles are relatively slow-moving, making them easy for Pharah to dodge. Pharah's rockets can deal significant damage to Venture, and her Concussive Blast can knock Venture away, disrupting their dives. Pharah's ultimate, Barrage, can be devastating against Venture if they are caught out of position.

  • Tracer: Tracer's mobility and blink ability allow her to easily evade Venture's attacks and harass them from multiple angles. Tracer can blink behind Venture and unload a clip into their back before they even have a chance to react. Tracer's Pulse Bomb can also be used to stick Venture, guaranteeing a kill if they are not careful. Tracer's recall ability also allows her to escape from dangerous situations, making her a slippery target to catch.

  • McCree: McCree's Flashbang and Fan the Hammer combo is a deadly counter to Venture in close quarters. Flashbanging Venture will stun them, leaving them vulnerable to a quick Fan the Hammer burst. McCree's Combat Roll also allows him to reposition quickly and create distance between himself and Venture. McCree's Deadeye ultimate can be used to pick off Venture from a distance if they are caught out of position.

Support Counters:

Supports play a crucial role in keeping their team alive and enabling them to win fights. When countering Venture, you need supports who can heal through their damage, provide utility to help their team escape dives, or punish Venture for overextending.

  • Baptiste: Baptiste's Immortality Field is a powerful tool for preventing Venture from securing kills. Placing Immortality Field near teammates who are being targeted by Venture can keep them alive long enough for backup to arrive. Baptiste's Regenerative Burst can also provide burst healing to allies who are taking damage, and his Amplification Matrix can amplify the damage output of his team, allowing them to quickly burst down Venture. Baptiste can stay safe on the high ground and heal his teammates.

  • Brigitte: Brigitte's shield and armor packs make her a strong counter to Venture's dive-heavy playstyle. Brigitte can use her shield to protect herself and her teammates from Venture's attacks, and her Repair Packs can provide armor to allies who are taking damage. Brigitte's Whip Shot can also knock Venture away, disrupting their dives and creating space for her team. Brigitte's ultimate, Rally, provides extra armor to her team, making them more resistant to Venture's damage.

  • Lucio: Lucio's speed boost can help his team escape from Venture's dives and reposition quickly. Lucio's Amp It Up ability can provide a burst of speed and healing, allowing his team to survive Venture's initial burst damage. Lucio's Soundwave can knock Venture away, disrupting their dives and creating space for his team. Lucio's ultimate, Sound Barrier, provides a temporary shield to his team, making them more resistant to Venture's damage.

These are just a few examples of heroes who can effectively counter Venture. The best choice will depend on your team composition, the map, and your playstyle. The key is to pick heroes who can exploit Venture's weaknesses and mitigate their strengths.

General Strategies for Countering Venture

Beyond specific hero picks, there are also general strategies you can employ to counter Venture effectively. These strategies focus on positioning, communication, and teamwork, and can be applied regardless of the heroes you are playing.

  • Maintain Good Positioning: Positioning is key in Overwatch 2, and it's especially important when facing Venture. Avoid bunching up too closely, as this will make you vulnerable to Venture's Burrow and Tectonic Shock. Try to spread out and maintain a safe distance from Venture, especially when they have their ultimate ready.

  • Communicate with Your Team: Communication is crucial for coordinating your efforts and shutting down Venture. Call out Venture's location and movements to your team, and let them know when Venture is diving or using their ultimate. Coordinate your cooldowns and abilities to maximize their effectiveness against Venture.

  • Punish Overextensions: Venture is a dive hero, which means they often overextend into enemy territory to secure kills. If you see Venture diving too deep, punish them for their aggression. Focus your fire on Venture and force them to retreat or risk being eliminated. Punishing Venture for overextending will make them more hesitant to dive in the future.

  • Track Venture's Cooldowns: Venture's abilities have relatively long cooldowns, so it's important to track when they use them. If you know that Venture has used their Burrow or Drill Dash, they will be more vulnerable to your attacks. Use this opportunity to pressure them and force them to play more passively. The cooldown on their burrow ability is 8 seconds, use this to your advantage.

  • Utilize Crowd Control: Crowd control abilities are highly effective against Venture. Abilities like stuns, knock-ups, and slows can disrupt Venture's dives and prevent them from executing their combos. Heroes like McCree, Orisa, and Brigitte are excellent at utilizing crowd control to shut down Venture.

By implementing these general strategies, you can significantly improve your chances of success against Venture, regardless of the heroes you choose to play.

Map Awareness: Using the Environment to Your Advantage

The map itself can be a powerful tool in your arsenal when countering Venture. Certain maps and map features can either favor Venture's playstyle or provide opportunities to shut them down. Being aware of the map layout and utilizing the environment to your advantage can give you a significant edge in your matches.

  • Maps with High Ground: Maps with high ground, such as Watchpoint: Gibraltar or King's Row, can be advantageous against Venture. Heroes who can position themselves on the high ground, like Pharah or Widowmaker, can be difficult for Venture to reach. The high ground also provides a better vantage point for tracking Venture's movements and coordinating your team's response.

  • Maps with Choke Points: Maps with tight choke points, such as Hanamura or Eichenwalde, can be challenging for Venture to navigate. These choke points can funnel Venture into predictable paths, making them easier to target and control. Heroes with area-of-effect abilities, like Junkrat or Mei, can be particularly effective at controlling choke points and denying Venture access to key areas.

  • Maps with Enclosed Spaces: Maps with enclosed spaces, such as Ilios: Well or Lijiang Tower: Garden, can be both advantageous and disadvantageous for Venture. Enclosed spaces can limit Venture's mobility and make them easier to track, but they can also provide opportunities for Venture to use their Tectonic Shock ultimate to devastating effect. Be mindful of your positioning and avoid bunching up too closely in enclosed spaces when facing Venture.

  • Utilizing Natural Cover: Natural cover, such as walls, pillars, and buildings, can provide protection from Venture's attacks and limit their line of sight. Use cover to your advantage to avoid being caught out in the open and to create opportunities to flank or ambush Venture. Staying near cover also makes it easier to disengage from a fight if you are being targeted by Venture.

By being mindful of the map layout and utilizing the environment to your advantage, you can significantly improve your chances of success against Venture.

Adapting Your Playstyle: Staying One Step Ahead

Finally, the most important aspect of countering any hero in Overwatch 2 is adaptability. No two matches are exactly the same, and the best way to counter Venture will vary depending on the specific circumstances of each game. You need to be able to adapt your playstyle, hero choices, and strategies on the fly to stay one step ahead of your opponent.

  • Recognize Patterns: Pay attention to how the enemy Venture player is playing. Are they diving aggressively? Are they playing passively and poking from a distance? Are they focusing on specific targets? By recognizing patterns in their playstyle, you can anticipate their movements and plan your counters accordingly.

  • Switch Heroes When Necessary: If your initial hero choice isn't working, don't be afraid to switch to a different hero that is better suited to the situation. Sometimes, a simple hero swap can completely turn the tide of a fight. Be willing to experiment with different heroes and team compositions to find what works best against Venture.

  • Adjust Your Positioning: If you are constantly being caught out of position by Venture, adjust your positioning accordingly. Stay closer to your team, utilize cover more effectively, and avoid overextending into enemy territory. Sometimes, simply adjusting your positioning can make a huge difference in your survivability.

  • Communicate Your Needs: If you are struggling against Venture, communicate your needs to your team. Let them know if you need more healing, peel, or assistance in dealing with Venture. Working together as a team is the best way to overcome any challenge in Overwatch 2.

  • Stay Calm and Focused: Finally, remember to stay calm and focused, even when facing a tough opponent like Venture. Don't get tilted or frustrated, as this will only make it harder to play effectively. Take a deep breath, stay positive, and focus on executing your game plan.

By adapting your playstyle and staying one step ahead of your opponent, you can overcome any challenge in Overwatch 2, including the formidable Venture. So go out there, put these strategies into practice, and show that non-binary blue-haired barista who's boss!

Conclusion: Mastering the Venture Matchup

So there you have it, folks! A comprehensive guide on how to counter Venture in Overwatch 2. From understanding their abilities to selecting the right heroes, implementing effective strategies, and adapting your playstyle, you now have the knowledge and tools you need to dominate the Venture matchup. Remember, countering any hero in Overwatch 2 is a team effort. Communicate with your team, coordinate your cooldowns, and focus on playing smart. With a little practice and dedication, you'll be shutting down Venture dives and securing victories in no time. Now get out there and show those Venture players what you've learned!