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Duelists in Marvel Rivals are fan favorites, known for their impressive abilities and knack for racking up kills. All damage-per-second (DPS) units fall under the Duelist classification, but they generally fit into two types: those who aggressively engage the enemy and those who prefer to stay behind their teammates.
Hawkeye exemplifies the second type of Duelist, remaining at the rear to rain arrows upon his foes. If you’re keen to master Hawkeye, this guide will help you get acquainted with his skills and start taking down enemies with impressive accuracy.
Overview of Hawkeye
Hawkeye is a high-skill Duelist who depends on his bow to take down opponents in a single shot. If you’re serious about playing as Hawkeye, you’ll need to focus on improving your aim.
The effectiveness of this character hinges on your aiming ability, as a fully charged shot to the head can take down any target except for Vanguards. However, with the fast-paced nature of the game and the high mobility of players, landing headshots can be challenging unless you have good precision.
While you can always hit body shots, it may require two to three arrows to eliminate an enemy when you could have accomplished it with one. Additionally, you have the capacity to deflect incoming projectiles, perform a double jump to get to high ground, and launch a Hypersonic Arrow to knock foes out of the sky.
You can also use your ultimate ability to track enemy movements and shoot at their afterimages for damage. All in all, Hawkeye is among the top DPS units in the game, but mastering him requires a considerable amount of practice.
If you’re eager to become proficient as Hawkeye, here’s a complete breakdown of his abilities:
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Normal Attack |
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Piercing Arrow |
Hawkeye charges his bow and releases a powerful arrow at an enemy. ADVERTISEMENT |
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Blast Arrow |
Hawkeye can fire three explosive arrows in quick succession that cause area damage to opponents. |
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Abilities |
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Hunter’s Sight |
Hawkeye can capture and shoot the afterimages left by enemies, dealing damage to the original target. |
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Crescent Slash |
Hawkeye can attack nearby enemies with his sword. |
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Hypersonic Arrow |
Hawkeye fires an arrow that can slow down foes and knock them from the air. |
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Ronin Slash |
Hawkeye can deflect incoming projectiles using his katana. |
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Skyward Leap |
Hawkeye can perform a double jump to reach higher areas. |
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Passive Ability |
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Archer’s Focus |
Hawkeye’s aim improves when targeting an enemy, allowing him to inflict major damage with a single hit from Piercing Arrow. |
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Team-Up Abilities |
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Supersensory Vision |
Hawkeye’s ability to deal damage to afterimages is complimented by Black Widow, who can also damage these targets. |
Tips and Tricks for Playing Hawkeye
Playing Hawkeye effectively revolves around precision, so you must hone your shooting skills. But there are other strategies you can employ to make your gameplay smoother.
As Hawkeye, always stay in the backlines. Engaging directly up front is risky, as you lack an escape route. Your strengths lie in picking off enemies from afar.
Use your Skyward Leap to find a strategic position where you can access healers and have a clear sight of the battlefield. Knowing the map can greatly improve your setup; if you plan your positioning before a match, you’ll cause havoc among your foes and discourage them from advancing on objectives.
Firing at the head grants a 9% ultimate charge, while body shots provide only a 5% charge. If you want to speed up your ultimate charge, aim for headshots.
Always keep in mind that it’s typically one shot, one kill. Therefore, target healers and DPS units that will be instantly taken out by your Piercing Arrow. If your arrow does hit a tank, focus on their head; landing two headshots will make them reconsider their approach as they will be nearly defeated.
When enemies become aware of your position, they will attempt to eliminate you. In those moments, reposition yourself and use your Ronin Slash to deflect incoming attacks. Playing from the backline and having healers nearby will make you a tougher target to eliminate.
Constantly changing your position is vital for backline DPS roles like Hawkeye. Avoid staying still; instead, keep moving to make it harder for enemies to target you. As you become more familiar with the map, you’ll learn the best spots to utilize as cover.
If foes attempt to close the gap on you, use your close-range abilities like Crescent Slash and Blast Arrow. Crescent Slash can push enemies back, while Blast Arrow deals damage at close range. Unless you have high confidence in your aim, avoid using Piercing Arrow against agile opponents such as Spider-Man or Psylocke.
Against flying foes, leverage Hypersonic Arrow to bring them down. If timed correctly, this ability can slow down enemies who are jumping towards you, giving you a tactical advantage.
Tips for Using Hawkeye’s Ultimate
Hawkeye’s ultimate is a powerful tool, so don’t waste it on tanks. Use it as soon as you spot a DPS or healer, targeting their afterimages. Shoot quickly, as your ultimate has a limited duration, allowing only three shots.
These three shots can easily eliminate any character that isn’t a Vanguard, giving your team a significant edge. If paired with a Black Widow, both of you can make quick work of multiple targets.
Typically, headshots result in a kill unless the target is a tank. However, when it comes to afterimages, hitting the head doesn’t guarantee a kill—both head and body shots have the same effect on afterimages.
One of the most effective ways to deploy the ultimate is against flying enemies, as they are often challenging to bring down. Their afterimages remain stationary, allowing you to disrupt heroes like Iron Man or Storm and force them to rethink their strategy. As long as you maintain your headshot accuracy, your ultimate will always be ready for use.
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