With the launch of Season 6 in Overwatch 2, yet another new Support Hero has entered the ever-growing list of playable characters. Meet Illari, a master of harnessing the power of the son from Runasapi, Peru. She brings a special kit that not only heals her teammates steadily but also packs a powerful punch with her game-changing Ultimate ability. However, mastering Illari isn’t a walk in the park. Blizzard has answered the community’s call for a high-skill hero, which means becoming a pro with her will take some time, effort, and of course, practice. But fear not! Once you get used to her intended playstyle and rhythm of using her abilities, you could become the ultimate trump card for your team.
In this article, we’ll provide the ultimate guide to Illari, delving into her lore, unique abilities, and mechanics and sharing tips and tricks to help you become effective with them in OW2!
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Overwatch 2 Illari Weapon
Much like Baptiste’s Biotic Launcher, Illari’s weapon, the Solar Rifle, offers a unique blend of offensive and defensive capabilities – making her a versatile support hero who can hold her own.
Primary Fire (LMB) – Solar Rifle
Illari’s primary source of damage comes from her long-range, auto-charging hitscan rifle. This rifle holds 14 rounds and automatically charges over time, indicated by a visual cue beneath your crosshair. When fired at full charge, it deals 75 damage to the body and 112.5 damage (thanks to a 1.5x headshot multiplier) if you hit the enemy’s head.
Alternate Fire (RMB) – Healing Beam
The Solar Rifle’s secondary fire is the primary source of Illari’s burst healing: the healing beam. This beam extends to a moderate range and rapidly restores allies’ health, providing a solid 120 HP per second. Think of it similarly to Moira’s healing spray; both rely on a resource bar, but you’ll aim Illari’s beam much like you do with Zarya’s primary fire. Using up the resource (“solar energy”) entirely triggers a one-second cooldown due to overheating. Afterward, it takes about 2.32 seconds to recharge and bring it back to full energy.
Overwatch 2 Illari Abilities
Illari’s abilities are unique and offer a lot of utility to both the team and the hero herself. Here is an overview of her abilities for your better understanding of her powerful kit:
1. ‘E’ Ability – Healing Pylon
Illari’s ‘E’ Ability allows her to deploy a compact 150 HP pylon that sticks to any surface upon impact. This handy device delivers single-target healing, prioritizing teammates with the lowest percentage of health nearby. With a maximum range of about 15 meters, the pylon administers healing bursts of 40 HP every 0.8 seconds. Unless Illari herself or an opponent takes it down, this pylon can stick around forever, serving as a healing beacon on the battlefield.
2. ‘L-SHIFT’ Ability – Outburst
Outburst is Illari’s movement ability. Activating it propels her in the direction she’s moving while dealing 10 damage and knocking back enemies within a small radius. Holding the jump button lets her jump higher, and the knockback strength is slightly less than Junkrat’s concussive mine.
3. Ultimate Ability (Q) – Captive Sun
Captive Sun is Illari’s high-damage ultimate ability. When activated, it launches Illari into the air for 4 seconds of flight. Her next shot turns into an explosive solar energy ball that deals 5 damage as it passes through targets and 50 damage upon explosion. Sunstruck enemies slow down, and if they take 90 damage, the Sunstruck debuff detonates, dealing a powerful 120 AOE damage!
How to Play Illari in Overwatch 2 – Tips & Tricks to Mastering the Support Hero
Illari works as a support hero, making her naturally fragile and quite susceptible to damage, similar to most other heroes fulfilling this role. Therefore, paying attention to your surroundings and checking your positioning occasionally is essential. Here are some helpful tips and strategies to remember as you engage with this new hero in Overwatch 2:
- Given that her main damage dealer is her long-range hitscan Solar Rifle, it’s a smart strategy to position yourself in the backlines and get used to the gameplay loop of DPS-heal-DPS-heal, similar to how you would play Baptiste. This strategy ensures you don’t deplete your solar energy too quickly, allowing you to maintain a consistent healing beam without overheating. It also enables you to inflict damage on enemies within your line of sight.
- The Healing Pylon is something the Overwatch community has wanted for a while—a ‘healing turret’ that Illari has now introduced to the game. And when used correctly, it’s a powerful tool! Remember to put it where enemies can’t easily spot it. Use things like cover, hide it among plants or debris, and other tactics to prevent it from getting destroyed and having a longer cooldown time. Just like Torbjorn’s turret, it can stay in one spot indefinitely unless you decide to remove it or an enemy takes it out. This means it can keep healing your whole team consistently if you find the perfect spot!
- Outburst is a powerful and speedy evasive ability that you should keep handy for emergencies. For instance, when enemy heroes like Genji or Tracer attempt to hassle you in the backlines. You can also utilize it to shift to more advantageous positions and support your teammates while staying out of harm’s way. Make sure to choose a direction to move in and time your jump correctly to reach the most challenging spots on the map!
- Finally, there’s Illari’s Ultimate Ability, Captive Sun, and it’s shaping up to be one of the top offensive ultimates in the game! Remember, activating the ultimate gives you free flight for 4 seconds, giving you enough time to decide where to aim the big ball of solar energy! Just be cautious of abilities that counter projectiles, like D.Va’s Defense Matrix, which can completely neutralize your potent ultimate, or Genji’s Deflect, which could even turn it back against your team.
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Although her kit isn’t as complex as someone like Lifeweaver, getting comfortable with Illari’s high-skill offensive/defensive playstyle will need a fair amount of practice. As you keep these tips and tricks in mind during your upcoming gaming sessions with Illari, and with a bit of said practice, you’ll soon become the support hero your Overwatch 2 team dreams of!
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