Overwatch – How Torbjörn’s Turret Chooses Its Target

overwatch

I feel like there is of course an obvious proximity factor, but when I (as Pharrah in my example) try to sneak a peak from behind a corner and shoot the turret one rocket at a time, it seems to often target me even if there are other potential targets nearby.

So I was wondering if there is any other logic here other than "The turret targets the first enemy it sees and shoots it until it is dead, or leaves its line of sight" ?

Edit: After some games, I have a strong feeling that the turret has a preference for characters it can kill quickly (like Pharrah or Genji) and is less prone to shoot tanks. This is a subjective view but in the same game I played genji and zarya and found myself targeted by the turret a lot more often with genji.

Edit 2: I tried to be careful of its behavior during my last games and the turret definitely takes into account who is attacking it. I was farther away from the turret than my teammates and I started firing at it. After a few rockets (I just needed one more to destroy it), the turret changed its target to me although there were still other targets much closer.

Best Answer

I have tested this myself and according to what I have looked at the turret focuses on the target that enters its 'line of sight' first.

The testing that I did:

I convinced a member of the enemy team to place down a turret as I walked out, letting the turret fire into me(I was playing Roadhog). While this was happening we had a Genji dart in front of me and run towards the turret to check if the turret would switch to the player that was closest. However, the turret only started shooting at the Genji once I(Roadhog), died. Therefore, Genji was the only one left in it's 'line of sight' and he became the target.

"After some games, I have a strong feeling that the turret has a preference for characters it can kill quickly (like Pharrah or Genji) and is less prone to shoot tanks."

You probably noticed that it focused on characters like Pharrah or Genji because they are both very mobile characters that in most cases enter the 'line of sight' first.

"I tried to be careful of its behavior during my last games and the turret definitely takes into account who is attacking it. I was farther away from the turret than my teammates and I started firing at it."

The turret may have targeted you here because all your teammates where behind cover and you were the last character in the turrets 'line of sight'. So essentially you have really crappy luck.

TL;DR:

  • Turret focuses on character that first enters the 'line of sight'

  • Characters with mobility most likely enter 'line of sight' first

  • @kerwan is unlucky
Related Topic