Reaper Said “Die”… I Said Push😤

HEY OVERWATCH, you heard Reaper scream 'DIE DIE DIE!' and you pushed back, right? That feeling is amazing! But what about when he’s silently flanking or trying to reposition with his Shadow Step? That can be just as frustrating, sometimes even more so because it feels like he just vanishes and reappears where you least expect him. His Shadow Step (usually Shift on PC) is a powerful tool for Reaper, letting him teleport a significant distance. He uses it to get to high ground, bypass chokepoints, or flank enemies for those surprise ultimate plays. The tricky part about 'canceling' his teleport isn't like canceling an ultimate, where you can stun him out of it once it's started. For Shadow Step, you're usually looking to interrupt the short channel time before he teleports, or more commonly, punish him the moment he arrives at his destination. So, while you can't really 'cancel' a completed teleport, you can definitely stop him from getting it off or make him regret using it. If you see Reaper initiating his Shadow Step, there's a brief moment, maybe a second or two, where he channels before he disappears. This is your small window! Any hard crowd control (CC) ability can disrupt this channel. Think about an Ana Sleep Dart, a Cassidy Magnetic Grenade, a Roadhog Hook, or even a Brigitte Shield Bash. If you land one of these during his channel, he won't teleport, and you’ve just denied his flank or escape. If you don't have CC, sometimes sheer burst damage can take him out during this vulnerable channeling phase. It's all about quick reactions, so keep an eye out for that purple glow! More often than not, you'll be dealing with Reaper after he's already teleported. This is where anticipation and sound cues really come into play. Reaper's Shadow Step has a very distinct audio cue – a dark, wispy sound. Turn up your headphones, guys! Once you hear that, you can often predict where he’s going. Is there a common flank route? A specific high ground spot? Knowing the maps in Overwatch 2 is key here. As soon as you hear it, call it out to your team: 'Reaper teleporting to high ground left!' or 'Reaper behind us!' Communication is vital. When he pops up, if your team is ready, you can immediately focus fire him down. It’s like saying, 'BUT PUSH!!..' right into his face after he thought he had the jump on you. No fear! Here are a few hero-specific tips to punish a teleporting Reaper: If you're a D.Va, keep your Defense Matrix ready to eat his shotgun blasts the moment he appears. A Winston can quickly drop a bubble and zap him, forcing him to Wraith Form. For DPS, Sombra can hack him right out of his teleport, denying him his abilities. A well-placed Cassidy Magnetic Grenade can stick him, or a Junkrat trap can be pre-placed in common teleport spots. Supports aren't helpless either! Ana can hit him with an Anti-Nade followed by a few shots, while Lucio can boop him away from your backline. It’s all about being proactive and shutting him down before he can unleash his damage. Remember that 'Go, go, go' mentality from our original post? It applies here too! When Reaper teleports and your team sees him, don't hesitate. Focus him down quickly before he can get his damage off or, worse, use his ultimate. Reaper relies on getting close and surprising enemies. Deny him that element of surprise by being aware of his teleports and having a plan to counter him. Practice makes perfect, and with these tips, you'll be ready to make every Reaper player regret trying to Shadow Step into your backline!