Randy Chandler
In competitive gaming, particularly in titles like *Overwatch*, Bastion cheese refers to a strategy where players exploit Bastion's stationary sentry mode to dominate chokepoints, often becoming nearly invincible due to its high damage output and self-healing. Countering this tactic requires a combination of strategic positioning, hero selection, and coordinated teamwork. Key strategies include using long-range heroes like Widowmaker or Hanzo to pick off the Bastion from a safe distance, employing flankers like Genji or Tracer to disrupt their positioning, or utilizing crowd control abilities from heroes like Zarya or Mei to disable or isolate the Bastion. Additionally, deploying shields from heroes like Reinhardt or Sigma can provide temporary cover for your team to push forward. Effective communication and adaptability are crucial, as the counterplay often depends on the map layout and the enemy team's composition.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Hero Counters | Use heroes like Reinhardt, Sigma, or Orisa to block Bastion's damage. |
| Flanking | Flank Bastion with mobile heroes like Genji, Tracer, or Sombra. |
| High Ground | Take high ground to reduce Bastion's effectiveness in Sentry mode. |
| Crowd Control | Use abilities like Zarya's Graviton Surge or Mei's Blizzard to disrupt him. |
| Shield Management | Focus on destroying Bastion's shields (e.g., Orisa's Barrier, Sigma's Shield). |
| Ultimate Abilities | Use ultimates like D.Va's Self-Destruct or Junkrat's RIP-Tire to counter. |
| Team Coordination | Coordinate with your team to focus fire and avoid trickling in. |
| Map Awareness | Avoid open areas where Bastion can easily pick off isolated targets. |
| Hero Switching | Switch to heroes with long-range damage like Widowmaker or Hanzo. |
| Environmental Hazards | Use environmental kills (e.g., pushing Bastion off cliffs). |
| Communication | Communicate Bastion's position and cooldown status to your team. |
| Counter-Sentry Mode | Force Bastion out of Sentry mode by applying consistent pressure. |
| Health Packs | Deny Bastion access to health packs by controlling key areas. |
| Adaptability | Adapt your strategy based on Bastion's configuration (e.g., Ironclad). |
| Focus Fire | Prioritize eliminating Bastion's support (e.g., Mercy, Baptiste). |
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What You'll Learn
- Positioning and Angles: Use high ground, flanks, and cover to avoid direct fire
- Hero Counters: Pick heroes like Sombra, Mei, or Wrecking Ball to disable Bastion
- Team Coordination: Focus fire on Bastion and his shield while peeling for teammates
- Map Control: Deny Bastion access to strong hold points and sightlines
- Ult Management: Save ultimates to counter Bastion’s or destroy his setup
Positioning and Angles: Use high ground, flanks, and cover to avoid direct fire
Bastion's stationary, high-damage output thrives on predictable enemy movement. Countering this "cheese" requires a spatial strategy: manipulate positioning and angles to neutralize his advantage.
Step 1: Deny the High Ground, Claim Your Own
Bastion’s turret form dominates from elevated positions, turning maps into kill zones. Flipping this dynamic is critical. Heroes like Winston, D.Va, or even a well-timed Genji can contest Bastion’s perch. Use verticality offensively: Pharah's rockets, Widowmaker's scoped shots, or Junkrat's grenades from above force Bastion to reposition or risk exposure. Even if you can't dislodge him immediately, consistent harassment from high angles disrupts his rhythm and limits his effective range.
Step 2: Flank with Purpose, Not Recklessness
Blindly charging a Bastion is a death sentence. Effective flanking requires coordination and hero selection. Tracer's blink, Sombra's teleport, or Reaper's shadow step allow for surprise attacks from unexpected angles. Focus on disrupting Bastion's sightlines rather than a direct assault. A well-timed EMP from Sombra or a defensive matrix from D.Va during a flank can create the opening needed to neutralize the threat.
Caution: Avoid flanking through open spaces. Use natural cover, health packs, and environmental obstacles to minimize exposure during your approach.
Step 3: Leverage Cover, Create Artificial Angles
Every map element becomes a tool when countering Bastion. Walls, pillars, and even payload carts provide crucial cover. Heroes like Sigma can deploy kinetic grases to block Bastion's line of fire, while Reinhardt's shield offers temporary protection for advancing teammates. Even symmetra's turrets, strategically placed around corners, can force Bastion to constantly adjust his positioning. Remember: Bastion's turret form is immobile. Force him to choose between maintaining his position and avoiding your counter-fire.
Takeaway: Think three-dimensionally. Use every available surface to create angles that Bastion can't easily counter, turning the map itself into your weapon.
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Hero Counters: Pick heroes like Sombra, Mei, or Wrecking Ball to disable Bastion
Bastion's "cheese" tactics—exploiting high ground or choke points for uncontested damage—demand aggressive counterplay. Heroes like Sombra, Mei, and Wrecking Ball excel at disrupting Bastion's setup, forcing him to reposition or lose effectiveness. Sombra's Hack shuts down Bastion's Sentry Mode, rendering him immobile and vulnerable. Mei's Cryo-Freeze can isolate Bastion from his team, while her Ice Wall blocks his line of sight. Wrecking Ball's adaptive kit allows him to dive Bastion, using Piledriver to stun him and Grappling Claw to disrupt his positioning. Each of these heroes brings unique tools to dismantle Bastion's dominance, making them essential picks in the right hands.
Consider the map and team composition when selecting your counter. Sombra thrives on maps with multiple flanks, like Dorado or Volskaya, where she can sneak behind enemy lines to hack Bastion. Mei is particularly effective on tight, enclosed maps like Nepal or Horizon Lunar Colony, where her walls and freeze can control space. Wrecking Ball shines on open maps like Junkertown or Eichenwalde, where his mobility allows him to engage and disengage safely. Pair these heroes with a coordinated team to maximize their impact—for example, follow up Sombra's hack with a focused fire from your DPS or tank.
Executing these counters requires timing and precision. Sombra players should wait for Bastion to commit to Sentry Mode before hacking, ensuring maximum disruption. Mei should prioritize freezing Bastion when he’s isolated or separated from his team, preventing him from retreating. Wrecking Ball players should time their dives with Bastion’s reload or when his team is distracted, minimizing the risk of retaliation. Communication is key; alert your team when you’ve disabled Bastion so they can capitalize on the opportunity.
While these heroes are powerful counters, they’re not without risks. Sombra is vulnerable in open spaces and relies on stealth to survive. Mei’s cooldowns are long, so misusing her abilities can leave her defenseless. Wrecking Ball’s dive playstyle can overextend him if not executed carefully. To mitigate these risks, stay aware of your surroundings, prioritize self-preservation, and play around your team’s strengths. For instance, pair Sombra with a Zarya or D.Va for peel, or use Mei’s walls to protect yourself while freezing Bastion.
In conclusion, Sombra, Mei, and Wrecking Ball offer dynamic solutions to Bastion’s cheese strategies. Their abilities directly counter his strengths, forcing him to adapt or become irrelevant. By mastering these heroes and understanding their nuances, you can neutralize Bastion’s impact and shift the tide of battle in your favor. Practice their kits, study map-specific strategies, and coordinate with your team to turn Bastion from a threat into a liability.
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Team Coordination: Focus fire on Bastion and his shield while peeling for teammates
In the heat of battle, a well-coordinated team can dismantle even the most stubborn Bastion cheese. The key lies in synchronizing your efforts: while some members focus fire on Bastion and his shield, others must peel for teammates, neutralizing threats and creating space. This dual strategy requires precise communication and role clarity. Designate damage dealers to concentrate on Bastion, prioritizing high burst damage heroes like Reaper, Mei, or Sombra to bypass his shield and disrupt his positioning. Simultaneously, assign off-tank and support roles to peel, using crowd control abilities like Brigitte’s stun or Zarya’s bubble to protect vulnerable allies. Without this balance, your team risks funneling resources into Bastion while leaving teammates exposed to flanking enemies or environmental hazards.
Analyzing the dynamics of this approach reveals its effectiveness across various maps and team compositions. On payload maps like Route 66, where Bastion often nests on high ground, focus fire should be paired with verticality control. Heroes like Pharah or Echo can contest Bastion’s position while ground units peel for the team below. In contrast, on control maps like Ilios, where space is tighter, close-quarters peel becomes critical. Heroes like D.Va or Winston can dive on flankers like Tracer or Genji, ensuring your damage dealers remain uninterrupted in their assault on Bastion. The takeaway? Adapt your coordination to the map’s geometry and enemy composition, ensuring both focus fire and peel efforts are contextually optimized.
Persuasively, the success of this strategy hinges on discipline and adaptability. Teams often falter by overcommitting to Bastion, neglecting the battlefield’s broader threats. For instance, a Reinhardt charging in to shatter Bastion’s shield might leave the backline exposed to a Widowmaker’s snipe. To avoid this, establish a rhythm: focus fire in short, coordinated bursts, then reassess. Use voice chat to call out cooldowns, such as “Bastion’s shield is down in 3… 2… 1… focus!” while simultaneously alerting teammates to incoming threats with calls like “Genji on Ana, peeling now!” This structured communication ensures your team acts as a cohesive unit, not a collection of individuals.
Comparatively, this approach outshines reactive strategies like blindly switching to counter-compositions. While swapping to heroes like Junkrat or Hanzo can chip away at Bastion’s shield, it lacks the immediacy and control of coordinated focus fire and peel. Reactive strategies often fail to address the root issue: Bastion’s ability to lock down space and punish disorganized teams. By contrast, proactive coordination neutralizes Bastion while maintaining team integrity, turning the tide of the fight without sacrificing adaptability. For example, a well-timed Zarya ult can both protect your team and disrupt Bastion’s positioning, creating an opening for a decisive push.
Descriptively, imagine the scene: Bastion, entrenched behind a Reinhardt shield, rains bullets on your advancing team. Your Widowmaker lands a critical headshot, weakening his shield, while your Zarya bubbles your charging Reinhardt. As the shield drops, your Reaper shadows in, unloading his shotguns at point-blank range. Meanwhile, your Lucio boops a flanking Tracer away from your Mercy, who’s damage-boosting the Reaper. In seconds, Bastion is neutralized, and your team regains control. This fluid interplay of focus fire and peel transforms a losing battle into a strategic victory, showcasing the power of teamwork over brute force. Master this dynamic, and no Bastion cheese will stand in your way.
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Map Control: Deny Bastion access to strong hold points and sightlines
Bastion's dominance hinges on securing strategic positions that maximize his damage potential. Denying him these strongholds is a cornerstone of effective counterplay. Imagine a game of chess where controlling key squares limits the queen's mobility – the principle is similar.
Identify Bastion's Sweet Spots: Every map has high-ground vantage points, chokepoints, and areas offering cover for his turret form. Think of the castle overlook on Eichenwalde, the payload platform on Dorado, or the health pack nest on Hollywood. These are Bastion's playgrounds.
Control Through Aggression and Zoning: Don't let him settle. Flankers like Genji or Tracer can harass Bastion, forcing him to reposition or switch forms. Area denial heroes like Junkrat or Pharah can make his preferred spots untenable with spam damage. Coordinated dives from tanks like Winston or D.Va can quickly dismantle his setup.
Map-Specific Strategies: On maps like Hanamura, contest the high ground on point A early. On King's Row, deny him access to the rooftops overlooking the payload route. On Route 66, control the bridge and prevent him from establishing a defensive line.
The Psychological Edge: A Bastion forced to constantly relocate is a Bastion playing on your terms. He becomes predictable, his damage output diminished, and his team's strategy compromised. Remember, map control isn't just about territory – it's about dictating the flow of the game and neutralizing threats before they materialize.
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Ult Management: Save ultimates to counter Bastion’s or destroy his setup
In the heat of battle, it's tempting to unleash ultimates as soon as they're charged, but against a Bastion cheese composition, restraint is key. Saving ultimates to counter Bastion or dismantle his setup can be the difference between a swift defeat and a strategic victory. Consider the timing and impact of abilities like D.Va's Self-Destruct, Sombra's EMP, or Zarya's Graviton Surge. These ultimates, when used at the right moment, can neutralize Bastion's threat or eliminate the infrastructure supporting him. For instance, a well-timed EMP can disable Bastion's Sentry mode, rendering him vulnerable, while a Graviton Surge followed by a High Noon can decimate the entire enemy team.
Analyzing the enemy team's composition is crucial for effective ult management. Bastion cheese often relies on a shield-heavy setup, such as Orisa or Reinhardt, to protect the stationary Bastion. Identifying these elements allows you to prioritize ultimates that counter shields, like Zarya's Graviton Surge combined with Hanzo's Dragonstrike, or Sigma's Gravitic Flux paired with Genji's Blade. Additionally, note the presence of healers like Baptiste or Ana, whose ultimates can sustain Bastion through heavy fire. Coordinating with your team to save and combine ultimates that target both Bastion and his support network maximizes your chances of success.
A persuasive argument for ult management lies in its ability to shift the momentum of the game. Bastion cheese thrives on overwhelming firepower and defensive synergy, but a single, well-executed ultimate can disrupt this balance. For example, Mei's Blizzard can freeze Bastion and his nearby allies, buying time for your team to reposition or push forward. Similarly, Junkrat's RIP-Tire, when aimed at Bastion’s position, can deal massive damage while forcing him to retreat or switch modes. By saving ultimates for these pivotal moments, you not only counter Bastion but also create opportunities for your team to capitalize on the enemy’s disarray.
Practical implementation of ult management requires clear communication and patience. Establish a system with your team to track enemy ultimates and coordinate your own. Use voice chat to signal when key ultimates are ready and agree on a trigger, such as “EMP ready, wait for Grav” or “Save Blade for Bastion.” Avoid the temptation to use ultimates reactively; instead, plan for high-impact combinations that address both Bastion and his setup. For instance, a coordinated EMP into Graviton Surge can disable Bastion and group his teammates for a follow-up ultimate like Pharah’s Barrage. This disciplined approach ensures that your ultimates are used efficiently, rather than wasted on isolated targets or low-impact situations.
In conclusion, mastering ult management against Bastion cheese is a strategic imperative that demands foresight, coordination, and restraint. By saving ultimates to counter Bastion or dismantle his setup, you disrupt the enemy’s game plan and create openings for your team to secure objectives. Whether it’s disabling Bastion with EMP, collapsing his shield support with Graviton Surge, or eliminating his team with a well-timed Barrage, the key lies in timing and teamwork. Practice this approach in various scenarios, refine your communication, and watch as your ult management becomes a decisive factor in countering even the most stubborn Bastion cheese compositions.
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Frequently asked questions
Bastion cheese refers to a strategy in Overwatch where Bastion, a stationary turret hero, is positioned in a hard-to-reach or heavily fortified location, making it difficult for the enemy team to counter. It’s problematic because Bastion’s high damage output and self-healing can stall the game and frustrate the opposing team.
As a DPS hero, focus on flanking or using long-range attacks to target Bastion. Heroes like Widowmaker, Hanzo, or Pharah can pick off Bastion from a distance, while Tracer or Genji can flank and disrupt their positioning. Use cover and mobility abilities to avoid their line of fire.
Tanks like Reinhardt, Orisa, or Sigma can provide shields to block Bastion’s fire and create space for your team to push. Reinhardt’s Charge can also disrupt Bastion’s positioning, while Orisa’s Halt! can pull Bastion out of their fortified spot.
Supports like Ana, Baptiste, or Zenyatta can provide anti-healing (Ana’s Anti-Nade, Zenyatta’s Discord) to reduce Bastion’s self-sustain. Mercy’s damage boost can empower your team’s DPS, while Lúcio’s speed boost can help your team reposition or flank more effectively.
On maps with high ground or multiple angles, use the terrain to your advantage. For example, on Escort maps, push from different flanks or use the payload for cover. On Control maps, contest Bastion’s position by taking high ground or using abilities like Wrecking Ball’s Piledriver to disrupt their setup.
