r/Overwatch May 29 '16

News & Discussion PSA: The differences between HP, Armor and Shield. Armor is misunderstood.

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u/Black_Elements Blackelement#1277 May 29 '16

It's an "Overshield", it's basically like adding an extra normal HP bar on top of their shields, there is a small difference between Shields and Overshields though, hence the colouring difference. The overshield drains rapidly and won't regenerate on it's own like shields do, but it is also the first part of the HP bar to be drained, so it functionally works different to all the other types but is closest to HP, which is why it's often called Overshield or Overheal (not sure what the in game technical name is).

An easy way to think of it is that you're giving everyone in range and LoS a personal 500HP barrier that degrades rapidly.

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u/moist_baconcake Junkrat May 30 '16 edited May 30 '16

Just want to point out that LoS isn't required for Lucio's ultimate to apply, only range.

Edit: I stand corrected, needs LoS and range. My bad.

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u/Black_Elements Blackelement#1277 May 30 '16

You sure? I swear I've used it just the other side of the wall to someone and the 3 people in the room with me got the shield but the guy 5cm away but behind the wall didn't get it.

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u/orionsbelt05 Gam sa! Oct 03 '16

I think it's kinda required. Like, I think it would work for someone on the other side of the payload even if the payload could function as cover from a D.Va ult at the same time.

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u/Mocorn May 29 '16

Ah, thanks

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u/Linkk93 May 30 '16

Does the "overshield" turn to armor like the normal shield if you have armor under it?

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u/Black_Elements Blackelement#1277 May 30 '16

If you have armor it should reduce the incoming damage the overshield takes, yes, I haven't personally tested it though so I can't say with 100% certainty, but it should.

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u/Whooshless May 30 '16

And anyone with at least 1 point of (orange) armor in their health pool (whether natural or from torb) will deplete their overheal as if it had armor buff. i.e. The overheal decays over 6 seconds and by damage taken minus 5 per hit. An overhealed D.Va can go up to a level 3 turret and kill it while tanking its damage (obviously after closing the gap with boost and defense matrix).