Is McCree a projectile or hitscan?

Is McCree a Projectile or Hitscan?

Overwatch, a team-based first-person shooter game developed by Blizzard Entertainment, has a variety of heroes each with their unique abilities and playstyles. One of the most popular heroes, McCree, is often debated among players regarding whether his ultimate ability, Deadeye, is a projectile or hitscan.

Understanding Hitscan and Projectiles

Before diving into McCree’s abilities, let’s define what hitscan and projectiles are in Overwatch:

• Hitscan: A hitscan weapon/ability has no travel time, and will hit a target within the shooter’s crosshairs as soon as the weapon/ability fires. Examples include Cassidy’s Peacekeeper and Widowmaker’s Widow’s Kiss.
• Projectile: A projectile weapon/ability has travel time, and the game takes physics into account to determine where the projectile will hit. Examples include Reinhardt’s Earthshatter and D.Va’s Self-Destruct.

McCree’s Abilities and Playstyle

McCree is a versatile hero who excels at both ranged and close-quarters combat. His primary fire is a hitscan revolver that shoots two bullets per second. His alternate fire is a grenade that explodes after a short delay. His Deadeye ability is his ultimate, allowing him to fire six rapid shots from his revolver at a single target.

Deadeye: Projectile or Hitscan?

McCree’s Deadeye ability seems to behave like a hitscan at first glance, as it fires six bullets in rapid succession. However, Deadeye has a delay between shots, which is the key difference between a hitscan and a projectile.

Arguments for Projectile

• Travel Time: Deadeye has a noticeable delay between shots, which suggests that the bullets travel through space before hitting the target. This is a characteristic of projectiles.
• Unpredictable Hits: If Deadeye were a hitscan, the bullets would always hit the target within the player’s crosshairs. However, in reality, the bullets can miss their target or hit other nearby enemies. This unpredictability is typical of projectiles.
• Visual Feedback: When firing Deadeye, players can see the bullets traveling through the air, which is consistent with the behavior of projectiles.

Arguments for Hitscan

• High Accuracy: Deadeye has extremely high accuracy, with the bullets landing almost instantly on the target. This is a characteristic of hitscans, which can accurately hit their target without any travel time.
• No Realistic Physics: Deadeye does not take into account realistic physics, such as bullet trajectory or wind resistance. Hitscans typically ignore these factors to provide a faster and more responsive gameplay experience.

Conclusion

While McCree’s Deadeye ability exhibits some characteristics of both projectiles and hitscans, it is ultimately a projectile. The delay between shots, unpredictability of hits, and visual feedback all suggest that the bullets travel through space before hitting the target.

Takeaways

• Deadeye is a projectile ability with a delay between shots, making it different from pure hitscans like Cassidy’s Peacekeeper.
• While Deadeye has high accuracy, its behavior is more consistent with projectiles than hitscans.
• Understanding the difference between projectiles and hitscans can help players adjust their aim and strategy for McCree and other Overwatch heroes.

Table Comparison

By understanding the differences between projectiles and hitscans, players can improve their gameplay and make more informed decisions when choosing heroes or strategies in Overwatch.