Marvel Rivals | Hawkeye Character Guide

Hawkeye is a master marksman with extraordinary range, a variety of trick arrows, and the capability to take out opponents in one shot with incredible precision. In this guide, I'll break down his combos, play styles, advanced tactics, and more. Whether you're new to the game or an experienced player, this guide has something for you.

Hawkeye excels as a sniper-duelist, dealing significant damage and utilizing his ultimate to effectively lock onto targets with ease. His abilities are straightforward: a charged shot on left click, the option to switch between arrow types (including a three-arrow explosive shot), a Sonic Arrow on his E that disrupts flyers, a Melee strike that deflects projectiles, a Knockback Ability with Shift, and an Ultimate that highlights stationary afterimages of moving characters, allowing you to target them effortlessly.

The Abilities

Let's dive into his abilities and how to use them efficiently. Hawkeye's left click is your primary damage dealer. It features two charge levels. The first is indicated by a white circle; fully charging it results in a stronger, more accurate shot. Additionally, Hawkeye has a passive ability that increases the damage of his shot as the purple meter fills up while you keep your reticle on a target. At 100% charge, a headshot can instantly KO squishy targets. To maximize your damage, aim to keep the purple meter above 70% before firing. This one-hit potential makes Hawkeye a terrifying opponent.

Hawkeye can also switch arrow types using the 1 and 2 keys or the mouse wheel. The alternative arrow type fires three explosive AOE arrows, ideal for close-range situations when enemies get too close. These arrows increase your chances of landing hits but are less effective at long range due to their spread and slower speed. Reserve them for tight situations where precision isn't as important, treating them like a shotgun.

The E ability fires a Sonic Blast Arrow, dealing AOE damage and bypassing shields from heroes like Doctor Strange or Captain America. Another key function of this arrow is its ability to knock airborne characters out of the sky, causing them to free-fall and become easy targets. While using E, note its wind-up time. You can pre-fire it by casting from behind the cover, stepping out just before it activates to minimize vulnerability. Though it's a useful tool for crowd control in choke points, your priority should still be landing charged left-click shots on single targets.

Hawkeye's Double Jump is an essential mobility tool for creating distance from melee attackers or gaining a high-ground advantage. As a sniper, Hawkeye thrives when positioned above opponents. The double jump also helps dodge ultimates and adds a dynamic flair to your gameplay with trick shots. However, since the double jump has a cooldown and is your sole mobility option, use it strategically. Without it, Hawkeye becomes highly susceptible to dive characters.

The Shift ability performs a wide melee strike that knocks enemies back, offering breathing room when under pressure. You can combine this with a melee attack beforehand, animation-canceling into Shift for added efficiency. Hawkeye's melee attack itself deflects projectiles, although it doesn't return them to the sender. Use it to mitigate damage while peeking out from cover. Timing is critical for deflecting, so practice using it in situations where you have minimal exposure.

The Ultimate

Hawkeye's ultimate rapidly charges the purple bar and reveals stationary afterimages of where enemies have moved. Damaging these afterimages also damages the actual heroes, essentially granting you pseudo-auto-aim. Instead of needing to track moving targets, you can focus on spamming left click to deal damage rapidly. This ultimate is fantastic for taking down key enemies quickly. During your ultimate, maximize output by aggressively using your double jump for better sightlines, and rely on your Shift ability to repel any enemies who try to close the gap.

The ultimate has a brief cast time where Hawkeye is locked in place, delivering his catchphrase, "I never miss." To avoid being a sitting duck during this moment, activate the ultimate while mid-air by jumping or double-jumping. This keeps your movement fluid and prevents you from being an easy target in a fast-paced game like Marvel Rivals.

Playstyle

Now that you know how to use Hawkeye's abilities, let's dive into his play style and strengths. Hawkeye excels at securing one-hit KOs on squishy targets like healers and DPS characters. The key is to keep your purple charge meter high before taking your shot. One tactic is to charge the meter by targeting large, slow-moving tanks, then quickly switch to a vulnerable squishy target when the opportunity arises.

Landing shots in a fast-paced game like Marvel Rivals requires mastering flick shots. This involves charging your shot and flicking your mouse to where the enemy's head will be just before releasing. While this skill takes practice and muscle memory, it's highly rewarding and improves your accuracy against mobile enemies.

Marking enemies using the middle mouse button is another crucial strategy. This highlights targets for your team and tracks their movements, even when they're briefly out of sight. As a sniper, Hawkeye also shines at melting tanks with his charged headshots, especially during his ultimate, which amplifies his damage output.

However, Hawkeye's effectiveness depends heavily on your aim. Consistent accuracy, especially against moving targets, is essential. His lack of mobility outside of his double jump makes him vulnerable to dives, and he requires team support to stay safe.

Despite these challenges, Hawkeye is incredibly rewarding for players willing to invest time in mastering him. Keep your purple charge above 70%, use your double jump strategically, and practice your flick shots. With dedication, you'll be landing those game-changing one-hit KOs in no time. 

That's all for the Hawkeye Character Guide.

Also, check out our other guides below:

• Marvel Rivals | Hawkeye Character Guide
• Marvel Rivals | Cloak and Dagger Character Guide
• Marvel Rivals | Wolverine Character Guide