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What attacks and ultimates can D.Va block with her Defense Matrix shield (her E ability)?

Defense Matrix is supposed to block projectile attacks, so I'd be interested in knowing whether it can block the following:

  1. Hanzo's ultimate (both in arrow form, before it summons dragons, as well as after summoning dragons)?
  2. Zarya's Graviton Surge ultimate, while it's a projectile in-flight, before it "detonates"?
  3. McCree's Flashbang?
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2 Answers 2

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Blocking Ultimates

According to Furious Paul's D.va In-depth Strategy Guide, Defense Matrix will block most ultimates in the game, including

  1. Roadhog's Whole Hog
  2. Soldier 76's Tactical Visor
  3. McCree's Deadeye
  4. Reaper's Death Blossom
  5. Pharah's Barrage
  6. Bastion's Tank Form

Defense Matrix will also block the following:

  1. Zarya's Graviton Surge (before it detonates)

According to PSA - DVA Shield Completely Nullifies Hanzos Ult if Directly Hit, Defense Matrix will block Hanzo's ultimate both when it's an arrow (before it summons dragons), as well as after the arrow summons the dragons:

The PSA is that unlike Genji's deflection which deflects the initial arrow but doesn't stop Hanzo's dragons appearing, the projectile-blocking shield actually stops the entire ult.

However, I haven't confirmed this myself, so I don't know how reliable that comment is.

Blocking Other Abilities and Attacks

Also according to Paul's D.Va guide, Defense Matrix will not work on

  • All melee attacks.
  • All channeled weapons, including:
    • Mei's Endothermic Blaster (short range freeze gun),
    • Winston's Tesla Cannon,
    • Symmetra's Photon Projector Beam,
    • Zarya's Particle Cannon beam.
  • Lucio's Blast of Sound (alternate fire).
  • Zenyatta's Orb of Discord.
  • Symmetra's Sentry Turrets.
  • Roadhog's Chain Hook.

Defense Matrix will also block the following:

  1. Reinhardt's Fire Strike
  2. McCree's Flashbang
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    I'm pretty sure I've been killed by Hanzo's ult with my shield up a number of times. Perhaps I was at the wrong angle.
    – DCShannon
    Commented Jun 8, 2016 at 0:12
  • @DCShannon If you negate his Dragonstrike arrow before it turns into the spiraling dragons then you can negate the rest of the dragons. If you try doing it when the dragons are already flying around, then you can't absorb it
    – childe
    Commented Jun 8, 2016 at 3:39
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    "The PSA is that unlike Genji's deflection which deflects the initial arrow but doesn't stop Hanzo's dragons appearing, the projectile-blocking shield actually stops the entire ult." This is wrong, if Genji deflects Hanzo's ult arrow, Hanzo won't spawn dragons, instead Genji will.
    – Wrigglenite
    Commented Jun 8, 2016 at 11:47
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    Does it block Symmetra's Orbs? Other tank's don't but D.Va's is different.
    – Ghostship
    Commented Jul 31, 2016 at 18:13
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    Hanzo's Ult comes in two pieces. He fires an arrow, and a fraction of a second after it takes flight, it summons a spectral dragon. If the arrow is destroyed by D.Va's shield before the dragon is summoned, the dragon is not summoned. Similarly, if Genji reflects the arrow before the dragon is summoned, it will reflect the dragon back. source: reddit.com/r/Overwatch/comments/49hbey/… video: youtu.be/mZdS-TAm_Ao
    – Wouter
    Commented Aug 24, 2016 at 14:48
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The list of projectiles D.Va can block is nearly identical to the list of projectiles Genji can reflect.

The main difference is that, unlike Genji, D.Va cannot negate damage from Melee and physical attacks, such as Winston's Primal Rage or Reinhardt's Rocket Hammer. I also have yet to test whether D.Va can block Soldier 76's Biotic Field.

D.Va can block

  • Ana's Biotic Rifle (scoped & unscoped), Sleep Dart, and Biotic Grenade
  • Bastion's Recon fire, Sentry fire, and Tank projectiles
  • D.Va's Fusion Cannons and Light Gun Pistol
  • Genji's Shuriken and Deflected projectiles
  • Hanzo's Storm Bow, Sonic Arrow, Scatter Arrow, and Dragonstrike (Arrow)1
  • Junkrat's Frag Launcher Grenades, Concussion Mine2, and Total Mayhem Grenades
  • Lucio's Sonic Amplifier (Primary)
  • McCree's Revolver, Flashbang, and Deadeye
  • Mei's Icicle and Blizzard2
  • Mercy's Caduceus Blaster
  • Orisa's Fusion Driver and Halt
  • Pharah's Rocket Launcher, Concussive Blast, and Rocket Barrage
  • Reaper's Shotgun and Death Blossom (Source)
  • Reinhardt's Fire Strike
  • Roadhog's Scrap Gun, Chain Hook and Whole Hog
  • Soldier 76's Pulse Rifle, Helix Rockets, and Tactical Visor
  • Sombra's Machine Pistol
  • Symmetra's Energy Ball
  • Torbjörn's Rivet Gun and Turret bullets
  • Tracer's Pulse Pistols and Pulse Bomb
  • Widowmaker's Sniper, Assault Rifle, and Venom Mine2
  • Zarya's Particle Cannon projectile (secondary fire) and Graviton Surge3
  • Zenyatta's Orb of Destruction and Orb Volley

D.Va can not block

  • Ana's Nano Boost
  • D.Va's Boosters, Call Mech, and Self-Destruct
  • Genji's Swift Strike and Dragonblade
  • Hanzo's Dragonstrike (Dragons)1
  • Junkrat's Steel Trap and RIP-Tire
  • Lucio's Sonic Amplifier (Alternate) and Sound Barrier
  • Mei's Endothermic Blaster frost and Ice Wall
  • Orisa's Protective Barrier and Supercharger
  • Reinhardt's Rocket Hammer, Charge, and Earthshatter
  • Sombra's Hack, Translocator, and EMP
  • Symmetra's Photon Projector beam, Photon Barrier, and Sentry Turrets
  • Torbjörn's Hammer and Armor Packs
  • Widowmaker's Grappling Hook
  • Winston's Tesla Cannon, Jump Pack, Barrier Projector, and Primal Rage
  • Zarya's Particle Cannon beam (primary fire)
  • Zenyatta's Orb of Harmony and Orb of Discord
  • All character's standard Melee attacks

Unknown

  • Soldier 76's Biotic Field

Sources

See Also

Notes

1Hanzo's ultimate is fired as a blockable arrow before transforming into unblockable dragons.
2Only blockable in midair before it hits the ground.
3Graviton Surge only blockable in midair before it detonates.

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    I'm fairly sure that D.Va cannot block (and Genji cannot reflect) a Widowmaker mine that has already landed, since it is not considered a projectile at that point anymore.
    – Mage Xy
    Commented May 24, 2017 at 18:09
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    These have been really great answers, thanks for going through all these old questions today and providing all the complete info in this easy to read format.
    – Malco
    Commented May 24, 2017 at 20:11
  • D.Va main here. quite sure its not possible to deflect chain hook.
    – Zaibis
    Commented Aug 22, 2017 at 12:24

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