The best sniping spots for Widowmaker on Numbani
The sniping spots on Numbani that all beginner and intermediate Widowmaker players should know. Learn the best places to contribute to the battle.
Check out all the articles in my series about the best sniping spots for Widowmaker:
Hybrid Maps
Assault Maps
Escort Maps
Aim is important, but positioning is the key to victory. As a sniper, having a good aim is indispensable, but knowing the positions from where to shoot without being seen makes the difference between life and death. I analyzed streams, videos, and pros gameplay to compile a list of the best and most used sniping spots.
Positioning when pushing, flanking, and in teamfight. We will have a look at the best placements to push, defend, take part in teamfight, and predict the movements of the enemy Widowmaker - both on offense and defense.
No Grapple shots. A Grapple shot is a scoped headshot performed in mid-air, using Grappling Hook to reach max height and “fly” momentarily. This article is thought for new or intermediate players, and I consider Grapple shots a mechanic for advanced ones. I might prepare a guide on them in the future.
Widowmaker duels. Depending on the situation, bodyshots and a correct use of your SMG (often underestimated) may be crucial, but when facing another Widowmaker you should always attempt to headshot her. We will study the best places to kill her while remaining concealed.
Keep moving. Thanks to Grappling Hook, Widowmaker is a relatively mobile hero - you should exploit this strength to rotate the spots and escape from flankers. Relying too much on the same location could be your ruin.
Note: even if I have explained some placements only from the perspective of the defenders or the attackers, you can use several of them for both purposes.
While explaining the spots, I might use some map callouts: List of all map callouts, and credit to their creators.
Beware from mobile. All pictures are optimized, but there are about 100 on this page.
First Point - Attack
The opposite high ground is generally used by many heroes, Widowmaker included, for some shots before withdrawing to their primary defensive positions.
You can attack the area both from the small bridge and the bus.
The main high ground is the best placement in this section of the map. From here you have a complete view on the point, the high ground on the right, and the road that leads to the spawn.
The enemy Widowmaker could be placed on the tree presented in the second picture. You can exploit a tree as well (image 4).
The high ground already gives you access to these areas (image 3), but as a plus the tree provides some cover, and not many players will notice you quickly due to the unconventional location.
The other high ground is also excellent when the fight is taking place on the point, and from here you can shoot down any enemy hidden in the room behind the payload.
Moving a bit to the right, you can snipe directly all adversaries coming from the spawn.
I believe that maintaining the control of the high ground is crucial on the first point, but situationally you can also fight from ground level. For example, you might flank the opponents from Long.
First Point - Defense
From this small bridge, you can get a quick kill as soon as the enemies spawn, and then retreat to the opposite high ground.
This tree is a strong alternative to the classic placement. Most players won’t expect it, so you can exploit the element of surprise to kill a hero or two as soon as they move past the bus.
Afterwards, leave the position jumping on the stairs behind.
Literally any tree on Numbani can be used for defensive purposes.
On Long there are several trees, which are all viable. The first one is perfect as a starting position because it gives you a decent view on the main road, and some players could go to the stairs without even noticing you.
Widowmakers and hitscan heroes often use this high ground area. The placement is solid, but the tree near the edge is even better, and I suggest to use it in all your games. You have a clear vision on the high ground, the room below, and even a partial view on Long, so you can spot the incoming opponents and alert your team.
The high ground on the other side of the point is a basic and popular placement which gives you vision on the road past the enemy spawn (image 1), the point and the main high ground (image 2), and limited access to Long (image 3).
These are all basic and well-known spots you can use depending on the situation. They work to counter a push from a certain area of the map. Still, the high ground placements are better and you should use them whenever possible.
The tree behind the blue car is another outstanding location once the battle moves on the point. You can’t attack the far away high ground, but also the enemies there won’t be able to see you.
The blue car (and the area immediately behind) are excellent to deal with the heroes stationed on the high ground. You can see them while exposing only a tiny part of your body, especially while crouching.
Second Point - Attack
The blue car is useful for cover while the team is pushing the payload on the first section of the road. You can also grapple the tree behind to gain access on the entire area and the high ground on the right.
Once the payload advances, I suggest to exploit this platform to secure an advantage. From here, you can attack any opponent below and on the high ground areas.
Usually, the defender Widowmaker is situated in the room on the right, or on the high ground at the opposite side of the road.
The final high ground and the room placed directly below are normally used during the fight on the point.
Second Point - Defense
The area around the rhino statue has several viable spots for the defenders (and there is a big health pack).
If you place yourself next to the rock in the small pit, you can shoot at any enemy on the road while remaining almost hidden - from a long distance, they will be able to see only your head.
You can also use the building on the left or the rock behind for cover.
It is possible to fight from the tree as well. Honestly, the position in the pit is the best choice in most games, but if the opponents have mobility heroes, the tree is generally safer. From here, you can escape easily grappling the platforms on your left.
Even if the tree doesn't hide your body completely, you will be quite hard to spot as most players won’t look for a hero up here.
This small balcony and the room behind are common placements while your team is contesting the payload in the first section of the road.
Afterwards, you can retreat on the high ground behind you until the adversaries reach the final area of the second point.
While defending the point, you can fight directly near the choke, place yourself a bit behind for some cover, or use the tree on your right.
The vision from the tree is slightly more limited, but from here you are immune to any attack from the high ground. Crouching and moving a bit you can gain access to a bigger portion of the road, but in this way also the enemy sniper near the car might spot and kill you.
The two trees behind can also be used to defend the area near the choke with similar results.
The one illustrated in the third image is really far behind, which gives you a huge advantage as most players will require several time to detect you.
Third Point - Attack
The small balcony and the room below are the most used placements by Widowmaker.
Beside these spots, you can fight from the choke, and even flank the opponents from the left side.
You can also use some of the trees. I will explain them on defense as the spots are basically the same.
Third Point - Defense
This tree on the right side is helpful to counter the super popular placement on the balcony. Grappling the tree isn’t mandatory as you have vision on the high ground also from below (image 3).
There is a multitude of possible places in this section, and naturally you can use all the trees during the battle.
Generally, Widowmakers defend from ground level, but you can also jump on the tree behind.
Note that your body is clearly visible, but the adversaries will usually check the placement on the ground level, or the ones on the left, so you will be safe for a longer time.
The first two images show the classic spots; in the remaining two you are on the trees.
These and the successive trees can be used also as the attacker because they grant you vision on all the point and the spawn. They work as long as your team is contesting the payload below.
Similarly, this tree covers all the road up to the choke.
Finally, in this area you can use the small rock for cover, or fight from the tree.
From all the positions explained before, you can attack the enemy Widowmaker on the small balcony, but this spot in particulars excels at this job. She won’t notice you due to the branches and because she will be focused on the fight below. Often, you will need to wait a shot to detect her exact position before attacking.
Overall, as a Widowmaker you don’t want to fight on the ground level, and you can use all the trees in this final area to gain an advantage and hide your position.
A collection of basic locations. All players know and use them, but they are worth to mention.
In the first two you are defending the choke using the rock and the building for cover. There is a small health pack in the room.
In the remaining two spots you are just outside the base. You have view on a wide area, and can escape quickly launching the Grappling Hook into the spawn.
