Groot - Guardian of Growth

Overview

Groot functions as a defensive support Vanguard who excels at protecting allies while providing consistent crowd control and area denial. His ability to grow and reshape the battlefield makes him an excellent choice for players who enjoy a strategic, protective playstyle.

Core Strengths

• Excellent team protection abilities
• Strong area denial capabilities
• Reliable crowd control
• Sustainable self-healing
• Good objective control

Core Weaknesses

• Limited offensive capabilities
• Slow movement speed
• Large hitbox when fully grown
• Vulnerable to percentage-based damage
• Requires team coordination

Abilities

Primary Fire - Branch Stretch

• Extends branches to attack enemies
• Builds Growth energy on hit
• Can be charged for increased range
• Applies minor slow effect

Protective Growth

• Creates a barrier of branches
• Blocks incoming damage
• Heals allies within range
• Generates Growth energy when damaged

Root Network

• Spreads roots across the ground
• Slows and damages enemies
• Can be charged for increased area
• Provides vision of affected areas

Nature's Embrace

• Wraps allies in protective branches
• Grants damage reduction
• Provides healing over time
• Can be used while moving

Ultimate - World Tree

• Transforms into massive form
• Greatly increases health pool
• Enhances all abilities
• Creates impassable terrain

Basic Combos

1. Root Network > Branch Stretch > Protective Growth
   • Standard control combo
   • Maximizes area denial
2. Nature's Embrace > Protective Growth > Root Network
   • Defensive combo
   • Optimal team protection
3. World Tree > Root Network > Branch Stretch
   • Ultimate initiation combo
   • Maximum crowd control

Advanced Strategies

Positioning

• Stay near team's backline
• Use terrain for additional coverage
• Control chokepoints with abilities
• Position to protect multiple allies

Team Synergies

Strong With:

• Ranged DPS (Iron Man, Hawkeye)
• Mobile flankers (Spider-Man, Storm)
• Area control heroes (Doctor Strange, Magneto)

Weak With:

• Multiple support heroes
• Passive compositions
• Low-damage teams

Counter Picks

Hard Counters:

• Hulk (high burst damage)
• Thor (area damage)
• Magneto (crowd control)

Soft Counters:

• Black Panther (mobility)
• Iron Man (range)
• Doctor Strange (utility contest)

Map-Specific Tips

Convergence Maps

• Control chokepoints with Root Network
• Use Protective Growth for pushes
• World Tree for point control

Domination Maps

• Zone control with abilities
• Protect capture points
• Create safe paths for team

Convoy Maps

• Escort protection
• Root Network for path control
• Strategic barrier placement

Difficulty Rating

• Mechanical Difficulty: ★★★☆☆
• Positioning Difficulty: ★★★★☆
• Team Coordination: ★★★★★
• Overall: ★★★★☆

Training Tips

1. Practice barrier placement
2. Master root network timing
3. Learn optimal growth patterns
4. Perfect ultimate positioning
5. Improve energy management

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Poor barrier placement
• Wasting Nature's Embrace
• Incorrect ultimate timing
• Overextending position
• Inefficient energy use

Role in Team Composition

Primary:

• Team protection
• Area denial
• Crowd control

Secondary:

• Healing
• Space creation
• Vision control

Playstyle Adjustment Tips

Aggressive

• Forward barrier placement
• Frequent root usage
• Offensive ultimate positioning

Defensive

• Focus on protection
• Conservative ability usage
• Reactive ultimate use

Supportive

• Maximize healing efficiency
• Protect key allies
• Control space for team

Two Health Bars: Hulk effectively has two lives due to his ability to revert back to Bruce Banner when his health is depleted.

High Melee Pressure: Hulk excels in close-range combat with powerful, consistent attacks.

Mobility: Incredible Leap allows Hulk to quickly reposition, escape danger, or chase enemies.

Team Utility: Indestructible Guard shields allies and charges Hulk’s Ultimate, offering protection during fights.

Crowd Control (CC): Abilities like Radioactive Lockdown provide valuable stuns to disrupt enemies and objectives.

Monster Hulk Transformation: Hulk Smash dramatically increases his health and enhances his abilities, turning him into a near-unstoppable force.

Frailty as Bruce Banner: Bruce has the lowest health in the game and limited mobility, making him an easy target.

Vulnerability to Ranged Heroes: Hulk struggles against heroes with long-range attacks that can poke him down before he closes the gap.

Reliance on Gamma Energy: Without sufficient Gamma Energy, Bruce cannot transform into Hulk, limiting his effectiveness.

CC Susceptibility: Hulk is vulnerable to stuns and other crowd control effects when Indestructible Guard is on cooldown.

Predictable Movement: Hulk’s large size and straightforward melee focus make him easier to target.

Ranged Damage Dealers:

Heroes like Iron Man or Star-Lord can poke enemies from a distance while Hulk draws attention as a frontline tank.

Support/Healers:

Doctor Strange or Groot can keep Hulk alive longer, allowing him to maintain pressure.

Area Control Heroes:

Heroes like Scarlet Witch synergize well by locking enemies in place for Hulk to jump in and deal damage.

 

Weak Teammates:

Other Melee Tanks:

Pairing Hulk with heroes like Captain America can lead to redundancy and a lack of ranged threat.

Low CC Heroes:

Hulk benefits from teammates who can help control enemies while he closes the gap.

Hela:

Her mobility and stealth make it difficult for Hulk to land hits, and she delete him before he gets to her.

Hawkeye:

Long-range attacks and high burst damage can pressure Hulk before he gets close.

Scarlet Witch:

Her area control and CC can shut down Hulk’s mobility and trap him in unfavorable situations plus she does % health damage on hitscan.

Spider-Man:

Spider-Man’s mobility and web attacks can keep Hulk at a distance, but he struggles if caught in melee range.

Iron Man:

While Iron Man can poke Hulk from range, he is vulnerable if Hulk closes the gap with Incredible Leap.

Thor:

Thor’s versatility can pose challenges for Hulk, but a well-timed Radioactive Lockdown can neutralize his abilities.

Wolverine:
Wolverine a soft counter to every tank, if he is played by a good player, you will always have to be on the lookout on vanguard.

As Bruce Banner:

• Farm Gamma Energy: Use Gamma Grenade to generate Gamma Energy quickly while staying at a safe distance.
• Position Safely: Stay behind your team until you can transform into Hulk.
• Use Knockback Creatively: Gamma Grenade can be used to escape sticky situations or reach high ground for a better position.

As Hulk:

• Engage Decisively: Use Incredible Leap to close the gap and start fights on your terms.
• Protect Allies: Time Indestructible Guard to shield your team during critical moments.
• Focus Key Targets: Prioritize squishy damage dealers and supports with Heavy Blow and Gamma Burst.
• Disrupt Objectives: Use Radioactive Lockdown to prevent enemies from capturing objectives or to stall their team’s momentum.

As Monster Hulk:

• Dominate the Fight: Use Hulk Smash to push enemies back and create space for your team.
• Combo Your Abilities: Chain Heavy Blow, Gamma Burst, and World Breaker to maximize damage and control.
• Absorb Damage: Take advantage of your doubled health and damage reduction to tank for your team.