Yamato’s main threat#
Yamato is a assassin: finds isolated targets, deletes them and leaves before the enemy team can answer.
The kit is hybrid-leaning, so a mix of bullet and spirit defence do the most to blunt it.
Abilities to play around#
Ability 1
Power Slash
A charged sword strike that grows stronger the longer it's held and pierces multiple heroes; release early for partial damage.
Play around it Mobility — it’s also the escape. Don’t chase it into their team; force it out first, then commit. Slowing Hex shuts down many movement abilities.
Ability 2
Flying Slash
Throws a grappling hook to pull Yamato to a target, dealing melee damage and slowing them on arrival.
Play around it Disable or displacement — this is what starts kills. Track its cooldown and punish the window after it’s used; Debuff Reducer shortens it, and Unstoppable or Indomitable answer the biggest ones.
Play around it Slows — Enduring Speed and Debuff Reducer help you walk out of it.
Ability 3
Crimson Slash
Slashes enemies in front, damaging them and slowing their fire rate; hitting heroes heals her.
Play around it Healing or sustain — buy healing reduction (Healbane, Toxic Bullets or Decay) so it’s worth less, and focus burst damage rather than chip damage.
Play around it Slows — Enduring Speed and Debuff Reducer help you walk out of it.
Ultimate
Shadow Transformation
A short invincible transformation that refreshes and speeds up her abilities, with status immunity and healing on hero kills.
Play around it Healing or sustain — buy healing reduction (Healbane, Toxic Bullets or Decay) so it’s worth less, and focus burst damage rather than chip damage.
Play around it Defensive window — stop shooting into it, reposition, and burst when it ends.
Counter items, with reasons#
Specific answers to this kit
General answers
General answers are our editorial reading of the kit. Counter items only help if you’re the one being hit — buy for the threat you actually face.
How to beat Yamato#
- Dispel Magic breaks the Flying Slash grapple.
- Invincibility (e.g. Ivy's Stone Form) breaks the grapple.
- Slowing Hex disables Flying Slash.
Mistakes to avoid
- Walking alone through the districts when they’re missing from the map.
- Using your escape before they’ve committed.
Want to see the hero from the other side? Read the Yamato guide, or open the counter-pick helper to plan against a whole enemy team.