Summary
Highlights
Thor is not a traditional frontline tank but rather a master of battlefield manipulation. He excels at forcing enemies out of position, punishing those who are out of position, diving the enemy backline, and peeling opponents off his own backline. The speaker often plays Thor in the middle field, on the flanks, dashing in and out to create opportunities and stay alive.
Thor can be played creatively. An example is using his abilities to face-tank an Iron Man's ultimate, preventing it from hitting the payload and saving the team. This demonstrates how Thor can use his mobility to intercept critical enemy Ultimates and protect teammates.
Thor is highly effective at forcing enemies out of favorable positions. Examples include using Mjolnir to dash to high ground and pull a Moon Knight into the open, or pushing a Doctor Strange away from the team to prevent an ultimate. Even if a kill isn't secured, displacing key enemies creates openings and denies their strategies.
Thor prioritizes taking out enemy healers and squishy characters. By initiating with Rune Awakening, Thor can quickly pressure and eliminate targets like Luna, forcing them to retreat for healing or killing them outright. This disrupts the enemy's sustain and damage output.
Storm Surge is a crucial ability for Thor, punishing enemies who move through it and generating Thor Force. In tight spaces or on circular points, Thor can slam enemies against walls creating temporary health and making it difficult for them to escape after being pulled or pushed.
A key aspect of Thor's playstyle is not abandoning the backline. If an enemy diver like Captain America targets healers, Thor should backtrack and peel them off, turning a potential disadvantage into a favorable engagement. This ensures the team's sustain remains intact.
Thor is a disruptor. Instead of passively waiting, Thor should actively engage, cause disruptions, and control enemy movement. This includes shunting divers like Logan and Magic to keep them disoriented and prevent them from damaging the backline. Forcing enemies to teleport or reposition is a win, as it prevents them from dealing damage.
Thor's ultimate is effective for isolating and eliminating squishy targets. Even if a kill isn't secured, forcing a counter-ultimate from the enemy is a strategic win, deterring full team pushes. Thor also demonstrates high survivability by constantly repositioning and using abilities to maintain pressure while stalling points.
Identifying opportunities to ambush enemies, especially as they come through portals or are grouped, can lead to multi-kills with Thor's ultimate. Shoving high-value targets like Doctor Strange away from the point or teammates at critical moments can single-handedly win rounds.
Using Rune Awakening to target isolated squishy characters like Hela or Hawkeye on the edges of the map can quickly take them out of the fight. Forcing them to retreat for healing disrupts their team's setup and creates numerical advantages.
Playing Thor often involves psychological warfare. By making himself the primary focus, Thor distracts enemies from higher-priority targets. While Thor may not always get the highest kill count, his disruptive presence, ability to peel, and creation of opportunities make him an unsung hero, significantly aiding his team without always appearing at the top of the scoreboard.