Vanguard

Bruiser

The Thing

Vanguard

Bruiser

The Thing functions as a bruiser Vanguard built around close-range brawling, ally leaps, bonus health, and displacement immunity. His value comes from crashing into frontlines, disabling mobility, protecting nearby allies with damage reduction, and chaining knock-ups into Clobberin’ Time. He fits brawl and tempo comps that want a durable off-tank who forces messy fights.

Build with The ThingMedium

Brawl TankFrontline BrawlerHard CC Ultimate

Hero Dimensions

Combat Profile

Base Health: 700Base Movement Speed: 6 m/sPrimary Fire: MeleeUltimate Cost: 2800

Burst Damage

6 / 10

Pick PotentialBurst DamageDive Pressure

Sustained Damage

5 / 10

Sustained DamageBrawl PressureCleave DamageArea of Effect DamageIncreased Bonus Health DamagePercent Health Damage

Effective Range

3 / 10

Melee Primary Fire

Burst Healing

1 / 10

Sustained Healing

1 / 10

Self Sustain

5 / 10

Self-Sustain

Effective Health Pool

9 / 10

High Health Pool

Self Preservation

7 / 10

Grant Self Bonus HealthGrant Self Damage Reduction

Invulnerability

1 / 10

Grant Self Unstoppable

Ally Protection

6 / 10

Ally ProtectionGrant Target Damage Reduction

Threat Presence

8 / 10

Frontline DisruptionBackline DisruptionThreat Presence

Space Control

7 / 10

Stall Point

Enemy Debuff

7 / 10

Apply VulnerabilityApply Grounded

Interruption

8 / 10

StunImmobilize

Displacement

8 / 10

PushShoveKnock UpKnock Down

Movement Speed

6 / 10

Charge

Verticality

2 / 10

Leap

Rapid Relocation

6 / 10

Slam

Team Buff

5 / 10

Information Gathering

1 / 10

Team Enablement

7 / 10

Fight Winning

7 / 10

Combo Potential

8 / 10

Hard CC UltimateArea Denial UltimateDisruption UltimateInitiation Ultimate

Ultimate Economy

8 / 10

Objectives

Initiate Ultimate
Coordinate Ultimates
Counter Ultimate
Punish Ultimate
Bait Ultimate
Initiate Dive
Follow Up Dive
Coordinate Dive
Bait Cooldowns
Disrupt Backline
Disrupt Frontline
Disrupt Marksman
Disrupt Artillery
Disrupt Flier
Solo Frontline
Peel Flanker
Peel Disruptor
Peel Skirmisher
Peel Bruiser
Control Space
Deny Area
Deny Side Alley
Deny Choke Point
Take Space
Create Space
Hold Space
Focus Fire
Focus Frontline
Focus Support
Focus Flier
Focus Flanker
Focus Marksman
Focus Artillery
Focus Skirmisher
Focus Lifeline
Focus Playmaker
Focus Combatant
Remove Threats From High Ground
Chase Down Flanker
Chase Down Skirmisher
Prevent Escape
Protect Backline
Protect Supports
Enable Dive
Enable Brawl
Secure Pick
Confirm Elimination
Contest Objective
Stall Objective
Zone Objective
Force Rotation
Punish Rotation
Interrupt Channel
Apply Debuffs
Mark Priority Target

Strengths

Very high base durability with bonus-health access through Stone Haymaker and Yancy Street Charge
Permanent immunity to displacement makes him uniquely strong into knockback, launch, pull, and kidnap-style threats
Strong brawl initiation through Yancy Street Charge and Battle Blitz
Can protect nearby allies with Embattled Leap damage reduction
Mobility-disable zones punish supports, fliers, and mobile Duelists who rely on escape tools
Clobberin’ Time has low ultimate cost and strong team-combo value
Excellent at forcing messy close-range fights
Strong anti-dive bodyguard when played near supports

Weaknesses

Short effective range makes him easy to kite on open maps
No shield wall, projectile denial, or ranged poke threat
Embattled Leap depends on ally positioning for defensive value
Vulnerable after Charge and Leap resources are committed
Can struggle into fliers, high ground, snipers, and long-range hitscan
Sustained frontline pressure is weaker than true anchors if supports cannot keep him up
Mobility-disable zones lose value when enemies spread or disengage early
Needs coordinated follow-up because his CC alone does not always secure kills