Branded as a Sentinel, one likely approaches Sage’s wall as only a form of defense. However, not only can this unique utility defend, but it can be used for offensive, advantageous positions. This guide will teach you how to use Sage’s wall defensively and offensively.
A utility to block — Sage’s wall is simple in concept, but there are many layers to its utilization that have the ability to change a round to your advantage. Whether you are playing Sage or playing against Sage, it is useful to know the situations in which walls can be deployed and the possible ways a Sage player can play around it.
This guide will cover the mechanics of the Sage wall itself, and various tactics to use it to its full potential for both Defense and Attack situations. Not only will you gain knowledge of these tactics on the following maps, but you will also develop a general sense of how and when to use Sage’s wall, and upon that, build many creative strategies as more maps release and the ever changing meta.
In short, Sage’s wall — or the Barrier Orb — is a Vision Blocker ability. Designed as a wall segmented into four blocks that can be rotated accordingly, it fortifies in three seconds after being cast and has a max of 800 health for each block. With a duration of 40 seconds and decaying after 35 seconds, there is only so much time to use it before it expires. Thus, in a game where every second counts, it is essential that each use of Sage’s wall is with the intent to give yourself any type of advantage.
Having said that, here are ways to utilize the Sage wall on Defense.
Sage’s wall on defense can be used to deny opponents map control, restrict opponents to awkward positions, and protect the defuser.
Being one of the few abilities that is a solid Vision Blocker, Sage is great for denying map control to the opposing team. Walling off entrances to sites can slow opponents down enough for your team to rotate, discourage the opponents from pushing, and stop lurkers as they need to destroy the wall to pass, giving away their positions. Less space for the enemy is always advantageous in any way because it gives you fewer corners or entrances to worry about.
It is important to note that in order to efficiently deny map control, you should try to utilize all four segments of the wall. This is where the rotating mechanic comes into use. A common beginner approach to the Sage wall is to wall across an entrance with only one layer of block protecting that entry point. Considering that it takes a few seconds for the wall to fully fortify, it is easy for opponents, if in range, to shoot down the wall as fast as it was cast and push onto the site before you can even pull out your gun. Thus, the wall should be positioned in a way that maximizes its space and pressure.
In doing so, opponents are forced to either empty their bullets and waste precious time or find an alternative plan to infiltrate the site. The general rule of thumb is if you can use more than one segment of the wall to block off an entry point, take the opportunity!
Along with denying map control, Sage’s wall can restrict opponents to awkward positions that they will most likely lose in. To be more specific, narrow passageways like Tube in Icebox and B Lane in Ascent that are already narrow as it is can be even more with a Sage wall right in the middle. It makes it increasingly harder for opponents to push these points, and if they dare, then they will find themselves with little to no room to strafe and or avoid damaging utility. And as the Sage on the other side with a lot of room to move, you can peek in and out as you please and land your shots with the enemies being linear to the wall.
Lastly, the Sage wall can be used to protect the defuser, whether it is you or your teammate. From where the opponent can shoot the defuser, you can wall their line of vision off, even more so by orienting the wall to maximize all four blocks and buy yourself more time to defuse as your opponent is forced to run to you or lose the round.
Defense may be the clearest strategy to use Sage’s wall in, but it has equally as much impact when used offensively if used correctly.
Sage’s wall on offense can be used to position into unpredictable angles and peek into areas you otherwise couldn’t.
If players play a map enough, they can eventually predict where you will be holding angles as those spots may be the most common and obvious. Unpredictable angles can give you an upper hand. These can include a height advantage that can allow easier headshot access and getting up things you normally couldn’t, like boxes.
And if you want to be a team player, you can use Sage’s wall to help your teammates position into unpredictable angles. Agents that have the ability to get on the high ground like Jett and Omen can be boosted into even higher ground.
Ultimately, an offensive Sage wall allows an element of surprise, and surprise can make you an absolute threat as your opponents must brace for the unpredictable every round. Because there are so many possibilities and angles, use the Sage wall as you see fit.
There is so much flexibility to Sage’s wall, and it all depends on your playstyle. Whatever it may be, these general tactics can improve your game sense regarding the usage of Sage’s wall and create a huge presence in your games. Whether defensively or offensively, make these plays your own!
