Tyr Helio

Helio is the heavy built for sidescraping. The repulsor is a bubble that pushes enemies out of cover — one of the few abilities in Tyr that can interrupt a charging Maul mid-charge. The turret has big ear panels that are documented critical spots. The hull wants you to tuck the nose behind hard cover and expose only the side and turret. Parent roster: heavy tanks hub. Rankings: heavy tier list.

The sidescraping playstyle

Sidescraping in Tyr means angling the hull so the nose is behind hard cover — a wall, a rock, a building corner — while the side and turret are presented to the enemy. The nose does not poke out far enough to be an easy target, but the side is angled enough to bounce some shells. This is the fundamental Helio playstyle: find hard cover, angle the side, let the enemy shoot at the angled plate while you return fire from behind the barrier.

Helio’s repulsor enables a specific kind of aggressive sidescraping. When an enemy pushes into your angle, you can drop the bubble and push them back — disrupting their shot, breaking their aim, and potentially pushing them out of their own cover.

Tyr Helio repulsor guide

The repulsor ability

The repulsor is a bubble projected in front of Helio that pushes enemies outward. It is one of the few crowd-control abilities in the game and it has a specific strategic use: stopping a charging Maul. A Maul that is mid-charge with overcharge active is one of the most dangerous things in Tyr. Helio’s repulsor can interrupt that charge and send the Maul backward, buying time for the team.

The repulsor also disrupts enemy aim. If you drop it on an enemy who is reloading or trying to hold an angle, they are pushed off their intended position. This is not a kill tool — it is a repositioning tool.

Turret ear critical spots

Helio’s turret has large ear panels on each side that are known critical spots. These panels take extra damage when hit. The implication is that you want to minimize the exposure of the turret ears while maximizing the exposure of the hull side. The best Helio positions are the ones where the cover protects the ears and the angle protects the hull.

This is a nuance that separates good Helio players from average ones. A Helio that angles without thinking about ear exposure will take extra damage from anyone who knows to aim for the ears.

Camo and survivability

At 5% camo, Helio is in the loud heavy band. You are spotted the moment you are in line of sight inside 400 meters. The survivability comes from the angles, not from hiding. The armor is real — green hits on an angled Helio side will often bounce — but only if the angle is correct.

Common mistakes

Presenting the nose flat instead of keeping it behind hard cover. Exposing the turret ears flat to enemy fire. Not using the repulsor to disrupt enemy positioning. Expecting the armor to save you from a poorly-angled shot.

Builds and SLVR priority

Buy the repulsor duration and push force upgrades first — the crowd-control value scales with how long and how hard the bubble pushes. Armor components that improve side armor for sidescraping are also worth prioritizing. Energy shells are the default for the reload assist bonus. See builds for the full loadout. Compare with Atlas if you want sonar instead of a repulsor, or with Fortis if you want mines instead of a repulsor.

Maps: Helio is best on maps with hard cover that can be tucked behind — Ravine’s buildings, Scorch’s ruins. Divide is challenging because the open terrain does not support sidescraping. Maps.