Roadhog's Trash Compactor turns incoming projectiles into a counterattack

A tank tool beyond the hook combo

Roadhog's Season 5 redesign gives him Trash Compactor, an ability that absorbs enemy projectiles in front of him and converts that intake into an explosive return shot. The Scrap Gun also changes to a two-burst volley. Blizzard frames the overall redesign around reducing the frustration of lethal hook combinations while giving the tank another way to protect and influence a fight.

That is a meaningful shift in how a Roadhog player can create pressure. A defensive window can become an offensive threat, but it still has to face the right direction and arrive at a useful moment. Holding it through an opponent's commitment is a different decision from fishing for a pick before either team is ready to follow.

Relearn the cadence, then judge the results

The revised weapon cadence and perk lineup make old muscle memory an imperfect guide. Spend a few fights learning when the second burst lands, what can be absorbed, and how the counterattack fits into cover and cooldown timing. Chain Hook remains part of the hero's identity, but it is no longer the only headline tool in the redesign.

For teammates, the useful question is whether Roadhog is creating a window to move or survive, not simply how many hooks connect. A saved ally, a denied projectile angle and a forced retreat can matter even without an immediate elimination. The official patch notes provide the current perk changes and should take priority over pre-launch guesses about his new kit.

Sources

• October 2026 live retail patch notes — Blizzard Entertainment
• Season 5: A Grim Doctrine launch preview — Blizzard Entertainment