Why Khufra has become essential in ranked queue

There are strong heroes, and there are heroes who respond to a problem that no one else solves it. Khufra belongs to the second category, and it is which explains his almost systematic presence in the high ranked line.

One skill against an entire category

Khufra's skill 1 places an area that throws any enemy into the air trying to cross it by moving. Formulated differently: it deactivates the central mechanics of a complete family of heroes.

Fanny can no longer chain her cables. Ling can no longer leave his wall. Wanwan loses its repositioning. Benedetta, Harith, Lancelot: all lose suddenly what interests them.

No other tank offers this. We can slow down an assassin, we can immobilize it, but classic immobilization is played with Purify. The area of Khufra does not purify herself - you simply must not cross it, this which amounts to giving up your own kit.

The real cost of this choice

Khufra is not free. Outside of his skills, he is slow, predictable, and its start-of-game recharges are long. Against an opposing team without mobility — a composition Cecilion, Yve, Belerick — he becomes a tank generic, strictly inferior to Atlas or Tigreal on pure commitment.

This is precisely why it must be read as a response, and not as a default choice. Taking him blind in the first round of selection is a error ; keeping him to respond to a mobile jungler is what makes him strong.

What to remember

If the opposing team fields a displacement assassin, Khufra is the best possible use of a roam slot. Otherwise, there is no reason to force it. The strength of a response hero is measured by what he cancels, not by what he brings in the absolute.