Blame The Controller has shared a detailed breakdown of how to use Captain America’s shield throw animation cancel properly — and why most players are doing it wrong and missing out on huge amounts of damage.
What animation canceling does
Animation canceling allows Captain America to throw his shield and recall it faster, letting him chain hits more quickly. To set it up:
- Go to Captain America’s settings.
- Turn off Hold to Dash so a single tap keeps you dashing until you stop or die.
- Bind Super Soldier Slam to an unused key (e.g.,
R) so you can attack while airborne without slamming unintentionally.
The cancel itself is simple:
- While dashing forward, hold
Wand throw your shield. - Release the throw button early so the shield snaps back instantly instead of traveling its full distance.
The common mistake
Many players tap the shield throw button too quickly, thinking faster presses mean more DPS. In reality:
- A shield throw canceled too fast only travels about 1–1.5 meters — shorter than most melee ranges.
- This means you’ll only hit if you’re touching the target, which is rare in real matches.
- Holding the throw too long slows your fire rate; letting go too fast makes the shield miss entirely.
The goal is to find the sweet spot — holding long enough for the shield to reach the target, but short enough to keep your attack speed high.
Training profile setup
BTC recommends using the training area with three different bot profiles, identical except for the enemy hero. This forces you to practice against different hitboxes, speeds, and movement styles.
Profile settings:
- Generate type: Random
- Range: Mid-range
- Movement: Dynamic
- Combat: Advanced (never Basic)
- Speed: Normal
- Bots: 2
- Health restore: On (for you)
- Timer: Off
Save one profile each for Luna Snow, Rocket Raccoon, and Psylock.
Why these three heroes
- Luna Snow: Common support, fast movement, has a stun. Lets you practice both hitting a mobile target and deflecting her snowball with your shield.
- Rocket Raccoon: Small hitbox and frequent dashes. Forces precision and tracking — a “hard mode” compared to Luna.
- Psylock: Keeps ~10m distance, using dashes and invisibility. Helps you judge throw distance on evasive targets. Bonus: practice revealing her by bouncing your shield into the ground to auto-target her when invisible.
Practice routine
BTC suggests:
- 5 minutes vs Luna Snow
- 5 minutes vs Rocket Raccoon
- 5 minutes vs Psylock
- Repeat 2–3 times per week.
The goal is to consistently land shield throws at the correct timing while bots move unpredictably, refining your muscle memory for the sweet spot.
Expected results
With practice:
- Faster animation cancels without losing damage.
- More consistent hits at optimal throw distance.
- Higher average match damage — potentially doubling your current output.
You can watch BTC’s full tutorial and demonstrations in his video here.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Captain America’s shield throw animation cancel?
It’s a technique where you throw Captain America’s shield while dashing and release the throw button early, recalling it instantly to chain attacks faster and deal more damage.
Why is my animation cancel not dealing much damage?
You’re likely releasing the throw button too quickly, causing the shield to travel only about 1–1.5 meters – shorter than most melee ranges. If the shield doesn’t reach the enemy, it won’t hit.
How do I find the “sweet spot” for the throw?
Practice holding the throw button just long enough for the shield to reach your target but not so long that your attack speed slows. This balance maximizes DPS.
What training settings should I use?
In the training area, use random generation, mid-range, dynamic movement, advanced combat, normal speed, two bots, and health restore on. Save profiles for Luna Snow, Rocket Raccoon, and Psylock.
Why practice against Luna Snow, Rocket Raccoon, and Psylock?
Luna Snow is fast and common in matches, Rocket Raccoon has a small hitbox and dashes a lot, and Psylock maintains distance and uses invisibility — covering a variety of target types.
How often should I practice?
BTC recommends 5 minutes against each hero (Luna, Rocket, Psylock), 2–3 times per week to build consistent muscle memory.
Can I use this technique at any distance?
No. Animation canceling works best when the shield reaches the target before being recalled. Too far, and you’ll need to hold the throw longer; too close, and you risk recalling too soon.
Will this really improve my match performance?
Yes. With consistent practice, you can increase your hit rate and attack speed, leading to significantly higher total damage — sometimes up to double your current output.
