Overwatch 2 Sombra: Role, Tips & Guide
The detailed guide to learning about Sombra, her abilites and playstyle in Overwatch 2
In Overwatch 2, Sombra is one of the deadliest agents of the Talon terrorist organization in the world, and her ‘Infiltration’ cinematic instantly made her a fan-favorite character and looked aside. She is also one of the deadliest DPS units in the right hands of someone who can use her abilities to the maximum potential. Sombra’s playstyle and skills allow you to control the battlefield in quite a few different ways, which I will go discuss in depth.
- Subroza’s crosshair settings:
- Color: Red
- Center dot: Off
- Fade: Off
- Movement: Off
- Firing error: Off
- Mouse settings:
- DPI: 800
- Sensitivity: 0.277
- Polling Rate: 1000Hz
- Scoped sensitivity: 1
- Author’s Note: I’ve logged over 55 hours in Overwatch 2, so you can count on my expertise.
Sombra’s Role In Overwatch 2
| Role | Health | Abilities |
|---|---|---|
| Damage/DPS | 200.0 | Translocator, Stealth, Hack, Ultimate: EMP, "Passive: Opportunist" |
Sombra is a character in the game who loves hacking and technology. There is no clear signal of her true intentions, as her only real motives are that she only hopes to extract and withhold the world’s greatest knowledge in the palm of her hand.
But that aside, Sombra’s overall kit is pretty unique in regard to other DPS characters, as she can hack health packs around the map and disable her opponents’ abilities by hacking into them. She can also infinitely use her stealth invisibility cloak to gain an advantage in mobility and tactical awareness. But another aspect that is worth mentioning now firstly is her deadly machine pistol.
- More from eXputer: Overwatch 2: Best Crosshair Settings
The Machine Pistol
Sombra wields the Machine Pistol, excelling in close-quarters combat and swiftly immobilizing 200 HP targets. With precise aim, it can efficiently eliminate foes by targeting weak points. Like Tracer’s pistols, its rapid-burst fire rate catches enemies off guard.
Remarkably, the weapon strikes a balance, avoiding overpowered or underused status. Consistent critical hits compensate for low damage, thanks to superb recoil control at mid-to-close ranges. Sombra’s abilities, notably hacking and focused fire, amplify the weapon’s utility for quick takedowns.
Detailed Overview Of The Abilities
There have been a few reworks made to Sombra’s abilities since her release, which I will go briefly later on, but as you can see from my image above, they mostly remain unchanged and function drastically the same as Overwatch 1, so veteran players shouldn’t face too much trouble using her again. Newcomers trying to use her should learn about each of her main abilities as well as her passive ones too in order to optimize her gameplay.
Translocator
- Cooldown: 5 Seconds
- Duration: Unlimited (Unless destroyed by the enemy or recalled by Sombra)
Sombra’s key ability is the Translocator, a throwable device for instant teleportation. It’s versatile, serving as a “Get out of Jail card.” Place it on accessible map surfaces.
Sombra excels at flanking, disrupting the enemy, and eliminating backline targets. Plant the Translocator in a secluded area, ideally near a health kit for safety.
You can recall the Translocator once thrown to change its position or if it’s compromised. Place it strategically to support your team’s DPS.
It’s essential to be cautious, as enemies can destroy the Translocator. The teleportation is swift, allowing you to attack and escape quickly, best used near health kits or to exploit the enemy team.
Stealth
- Cooldown: 6 seconds
- Duration: Unlimited (Unless detected by the enemy)
Sombra excels at swift, long-lasting invisibility, allowing her to navigate the map unseen. This invisibility pairs seamlessly with her other abilities, like Hacking and Translocator.
However, it’s not foolproof. If you come within 4 meters of an enemy or hack a health pack in their sight, you’ll be revealed temporarily.
To maximize Sombra’s effectiveness, start by flanking the enemy, hack health packs discreetly, and prioritize isolated, vulnerable heroes, such as Widowmaker.
Hack
- Cooldown: 3 Seconds
- Hacked Enemy Duration: 8 seconds
- Hacked Health Pack Duration: 30 seconds
Sombra’s Hack ability is essential for her gameplay. It lets her hack medkits for herself and her teammates, speeding up respawn times. More importantly, she can disable enemy heroes’ abilities, a game-changing move that disrupts their strategies.
Certain objects like Orisa’s battery and Torbjorn’s turrets can also be disabled temporarily. However, untargetable objects like Junkrat’s traps and Mei’s blizzard robot can’t be hacked.
Using Hack in stealth mode is highly effective, giving you a surprise advantage. Disabling abilities make foes vulnerable and unable to support against your attacks.
Learn the map layout and hack health packs near enemy choke points to gain control. Remember, the hacked status of medkits decreases as you collect them, so keep an eye out and re-hack if needed during the match. Mastering Sombra’s Hack takes practice but offers a powerful edge in the game.
Ultimate Ability: EMP
- Damage: 40 percent health of enemies
- Hacked Duration: 8 seconds
- Radius: 15 Meters
Sombra’s EMP in Overwatch 2 is a game-changer. It’s a purple wave blast with a hacked icon that can immobilize the enemy team. What sets it apart from Overwatch 1 is that it now deals 40% damage, not just disabling abilities. Timing and strategy are key; it’s not a ‘Press Q to win’ move.
To maximize its impact, coordinate with Reinhardt’s Earth Shatter or Zarya’s Graviton Surge. Disabling supports during their ults is crucial. Communication with your team and tracking ultimate charges is essential. Heroes like Genji can take advantage of hacked enemies for easy kills with his Dragonblade Ultimate.
The Best Sombra Playstyle
When playing Sombra, focus on her role as a flanker, essential for your team’s success. Learn map layouts, prioritize med kits, and master Sombra with the right mindset.
Start each match by activating Stealth, hacking nearby health packs, and placing your Translocator close to them. Use this time to locate and hack enemies.
Target support heroes like Baptiste and Moira, as disabling them is a top priority for your team’s advantage. Sombra excels at harassing enemies with her short cooldowns. Annoy high-health foes, like tanks, and use the Translocator for quick escapes. Squishy heroes like Tracer are easy targets.
Hacking enemies amidst chaos helps your team. Charge your EMP by damaging enemy tanks at the match’s start. Sombra’s passive, “Opportunist,” lets you detect weakened heroes from a distance and deal extra damage to hacked foes. Always hack before engaging.
Here are some additional tips for optimal Sombra gameplay:
- Use the Translocator for a height advantage.
- Stealth to hack healers, then eliminate them.
- Hack tanks when they’re occupied with your teammates.
- Maintain two hacked health packs and know their locations for team sustainability.
Changes Of Sombra In Overwatch 2
Sombra’s abilities have been significantly revamped in Overwatch 2, boosting her utility from being considered an average DPS hero. Here are the key changes:
- Sombra can now use Translocator and Hack abilities without breaking Stealth mode.
- Hack’s casting time increased from 0.65 to 0.85 seconds.
- Allies can see hacked enemies during the effect, similar to Widowmaker’s infrasight.
- “Opportunist” passive now deals 40% more damage to hacked enemies.
- Hacked med packs now last for 30 seconds, down from 60.
- Stealth sprint speed was reduced from 65% to 50%.
- Stealth detection range increased from 2 to 4 meters.
- Sombra’s EMP can now damage enemies for 40% of their total health.
In Overwatch 2, these changes aim to elevate Sombra’s role and encourage her usage, introducing a fresh dynamic to the game’s various modes.
My Experience With Sombra
My experience with Sombra has been interesting; with the recent changes leading to Overwatch 2, Sombra has become more of a viable option as a DPS. She can hack enemies to disable their abilities, deal damage with her machine gun, and disrupt the enemy team with her Translocator and EMP abilities.
In an attacking match, for example, I utilized Sombra’s Translocator to flank and hack the opposing Zenyatta, preventing her from healing and assisting my team in winning the team battle and capturing the objective. Due to my small health pool, I was soon taken down by a Genji while playing defense, which prevented me from holding the chokepoint and gaining the goal.
There are many Best DPS characters in Overwatch 2, but only a handful may stand out as appealing, such as Tracer, Genji, and Doomfist are all extraordinary heroes. Not a fan of those? Well, worry not, as I have also covered detailed guides for the Best Tank Characters and Best Support Heroes in the game too. If you are a franchise newcomer, be sure to read our comprehensive list of the Best tips and tricks in Overwatch 2.
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