Blizzard is making some significant changes to the Overwatch formula when it launches Overwatch 2, dropping the number of players per team in any given match from six to five. Each Overwatch 2 team will consist of two Damage heroes, two Support heroes, and one Tank hero, which has in turn required the development team to make some significant changes to the characters already available on the roster.
These Overwatch 2 reworks will impact some characters more than others. At the Overwatch League Grand Finals, Blizzard pulled the curtain back on a couple of the reworks that are coming to the hero shooter. Bastion is getting a rework in Overwatch 2, as is his fellow Damage hero Sombra, whose rework seems like it's basically a massive buff across the board, greatly increasing her viability in any given match.
The Overwatch 2 Sombra changes have already proven to be controversial, but it's hard to say if they're the right call yet until fans have actually had the chance to play the game and see how she pairs up with all the other Overwatch 2 character reworks. With that in mind, here is how Blizzard is changing Sombra in Overwatch 2.
Sombra Hack and Stealth Buffs in Overwatch 2
Sombra players in Overwatch have to use her abilities wisely. They need to use Stealth to sneak around the maps and get the jump on enemies, and they need to use Hack to disable enemy abilities. Sombra's Hack and Stealth abilities are both getting significant buffs in Overwatch 2. The Hack cooldown is being lowered from eight seconds to three, while the effects of a Sombra Hack are being increased to eight second durations.
Hacked enemies will also now take 50% more damage and they will be revealed to other players on Sombra's team through walls for eight seconds. These changes should result in a massive Sombra buff once Overwatch 2 launches, though there are some things Blizzard is doing to try to balance the character a bit. For example, Sombra will now only be able to lock enemy abilities for one second as opposed to five, and the health pack hacks will only last 30 seconds instead of 60. However, with Sombra being able to use Hack more often, the buff may still prove to be overpowered. Again, it's way too early to say for sure and it all depends on how this Sombra rework mixes with the other character reworks Blizzard has planned for the hero shooter.
As far as Stealth goes, Sombra's Detection radius is getting increased from two meters to four, and the fade-in time is being reduced by 50%. Most significantly, though is how Stealth works with Sombra's Hack ability. In the current version of Overwatch, Sombra is unable to Hack enemies while using Stealth mode, as it will reveal her to her enemies. Now Hack will not remove Sombra's Stealth, though she will become visible for a brief duration.
In the right hands, this Overwatch 2 Sombra rework can make the Damage hero become a must-have for any given team. Again, it really all depends on how the Sombra rework goes with the other character reworks, so it's still too early to say if it's going to be massively overpowered or not. However, it's definitely easy to see why some Overwatch fans are a little apprehensive and worried about these changes, as it sounds like the Sombra rework is going to be massive.
Sombra Ultimate in Overwatch 2
The main takeaways when it comes to the Sombra rework in Overwatch 2 are the buffs to her Hack and Stealth abilities. However, Blizzard has other changes in store for the character as well. Sombra's Ultimate attack, her EMP charge, will no longer impact enemy shields. However, it has the added effect of dealing 40% damage to the enemy's current HP. If Sombra pairs her Ultimate with the right member of her team, she could potentially have a devastating impact with her EMP Ultimate as well.
Sombra Machine Pistol and Translocator in Overwatch 2
Finally, Blizzard touched on how Sombra's Machine Pistol and Translocator will work in Overwatch 2. Sombra's Machine Pistol is having its damage reduced from 8 to 7, but with the way Sombra can buff her damage through her Hack ability, it seems like that "nerf" isn't really going to amount to all that much. Meanwhile, Sombra's Machine Pistol is having its spread reduced by 20%, which could potentially make it more laser-focused and accurate as a weapon.
The only part of Sombra's kit that isn't getting changed is her Translocator. Ever since Sombra was introduced, her Translocator has been a key part of her abilities. For the uninitiated, Sombra's Translocator in Overwatch essentially allows her to teleport to a different location, which definitely comes in handy as her character is all about going behind enemy lines and disrupting the players on the opposite team. Work like that usually requires a quick getaway, so it's no surprise to see Blizzard keeping Sombra's Translocator how it is for the sequel.
Overwatch 2 is in development.