Overwatch 2 introduces Sombra as one of the most challenging heroes to take out. With her abilities to go invisible and teleport, she can easily infiltrate the enemy backlines and disable key targets. While she may not have the highest damage output, her utility and versatility make her a valuable asset to any team. In this guide, we will delve into Sombra’s playstyle, abilities, and provide tips and tricks to help you master her skills in Overwatch 2.
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Introduction to Sombra in Overwatch 2
Sombra’s playstyle requires careful planning and positioning. Before engaging the enemy, it’s essential to set up a hacked health dispenser and teleportation location. Once these are in place, go invisible and make your way to the enemy backlines without alerting them. From behind, prioritize hacking dangerous enemies and focus on eliminating them. If the situation becomes overwhelming or a formidable tank unit appears, use your translocator to either escape or go invisible and retreat. Return to the hacked healing station, regroup, and repeat the process.
Sombra’s Abilities and How to Use Them
Machine Pistol
Sombra’s primary attack is her machine pistol. While it may not be the most accurate or powerful weapon, it excels at close range combat. Its high rate of fire allows you to eliminate heroes in just a few clips. Take advantage of its short-range nature and use it to quickly dispatch enemies who are hacked and vulnerable.
Virus
Sombra’s new ability after rework is Virus. She throws a projectile that deals damage over time. Virus’s impact damage on hacked targets is doubled and the damage over time is dealt at double rate if the target is hacked. This new ability gives Sombra more lethality and making ambush kills much easier. It is important to remember that when players are hacked, they often make chaotic movements, which can make it harder to successfully infect them with the virus.
Hack
Hacking is the core of Sombra’s kit. Hacked heroes cannot activate their abilities for 1.5 seconds and are revealed to Sombra’s team for 8 seconds. Also Virus damages hacked targets at a faster rate, making them easier to eliminate. Additionally, hacked health packs recharge faster and can only be used by your team. Utilize hack strategically to disrupt key abilities and render enemies vulnerable.
Translocator
Sombra’s translocator is a crucial survival tool. Use it to throw and teleport to a set location, providing you with an escape route or a way to quickly engage enemies. Additionally, you can use the translocator aggressively to close the distance and finish off low-health enemies. Be mindful of its cooldown and always ensure you have an escape plan. Using translocator also reducing Stealth cooldown after teleporting.
Stealth
Sombra’s passive stealth ability allows her to become invisible and move quickly when she’s out of combat. This is an excellent tool for reconnaissance, as it grants you the ability to gather information on the enemy team’s composition and positioning. However, be cautious not to get too close to enemies, as it will break your invisibility. The increased movement speed provided by stealth enables you to enter and exit combat swiftly, making you a valuable asset to your team.
EMP
Sombra’s ultimate ability, EMP, is a game-changer. It hacks enemies and destroys their shields and barriers. The area of effect is massive, making it possible to disable an entire enemy team. While the duration of ability interruption is now shorter, the damage multiplier and wall-hack effect remain. Use EMP strategically to initiate team fights or secure kills, especially when combined with tank ultimates like Zarya’s Graviton Surge or Mauga’s Cage Fight.
Sombra Combos
To maximize your effectiveness as Sombra, mastering her ability combos is essential. By chaining her skills together, you can create devastating plays that can turn the tide of battle. Here are a few powerful shadow combos to incorporate into your gameplay:
- Hack and EMP
Combining Hack with Sombra’s ultimate ability, EMP, can be a game-changer. Start by hacking key targets to disable their abilities, then initiate a team fight with EMP, which will instantly disrupt all enemy heroes within range. This combo is particularly effective against enemy teams heavily reliant on their abilities, such as heroes like Zenyatta or Lucio.
- Stealth and Virus
Sombra’s Stealth ability is perfect for initiating surprise attacks. Combine it with a well-timed Virus to catch enemies off guard and kill them fast. Sneak behind the enemy lines, locate vulnerable targets such as supports or DPS heroes, hack and eliminate them swiftly. Remember to communicate with your team and coordinate your attacks for maximum impact.
- Translocator and Health Pack Control
Controlling health packs can be crucial for maintaining your team’s sustainability. Use Sombra’s Translocator to quickly move between health packs and deny the enemy team access to them. This will force the enemy healers to divert their attention from their allies to find alternative sources of healing, giving your team a significant advantage in prolonged engagements.
Tips for Playing as Sombra
Playing as Sombra requires a mix of stealth, strategy, and coordination with your team. Here are some essential tips to keep in mind when playing as the enigmatic hacker:
- Sombra’s value lies not only in kills but in disabling enemy abilities. Even if you don’t secure a kill, hacking a crucial target can significantly impact the enemy team’s effectiveness.
- Prioritize hacking support heroes, as they are usually healing their teammates. Denying them the ability to heal can give your team a significant advantage.
- Coordinate with your team to maximize Sombra’s impact. Combining her abilities with those of other heroes can lead to devastating results.
- Sombra is effective against heroes who heavily rely on their abilities and ultimate, such as Mercy, Tracer, and Genji. Exploit their vulnerability by hacking them and rendering them useless.
- Be cautious when engaging heroes like Zenyatta, Torbjorn, and Symmetra, as they have built-in defenses that can mitigate the effects of hacking.
- Communication is key. Relay critical information to your team, such as enemy positions and hacked targets, to coordinate focused attacks.
Sombra Synergies
Sombra’s unique abilities can synergize well with certain heroes in Overwatch 2, amplifying their effectiveness and creating powerful combinations. Here are a few heroes that work exceptionally well with Sombra:
Zarya‘s ultimate ability, Graviton Surge, can be devastating on its own, but when combined with Sombra’s EMP, it becomes unstoppable. Coordinate with your Zarya teammate to hack enemy shields, allowing her to secure multiple eliminations with her Graviton Surge.
Sombra and Tracer can create chaos on the battlefield when played together. Their high mobility and disruptive abilities can overwhelm the enemy team. Coordinate your attacks, distract enemies, and disrupt their backline to create opportunities for your team to secure crucial eliminations.
The combination of Lucio and Sombra proves to be a formidable force as they utilize their skills to quickly advance towards hacked targets and disrupt the opposing team. The key to Lucio and Sombra’s synergy lies in their shared love for aggressive engagements. When Lucio is not busy with supporting his team, he can effectively dive into the enemy team, isolating hacked targets from their teammates while granting Sombra the necessary speed boost to pursue and eliminate her objectives.
Sombra’s Counter Strategies
As with any hero, Sombra has her weaknesses and can be countered by specific strategies. Understanding these counter strategies will allow you to adapt and overcome the challenges posed by the enemy team. Here are a few effective ways to counter Sombra:
- Group Up and Protect Your Supports
Sombra thrives on isolating and eliminating enemy supports or vulnerable heroes, like Widowmaker. Stick together as a team, prioritize protecting your healers, and create a defensive wall against Sombra’s attacks. By denying her easy targets, you diminish her impact on the game.
- Deny Health Pack Control
Sombra heavily relies on health packs to sustain herself during engagements. Denying her access to health packs can limit her effectiveness. Assign someone on your team to keep track of hacked health packs and prioritize guarding them. This will force Sombra to retreat or rely on her healers for support.
- Counter-Hack and Disable Sombra
If the enemy team has a skilled Sombra player, consider having a hero capable of countering her. Heroes like D.Va or Zarya can eat up Sombra’s hacks and viruses, preventing her from disabling critical abilities. Additionally, heroes like Brigitte or Cassidy can disrupt Sombra, interrupting her combos and giving your team an opportunity to eliminate her.
How to Get Better at Playing as Sombra
Becoming a master at playing Sombra requires practice, patience, and a willingness to learn. Here are some tips to help you improve your skills with the enigmatic hacker:
- Develop Map Awareness
Familiarize yourself with the maps in Overwatch 2. Learn the health pack locations, flank routes, and potential ambush spots. This knowledge will allow you to position yourself strategically and make informed decisions on the battlefield.
- Practice Quick Reflexes
Sombra’s playstyle requires quick reflexes and decision-making. Practice your aim, timing, and ability to react swiftly to unexpected situations. This will allow you to make split-second decisions, such as when to hack an enemy or when to initiate an attack.
- Learn From the Best
Watch professional players or streamers who excel at playing Sombra. Observe their positioning, decision-making, and communication with their team. Analyze their strategies and incorporate them into your own gameplay.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Playing as Sombra
Even the most skilled players make mistakes, but learning from them is essential for growth. Here are some common mistakes to avoid when playing as Sombra:
- Overextending
Sombra’s high mobility can sometimes lead to overextending and getting caught out of position. Avoid venturing too far from your team without a clear plan or support. Stick with your team and coordinate your actions to maximize your impact.
- Poor Ultimate Timing
Sombra’s ultimate ability, EMP, can be a game-changer when used correctly. Avoid wasting your ultimate by using it when your team is not ready to capitalize on the disruption. Communicate with your team, coordinate your attacks, and time your EMP to secure crucial eliminations or objectives.
- Neglecting Communication
Sombra’s effectiveness heavily relies on communication with your team. Neglecting to communicate important information, such as hacked targets or ultimate charge status, can hinder your team’s coordination and overall success. Utilize voice chat or the in-game communication wheel to keep your team informed.
Conclusion
Mastering Sombra in Overwatch 2 requires a deep understanding of her abilities, synergies, and counter strategies. By utilizing her hacking skills, mastering her combos, and coordinating with your team, you can become a formidable force on the battlefield. Remember to communicate, practice, and learn from your mistakes to continuously improve your Sombra gameplay. So, equip yourself with the knowledge gained from this comprehensive guide, dive into the game, and unleash chaos as the enigmatic hacker, Sombra.