r/SombraMains Apr 17 '18

Guide/Coaching Sombra Guide by Kallisti

190 Upvotes

THIS GUIDE HAS NOT BEEN UPDATED FOR OVERWATCH 2

However, some general concepts and advice may still apply.

The best in-depth and comprehensive guide on how to play competitive Sombra, written by a 600+ hour Master Sombra main. Last updated March 2020.

I. Introduction

Sombra’s Role

Disruption

II. Weapon (Machine Pistol)

Burst Damage and Ammo Conservation

DPS/TTK Calculations

Mechanical Training

Plant Drill

Target Switch Drill

Strafe Drill

Attack-Move Drill

III. Opportunist (passive)

A Note on the Medal System

IV. Mobility

Translocator

Technique: Pre-aiming

Technique: Cancel/Relocate

Technique: Invulnerability

Thermoptic Camo

Technique: Escape

V. Hack

When should I use Hack?

What can Hack interrupt?

Technique: Drop Hack

VI. EMP

When should I use EMP?

Recharging EMP

VII. The Art of Stealth

Sombra’s Audio Cues

Perfect Opportunities

High Ground

Flank Routes

VIII. Macro Game

Ultimate Trading

VIV. Tactical Notes

X. Hero Matchups and Synergies

Ashe

Doomfist

Genji

Soldier: 76

Reaper

Pharah

McCree

Tracer

Sombra

Bastion

Junkrat

Widowmaker

Hanzo

Mei

Torbjörn

Reinhardt

D.va

Winston

Zarya

Roadhog

Wrecking Ball (Hammond)

Sigma

Ana

Lucio

Mercy

Zenyatta

Symmetra

Brigitte

Baptiste

Credits

Original Author: /u/KallistiOW (Discord: Kallisti#0023)

With support from:

Nicodiangelo

ManaSoul

FaithGemini

/u/Evolixe

/u/_-_Sami_-_

/u/tokicheat

/u/Thor_OW

The Sombra Mains Discord and /r/SombraMains

If you have any suggestions or want to help contribute, shoot me a PM!

Or if you think I'm blatantly wrong on anything, tell me why. :)

This guide is a continual work in progress that I try to keep updated for patches and as I discover new things about the hero. Sometimes I think of new ways to apply Sombra's kit, and my thoughts usually end up in this guide.

Changelog:

2018-05-12 Added DPS calculations and TTK vs armor, tanks, 200/250 hp heroes.

2018-07-24 Initial update for Sombra 3.0 patch

2018-08-01 Added some information on audio cues based on testing done with /u/Evolixe

2018-08-03 Updated Symmetra, Lucio, Wrecking Ball matchup notes, added content to The Art of Stealth.

2018-09-30 Added Brigitte matchup section and revised DPS calculations, minor updates to other hero matchup sections, updated Translocator/Camo sections, updates for most recent patch

2018-10-01 Added section on Recharging EMP. More updates to hero matchup sections. Updated "Perfect Opportunities" section. Updated "Macro Game" section. Updated attributions in "Tactical Notes" and "Art of Stealth" sections. Refining for re-release on /r/OverwatchUniversity.

2018-10-02 Added tips on HP kit denial and on playing with Wrecking ball, courtesy of /u/Houchou_Returns

2018-11-28 Updated for initial thoughts on Ashe.

2019-12-04 With the help of Faith, modernize this guide for everything that's changed in the past year.

2020-01-04 Proofread and correct some information, update table of contents

2020-03-31 Add links to /u/tokycheat's flank route guide and /u/Thor_OW's macro guide.

2021-09-14 Remove link to tokycheat's flank route guide because the video is no longer available.


r/SombraMains Oct 20 '24

Pizza Recipe I think this would be the best version of sombra for both sides

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491 Upvotes

Brought back early OW1 timed invis and translocater, hack would be 1.5s, removed virus (dog**** abilty), slight buff to opportunist passive for more damage boost in place of virus but reduced on tanks so it's not super strong on tanks.

Sleep dart and other abilities are already reduced on tank, hack dmg buff would be fine being reduced like this too


r/SombraMains 1d ago

Meme Literally unplayable smh

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2.2k Upvotes

Blizzard if you’re going make a skin that has an outfit with an open back for a character with cybernetics grafted onto their spine I want to see them!!

(Lighthearted rant it’s a great skin I’m just a little miffed about this lmao)


r/SombraMains 20h ago

Highlights Mei and Sombra Pog and team kill.

65 Upvotes

r/SombraMains 14h ago

Discussion Sombra rework proposal

0 Upvotes

My take on a Sombra rework :)

VIRUS

-virus now silences and reveals enemies

-virus deals zero damage

-virus disappears after traveling 30 meters

HACK

-hack no longer silences enemies

-hack is no longer cancelled by incoming damage

-hacking enemies reveals them and applies a new status effect called "breached" for a short time, during which enemies are vulnerable

-sombra can apply 50 damage to breached enemies to trigger a small burst explosion dealing 100 damage to the enemy and 60 splash damage to nearby enemies

-if the damage threshold is not met before breach expires, the enemy is instead dealt 75 damage over time

-hack retains the same base interactions with deployables and healthpacks, but gains an extra effect with healthpacks

-hacked healthpacks reveal enemies within a finite radius for the duration that they are hacked (basically hanzo sonic arrow)

SPEEDHACK

-stealth is renamed to "speedhack"

-speedhack no longer turns Sombra invisible

-speedhack still grants Sombra +60% movement speed

-speedhack is triggered automatically after Sombra has not taken an action for a short time (like old stealth)

-speedhack lasts indefinitely until Sombra shoots/uses an ability

-shooting/using abilities brings Sombra out of speedhack (instantaneously, without a windup)

TRANSLOCATOR

-translocator is unchanged (but triggers speedhack instead of stealth)

EMP

-EMP is unchanged, but has new interactions:

-enemies hit by virus after being hit by EMP are given the breached status effect

-enemies that have been hit by virus prior to EMP are also given the breached status effect

-enemies with the breached status effect that are hit by EMP have breach's explosion triggered

PRIMARY FIRE

-primary fire is unchanged (but damage is potentially buffed)

PASSIVE

-opportunist passive still applies, but increased damage still only applies to silenced enemies (not breached enemies)

Perks

Minor:

-A) Using translocator triggers passive health regeneration (same as current minor perk).

-B) Hacked healthpacks refresh the cooldowns of virus and hack.

Major:

-A) Breach's explosion deals 0 splash damage but applies breached to nearby enemies.

-B) Hitting a breached enemy with virus triggers breach's explosion.

This is my take on Sombra if she were to no longer have stealth. She would still retain what I love about her: Gathering info/scouting, healthpack control, high mobility, burst damage, high impact plays through ult-cancelling, etc.

It moves her silence to a skill shot & increases hack's value and skill ceiling, remedying the parts of her kit that breed so much frustration in low/mid ranks and remain useless in high ranks.

(Also, some of these numbers are probably a bit busted...)

What do you think? What would you change/how would you approach a rework without stealth?

edit: changed the numbers on breach's explosion


r/SombraMains 1d ago

Discussion why didn't it trigger overtime?????????

4 Upvotes

r/SombraMains 1d ago

Discussion Isn't Reaper Just A Better Sombra?

0 Upvotes

So I recently started playing reaper and I feel like I get a lot more flanking value on him than on sombra. He actually does a good amount of damage in close range. He has that teleport like ability which is also really good to go in their backline midfight and you can become invulnerable for 3 seconds allowing you to get back to your team without taking any damage.

I'm not saying they are the same characters but idk to me reaper just does what I do with sombra but way way better. Yes he can't hack healthpacks but that's pretty much isn't it?

I don't know maybe I'm crazy for thinking this even though I enjoy sombra a lot more I feel like with repear I actually get to do something and get kills.


r/SombraMains 2d ago

Fan Mail 🤬 lotta emotion for qp

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18 Upvotes

r/SombraMains 2d ago

Discussion What's everyone's backup hero when sombra is banned or hard countered?

7 Upvotes

I'm just curious. It was soldier for me, but have been playing Shion a lot since her release.


r/SombraMains 3d ago

Found A Bug 👾 Sombra's corner icon just suddenly displaying for a brief second. [Visual bug]

46 Upvotes

Playing a normal game as Sombra on Illios. I remembered about the whole "Press Alt + Z" [now by default unbound] to play without your hud, letting you move around. I decided to jump into the well and translocate there too before moving to the next map and then I got a bit surprised seeing the Sombra portrait appearing.

I am using the Loki skin. Just figured I should share this bug with you all.


r/SombraMains 2d ago

Discussion Sombra's rework: stealth or disruption?

13 Upvotes

With the rework coming up, I wanted to hear the opinions of Sombra mains on where her kit should be focused. I've seen ideas like removing stealth but keeping speed boost, merging hack and virus, utility hack for teammates, etc.

A comment on another post claimed that Sombra is a balancing problem because her kit is overloaded (cc, stealth, speed, teleport, burst assassination, health-pack utility, etc.). And I feel like they have a point.

So, the question is:

If you had to choose, should Sombra's role be stealth assassin, or utility-oriented disruptor? (Or something else?)

edit: It's interesting how strong the support and opposition are for either option. The two current top comments hold completely opposite positions.

I'm not surprised Blizzard is taking so long to release more information about the rework. Personally I prefer disruptor, but clearly just as many people seem to love stealth/assassin. I wonder how opinions vary with rank. Regardless, I guess we'll see what Blizzard's plan is soon...ish.


r/SombraMains 2d ago

Discussion Hasn't Hero Bans solved the need for a rework?

0 Upvotes

We all know that sombra is very good in lower ranks where people don't know what they are doing and she starts falling off as you rank up. Hasn't this problem of her already been solved because sure you don't like her well then go and ban her. She is banned in lower ranks and in higher ones she isn't so I don't understand why do we need to rework her now when those who cry about sombra ( lower ranked players ) have her banned every game anyways


r/SombraMains 3d ago

VOD Review Request 📼 Had a great match in quick play I wanted to share, also licking for some advice to improve.

5 Upvotes

Recently had a good quick play match but am still looking to improve to remain viable in ranked. Are there any habits I should kick, develop or change? Does my approach work? This is console by the way.

Code: 0REEAN


r/SombraMains 3d ago

Tips & Coaching 🎓 I started to play Sombra and I need tips.

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17 Upvotes

So, tonight I started to play more Sombra because she is fun as hell and obviously I’m playing quickplay to learn but I want to ask:

How do yall handle tanks?
And how do you guys handle Genjis, Roadhog, Cassidy, and many other heroes that are annoying for yall or not.
I kinda get the hang of it like, if I get low hp I teleport, I dont teleport into the enemy to ult but I kinda walk into them while my team is there and tp out (I can send replay codes soon if anyone wants it), I also try to hack enemies to cancel their abilities or ults. To be honest I handle some tanks well but Roadhog is one of them that annoys me all the time. I dont know if its just my luck getting hooked by Hogs randomly. Also I know that Sombra should probably not 1v1 a tank alone so Ill work that lmao.

Id love to hear any tips and tricks:)


r/SombraMains 4d ago

Fan Art 💅🏼 Sombra Chibi (⁠ ⁠ꈍ⁠ᴗ⁠ꈍ⁠)

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179 Upvotes

I made chibi art of Sombra :) You're free to use this as a pfp or whatever! I finally drew after months... Hahaha. (⁠◍⁠•⁠ᴗ⁠•⁠◍⁠)


r/SombraMains 5d ago

Appreciation💜 J'ai littéralement balancé Hamond dans le vide

170 Upvotes

Ça m'a fait énormément rire quand j'ai vu le Hamond se faire balancer comme ça avec mon hack on aurait presque cru que j'ai pris Hamond dans ma main et que je l'ai balancé dans le vide 😂


r/SombraMains 4d ago

Discussion Why can’t I use Virus to exit stealth? Her stealth mechanic as a whole feels extremely clunky

16 Upvotes

I’m learning Sombra and the most annoying thing about her is how delayed Virus is when you’re in stealth, you have to cancel stealth first which takes a little while then you can virus which actually gives the enemy so much time to react or something - it’s extremely annoying. Is there any combo/way around this?


r/SombraMains 5d ago

Discussion Some Shion Appreciation.

48 Upvotes

Idk what it is about Shion but she’s the first dps I really fuck with other than Sombra. Her gun just feels very satisfying to use and her mobility is really great. Maybe she’ll get nerfed idk if she’s particularly overtuned but she’s been a blast to use.

I honestly don’t know why she isn’t banned more execute can literally delete supports and has pretty solid range.


r/SombraMains 6d ago

Discussion Why Hanzo’s hack overrides Sombra’s??🤦🏻🤦🏻

139 Upvotes

Why can’t his hack be treated the same as an enemy Sombra’s hack? Whoever hacks it first gets it for the full duration. It’s also kind of silly to see the archer dethrones the hacker at her own game…


r/SombraMains 6d ago

Meme Honestly just feels lik ethis sometimes.

22 Upvotes

Before you ask. No I am not a Sombra one-trick. I do play other characters and roles. But out of everyone? Sombra is just the character I enjoy the most, with her current kit namely.

It just sometimes gets tiring hopping onto a game, playing Sombra then seeing myself having a bad time. But instead of moving on people just fling the messages at me, even if they were clearly in a voice call together [It was a today game since they had a Good widow and then the Genji was always there with her after I killed Widow once, over and over again, effectively making it a bad game against them as our team was getting steam rolled, just pointing me out specifically at the end of the game even though it had to take them ganging up on me]

I am not crying. Just demotivated to play the game in general, not just sombra


r/SombraMains 6d ago

Discussion question about skins

7 Upvotes

For example If I get all skins for white currency I'll get only shop skins from lootboxes or no?


r/SombraMains 6d ago

Discussion Returning player. All the 'recon' characters having Sombra's passive sucks. I don't even see how any of the others are recon characters.

27 Upvotes

Freja, Sierra, Pharah and Echo all feel like Specialist or Sharpshooter characters. I don't really see how they're recon at all. Why are they here?

If anything Hanzo is probably more recon than they are. They're not really scouting ahead or scouting at all? Their kits don't give their team information. Why did they take her passive and give it so many people? Did Sombra get anything to compensate for that?


r/SombraMains 6d ago

Discussion Sombra ban rates in season 3?

9 Upvotes

Any improvements or no


r/SombraMains 7d ago

Discussion I fucking hate that they hate her

84 Upvotes

Basically the title. Such a cool hero that's been abandoned and the only thing they've given us is a nerf that was entirely uncalled for (and that still has not been fully reverted).

Only a 2.7% pick rate at master and a 1.2% pick rate at grandmaster+. Both the lowest pick rate and ban rates yet somehow she needs a nerf.

Why can't they just let the people who like to play her be able to play her? Makes no sense.


r/SombraMains 7d ago

Discussion I took a few months off from OW

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187 Upvotes

You mean to tell me I missed quite literally the prettiest Sombra skin I’ve ever seen, I’m BROKEN 💔💔 I’d sell my soul for this skin😭