To clarify, I'm talking about both the live version and the OW2 version that was showcased a while ago. Both exhibit the same problems, but the OW2 version just shifts them around, and in a certain sense, worsens them. The problem with sombra, throughout all her iterations, is the common theme between each of her abilities: that their purpose is to remove counterplay options.
While hack is not very threatening to passive/ranged characters like Cassidy, Hanzo, etc., that is only because they have the luxury of being able to play safely by cover at basically all times. However, if you are a tank or close-range character who is expected to play aggressively and put your life in danger, hack is simply a death sentence, as the only thing preventing the enemy team from turning on you and committing resources to blow you up is the threat that you will use your own abilities/resources to neutralize theirs. This dynamic isn't where the problem with sombra lies though, as this dynamic where abilities can be "traded" to neutralize each other is seen throughout OW in much of the CC. A roadhog can try to hook a genji, but the genji can time his deflect right to block it. An ana holds onto her nade when playing against a zarya, because she knows the zarya can cleanse whoever she hits.
The difference is that hook, nade, as well as basically every other threatening CC/ability have an actual cooldown. If you are able to stop hack you are not rewarded with the peace of mind that you will not be hacked again as the ability will be back in two fucking seconds or instantly if you only break it by line of sight. This is the most important thing I would change about Sombra's kit if I had the choice: to give it a consistent 8 second-ish cooldown or something to be in line with other abilities that are used to threaten an engage. Otherwise, any aggressive character on the enemy team simply has to devote all their focus to canceling hack, hope their team has their back, or face the consequence. I had a game a couple days ago where I was playing Rein, where I canceled an enemy sombra's hack three times over the course of a few seconds, before she got one in by hacking me entirely within the animation of fire strike. How am I supposed to have fun when the only thing I can do in that game on rein without feeding is hold right click?
But I haven't even mentioned her abilities which make it impossible to get a Sombra off your back so you can play the game. Because of invis, she can not be scouted so you know where to watch out for her. To top it all off, she can not even be killed, as translocator can be used to get out of basically any situation.
I'm not trying to say she's OP(a poorly-defined word anyways). I'm just trying to say she is unfun to play against, and should be changed. I believe everyone should support this, even sombra fans/mains, as nerfing the parts of her kit that are unfun to play against means that she can be otherwise buffed to make her a decent pick across the ranks. I've noticed that there have been many underpowered characters throughout OW's history such as bastion, doomfist, hog, etc., that are obviously underpowered, but are kept down since buffing them would mean make people experience their unfun aspects (ridiculous spam damage, one-shotty-ness, etc.) more often. I believe sombra is one of these as well, and I hope blizzard cuts their losses and give them the rework they need, a rework that will ACTUALLY solve the problems with the characters.
OW2 sombra is not a step in the right direction. Yeah the length of the ability lock is shorter, but 1s is plenty to start a chain CC, hit them with other devastating abilities or simply implode a tank that wasn't at full hp and takes 50% more damage. Additionally, it is even more unrealistic to counterplay her with a cooldown maximum of 3 seconds, hacking while invis, and her other buffs.
TL;DR Sombra requires an unrealistic devotion of attention/resources from the enemy team in a soloq environment for aggressive characters to even do their job, which is unfun to play against.
Subreddit
Post Details
- Posted
- 3 years ago
- Reddit URL
- View post on reddit.com
- External URL
- reddit.com/r/Competitive...