Sombra Overwatch: A Frustrated Player’s Perspective
The launch of *Overwatch 2’s* The 13th season brings new content, including a Halloween event and the My Hero Academia collaboration.
However, the most talked-about changes revolve around character adjustments—specifically, the rework of Sombra and tweaks to other heroes like Ramattra.
For many players, including myself, these alterations feel like they strip away what made these characters unique and fun to play.
Sombra’s New Playstyle: Is It an Upgrade or a Downgrade?
Sombra has long been one of my go-to heroes, second only to Soldier: 76.
While I wasn’t thrilled with her previous rework, which reduced her hit-and-run playstyle in favor of a more committed approach, I adapted because her core abilities—especially her stealth—remained intact.
However, with the latest changes, Sombra’s stealth abilities have been severely curtailed, limiting her use for sneaking behind enemy lines.
Now, stealth has a short 5-second duration and is tied to her Translocator, meaning it’s primarily useful for escaping rather than positioning for sabotage.
This, combined with the fact that taking damage now briefly reveals her instead of outright canceling her stealth, means that Sombra’s old playstyle of disruptive hacking and lurking is largely gone.
Her hacking ability, which no longer removes her from stealth, has also been nerfed.
The ability lockout effect now lasts only 1 second, and it’s hard not to feel like this diminishes her utility.
In exchange, her damage against hacked targets has been increased, emphasizing a more aggressive, flanking play style reminiscent of Tracer.
The developers seem intent on making Sombra less frustrating for the opposing team by limiting her stealth, but in doing so, they’ve taken away the very things that made her fun to play.
Instead of being a unique, tactical hero, she feels more like another generic flanker.
The rework seems geared toward balancing her for competitive play rather than preserving her distinct role as a disruptive force in the backline.
Ramattra’s Changes: A Hit to His Identity
Ramattra’s rework is another contentious update. One of his most valuable skills was his Pummel, which allowed him to deal damage through barriers, disrupting enemy tank strategies.
This ability has now been changed to deal 2.5x more damage to barriers but no longer pierces them to hit enemies behind.
This adjustment means Ramattra can still break down shields but has lost the ability to pressure tanks and their teams directly.
Like Sombra, this change feels like a step toward making heroes easier to deal with for opponents rather than maintaining their uniqueness.
A Trend Toward Homogenization?
These updates reflect a broader trend in *Overwatch 2*: the sanding down of unique character mechanics in the name of balance.
Blizzard seems to be prioritizing homogenization, where every hero is “balanced” by making them more like others in their role.
Sombra, once a niche pick for specific situations, is now more like Tracer, while Ramattra feels less like the shield-breaking tank-buster he used to be.
This raises the question: Why play *Overwatch* for its diverse hero pool if all the heroes are becoming increasingly similar?
A Shallow Experience Without Story Mode
With the story mode delayed, these reworks add to the feeling that Overwatch 2 is drifting away from what made it special.
The unique characteristics of the game’s heroes and its lore are being overshadowed by a push for competitive balance, leaving the game feeling more like a sterile eSports experience rather than a dynamic, hero-based shooter.
The Larger Context: Halloween Season and Collaboration Events
This season also brings Halloween content and collaborations, like the My Hero Academia skins.
While these events are fun and offer fresh cosmetics, they don’t offset the frustrations with gameplay changes.
The Halloween event features spooky PvP modes and fan-favorite co-op events, but for longtime players, the appeal of skins and seasonal events might not be enough to keep them engaged if core gameplay feels unsatisfying.
Final Thoughts: Where is Overwatch 2 Heading?
The ongoing changes in Overwatch 2 suggest a game in transition, attempting to refine its balance while struggling to retain its core identity.
For players like me, these reworks feel like a betrayal of what made characters like Sombra and Ramattra stand out.
As we enter Season 13, the question remains: How much more can Blizzard shave away from its heroes before they lose what makes them worth playing?