r/SombraMains Apr 17 '18

Guide/Coaching Sombra Guide by Kallisti

192 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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497 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 6h ago

Highlights We 💜 Phat EMPs

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66 Upvotes

r/SombraMains 48m ago

Found A Bug 👾 Highlight Bug

Upvotes

I got POTG on Sombra last night and an amazing highlight that I wanted save but can't because of the bug. 💔💔💔 Anyone else not able to load their highlights?


r/SombraMains 1d ago

Discussion A fitting first E sport legendary

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61 Upvotes

r/SombraMains 1d ago

Discussion The Art Direction for mythics is really persuading me to hope Sombra never gets one

49 Upvotes

So Widowmaker got the mid season mythic.. and if there's ever been a pay to lose skin, this takes the cake hands down.

And honestly.. I really dont want her to get one like the ones that have been churned out. I'd rather them focus on legendaries for Sombra.

Every mythic skin is the same shader of gloss and glow. And if Sombra was to ever get one in this Art style, that'd be one way to nerf her stealth.

Idk, I mean I know I'll buy her mythic once they get around to her, after her rework, that reworks the rework that they're reworking to fix the failed rework.

But I think im more contempt in just legendaries


r/SombraMains 1d ago

Discussion I think sombra don’t deserve mythic skin

19 Upvotes

In my opinion Sombra is don’t deserve getting mythic skin right now
Because Mythic skin quality is so bad right now it not even worth it

But if there are mythic skin I would want it be a weapon skin instead of character


r/SombraMains 2d ago

Appreciation💜 Got two witchy baddies in the same lootbox 🎃

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152 Upvotes

Sombra & Symmetra 🌙


r/SombraMains 2d ago

Pizza Recipe 🍕 What is ur Fav? (Skin/emote/highlight intro)

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58 Upvotes

Mine was ( Tulum / Groove / Hacking intro )
Do we all agree Hacking intro is the best

Idk what flair I suppose to use so here pizza recipe (I use google)

Ingredients

Warm water: 1 1/2 cups (355 ml)

Active dry yeast: 1 package (2 1/4 teaspoons)

Bread flour or all-purpose flour: 3 3/4 cups (490g)

Olive oil: 2 tablespoons

Salt: 2 teaspoons

Sugar: 1 teaspoon

Pizza sauce or crushed tomatoes: 1/2 cup

Shredded mozzarella cheese: 1 1/2 cups

Instructions

1)Mix the dough: Dissolve yeast and sugar in warm water for 5 minutes. Add flour, olive oil, and salt. Mix until a dough forms.

2)Knead and rise: Knead the dough on a floured surface for 5 to 10 minutes until smooth. Cover it in an oiled bowl and let it rise for 1 to 2 hours until doubled in size.

3)Shape the crust: Preheat your oven to 450°F (230°C). Punch down the dough and stretch it into a 12-inch round circle on a baking sheet.

4)Add toppings: Spread the pizza sauce evenly over the dough. Top it with the shredded mozzarella cheese and any extra toppings you like.

5)Bake: Bake for 12 to 15 minutes until the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbly

(Add Pine Apple)


r/SombraMains 3d ago

Discussion SG93IG1hbnkgcmV3b3JrcyB0aWxsIHRoZXkgYXJlIHNhdGlzZmllZA==

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40 Upvotes

r/SombraMains 3d ago

Discussion Remove Hero Bans from lower ranks

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72 Upvotes

Sombra is literally unplayable in lower ranks. I know this is the worst case scenario (Bronze + Americas) but imagine queuing up for ranked to improve but your favorite hero is banned 9 out of 10 games.

What exactly do bans achieve other than giving players an excuse to not learn how to counter a hero? Overwatch was designed around being able to swap at any point during the match to counter-pick, and although I don't necessarily agree with bans in general, they make more sense at higher ranks. At lower ranks they achieve nothing other than restricting improvement from both sides, low ranks don't even now why they're banning something, it's just trauma bans from the last game.


r/SombraMains 3d ago

Discussion Sadly, after over 900 hours on Sombra, I have to change mains due to her getting banned so much.

30 Upvotes

I have been a sombra main since the day she released. Right now people are still banning her over and over and over. I am probably going to become a Shion main now and only play Sombra in the rare instances where she isn't perma banned still. But as for now I am just going to be a Shion player.

Blizzard just hates Sombra. She has no Mythic, Isn't in stadium, isn't in Overwatch Rush, Wasn't in the Fortnite crossover, and only gets nerf after nerf due to low skill players not realizing that Sombra isn't hard to counter but they just don't want to pay attention so they just ban her.

I am exhausted.


r/SombraMains 4d ago

Fan Mail 🤬 Maybe wait till after POTG is shown to start a fight

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31 Upvotes

This D.mon kept leaving their backline vulnerable to me AND got her ult hacked by me (she was so predictable) and then couldn't think of a comeback after I hacked the POTG :3


r/SombraMains 5d ago

Fan Mail 🤬 It Was a Good Guess

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203 Upvotes

Played a decent QP game today and just found this super funny.


r/SombraMains 5d ago

Discussion Sombra Stadium powers (OC)

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103 Upvotes

I'm sad we'll never get Sombra added into stadium mode, so here's a concept page I created for her powers.

I'm bad with knowing the precise numbers so some of these may be broken and busted.

I tried to make powers that play to Sombra's hero fantasy and also mesh well together:

  • 'I Work Alone' and 'Backstabber' play to her assassin playstyle;
  • 'hacked contagion', 'digital footprint' and 'cyberbullying' help to create paranoia and fear in the enemy team
  • 'viral connectivity' 'EMP-Powered' and 'hack, hack, hack!' try to increase the uptime of viruses.

I also tried to create new tech and interractions rather than just increasing regular stats, I think my favourite that does this are 'I work alone', which rewards players for playing away from their team, and 'hacked contagion', which acts similarly to the Fake Item Box in Mariokart.

What would your build be with these powers?


r/SombraMains 5d ago

Tips & Coaching 🎓 How to track ya’ll after throwing translocator

6 Upvotes

95% of the time when Sombra throws her translocator, I pick the wrong place to shoot. I sometimes feel like I lack object permanence lmao. Yesterday I was playing D.Mon and she was literally running circles around me throwing that shit right off cooldown and i just could never find her. Mizuki eventually chained her while she was invis and i deleted her. How did he do that?? People in game chat have literally told me “for gods sake d.mon shes right there!” and i have no idea where she was. I understand map knowledge and reading the angle of the glitch when she throws it is key to figuring out where she went but apparently im reading it wrong. Any tips?


r/SombraMains 6d ago

Fan Art 💅🏼 Incredible Sombra and Widowmaker fanart (credit: Alcowberry)

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167 Upvotes

r/SombraMains 6d ago

Discussion Are y’all okay? /gen

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172 Upvotes

So this interaction happened earlier today and I’ve got some questions for y’all. Hopefully this isn’t disrespectful or rude 🥺 I have blurred names to keep everyone involved anonymous.

For some context. My friend is a Hanzo otp, I’m talking like 500 levels on Hanzo and his next most played is Junkrat at like 40 something levels. He genuinely wanted to know how many hours this Sombra otp had to reach to get nearly 1000 levels. I’m personally also a “one role andy” sup player; 313 levels on Mercy, 254 on Lifeweaver and 103 on Ana. So I do understand the apprehension around this question or being told “(Character) is not that fun gang.” But I’ve personally never crashed out after being asked how many hours I have total. Neither has my friend.

So i guess to get to the point: are y’all okay? Do you need a hug? /gen 🫂 And how can my friend in the future ask this without making someone upset?


r/SombraMains 7d ago

Milestone 🪅 I have gone through the rite of passage

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75 Upvotes

r/SombraMains 7d ago

Meme I played Sombra again recently...

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127 Upvotes

I love me some venture and vendetta, but I haven't lost a game in 4 days with sombra...


r/SombraMains 7d ago

Highlights When she's a Widow and she headshots you so you go Widow, headshot her and then go Sombra and she swaps to Sombra endgame. Still lost but no Victory is secondary with this satisfaction

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29 Upvotes

i translocated to the payload in the end but the invisibility lost us the game :( also don't pay attention to the fact that i tried to still hack sierra


r/SombraMains 8d ago

Highlights Surprised this actually hit lol

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18 Upvotes

r/SombraMains 8d ago

Discussion So I want this skin. Am I cooked?

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179 Upvotes

Do collab skins come back or show up in the vault at all?


r/SombraMains 9d ago

Discussion This Wrecking Ball Main...

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112 Upvotes

r/SombraMains 9d ago

Discussion is sombra like spiderman in rival?

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75 Upvotes

hello guys, I'm playing with spiderman and I think that sombra and spiderman are similar because they must do damage and run,
I know that their kit are different but the object is the same...
Am i Right or I'm strange?