Overwatch 2 Season 13: Sombra’s Rework Explained & Ramattra’s Shield Busting Guide

If you’re an Overwatch 2 enthusiast, you’ve probably noticed how often Blizzard shakes things up with hero reworks and balance tweaks, and this season is no exception. Season 13 has dramatically redefined how some characters operate, especially two fan favourites: Sombra and Ramattra. Whether you’re a hacker stealth aficionado or love brawling through shields as Ramattra, understanding the nuances of these changes is critical to dominating your matches.

In this article, we’ll dive deep into Sombra’s latest rework and explore how Ramattra’s buffs could make him the shield-breaker every team needs. We’ll also cover tips, counters, and synergies for each character, helping you elevate your gameplay.

Sombra Rework: A Game-Changer in Season 13

Sombra, the elusive Talon hacker, has always been a tricky hero to master, but with her recent rework, she’s even more complex. The biggest overhaul? She can no longer rely on infinite stealth. Instead, she needs to tactically deploy her Translocator to engage or retreat from battle.

What’s New in Sombra’s Kit?

The changes to Sombra have shifted her from a lurker in the backlines to a more in-your-face assassin. Here’s a breakdown of her revamped abilities:

• Machine Pistol (Primary Fire): A short-range automatic weapon that deals moderate damage.
• Hack: Now an active ability, Sombra hacks enemies to prevent ability use, and she can see critically damaged foes through walls.
• Virus: A new damage-over-time projectile that deals more damage to hacked targets.
• Translocator: Throw a beacon to teleport. After teleporting, Sombra becomes stealthed for five seconds, allowing her to reposition or escape.
• EMP (Ultimate): Deals damage equal to a percentage of all nearby enemies’ current health, hacks them, and destroys barriers.
• Opportunist (Passive): Reveals critically damaged enemies through walls and boosts Sombra’s damage to hacked enemies.

One of the most impactful changes is how Stealth is now tied to Translocator. No more lurking in invisibility for extended periods; players need to time their stealth wisely. This forces Sombra to play more aggressively and engage in team fights rather than sitting back and waiting for the perfect moment.

Sombra’s New Playstyle: Tips for Success

Given these tweaks, Sombra’s playstyle has shifted significantly. Here are a few key strategies to maximize her potential:

1. Coordination is Key: With her limited stealth and reliance on Translocator for mobility, Sombra can no longer play the solo, invisible flanker. You’ll need to coordinate with your team to time engagements.
2. Hack Smart: Prioritize high-value targets like healers or tanks with shields. A well-timed hack on a Reinhardt or Sigma can completely turn the tide of a battle.
3. Virus Combos: Combine Virus with Hack for quick eliminations. This new ability synergizes perfectly with her other attacks, enabling her to dish out serious damage in a short time.
4. Translocate Wisely: While Translocator is crucial for initiating and escaping, its cooldown means you can’t just throw it without thought. Use it to engage, then quickly reposition or escape if things get hairy.

Synergy Picks for Sombra

Sombra works best when paired with heroes who can follow up on her hacks and focus down isolated enemies. Here are some heroes that pair well with her:

• Wrecking Ball, Winston, or D.Va: These dive tanks can follow up on Sombra’s hacks and Virus debuffs, making it easy to finish off weakened enemies.
• Tracer and Genji: Both are great at capitalizing on the chaos Sombra creates. With their high mobility, they can dart in and out of fights, cleaning up after Sombra initiates.
• Hitscan Heroes (Soldier: 76, Cassidy, Ashe): These heroes deal solid burst damage, and they can finish off hacked or Virus-infected targets from range. Cassidy’s stun, in particular, pairs well with Sombra’s hacks.

Countering Sombra

Even with these improvements, Sombra isn’t invincible. Some heroes are particularly effective at shutting her down:

• Cassidy: His stun can stop Sombra mid-escape, allowing his team to finish her off.
• Junkrat: With traps placed along common flanking routes, Junkrat can catch Sombra unaware and quickly burst her down.
• Torbjörn: His turret automatically targets her as soon as she decloaks, making it hard for her to sneak in unnoticed.
• Kiriko: Kiriko’s Suzu cleanses both Hack and Virus, denying Sombra her primary tools for disabling enemies.

Ramattra’s Shield-Busting Buffs

While Sombra’s rework has garnered plenty of attention, Ramattra is quietly becoming a menace for shield-bearing tanks like Reinhardt and Winston. His improved shield-busting ability has the potential to decimate enemy frontlines.

Ramattra’s Kit Breakdown

For those unfamiliar with Ramattra’s playstyle, he excels at punching through defenses with brute force:

• Omnic Form: This allows Ramattra to poke from range and protect his team with a temporary barrier.
• Nemesis Form: This transforms Ramattra into a melee monster, where he gains a speed boost and deals massive damage with punches.
• Ravenous Vortex: Launches a slowing field that traps enemies and pulls them down, making it hard for mobile heroes to escape.
• Annihilation (Ultimate): Ramattra’s ultimate generates a continuous damage field around him that deals damage over time to all enemies in range, with the effect lasting as long as enemies remain within it.

With his recent buffs, Ramattra can now destroy shields faster than ever before. As players have calculated, he can break Reinhardt’s shield in just 10 punches or roughly six seconds of melee attacks. Winston’s shield? It only takes four punches to bring it down. This gives Ramattra incredible power in shield-heavy compositions, especially in coordinated team fights where other teammates are also chipping away at the barrier.

How to Play Ramattra Effectively

1. Punch Through Shields: Focus on shield-bearing tanks like Reinhardt or Winston. With Ramattra’s increased shield DPS, you can quickly break their defenses and leave their team vulnerable.
2. Don’t Waste Time: While punching shields is effective, be mindful of overcommitting. If you’re spending more than a few seconds on a single target without results, you’re likely giving the enemy team too much time to react.
3. Annihilate in Close Quarters: Ramattra’s ultimate shines in brawls. Pop it in close-range engagements to maximize its damage and force the enemy team to scatter.

Countering Ramattra

While Ramattra is a powerhouse, some heroes are great at keeping him in check:

• Reinhardt and Winston: Despite Ramattra’s improved shield-busting abilities, these tanks can still hold their ground in the right circumstances. Reinhardt, for example, can back up and heal while his shield regenerates.
• Mobile DPS Heroes: Heroes like Pharah or Echo can stay out of Ramattra’s reach while still dealing damage.

FAQs

Q: How do you counter Sombra’s Virus ability?
A: The best counter is Kiriko’s Suzu, which cleanses the Virus. Other than that, heroes with good sustain like Zarya or Roadhog can survive through it.

Q: What’s the best way to handle Ramattra when he’s in Nemesis Form?
A: Try to maintain distance and use high-mobility heroes to kite him. If you’re a tank, wait for him to punch through your shield, then re-engage when he’s out of Nemesis Form.

Q: Is Sombra’s new kit better or worse than before?
A: It depends on your playstyle. Sombra’s new kit requires more teamwork and precision, but it can be incredibly rewarding when executed correctly. Her damage output is higher, but the trade-off is less mobility.

Q: How does Ramattra fare against dive comps?
A: Ramattra is less effective against dive comps, especially if he’s in Nemesis Form and trying to catch mobile heroes like Tracer or Genji. His Ravenous Vortex can help slow them down, but it requires good timing.