Sombra Balance Changes

Balance Philosophy

For each hero in D and F tier, slightly buff each part of the kit. Not every suggestion needs to be implemented, but all of them should be taken into consideration.

Proposed Changes

Each entry lists the move or ability affected, the adjustment itself, and — where the analysis states one — the problem it is meant to solve and the reasoning behind it.

1. Hack

   Nerf

   Proposed adjustment

   Cooldown increased from 6 to 20 seconds and cast time increased from 1.05 to 2 seconds.

   Current issue

   Hack is the main reason Sombra is frustrating to fight.

2. Hack (effect)

   Buff

   Proposed adjustment

   On top of its existing benefits, hacked targets have their fire rate reduced by 20% for about 4 seconds. This does not apply to the ultimate's hack.

3. Loadout choice

   Adjustment

   Proposed adjustment

   Sombra players choose either Virus or invisibility in spawn.

   Reason

   Lets the player pick between mobility and planned engagements or extra damage.

4. Invisibility (if chosen)

   Adjustment

   Proposed adjustment

   Invisibility is tied to a manageable resource: 12 seconds of total invisibility, with the bar refilling 1 second of usage for every 2.5 seconds spent out of stealth. Translocator becomes a deployable, but Sombra cannot move more than 20 meters away from it.

5. Virus (if chosen)

   Adjustment

   Proposed adjustment

   Cooldown increased from 6 to 10 seconds, with damage increased from 70 to 80 when hitting a hacked target and from 75 to 85 damage over time.

6. Machine Pistol

   Buff

   Proposed adjustment

   Spread reduced from a maximum of 2.3 to 2 degrees and damage increased from 8 to 8.5 per shot.