Overwatch’s Most Radical Hero Rework in Years is Coming Soon
Sombra is being reworked from a damage hero into a support when Overwatch season 5 launches on 6 October. The change is one of the game’s most ambitious hero reworks in years and has divided some Sombra players, but Blizzard says it aims to preserve her aggressive play style and distinctive character.
Associate game director Alec Dawson said the team explored damage-role versions before settling on support. Her new Hot Fix ability heals an ally substantially over 12 seconds, which can help teammates preparing to dive into a fight; Blizzard says Sombra will still threaten opponents when she emerges from stealth. The update also includes a Roadhog rework and introduces support hero Doctrine.
- Sombra moves from damage to support on 6 October.
- Blizzard says her aggressive identity will remain.
- Season 5 also reworks Roadhog and adds Doctrine.
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Overwatch is a team-based game in which players choose heroes with different abilities. Its three roles are damage, which focuses on attacking opponents; support, which helps teammates through healing or other abilities; and tank, which absorbs pressure and creates space for the team.
Sombra is known for using stealth and hacking to get close to opponents and disrupt them. Moving her from damage to support changes how she contributes to a team, while Blizzard says it wants her to keep her aggressive approach and ability to threaten enemies. The change is part of a broader update that also alters Roadhog and adds a new support hero.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Moving Sombra to support could give the role a more aggressive, distinctive option while letting her help allies prepare for engagements. If the rework preserves her stealth and ability to threaten opponents, it may broaden her play style without losing what makes the character recognisable.
The case against
Changing a damage hero into a support risks weakening the play style that drew many Sombra players to her, even if stealth and offensive pressure remain. A substantial healing ability may also shift how she fits into team fights, so players could reasonably worry that the new role will feel less satisfying or coherent than the original.