Home Gaming Overwatch’s Symmetra is getting a second ultimate and other important changes

Overwatch’s Symmetra is getting a second ultimate and other important changes

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Symmetra Overwatch header

Back in September, Blizzard came out and said that they were looking to do something with Overwatch’s Symmetra. They turned their attention to the turret and teleporter builder not because she was too weak or too strong, but rather, too situational, and they weren’t happy with that.

Now, nearly two months later, we finally know exactly what changes they’ve concocted. Game Director Jeff Kaplan gave a complete breakdown of the new Symmetra in a new Developer Update.

In case you missed it, Symmetra now has two ultimate abilities. Her first is the trusty ol’ teleporter, and the second, a shield generator. The addition of the latter alone will (or at least should) see this hero being picked up a whole lot more.

But that’s not all Blizzard have done with her. They’ve also increased the range of her primary attack (from 5m to 7m), and buffed her turrets (shorter cooldown, more can be carried at a time).

As if that wasn’t already enough, they’ve also removed her Photon Shield (that ability that gives +25 to allies) and replaced it with a new Photon Barrier. Symmetra can now generate a large energy barrier in front of that can move forward and stop enemy fire. Eat your heart out, Reinhardt.

So, to sum all the changes up:

New Abilities

  • Photon Barrier:
    • Replaces her existing Photon Shield ability
    • Generates a large energy barrier in front of Symmetra that blocks enemy fire as it travels forward
  • Shield Generator (New Ultimate Ability):
    • Symmetra’s Ultimate ability now offers a choice between her Teleporter and a new option: Shield Generator
    • Shield Generator places a device that grants additional shields to any ally within the its effective radius, regardless of barriers, walls, or obstacles between heroes and the Shield Generator

Photon Projector (Primary Fire)

  • Range has been increased from 5 meters to 7 meters

Sentry Turret

  • Number of turrets that can be carried has been increased from 3 turrets to 6 turrets
  • Cooldown has been reduced from 12 seconds to 10 seconds

Teleporter

  • Decreased health from 200 to 50
  • Increased shields from 0 to 350

Photon Shield

  • Replaced with the new Photon Barrier ability

Symmetra Overwatch

Those are some pretty epic adjustments! If you’d like to mess around with them, you can right this second thanks to the latest PTR patch. If you’d rather wait, don’t worry, it won’t be too long before we see the new Symmetra added to the main client. She should be out in the next week or two.

What do you think of all her changes? Too strong? Not enough? Personally, I think they’re spot on. I loved Symmetra just as she was, but I would never say no to a host of important buffs!

[Update] Here’s some video footage of the new upgrades

Last Updated: November 23, 2016

62 Comments

  1. Ottokie

    November 23, 2016 at 09:48

    Umm yea, Symmetra was already very versatile. I feel there are other champs who would much rather benefit from a buff than Symmetra.

    Reply

    • Andre Fourie

      November 23, 2016 at 09:51

      So you’rs saying her stuff is buff enough?

      Reply

    • Gavin Mannion

      November 23, 2016 at 09:56

      Pretty sure they know exactly how much Symmetra is being used, I am a huge Symmetra fan but in a lot of places she wasn’t good enough… these new changes are amazing though.. hyped to try her out

      Reply

      • Ottokie

        November 23, 2016 at 09:58

        True, she is mostly used for the first half of the game and then switched out. But still, she never had any problem defending herself.

        Reply

    • Matthew Figueira

      November 23, 2016 at 10:13

      I kinda agree. I love Symmetra, almost always play her on defense. Problem is the moment the first point falls, people demand a change, and get nasty about it :/

      With these changes, maybe she can be played WHEREVER 😀

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief Argonian

        November 23, 2016 at 10:14

        Even in jump-scare games?

        I think you need to research this

        Reply

      • Ottokie

        November 23, 2016 at 10:15

        I have been sticking to the random chars whenever you die mode, and it’s so much fun. Keeps the game interesting instead of hitting a stalemate or getting owned by a good team comp before the first marker.

        Reply

        • Matthew Holliday

          November 23, 2016 at 10:40

          Zarya / soldier all day every day, thuglife.

          Reply

    • Matthew Holliday

      November 23, 2016 at 10:47

      I like the changes, i dont think Symmetra is VERY versatile, but she is more useful than most people give her credit for.

      the shield thing sounds awesome, but sounds like a defacto lucio nerf, since youve got a generating mini sound barrier in her photon thing.
      her increased range also sounds awesome.

      I like the defacto character nerf/buffs. removing the movement speed buff from anas ult etc was a nerf to reinhart, but a buff to other characters and now the photon shield stuff aswell.
      Its interesting and changes the combinations up

      Reply

  2. Ottokie

    November 23, 2016 at 09:51

    Since we are talking buff and nerfs. Anyone feel that Sombra’s gun magazine is massive for someone who can become invisible and pretty much sneak up right on top of your face and release a stream of what feels like never ending bullets.

    Reply

    • Andre Fourie

      November 23, 2016 at 09:54

      Everyone now wants to play with the Purple Latina since she is out. I don’t see the hype as in most matches I’ve played she dies quite quick.

      Reply

      • Ottokie

        November 23, 2016 at 09:55

        She is squishy yes. But you catch slow champs so off guard, by the time they see you they are already either dead or half health (tanks)

        Reply

        • Lord Chaos

          November 23, 2016 at 09:59

          I found that Soldier seems a tad stronger the last while.

          Reply

          • Andre Fourie

            November 23, 2016 at 10:01

            Yes, I have fun playing with him. Reaper as well.

          • Ottokie

            November 23, 2016 at 10:01

            Since his bullets don’t spread so much anymore. He’s got a lot of range now.

          • Andre Fourie

            November 23, 2016 at 10:02

            He is most effective at medium range.

          • Ottokie

            November 23, 2016 at 10:03

            He is yes. But the last buff to him was bullet spread over time. So now he has less bullet spread at the start of pulling the trigger.

            Next time you play 76 try to focus on not shooting auto and rather burst fire. You will notice a lot more bullets hitting it’s target.

          • Andre Fourie

            November 23, 2016 at 10:06

            I always shoot burst in all games. Better accuracy. Especially when playing with a LMG or assault rifle in The Division. I only spray and pray when I play BF4.

          • Ottokie

            November 23, 2016 at 10:08

            Yup, burst fire is bestest. But his ultimate you still just go ham and hold down the trigger while maniacally laughing as you watch people try to doge like stuck canneries in a small cage.

          • Andre Fourie

            November 23, 2016 at 10:08

            WOW. Psycho much? 😀

          • Ottokie

            November 23, 2016 at 10:11

            When you freeze someone with Mei and you charge up the icicle that will most likely kill them. Say “it puts the lotion on the skin”.

          • Lord Chaos

            November 23, 2016 at 10:11

            You disturb me… and that’s not easily done.

          • Ottokie

            November 23, 2016 at 10:13

            I disturb the Lord of Chaos?

            *pats myself on the back*

          • Andre Fourie

            November 23, 2016 at 10:21

            Are you disturbed? Are you down with the sickness?

          • Andre Fourie

            November 23, 2016 at 10:17

          • Ottokie

            November 23, 2016 at 10:18

            Good thing Mei actually uses a hose style freeze gun xD

          • Andre Fourie

            November 23, 2016 at 10:19

            LOL

          • Andre Fourie

            November 23, 2016 at 10:21

            When I want my wife to do something, I say “or it gets the hose”. Doesn’t always work out so well for me.

          • Ottokie

            November 23, 2016 at 10:22

            I could have told you that would happen… and I am the psycho one? xD

          • Andre Fourie

            November 23, 2016 at 10:23

            Dude, I love slipknot. That should say a lot. She calls it my devil’s music. XD

          • Admiral Chief Argonian

            November 23, 2016 at 10:11

            But you play on console, isn’t that pretty much praying you can hit something?

            😛

          • Lord Chaos

            November 23, 2016 at 10:12

            ‘Merican style shooting.

          • Andre Fourie

            November 23, 2016 at 10:18

          • Lord Chaos

            November 23, 2016 at 10:20

            Without using auto aim?

          • Admiral Chief Argonian

            November 23, 2016 at 10:22

            Hahahaha,
            Lord Chaos uses FACTS
            It is super effective

          • Andre Fourie

            November 23, 2016 at 10:24

            What is auto aim or aim assist?

          • Admiral Chief Argonian

            November 23, 2016 at 10:28

            “Console gaming”

          • Andre Fourie

            November 23, 2016 at 10:31

            XD

          • Admiral Chief Argonian

            November 23, 2016 at 10:32

            ONE DAY we will play with you on Steam, and you will love it

          • Andre Fourie

            November 23, 2016 at 10:33

            One day when I have R40k for a PC setup.

          • Admiral Chief Argonian

            November 23, 2016 at 10:36

            Use R15k, get beast PC, use the rest to go on holiday

          • Lord Chaos

            November 23, 2016 at 10:37

            And only replace parts as needed. Can build quite a monster for 15k.

          • Andre Fourie

            November 23, 2016 at 10:38

            I will look into it. Lots of buttons though. 😛

          • Ottokie

            November 23, 2016 at 10:42

            w,a,s,d, shift, space, alt, crtl

            And 2 mouse buttons 😛

          • Ottokie

            November 23, 2016 at 10:42

            Or more commonly knows as the “gaming claw”

          • Matthew Holliday

            November 23, 2016 at 11:01

            q e v 123456 tab
            mouse 4 for push to talk

            and capslock for the obligatory “GG EZ”

          • Admiral Chief Argonian

            November 23, 2016 at 11:25

            HAH, troll

          • Ottokie

            November 23, 2016 at 10:33

            That came out a bit creepy xD

          • Lord Chaos

            November 23, 2016 at 10:34

            HAHA, I thought that reply eloquently put.

          • Andre Fourie

            November 23, 2016 at 10:34

            And too many buttons…… 😛

          • Andre Fourie

            November 23, 2016 at 10:27

          • Lord Chaos

            November 23, 2016 at 10:28

            Was wondering why you had a touch of femininity about you. 😛

          • Admiral Chief Argonian

            November 23, 2016 at 10:28

            xD

          • Andre Fourie

            November 23, 2016 at 10:31

            LOL. No man. Being retarded, I only found out about auto aim later in life, so I never learned to play with it. I got into gaming much later than you guys. First game I tried was Black on PS2, and I’m pretty sure that shit didn’t have aim assist and just a small red dot to help aim. So it never caught on with me. Maybe that is why I suck.

          • Lord Chaos

            November 23, 2016 at 10:36

            From what I remember, console gamews come with it enabled as default. You have to actually manually disable it in every game.

          • Ottokie

            November 23, 2016 at 10:20

            Thank your lucky aim assist stars 😛

          • Lord Chaos

            November 23, 2016 at 10:08

            All I know is I was verry happy with the D.Va buff, until a Soldier decided to target me throughout the entire match

          • Matthew Holliday

            November 23, 2016 at 11:03

            Then you’re doing your job right, DVAs shield is possibly even more annoying to soldier than reinharts.

      • Matthew Holliday

        November 23, 2016 at 10:54

        There was a Sombra in every game for a few days, but her pickrate has already dropped off now that people have had a chance to play her.

        Reply

    • Matthew Holliday

      November 23, 2016 at 10:53

      massive clip, but damage per bullet is pretty trash.
      works well with her skillset though, if you had to reload every two seconds, hacking and hit and run tactics would be painful to execute.

      Reply

  3. VampyreSquirrel

    November 23, 2016 at 10:46

    6×6 Arcade mode FTW! 😛

    Reply

  4. Deceased

    November 23, 2016 at 10:51

    Good god man this is awesome 😀

    Reply

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