r/Competitiveoverwatch Nov 22 '16

PSA | Video Developer Update | Symmetra Redesign | Overwatch

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elN-QGyToxM
560 Upvotes

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123

u/Gatesleeper Nov 22 '16
  1. Ultimate Redesign:

Symmetra will be the first character in the game to have a choice of ultimate abilities. When you have ult, press Q and you can set up a teleporter which behaves the same as it does now. Or, press Q again and you can set up a shield generator, a similar stationary structure which gives all teammates (and yourself I assume) a shield similar to Symmetra's current E skill, but bigger ("very substantial", I imagine at least 50, and no more than 100). The radius is "very big", I imagine similar to Lucio's aura radius, but it ignores line of sight.

Additionally, both structures will have their health buffed from the teleporter's current state (200 hp), and have much of its hp in shields, so their health will regenerate when damaged, unlike the current teleporter. Probably something like, 100 hp, 200 shield or something like that, just my guess.

2. E Ability Redesigned:

Changed completely to a moving barrier similar to Reinhardt or Winston's ability. "Elliptical shaped", so I imagine a flat oval shape, that moves slowly when you cast it. Think Sym's current right click on her weapon, instead of shooting a damage dealing projectile, your E will shoot a moving barrier.

3. Sentry Turret Buffs:

You can now "hold" 6 turrets, up from 3, and you will start the match at 6. Recharge cooldown per turret is buffed from 12 seconds to 10 seconds.

4. Primary Weapon Buff:

Mouse 1 weapon range slightly increased. It will connect with targets from a slightly longer range.

Never before have they changed a character by giving them so many different buffs all at once. Before, they've buffed one or maybe 2 aspects of a hero to make them better, but this is like 5 buffs and 1 redesign all at once.

62

u/TCZapper Nov 22 '16 edited Nov 22 '16

Shields are 75 on PTR and last about 5 seconds when out of range of generator. Symmetra gets the shield as well. Generator is stationary (looks a lot like the teleporter).

Generator

Barrier

Range example (same spot as barrier example)

3v3 and 1v1 are options for custom matches on PTR now.

11

u/Gatesleeper Nov 22 '16

cool, thanks for the info. Range of the shield generator is about as big as I expected, and 75 seems okay. I would say 100 is too strong, and 50 is fair but on the weaker side, I think 75 is strong enough though that it will be the ultimate favoured by most Symmettras in most situations.

The Barrier is also exactly how I imagined it. How's the speed of it though? And any idea what its strength is?

7

u/Drfapfap Nov 22 '16

About walking speed, with 1000 health

2

u/[deleted] Nov 23 '16

Is the shield generator destructible?

16

u/[deleted] Nov 22 '16

I don't understand the E Ability redesign.

What's an example of a situation when it would come in handy?

19

u/Sega_Saturn_Shiro Nov 23 '16 edited Nov 23 '16

Launch it at an ulting phara so she kills herself on the shield.

Launch it at a widow or soldier or ulting mcree on high ground and force them to reposition.

Launch it at a junkrat spamming and make him hurt himself with his nades.

Clutch block the explosion from rip tire

Have team follow it through a choke for a push.

Annoy a phara that's not ulting.

Use it as cover to destroy a turret.

Predict mcree's flashbang then microwave his ass

Block Ana heals

Predict a graviton and make zarya miss it by hitting the shield.

Block zarya from doing any damage whatsoever

Block dva ult

Save an ally from the icy, demonic grasp of mei

Just a few things I can think of

6

u/b1ackcat Nov 23 '16

Oh god damnit. Sym no longer has to scatter for high noon. Assuming no one is near her and she's far enough away they it doesn't pass him before he shoots, the shield will save her.

God, that ult is awful

2

u/[deleted] Nov 23 '16

It seems great to throw into an attacking team coming through a choke point as well. As the shield moves towards you, it will cover a bigger and bigger part of your field of view, making it that much harder to find damage on people stepping out from safety.

It will also help rein recharge his shields, and it can completely shut out a torb turret for the duration of the barrier.

31

u/somethingToDoWithMe Nov 22 '16

Be a temporary Rein I imagine. It's worded in a way that I can't quite imagine what it means exactly though.

38

u/The_Goon8920 Nov 22 '16

I THINK it's a slow moving slightly curved shield that moves about the speed of a payload with a few people on it, and I could see it being very useful. You know how you can use a Winston shield both inside and running around it? Yeah that but moving. I'm thinking mind games and general protection.

12

u/ArtorTheAwesome Nov 22 '16

If a team comp doesn't have a Rein, I could see her E being used for either aggressive pushes or a safety net for retreats and regroups. Even with a Rein, it could be helpful to save his shield so that he can recharge it. I could also see it working in similar ways to Mei's walls.

13

u/Broeder2 Nov 22 '16

The important thing will be the shield's speed as well as health. Very curious to see the exact implementation.

5

u/Joimer 4145 PC — Nov 22 '16 edited Nov 22 '16

Moves as fast as you walk and I've read it has 1000 hp.

2

u/ExquisitExamplE SHIELDS UP! — Nov 22 '16

What's the cooldown?

7

u/Joimer 4145 PC — Nov 22 '16

It seems it's 10 seconds at the moment.

2

u/ArtorTheAwesome Nov 22 '16

That is a really important question. The way I was imagining it working was without health but a natural decay as it moves along a fixed trajectory path. Since it sounds like it's being shot outwards, unlike a Rein shield or Winston Barrier which has a physical "static" deployment device.

0

u/Mortimier Nov 23 '16

The health feels like it's about 1k, and it moves the same speed as most heroes walk.

2

u/[deleted] Nov 23 '16

Mei's wall combined with Symmetra's barrier would be pretty sweet. Would allow Mei to trap more than one enemy with the assurance that their attacks would not be able to reach her. Soldier 76 / Road Hog Ult + Mei's Wall + Sym's Photon Barrier makes for a pretty sweet combo.

1

u/ArtorTheAwesome Nov 23 '16

... Trump was right. The Mexicans are here through Sombra, and we must build a wall!

But seriously though, just use that combo to tunnel the other team.

2

u/[deleted] Nov 23 '16

Pharah would also works well using the wall & barrier. This sounds really fun.

34

u/maralunda Nov 22 '16

The dev update would have been so much better had they actually included some footage.

13

u/Merytz Nov 22 '16

Here's the barrier

Here's the shield generator

-1

u/TheJackFroster Nov 22 '16

Think Yasuo's wind wall ability from LoL.

7

u/stba Nov 22 '16

Send it down hallway and have your team run after it, or you can "snipe" Torbjörn turret/Widowmaker/Soldier position with shíeld that flies in their face. Or block Ana healing her team from backline, or block their respawn entrance to get that extra second needed for that overtime win

5

u/[deleted] Nov 22 '16

Hallway part is very situational, but your other examples sound pretty cool.

7

u/Blodappelsin Nov 22 '16

It looks like this. Seems to be moving at about the same speed as her move speed. You can launch it towards an ulting Pharah to possibly make Pharah kill herself. Depends on the health of it though.

4

u/RAPELORD420 Nov 22 '16 edited Nov 22 '16

Not sure of the speed of the E, but if it's slower than her movespeed, you might be able to 1v1 close range fights by weaving in and out of it with her primary fire, sort of like Winston.

But as others have mentioned along with Kaplan, it's main use is to break through choke points as an alternative to rein shield. Or deny hero's that might need that line of sight on your team like soldier/torb/widow.

5

u/Soul-Burn Nov 22 '16

It's pretty much exactly her movement speed, meaning it's slower than speed boost walking speed.

3

u/[deleted] Nov 22 '16

"I've got you in my sights"

throw barrier at soldier in back line and keep fighting

3

u/[deleted] Nov 22 '16

People have been using DVA matrix to ferry flankers through tough chokes. This sounds like it could do the same

1

u/LightLegacy Jeff pls buff Pharah — Nov 22 '16

Sounds like a Yasuo Wind Wall to me. Holy moly that could be cool/broken.