Source
r/SymmetraMains•
Atlasreturns

Is Symmetra the worst DPS hero now?

I know it's somewhat perfidious to ask that question here. Until now Sym was kinda my comfort for DPS due to her kit relying more on positioning and timing than pure mechanical skill.

But the more I played her druing the last season, the more I also realized her Kit makes practically zero sense in the current meta. Without the initial burst of the turret she has barely any impact when flanking as most targets can just focus her before she get's enough charge.

And the buffed secondary is lacking way beyond other projectiles like Meis icicle or a Hanzo's arrow meaning that there isn't really any reason to engage at this distance.

I would really appreciate advice on how to play her now because I can't really get her to work at the moment.

Posted Aug 30, 2023, 12:56 AM UTC

139
RafflesiaMagnifica•

I'd wait until the inevitable next rework that's about to come.

1
ZephrinoxSymmetra•

She just needs buffs.....and not like there's any mechanical design on her that actually prevents that.

1
TobizIIOG Sym Main•

cough TP cough

1
ZephrinoxSymmetra•

That doesn't actually stop say actually buffing orbs enough to compensate the turret dps nerfs.

1
Seraephim•

She is more situational than she used to be. Ironic, considering the most recent change was supposed to help that.

1
Unic_OG Sym Main•

Her most recent rework was as well, their reasoning for moving her out of support and changing basically her whole play style was that “she’s only picked on first point defence”. That was true, so they changed her, now what? She’s picked exclusively on KOTH maps for 1 maybe 2 of the points and the TP her team out of spawn faster. So basically it’s 2 steps forwards 3 steps back, she’s still only really desired on like 3/4 maps so nothing has really changed apart from the maps she’s picked on. On top of still being countered and outranged by half of the cast and basically being reduced to an Alt fire bot, it’s not been good for her.

1
Xardian7•

I don’t see this being true at all.

Maybe I’m bias cause I play a lot of organized team play in scrims and tournaments but Sym is goated in this meta. Probably in ranked is different tho.

In organized play you either play Rush or Poke and she is key to win the rush vs poke matchups, especially strong to punish greedy Bap-Illari backlines.

Sym Bastion p or Sym Sojourn comps see a lot of playtime currently.

Moreover, she is one of the best dps you can play in Flashpoint thanks to TP and close quarters fights, especially on Suravasa.

Clearly she is not good a poking and suffers lack of decision making by tanks but she is not as bad as you describe her, at least not when there is a basic level of communication in the team.

1
ZephrinoxSymmetra•

Her most recent rework was as well, their reasoning for moving her out of support and changing basically her whole play style was that “she’s only picked on first point defence”. That was true, so they changed her, now what? She’s picked exclusively on KOTH maps for 1 maybe 2 of the points and the TP her team out of spawn faster. So basically it’s 2 steps forwards 3 steps back

that's painting a really disingenuous picture. because what we had with sym<=2.0 was literally a hero whose effective range was basically melee range, but had literally 0 way for her to independently get uptime for that effective range.

like unless she drained a whole lot of resources from her team, she had to wait for enemies to go to her unlike now whereby if we wanted to claim new territory with turrets aggressively, or poke from an off angle, beam from an off angle, flank, or simply just escape, we can do so at will with a tp cast. like it was the core reason why old sym was better at defense than attack because defense mode didn't inherently punish you for being passive which old sym was inherently forced to do a lot simply from how the kit was designed.

like her current design absolutely is much more generalised now than she was before because how she gets uptime is straight up more generalised and can be done much more so at the player's will unlike before where there was plenty of waiting and conditions for uptime.

1
No-Mirror2505•

When I heard that was the reason and not the actual one (non Syms fond her annoying), it was my laugh for the day. The changes in practice shoehorn her into the closed tight maps she was good in because of the scan, and worse in open maps without a lack of good burst to complement the alt fire.

1
Rajio•

I would stop trying to flank entirely. play as a sniper with sentries only being useful for flanker alerts

1
AtlasreturnsOP•

I feel like her M2 lacks the ability to really get sustainable kills. It‘s slow, takes an eternity to charge and is a big projectile for the enemy to spot.

It was always great as a bridge solution to pressure when engaging or finish off target but as a main way of combat there are simply better options in my opinion.

1
lordlugia_Cute Symmetra•

I understand what you’re talking about but this goes without saying, just practice. Although I may be more susceptible to die, her turrets have altered my playing style including reducing my flanking. I use and place the turrets up high where I’m defending a choke for example and almost play her like a widow maker or from the back lines and use the see through walls to plan my orbs. I always try keep at least one turret at the ready consistently so if I’m being dived I can place one and beam the enemy while trying to avoid their shots. I’ve also just had to legitimately work on my predictions (as she says herself!) and time my orbs so they hit where an enemy is going not where they are at. As far as the beam goes, I use the teleporter to help with that as my insurance policy to escape or follow close by the diving tank to assist with a kill.

1
AtlasreturnsOP•

I think it's mostly because that's the absolute opposite way I played her before. I will try that and see if I have more success.

Even though I have to ask if you are satisfied with how her projectile actually works as main form of engagement. (Primarily in comparison to something like Hanzo who get's scan and much faster one's)

1
lordlugia_Cute Symmetra•

Great! 😄

I do agree, I think it’s up to preference. I haven’t played Hanzo enough to form a bias while I have a strong preference for Sym! 🤓

1
House_of_VinesSentry•

She is being played a lot in contenders and OWL right now.

1
AtlasreturnsOP•

Really?

1
House_of_VinesSentry•

Yea, EU contenders finals had Sym on both teams, even on circuit royale

1
Minute_Lawfulness_93•

And now we have r/symettramains competing for most delusional sub, Jesus people.

1
AtlasreturnsOP•

I am mostly asking because I don't play her as often as people here.

1
Unic_OG Sym Main•

Probably not, but is she fun or engaging to play at all … well erm 💀

1
General_Program6272•

So, it sounds like most of your struggle is coming from the secondary fire? I heavily disagree with the idea that her secondary fire is in a bad place. It's an amazing ability, and you can pull off incredible burst scenarios.

"It's not as good as Hanzo or Mei."

Well, yeah, girl... but Hanzo and Mei don't have turrets backing them up.

The main issue with poking as Hanzo, Mei, Widowmaker, Zenyatta, or just anyone who wants to harass from afar? You're going to get dived, and unless you have sick aim, a Mercy pocket, or a mobile tank to rescue you - that's it.

If your turrets aren't getting value, you need to play with them more. They're not like Soldier's rockets, they aren't free damage. Turrets are Symmetra's only form of defense. Play behind them and reposition as the fight moves forward or backward.

Be careful of risky strats like TP-bombing. Honestly, ever since OW2 dropped, I no longer do that combo. Everyone has a grenade nowadays to blow that shit right up. That, or an immunity or some mobility to run away, so it's a waste of time imo.

It used to be that you'd follow it up with a fat orb to a support's face and it'd basically be a one-shot. But honestly, if you're just throwing orbs through the choke point towards the supports, you're bound to eventually kill someone that way if you have basic aiming capability. War of attrition, ladies.

Lots of skinny tanks have been dropping, so maintaining primary fire is kind of hard. Plus, it hasn't recharged off shields for a long time, so it's always kind of a risk. That, and every tank can one shot you with combos nowadays, so... You kind of need a tank who won't run away before you're ready to pump damage and will peel for you. Don't waste time charging primary off dps or supports. They'll just cc or dmg-combo you into oblivion.

Teleport is the real gag at the moment imo. I just don't think she does anything nowadays. Such an iconic ability, but deploying stuff feels terrible in any game. Too much communication required for solo queue brains. But I think we're due for a rework any season now honestly, so fingers crossed.

1
AtlasreturnsOP•

So you would also advise to play Sym primarily around her M2? I think it's important to mention that up until now I mostly played her as a dive character by TP-ing into open spots or brawling with a tank. So peeling seems absolutely unfamiliar.

As some people have given the same advice I will absolutely try that even though I am a bit skeptical to be honest.

1
telepathicness•

Since the recent changes— yes, Syms secondary fire should be more or less your primary fighting tool until you’re pushed Into brawling which Sym still does as well as she used to.

She’s being used in pro play MORE now because she does have a good amount of brawl potential and between Illari and Orisas buffs we’re seeing a pitch into a brawl meta rn. But that doesn’t mean she doesn’t feel different. I’ve definitely had to adjust my playstyle more towards poking since the changes. That said, after many hours I can get pretty sustainable kills with her secondary because I’m getting the hang of where to aim to lead the shot.

I also feel like Sym’s secondary lends itself REALLY well to peeking corners. Duck, charge your shot, peek and shoot, rinse and repeat.

1
AtlasreturnsOP•

I think you may be right. Not sure if I really like those changes but it seems to be the best way to play her for now.

Thanks for the advice. I‘ll try and see if I can make it work for myself.

1
PokemonSaviorN•

She's being played all over pro rn. She's good. Sombra is objectively worse and is the most bad DPS rn.

1
crybabydeluxe•

most bad

1
HellexJ•

Yes that’s what they said. Thank you for restating it.

1
PokemonSaviorN•

yeah i just like calling sombra bad. i wont say worst. ill say MOST BAD

1
Aldebaran_syzygy•

hmmm. I'm actually liking her now more. The 2tap right click is a godsend. If your tank is not a brawler, you can spam/snipe with right click. this is your bread and butter. If your tank is a brawler you can still melt enemies with left click.

1
calf•

When spam/snipe, where should I be standing generally? Near/behind my own team, or TP out there flanking the enemy?

1
Aldebaran_syzygy•

up to you if you think you can be safe on a flank and get a pick, but you have TP to get back if you get dived.

1
singlefate•

She's definitely the most boring now.

1
bagel4you•

Her gameplay has become more primitive and less enjoyable, but apparently she is still very strong. This is Tier A character.

1
StoneFoundation•

Yes Sym is technically a bad pick now imo. Sym likes standing next to a brawl tank and lasering down the enemy tank and TP bombing the enemy backline with level 3 beam. However, Orisa doesn’t die to it nearly fast enough (the only brawl tank who matters this patch) and dive tanks utterly roll Sym except maybe Winston if he sucks at the game. TP bombs are still effective and always will be, and her right clicks are still very good, but you can’t just right click to victory most of the time unless the enemy is literally feeding. Her laser is harder to use than ever and if anyone dies to a turret in 2023… lol.

I think Sym has always had the fundamental flaw of not having any damage ability, so to speak. Lots of characters have them where they press a button and suddenly a shit ton of damage happens instantly—Ana nade, Ashe dynamite, Rein firestrike, Orisa javelin, Sojourn right click, Brig bash, Winston jump. These abilities make fights way more dynamic because you can capitalize on enemy mistakes instantly, but Sym lacks a similar option, and usually loses a 1v1 to literally every character except some supports and maybe Tracer because of it. Sym is also just lowkey in the wrong game now that everything is less focused on the team fight and more focused on stray kills or specific interactions in 1v1s which Sym flat out fails to participate in. Sym is all about bullying tanks and surprising the backline, but the meta tanks currently can’t be bullied and yeeting the backline is slow, obvious, and finnicky compared to what any other dps can do.

1
Xardian7•

Sym is really good rn.

She is great in the maps she has alway been great but now she can be played everywhere win a good synergy with the tank. Especially with Orisa or JQ that cqn be teleported into the backline or to the high ground.

I would say that a competent sym can surely be a key factor and carry games.

You need to hit your projectile shot in the poke phases tho and you need to understand the timing for TP in the backline bombing ppl with alternative fire.

The issue you can find is surely the tank synergy when they do not play with you or if your team for some fucked up reason decide to play full dive in this meta, there you can find problems of course.

She’s certainly NOT the worst dps hero, that goes to probably Sombra or Junk.

1
Hefty_Inspection_874•

This seasons actually been the only one I can make her work because of her buffed projectile. Since it's radius is bigger I hit more. Since shield characters are meta I have a quick and easy charge and the lifesteal is nice considering the amount of things to lifesteal from. I do need to adjust my play style depending on my target though considering bastion's heavy in the Meta right now

1
International_Ad4526•

yes, actually yes she is the worst even sombra is better than her, however I think this is something that has to do with her giant hitbox, there is nothing wrong with her damage, numbers, kit, primary fire secondary fire everything is fine but really the hitbox is so huge that its impossible to think that you can primary fire without getting headshotted by everything

1
LisForLaura•

She’s definitely more situational nowadays. There are some maps she absolutely dominates on and others you’d nearly know she was there.

1
EmAyVee•

She's not the worst.

1
MysticalLight50•

Sombra’s worse rn

1
Im_A_Form•

She’s situational for sure, but I think she’s more viable than like an unpocketed Pharah or a junk, especially with how slow the current meta is being able to quickly reposition your entire team is HUGE.

1
NobodyPresent•

I thought sym counters orisa well and since orisas meta it puts sym in a decent position. Obviously still situational which sucks but she still has good value

1