Overwatch Sigma Guide: Mastering the Eccentric Astrophysicist

In Shorts: 

• Reposition Sigma’s barrier frequently to block damage from shifting angles.
• Use Kinetic Grasp to absorb key enemy ultimates like Graviton Surge.
• Save Accretion to interrupt dangerous channelled abilities when needed.
• Communicate Gravitic Flux targets so your team is ready to focus fire.
• Sigma dominates maps with tight chokes where he can control space.

Sigma is one of the most unique and challenging heroes to play in Overwatch. As an off-tank hybrid with abilities unlike any other character, Sigma requires patience, precision, and proper cooldown management to reach his full potential.

In the lore of Overwatch, Sigma was once a brilliant scientist named Siebren de Kuiper who lost his mind during a failed experiment. Now known only as Sigma, his fragmented mind possesses the ability to manipulate gravity itself – a dangerous power in the wrong hands. In Overwatch 2, Sigma is an off-tank, using his unique skills to disrupt enemies and defend his team. Let’s examine Sigma’s background, abilities, and how to play him effectively. This extensive guide provides everything you need to know to master Sigma, from ability tips to playstyle recommendations, effective hero combinations, map strategies, and more.

Understanding Sigma’s Kit

Sigma’s abilities provide him with solid damage output, disruption capabilities, and sustain. However, long cooldown durations across his kit mean you need to consider when and where to use each one carefully.

Here’s a quick rundown of Sigma’s abilities:

• Hyperspheres – Sigma’s primary fire. Two gravitic charges bounce off walls and implode after a short duration, dealing 55 damage on direct hits and 2.25-7.5 self-damage per shot. Excellent for whittling down barriers and applying mid-range pressure.
• Experimental Barrier – A 700 health barrier deployed on an angle. Highly repositionable but lacks Reinhardt’s raw stopping power. Use creatively to block chokepoints and enemy ultimates.
• Kinetic Grasp – Absorbs incoming projectiles in a short cone in front of Sigma. Also grants 50 temporary shields per 100 damage absorbed. Helpful for saving teammates from burst damage.
• Accretion – Launches a gravitic rock that damages, stuns, and knocks down the first enemy it hits. Great for starting combos and interrupting channelled abilities.
• Gravitic Flux (Ultimate) – Lifts enemies in a targeted area, then slams them down, dealing 50% of their max health as damage. Devastating when combined with team follow-up.

Sigma’s Playstyle

Sigma fights best at mid-range, where he can pressure enemies from behind his barrier while relying on Kinetic Grasp and Accretion for disruption. Don’t get overly aggressive, as Sigma lacks mobility and sustains in close quarters. Instead, focuses on controlling areas with his shield, absorbing key cooldowns, and enabling initiations with his cc. Stay near corners and walls to utilise your barrier’s unique angles and bounce Hyperspheres for maximum damage. Sigma synergises well with teammates who can capitalise on his grabs and flux. Communicate targets for focus fire and combo ultimates to obliterate clumped-up opponents. Overall, maintain a balanced playstyle and enable your team through a strong frontline presence.

Ability Tips and Tricks

Utilising Sigma’s kit effectively is essential to success. Here are some tips and tricks for each ability:

Hyperspheres:

• Bounce spheres off walls whenever possible for more reliable damage. The splash is difficult to land otherwise.
• Quickly alternate primary and secondary fire to increase projectile output.
• Charge secondary fire and release just before spheres explode for burst damage.
• Fire at enemy barriers to gain ultimate charge. Breaking shields also pressure the enemy.

Experimental Barrier:

• Reposition your barrier frequently. Don’t let it stay static.
• Tilt your barrier to block high-ground threats.
• Recall your barrier to reuse it quickly if the enemy repositions.
• Shield dance around corners to reduce barrier damage taken.
• Use a barrier to the body to block dangerous abilities like Hook and Flashbang.

Kinetic Grasp:

• Face oncoming burst damage (Soldier ult, Pharah rockets, etc.) to absorb it.
• Shield dance with a barrier while absorbing to reduce damage taken.
• Absorb damage just before using Accretion for an empowered stun.
• Don’t absorb low-damage spam – it feeds enemy ultimates.

Accretion:

• Lead shots on distant targets. The projectile is slow-moving.
• Prioritise interrupting channelled ults like Genji’s Dragonblade.
• Follow-up accretion hits with Hypersphere and melee for burst damage.
• Accretion partially goes through barriers. Use it to disrupt entrenched enemies.

Gravitic Flux:

• Communicate targets beforehand, so your team is ready to focus fire.
• Try to position the flux between enemies and their escape paths.
• Lift low-health targets high up, then secondary fire for kills.
• Descend quickly during flux by holding a crouch to slam targets faster.
• I combined it with Zarya grav, Hanzo dragon, etc., for massive damage.

Strong Hero Combinations

Sigma works best when paired with heroes who complement his abilities and make up for his weaknesses.

Here are some of his best synergies:

• Orisa – Double barrier provides a strong frontline presence and high team sustain. The supercharger boosts Sigma’s damage.
• Zarya – Graviton combines perfectly with Flux. The projected barrier enables aggressive flanks.
• Lucio – Speed boost helps Sigma reposition. The sound barrier sustains flux combos.
• Ana – Nano boost empowers flux and complements Sigma’s ranged playstyle. Biotic grenade enables big gravitic flux heals.
• Hanzo – Sonny’s arrow sets up easy combos with accretion and flux. Storm arrow shreds lifted targets.
• Mei – Wall and freeze keep enemies in flux. Cryo-freeze lets Mei survive being lifted.
• Doomfist – Meteor strike piledrives fluxed targets. Punch and uppercut combo well with accretion.

Avoid picking Sigma with dive tanks like Winston and Wrecking Ball, as they lack synergy with his grounded, anchored playstyle. By chaining his abilities together and repositioning frequently, Sigma exerts monumental pressure on the enemy team. Make the most of his unique skill set to control the flow of battle.

Sigma’s Best Team Synergies

Sigma thrives when partnered with allies who complement his abilities.

Here are some of his best synergies:

• Orisa – Fortified brawling paired with Sigma’s ranged pressure. The supercharger boosts Sigma’s damage.
• Zarya – Graviton pulls grouped enemies into Sigma’s Hypersphere splash zone.
• Sombra – Hack sets up easy primary fire damage, Accretion hits, and Flux combos.
• Ana – Nano boost empowers Flux and enables Sigma’s aggressive flanks. Biotic combo heals fluxed targets.
• Hanzo – Storm Arrows shred lifted enemies. Sonic helps confirm Accretion hits.
• Mei-Wall isolates fluxed targets. Cryo-freeze lets Mei avoid being lifted.
• Doomfist – Meteor Strike piledrives already levitating foes. Punch knocks airborne targets out of position.

By coordinating their crowd control abilities, these heroes enable Sigma to devastate clumped-up enemies.

Hard Sigma Counters – Who to Watch Out For

Despite his power, several heroes are uniquely equipped to counter Sigma’s abilities and playstyle:

• Sombra – Hack completely disables all of Sigma’s damage and utility.
• Tracer – Too quick and evasive for Sigma’s slow-moving spheres and Accretion. Can Pulse Bomb Sigma’s massive hitbox?
• Pharah-Lobs rockets over his barrier from angles he can’t reach. Barrage demolishes fluxed enemies.
• Genji – Deflect bounces Hyperspheres back, disabling Sigma’s primary damage.
• Reaper – Sneaks past Sigma’s shield to blast him point-blank. Wraith escapes flux.
• Hanzo – Rapid storm arrows break Sigma’s barrier before he can reposition it.
• Junkrat – Indirect grenades bounce past Sigma’s defences. Concussion mine evades flux.

By exploiting Sigma’s limited effective range and slow abilities, these heroes can give him major problems. Coordinate with your team to overwhelm Sigma quickly.

Ideal Maps and Modes for Sigma Domination

Sigma excels on maps and modes that enable his mid-range bullying while restricting long sight lines.

Here are some great situations to play him in:

• Assault – Hanamura, Volskaya – Tight chokepoints reward Sigma’s area control.
• Escort – Watchpoint Gibraltar, Circuit Royal – Ideal for flexible shield use.
• Control – Busan, Nepal – Strong defensive positions from which to operate his kit.
• Push – Esperança, Colosseo – Barrier dances around the robot provide immense value.
• Hybrid – Hollywood, King’s Row – Allow Sigma to flexibly transition from attack to defence.

Conversely, avoid picking Sigma on wide-open maps like Junkertown, where enemies can pressure him from multiple angles. Overall, small, structured maps suit Sigma extremely well.

Mastering Overwatch 2’s Manipulator of Gravity

With creativity and precision, Sigma exerts astonishing battlefield control in Overwatch 2. To maximise his potential, position aggressively when ultimate is ready, focus on enabling your DPS, and flexibly reposition your barrier. By mastering Sigma’s unconventional playstyle and disjointed abilities, you can rise through the ranks and dominate matches as Talon’s eccentric manipulation of gravity. Just maintain awareness, aim your spheres cleverly, and execute coordinated crowd control to keep enemies helpless as your team secures the objective.

Note: Sigma has a very high skill ceiling. Don’t get discouraged if you struggle at first! Balance playing aggressively with protecting your teammates. Prioritise enabling your DPS. Absorb damage with a barrier, grasp, and shield to enable your DPS to pop off. Stick with your main tank if running a double shield. Provide orthogonal barrier angles. Avoid long sight lines. Use map geometry to hit tricky Accretion and Flux targets.

FAQs

Q: How can I get better at aiming Sigma’s Hyperspheres?

 Practice bouncing the Hyperspheres off of walls and ceilings to hit enemies from tricky angles. Focus on predicting enemy movement and leading your shots.

Q: What is the best way to use Sigma’s barrier?

 Reposition the barrier frequently to block shifting threats. Tilt it to protect against aerial damage. Recall it when it gets low to regenerate health.

Q: Who counters Sigma the most?

Long-range heroes like Widowmaker, Hanzo, and Pharah give Sigma problems. Also, watch out for Reaper, Sombra, and other heroes who can quickly overwhelm him.

Q: What maps is Sigma strong on?

 Sigma excels on maps with tight chokes like Hanamura and Volskaya Industries. He can control space very effectively.