The long-awaited Symmetra rework has finally gone live in the Overwatch Public Test Region.


Blizzard released the PTR patch notes Tuesday for ​Overwatch, including the Symmetra rework that will shift her from a support hero to a damage role. She has a new ultimate called Photon Barrier that deploys a barrier big enough to span and cut through an entire map. Its orientation can be changed by pressing the ultimate button again, and it has 5,000 health.

"The goal of these changes is to move Symmetra to her new damage role and make her more flexible and viable across more areas of the game than she was previously," Blizzard wrote in the patch notes. "Now that Symmetra is no longer a support hero; she is expected to be able to dish out heavy damage, and these changes allow for her to do so. She should be more powerful and interesting in more team compositions and maps, and she should also be stronger on offense and defense."


Here's a look at the rest of the updates to Symmetra's abilities:


  • Photon Projector
    • No longer locks onto targets
    • Range increased to 10 meters
    • Damage ramping now takes 2 seconds per damage level instead of 1 second
    • Damage ramp increased from 30/60/120 to 60/120/180
    • Now generates ammo instead of spending it when hitting a barrier
  • Alternate Fire
    • No longer pierces targets
    • Now explodes on contact
    • Projectile speed increased
    • Charge up speed increased
    • Damage changed to 60 impact / 60 explosive
  • Sentry Turret
    • Turret is now placed like a projectile instead of being set in place
    • Can hold a max of 3, down from 6
    • Can now deploy a max 3, down from 6
    • Damage increased
    • Amount of slowing effect increased
  • Teleporter
    • Can now place the exit up to 25 meters away from Symmetra
    • Entrance will automatically be built in front of Symmetra, rather than at her team’s spawn point
    • Lasts 10 seconds
    • Health lowered to 300
    • More things can teleport through it (e.g. Junkrat’s RIP-Tire)
    • Entrance can be destroyed
      • If either the entrance or exit is destroyed, the other is removed


The Symmetra rework has been a lengthy process, and game director Jeff Kaplan has provided ​​multiple updates along ​the way. As one of the least viable heroes in the game, the update expects to see her return to the meta in some form, and being a damage hero should give the game a boost.