What Can Sigma Absorb in Overwatch 2? A Comprehensive Guide
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Sigma, the eccentric astrophysicist turned gravity-manipulating tank, is a unique and powerful character in Overwatch 2. A core element of his kit revolves around his ability to absorb incoming damage and convert it into temporary shields. Understanding exactly what Sigma can and cannot absorb is crucial for mastering the hero and effectively countering him.
The short answer is: Sigma can absorb most projectile and hitscan attacks with his Kinetic Grasp ability. This includes a wide array of abilities and basic attacks, transforming what would be harmful damage into a significant boost to his survivability. However, there are limitations. He cannot absorb beam attacks or melee attacks, which inflict full damage without generating shields. Let’s delve deeper into the specifics of what Sigma can and cannot nullify.
Kinetic Grasp: The Core of Sigma’s Absorption
Sigma’s main defensive ability, Kinetic Grasp, is a crucial tool for his survival. When activated, Sigma creates a gravity well in front of him, which lasts for 2 seconds. During this time, any frontal projectile or hitscan attacks that enter the area of effect are absorbed. This absorbed damage is then converted into temporary shields for Sigma, adding to his maximum health. The amount of shields gained is 60% of the absorbed damage, up to a maximum of 400 extra shields. These shields decay at a rate of 7 HP per second after 3 seconds.
Projectiles Sigma Can Absorb
Sigma can absorb a wide array of projectile attacks, including but not limited to:
- Most basic attacks: Projectiles fired from heroes like Soldier: 76’s rifle, Pharah’s rockets, Hanzo’s arrows, Junkrat’s grenades and mines, Mei’s icicles, and Genji’s shurikens.
- Ultimate abilities: Many ultimate abilities that function as projectiles are also absorbed. This includes, but is not limited to, Bastion’s Tank configuration missiles, Pharah’s Barrage, Junkrat’s Rip-tire, and Zarya’s Graviton Surge.
- Other abilities: Many secondary and tertiary abilities function as projectiles. Sigma can absorb, for example, Ana’s Biotic Grenades, Ashe’s Dynamite, Zenyatta’s orbs, and Torbjorn’s rivets.
- Explosives: Sigma can absorb the explosive damage from abilities like Tracer’s Pulse Bomb and D.Va’s Self-Destruct (although the initial explosion doesn’t cause damage while it’s being absorbed).
Hitscan Attacks Sigma Can Absorb
Sigma’s Kinetic Grasp can also absorb a wide variety of hitscan attacks. These are attacks that register instantly rather than travel, such as:
- Most basic attacks: Hitscan weapons like Soldier: 76’s rifle, McCree’s revolver, Widowmaker’s sniper shots, and Tracer’s Pulse Pistols.
- Ultimate abilities: Hitscan based ults like McCree’s Deadeye (before the shots are fired).
Limitations: What Sigma Cannot Absorb
While Sigma’s absorption capabilities are significant, there are crucial limitations to consider:
Beam Attacks
Beam attacks are a hard counter to Sigma’s Kinetic Grasp. This includes attacks from heroes like:
- Zarya’s Particle Cannon: Both the primary beam fire and the alternate fire (grenades) cannot be absorbed.
- Symmetra’s Photon Projector: The primary fire beam cannot be absorbed.
- Winston’s Tesla Cannon: Cannot be absorbed by Kinetic Grasp.
- Moira’s Biotic Grasp: Cannot be absorbed by Kinetic Grasp.
Melee Attacks
Sigma cannot absorb melee attacks or anything that directly connects, such as:
- Basic melee attacks: Punches and other melee attacks from all heroes.
- Charged melee abilities: Abilities like Reinhardt’s Charge, Winston’s Primal Rage melee, and Doomfist’s Rocket Punch.
- Specific melee attacks: Brigitte’s Whip Shot.
Why These Limitations Exist
The limitations to Sigma’s absorption ability are designed to create balanced gameplay. Allowing him to absorb beam attacks or melee would make him almost invincible and eliminate certain counters. By focusing his absorption on projectiles and hitscan, Blizzard ensures that there are still reliable ways to engage and pressure Sigma.
Mastering Sigma’s Absorption
Effectively utilizing Sigma’s absorption is critical for maximizing his potential:
- Timing is key: Knowing when to deploy Kinetic Grasp is paramount. Anticipating enemy attacks and predicting when they might unleash a barrage is crucial to maximizing shield generation.
- Understanding matchups: Familiarize yourself with the heroes that can easily bypass your absorption, such as Zarya, Symmetra, and Winston. Knowing which enemies to avoid or prioritize is essential.
- Strategic positioning: Position yourself carefully to ensure the absorption area encompasses the most potential threats. Don’t allow enemies to flank you, as your ability only works in a frontal cone.
- Canceling for offense: Sigma’s Kinetic Grasp can be cancelled by Accretion. In some cases, it is more advantageous to cancel the ability and use the Accretion to burst down an opponent.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Does Sigma absorb Zarya’s primary beam?
No, Sigma cannot absorb Zarya’s primary beam attack. This is a hard counter to Sigma, meaning it inflicts full damage and grants Zarya charge.
2. Can Sigma absorb Bastion’s Ultimate missiles?
Yes, Sigma can absorb Bastion’s Tank mode missiles. He can absorb a significant amount of damage and convert it into a lot of extra shield health.
3. Can Sigma absorb Reinhardt’s Charge?
No, Sigma cannot absorb Reinhardt’s Charge. As a melee attack, it goes directly through Kinetic Grasp.
4. Can Sigma absorb D.Va’s Self-Destruct explosion?
Yes and no. Sigma’s Kinetic Grasp can absorb the incoming projectile D.Va Mech itself, but not the damage from the actual explosion, and will convert that damage to temporary shields. This is a great way to mitigate a D.Va Ult.
5. Does Sigma absorb Mei’s primary fire?
No, Sigma cannot absorb Mei’s primary fire as it is a beam and not a projectile.
6. How much shield does Sigma gain from absorbing damage?
Sigma gains 60% of the damage absorbed as temporary shields, up to a maximum of 400 extra shields.
7. Can Sigma absorb Genji’s Shurikens?
Yes, Sigma can absorb Genji’s Shurikens as they are projectiles.
8. Does Sigma absorb Roadhog’s hook?
No, Sigma cannot absorb Roadhog’s hook. The hook itself is a hook and has no projectile element.
9. Can Sigma absorb Ana’s sleep dart?
Yes, Sigma can absorb Ana’s sleep dart as it is a projectile.
10. Does Sigma have a normal shield like Reinhardt or Orisa?
Sigma has a barrier he can deploy, which acts as a shield. However, this barrier has about half the health of Reinhardt’s shield. This barrier is separate from Kinetic Grasp and it can be used to block incoming attacks and even certain Ults such as D.Va’s and even Junkrat’s Rip Tire.
11. Does Sigma absorb beam ults like Zarya’s Graviton Surge?
Yes, Sigma’s Kinetic Grasp can absorb Zarya’s Graviton Surge which is fired as a projectile. Note that he can absorb the projectile, but any damage caused by the Graviton pulling or by enemy fire will go directly to his shields.
12. Is Sigma a good choice against projectile-heavy teams?
Yes, Sigma excels against teams that rely heavily on projectile and hitscan attacks, as his Kinetic Grasp allows him to convert their damage into shields, greatly enhancing his survivability.
13. Is Sigma’s absorption ability similar to D.Va’s Defense Matrix?
Yes, Sigma’s Kinetic Grasp functions similarly to D.Va’s Defense Matrix in that it can absorb projectiles and hitscan attacks, but it cannot absorb beams.
14. How does Sigma absorb damage from explosives?
Sigma’s Kinetic Grasp absorbs the explosive payload itself. This includes abilities like Tracer’s Pulse Bomb, where it will absorb the incoming explosive, thus mitigating the initial damage.
15. Can Sigma absorb melee ultimates like Winston’s Primal Rage?
No, Sigma cannot absorb melee based ultimates like Winston’s Primal Rage. The melee attacks do full damage and don’t provide shields, similar to his normal melee hits.
By understanding the ins and outs of Sigma’s absorption ability, players can utilize him to his full potential. Knowing what Sigma can and cannot absorb is essential for success both as Sigma, and against him. Use this comprehensive guide to dominate the battlefield and push your team to victory in Overwatch 2!