Sonya Build Guide “Time to die!”
Welcome to our guide for Sonya, a Bruiser in Heroes of the Storm. Within these pages, you will find everything required to understand how best to play this hero, in both different map styles and team compositions.
Sonya's Overview
Sonya is an aggressive Bruiser that uses an alternate resource called Fury. Her defining elements are her immense single-target damage output and self sustain. Since the majority of her Abilities have a very short range, Sonya players are reliant on their aptitude to position themselves properly so as to be able to both deal damage and survive.
Sonya's Strengths and Weaknesses
- One of the highest single-target damage output potential in the game
- Extremely strong duelist
- Great self-sustain through Whirlwind
- May quickly and safely solo claim any Mercenary Camp
- Outstanding solo laner
- Susceptible to being kited
- No options to deal damage from range
- Excessively reliant on hitting her Ancient Spear Ability
- Whirlwind can be easily canceled by crowd control
Sonya's Talent Build Cheatsheet
Single Target Build
RecommendedSonya's Single Target Build, differently from other options, will be a good choice in all games, as it does not depend on Whirlwind or Leap to deal damage. Shot Of Fury and Rampage will greatly increase her DPS, and Poisoned Spear can be a good choice if you do not need the extra self-sustain from Battle Rage.
Seismic Slam Build
SituationalSonya's Seismic Slam Build has a different playstyle than the other options. It is focused on constantly hitting the enemy frontline with Basic Attacks and Seismic Slams, dealing high damage to the tank and to Melee Heroes near them.
Whirlwind Build
SituationalSonya's Synergies and Counters
For Sonya, survival means damage, and damage means survival. As such, she works well with any Hero that can provide her with Shielding effects, added mobility, or reliable crowd control.
Sonya can be easily punished after engaging, because she relies on the self-sustain from her Abilities and Talents. For this reason, heroes that can apply decent crowd control on her are a respectable threat for Sonya. Furthermore, since Wrath of the Berserker does not reduce the duration of silences, fears, or taunts, Sonya has a hard time against Brightwing, Garrosh, and Sylvanas.
Sonya's Maps
As a strong solo laner who is also able to clear Mercenary Camps with ease, Sonya can find a place on all Maps. She is, however, particularly effective on those Maps that feature several Mercenary Camps, such as Blackheart's Bay, and Garden of Terror. Sonya is also excellent on Maps with an important control point on the solo lane, such as Dragon Shire and Braxis Holdout.
Sonya's Tips and Tricks
- As Fury does not decay over time, try and keep it full before impending engagements.
- Ancient Spear is Sonya's most important Ability; avoid wasting it unless you are sure you can land it.
- Try and constantly keep on attacking while under the effects of Wrath of the Berserker to maintain its effects for as long as possible.
- Sonya has a great potential to destroy Towers and Forts; make sure to damage the towers with Seismic Slams and Basic Attacks when the opposing Offlaner is not there.
- Since Wrath of the Berserker's Cooldown runs during its buff, you can freely use this Heroic Ability in the Lane, as you will probably have it again when necessary.
- Shot Of Fury can be used to extend Wrath of the Berserker's duration by 5 seconds.
- Mostly, if you want to keep chasing a running target, it is better to only use Ancient Spear and Seismic Slams to reach it, as Basic Attacks will slow you down (assuming you have enough Fury for that).
- Nerves of Steel should not be used together with Ignore Pain. It is better to use them separately to maximize Sonya's survivability.
Sonya's Role in the Current Meta
Although officially classified as a Bruiser, Sonya's playstyle is much more reminiscent of that of a Melee Assassin; her high damage output is offset by a limited access to crowd control, reliable early-game initiation, and defensive Abilities. Consequently, players should strongly consider drafting her with the mindset that she fills the role of a Melee Assassin, and bring along at least one other Hero that is capable of fulfilling the expected functions of a Tank. Furthermore, Sonya players are expected to hold the solo lane.
As a Melee Assassin, she tends to do well against team compositions that feature multiple melee Heroes, such as dive-oriented compositions, where opponents actually have to come to her or her allies to perform well. This gives Sonya players the opportunity to attack without having to constantly chase after key targets, greatly improving her effectiveness.
As the only Bruiser in the team, she is not a good pick against dive compositions, as her peeling capabilities are very limited. However, she is excellent to follow a Tank's engages or to burst a squishy enemy Hero.
Changelog
- 04 Jun. 2021 (talents page): Builds and Talents updated after May 18 balance patch.
- 04 Jun. 2021 (this page): Guide updated after May 18 balance patch.
- 26 Mar. 2021 (talents page): Updated Talent recommendations.
- 26 Feb. 2021 (this page): Simplified Build choices.
- 18 Feb. 2021 (talents page): Builds and Talents updated to better reflect current meta.
- 18 Feb. 2021 (this page): Guide updated to better reflect current meta.
- 25 Jan. 2021 (talents page): Talents and builds updated to ensure meta relevance.
- 25 Jan. 2021 (abilities page): Updated Leap's description.
- 25 Jan. 2021 (this page): Updated Tips and Builds to keep up with meta changes.
- 03 Dec. 2020 (talents page): Talents and builds updated after recent balance patch.
- 03 Dec. 2020 (abilities page): Updated Seismic Slam's description.
- 03 Dec. 2020 (this page): Guide updated after recent balance patch.
- 24 Sep. 2020 (talents page): Builds updated to ensure meta relevance.
- 24 Sep. 2020 (this page): Builds updated to ensure meta relevance.
- 30 Aug. 2020 (this page): Role in Current Meta section updated.
- 13 Dec. 2019 (this page): Added a note about current Anomaly.
- 29 Oct. 2019 (talents page): Talent builds and recommendations reviewed and updated.
- 29 Oct. 2019 (abilities page): Abilities section reviewed.
- 29 Oct. 2019 (this page): Guide updated.
- 30 Aug. 2018 (talents page): Talent descriptions updated to reflect latest balance patch.
- 13 May 2018 (talents page): Talent descriptions and recommendations updated to reflect Sonya's rework patch.
- 07 Mar. 2018 (talents page): Talent descriptions and recommendations updated to reflect Sonya's rework patch.
- 06 Mar. 2018 (this page): Role section updated to better reflect currently expected solo laning role.
- 14 Jan. 2018 (talents page): Updated Tier 2 and Tier 3 Talent discussions. Updated Whirlwind and Burst builds.
- 29 Aug. 2017 (this page): Guide fully updated and moved to the new format.
More Bruiser Guides
Derenash has been playing Heroes of the Storm since 2015 and has achieved Grandmaster in multiple seasons, peaking at Top 1 in Season 3 and 4 of 2018. He participated in the HGC Copa America in 2018 where his team had a strong victory. He is passionate about teaching others about the game, and streams often on Twitch in Portuguese, and you can find him in Wind Striders' Discord as well where he is happy to answer any questions in English or Portuguese.
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