Don't have time to download the patch and test this out tonight, but some thoughts just from reading the patch notes:
- Sonya - adjusted several hitboxes to hit more consistently
Assuming this refers to b223, which is certainly nice.
- Sonya – added 5 more recovery frames on Air Drop when missed
Definitely fair. Airdrop had pretty much 0 penalty for whiffing and alot of times an opponent just trying to block it would end up getting pressured by a Sonya who fell short. This also means that opponents who whiff a low-profile d4 against a Sonya jumping in because divekick changes her angle- won't find themselves at block disadvantage as much
- Sonya - Energy Blast is a mid block and -5 on block (up from -15)
woooooaaaaah. Did not see this coming. I really didn't have an issue with this in Demolitions, because I would use it in conjunction with grenades to force the opponent to block the Blast and take some extra chip. This will make Energy Blast more useful in other variations though- it felt almost entirely useless in covert Ops.
- Sonya - increased damage of Flying Kick (enhanced) by 4
This was already her best way to end a combo and corner an opponent. Now it does more damage. Excellent.
- Sonya - increased damage of Leg Slam by 5
I generally don't use this too much because she has much better enders, but the additional damage may be helpful when you just need that extra bit to finish off a life bar.
- Sonya (Covert Ops) - Garrote Parry is no longer throw immune
Was not aware this was even a thing...
- Sonya (Demolition) - increased cancel advantage on Boomer combo (FP, FP, BP)
Will definitely be helpful in those matches where she had trouble safely refilling grenades outside of a 2134 juggle ender. Scorpion was absolutely terrible to deal with for that reason.
- Sonya (Demolition) - adjusted the damage & hit stun of the grenade attacks
This is vague. Adjusted in which way? Don't have time to download the patch tonight, but will try it out tomorrow. I'm hoping her frag grenades actually do better damage now. I would totally trade some damage from her shock grenades for this one reason.
All in all, these look like mainly Quality of Life changes. No huge nerfs and no huge buffs. Many moves where improved, but these improvements were really only for moves that were not very useful at all before and almost didn't make sense at all without the buffs. I honestly only used b332 out of a good deal of desperation.
I'm guessing NRS is quite happy with where Sonya is at the moment. And given she's arguably top tier- I'd take that as a good indication she's the standard where NRS thinks characters should be.