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5 amazing things we saw in the Overwatch League that you should try
We saw some incredible action during the first weekend of OWL action – here's how you can copy the pros and destroy the opposition.
The Overwatch League returned at the weekend, with pros beginning the battle to claim the season two crown. The Blizzard Arena in Burbank, California was packed with excited fans keen to see how the onscreen drama had evolved since last year’s tournament.
They witnesed some sizzling plays and amazing feats of teamwork that have us excited for the next round of matches. The tank and healer-heavy compositions that dominated the previous season may still be present, but that didn’t stop teams from putting on an impressive show – in fact, this year’s tournament is already shaping up to be even more exciting than the 2018 edition.
To help you replicate some of the best Week 1 plays, we’ve put together an in-depth guide that breaks down five of the best Overwatch League moments and shows how you can use them to up your game.
1. Dafran’s Tracer takedowns
Many fans were sceptical about Dafran’s ability to play in the Overwatch big leagues, but he proved his critics wrong with some truly solid performances. Dafran provided everything expected and then some. When he wasn’t busy wiping Florida Mayhem with his sneaky Zarya gravs, he was barraging them with a hail of Bastion bullets.
However, one of his most impressive performances was when he methodically took down Mayhem’s key threats one by one with Tracer. His target prioritisation was on point and Dafran quickly deleted HaGoPeun’s Ana, denying him the health pack he needed with a quick Blink before finishing him off with a flurry of Pulse Pistol bullets.
Once HaGoPeun’s long-range heals were shut down, Dafran quickly trained his sights on xepheR’s D.Va. He instantly shredded through xepheR’s armour, forcing him to retreat to the nearest health pack. However, Dafran was ahead of the game and he used his Blink to once again deny his target the health they desperately needed. Another wave of Pulse Bullets ensured that xepheR’s D.Va mech was rendered useless and he turned his focus towards Kris’ Lucian.
Once Mayhem’s second healer had been isolated and shutdown, Dafran then used his Blink to get into Mayhem’s backline to finish off xepheR. Dafran’s Tracer ran rings around Mayhem and his methodical target prioritisation left Mayhem exhausted. Atlanta Reign’s rising star showed fans how backline DPS should be played.
To mimic Dafran’s Tracer, try to constantly confuse the enemy and disrupt them from focusing on the objective. Shutting key threats down is great, but you should only look for fights that you can win. Punish foes that have overextended in a team fight or blink behind enemy lines to carefully take down the enemy team’s squishy healers. Your goal is to sow as much chaos as possible, so pick your fights carefully. Tracer may be a little tricky to master, but with enough practice, you’ll be dictating the flow of the battle just like Dafran.
2. London Spitfire's quad DPS comp
GOATS team comps have dominated the Overwatch meta for a long time now, especially in the pro scene, where running three tanks (Rein, Zarya and D'va) and three support (Moira, Brig and Lucio) is incredibly potent. It can be an extremely powerful comp thanks to the tremendous amount of lockdown and outplay potential, but without the right communication and setup, it can fall apart if you're not careful.
While many casual and pro Overwatch players have aired their frustrations at the current state of the team comp meta, there have been very few attempts to shift away from it. However, London Spitfire showed us just how effective other comps can be when they switched to quad DPS in their Week 1 match against Philadelphia Fusion. After back-to-back games of GOATS comps, London Spitfire decided to mix things up, shocking both casters and viewers alike.
London Spitfire rolled with Sombra, Pharah, Widowmaker, Tracer, Wrecking Ball, and Mercy as their solo healer. This comp relied heavily on the ranged damage from Profit’s Pharah and Birdring’s Widowmaker, while Nus’ Mercy provided damage buffs to his DPS’ explosive shots. Fusion quickly found themselves in an unwinnable situation and they desperately tried to funnel onto the objective, but Profit’s rockets tore through the grouped GOATS team. When Fusion eventually managed to make it out of the building, they were met with deadly sniper fire from Birdring’s Widowmaker.
London Spitfire may have lost against their season one rivals, but they did prove that with the right coordination and communication, you can deliver a lethal surprise that disrupts your opponent’s game plan. Be sure to give quad DPS a go if your team is struggling to win against a GOATS team comp.
3. BenBest’s offensive Reinhardt plays
BenBest was on top form against London Spitfire and his deadly Reinhardt plays gave Paris Eternal the power they needed to break through the former kings. He constantly dove into Spitfire’s backline, locking down Profit’s Bridget time and time again. Profit found himself pinned and was quickly deleted from the fight before he could even react, while Kruise’s Lucio kept Paris alive with well-timed Crossfades and knockbacks from Soundwave. Whenever BenBest charged into the fray, HyP used Zenyatta's Orb of Harmony to provide heals from afar.
Fury’s Zarya also fell to BenBest’s mighty hammer and Spitfire’s GOATS comp began to crack under the pressure. Guard tried to desperately get back on to the payload, but he could do little against the almighty Reinhardt wall that lay in front of him. With a constant stream of heals from both Kruise and HyP, BenBest could confidently make plays and crush those that dared to get in his way.
Having a strong dynamic between your tanks and healers is incredibly important, so be sure to look after them in combat and they’ll be able to sponge incoming damage, giving you the power you need to push and stay on the objective. This play may seem rather simple, but many players neglect their tanky companions in favour of their DPS cousins. Tanks and healers are the backbone of any good team, so look after them and they’ll look after you. Thankfully, recreating Paris Eternal’s tank and healer dynamic is incredibly easy and you’ll win more games if you follow this simple step.
4. Lethal ultimate combinations
Their dynasty may have been crushed by Dallas Fuel during day 4 of the Overwatch League, but Seoul did demonstrate why they shouldn’t be messed with. Overwatch games are usually decided by which side has the better synergy during team fights and Seoul Dynasty showcased this perfectly during Map 1.
After AKM’s SombraEMP caught four members of Seoul Dynasty, it looked as though Dallas Fuel would take the win. However, Michelle’s Sombra managed to avoid the hack and countered this play with his own EMP, giving Fleta the perfect opportunity to lay down Zarya’s Graviton Surge. The EMP from Michelle’s Sombra ensured that the grouped members of Dallas Fuel couldn’t counter incoming damage as OGE’s Reinhardt, ZachaREEE’s Brigitte, and uNKOE’s Zenyatta had their lifesaving shields stripped away. What followed was a team wipe that allowed Seoul Dynasty to easily secure the objective.
To replicate this play, you’ll need to have excellent communication with your teammates. Be sure to let them know when your ultimate is up, and who you plan on using it on, as this will allow you to shut down even the slipperiest of foes. You can even tailor certain comps around ultimate synergy, so look for ways in which you can combine your abilities together and be ready to surprise your enemies with some coordinated plays.
5. The best defence is a good offence
LA Gladiators proved this old adage true when they effectively destroyed San Francisco Shock’s defence with their incredibly powerful offence. Things were getting tense as the Gladiators desperately tried to keep their foes from stalling out the game, but after a Nevix’s D.Va ult failed to catch anyone, the Gladiators ramped up the pressure. Surefour took the lead and deleted foes left, right and centre with deadly shots from his Hellfire Shotguns. He constantly pumped bullets into Shock’s tanks, effectively shutting them out of the game.
With both super’s Reinhardt and Nevix’s D.Va out of the equation, Surefour began to tighten the noose around the remaining members. A final Death Blossom sealed Shock’s fate and the Gladiators put an end to their resistance.
Taking out the enemy team’s DPS may seem like a top priority in most situations, but when you need to secure an objective, it can be beneficial to focus on your enemy’s tanks. These beefy frontliners are the backbone of any team, and without their large pools of health and crowd control capabilities, most teams begin to fall apart. Deleting tanks from a fight is especially important when you’re trying to secure the objective, so be ready to focus them if you wish to secure a quick win.
