The Fusions situation has hung over the Uprising all week. Would the upstart rookie get his contract solved before Thursday’s match? Enter Christopher “Huk” Lorringer, President of Gaming for the Boston Uprising. With the news that Fusions would be good to go for Thursday, someone had to alert the Seoul Dynasty and Toronto Defiant of what was in store for them this weekend:
I know what you’re thinking: not all heroes wear capes. I agree. Well, with shots fired, would anyone respond?
Ok now we’ve got us gunfight. Well, who’s gonna lay down a killing blow?
Ooof. Huk taking their words and not just making a early naught’s pop culture reference but matching the colors. It actually spun my head on a swivel when I realized the two point diss that Huk dropped in one Tweet. Hmmm. Well – would Toronto respond or just lay down and ask for their belly to get rubbed?
Kawhi Leonard? You pointing to Kawhi Leonard. Well, I couldn’t let the general of the army do all the dirty work. I’m just a foot soldier in this war, but I’ll come in when my number is called.
As of this moment Toronto has gone quiet. An amber alert has been signaled and the missing persons report has been filed. Please keep your eye out for the Defiant. If you see something, say something.
New to Overwatch? Get caught up on everything Overwatch League by reading our introduction.
How much drama can you squeeze into one match of the Overwatch League season? Given the heights reached by the Boston Uprising and Shanghai Dragons on Friday night, the answer is – plenty. Controversy outside the team, the first example of possible officiating misconduct, personal rivalries between the teams, and heightened fan support led to an all-time memorable matchup.
Pregame
News broke earlier in the day that Uprising’s owner Robert Kraft was being charged with solicitation of prostitution. While none of the players nor staff have commented on the matter, Overwatch League fans pounced on it. Twitter, Discords, Reddit, and other areas of the internet were writhe with toxicity about the Uprising’s owner. Unfortunately, what would normally be a much bigger story than a normal match, which would nearly be forgotten by the end of the day.
Shanghai would go into the match with unprecedented fan support. From the last few games of last season, Overwatch League fans have wanted to see Shanghai get their elusive first win. Conversely, no OWL team wanted to be that first team to lose to the Dragons. Blizzard Arena was clearly on the side of Shanghai, as noted by casters Achilios and Wolf throughout the broadcast.
As I mentioned in my pregame analysis, a big change for Boston would be the addition of Colourhex. Coming off a two game suspension, the New Zealander was meant to help counter the Sombra triple tank comp that has been the thorn in their side all season. How well he could integrate into the team could be the lynchpin the whole match rested on.
Controversy
Before the 10pm match would begin, the Uprising would nonchalantly tweet out their starting roster:
Now why would I mention something as innocuous as the starting roster? For those who don’t have the Overwatch League’s official rules memorized, allow me to highlight part 5.16 subsection (e):
Part 5.16 subsection (e:)
Pre-Match Roster Submission. Teams must submit their Starting Roster (including seating order) for each match no later than two (2) hours prior to the start of the first match of the day. Changes to the Starting Roster after that time are subject to rejection by the League Office.
Unfortunately, this wouldn’t be the team that hit the stage. In an unprecedented, last minute change, Fusions was told he would not be allowed to play. As first reported by VPE Sports, Fusions was still playing under his two-way contract. In a statement released two days later by the League, it was explained:
As two-way contract player Cameron âFusionsâ Bosworth had already played twice for the Boston Uprising in Stage 1, he was ineligible to play in Fridayâs match against the Shanghai Dragons. Unfortunately the League Office did not determine he was ineligible until shortly before Bostonâs match was set to begin, and we apologize for that oversight
Who is responsible for this mess? Obviously, with the League apologizing, they hold some responsibility. More than anyone, they should have known who was eligible to play and responded swiftly to Boston’s starting roster. That’s not to say the Uprising is blameless. Teams and players are responsible for knowing the League rules and should have known this. Fusions was projected into the starting six and scrimmed all week with the team. Boston was at a disadvantage before the match even started.
Heated rivalry?
On top of this, you have Gamsu, Shanghai’s main tank. Boston’s former captain and fan-favorite tank player was traded to Shanghai just two days before the start of the season. Gamsu claims he was “blindsided by the trade.” However, Uprising Team President Huk disputed this on Reddit. These conflicting accounts only added fuel to the fire. Regardless of who is right, it’s unlikely that Gamsu didn’t play with a bit of a chip on his shoulder.
Boston and Shanghai’s match had too many combustable ingredients for one match. Ownership drama. Officiating mistakes. Fans overwhelmingly on one side. Player drama. An upsurging, winless franchise. Blase’s birthday. How would the actual match play out?
Ilios
All eyes were on Boston’s hero selection. With Fusions pulled out, Axxiom took his spot on Rein. Colourhex played on the Sombra, Additionally, Boston played a Wreckingball, Lucio, Moira, Winston, and DVa. Interestingly, Shanghai would employ the Phar-Mercy combo. With no anti-air counter, DDing (on Pharah) and Coma (on Mercy) had free range to pepper the Uprising with Rockets all the way from their spawn to the point. Colourhex performed well enough as Sombra, but the Uprising were more often than not the worse victims of the EMP. This would foreshadow future problems. While it was a close stage 1, Shanghai would win it 100% – 48%.
Stage 2 saw both teams play mirroring three tank team comps. Unfortunately for Boston, Gamsu’s aggression steamrolled the Uprising. They took the point from the start and never let go. Winning 100% – 0%.
Kings Row
Boston would play on offense first. Surprisingly, they put Note on the Reaper. Was this a genius move? Hard to say. Throughout the round, Shanghai played with more trepidation and less willingness to engage. With the amount of damage that Reaper has, the dynamic changed. It proved difficult for Boston to get the last point after causing through the first two. Take for example, Note popping his first (and only) Death Blossom of the round:
Getting stunned and tossed off the map after spending all round building to an ultimate hurt. Meanwhile, DDing on Sombra continued to pull off devastating EMPs. At the last defense, he was particularly effective. DDing quickly earned and used EMPs, a fatal blow after he often would hit all six Uprising players. What made DDing work so well was his coordination with Gamsu and his teammates. The EMPs were seemingly always followed by an Earthshatter or Graviton. After several pushes and with no time left, Boston was able to capture the last point.
With Shanghai on offense, Boston continued to fall prey to DDing and the Sombra. He methodically stalked the back line, hacking stray players, calling out the Uprising’s positioning, and fleeing the few times he was spotted. Specifically, between point 1 and 2, he hit all 6 players of the Uprising with an EMP on two separate occasions. The Uprising simply had no answer to it. Shanghai got through the last point with over two minutes. As a result, they made quick work of getting a tick on their next pass through to win the map.
Horizon Lunar Colony
First wave
Moving to Assault mode, Boston would plant the seeds for countering DDing and Sombra. How did they do it? First, Shanghai helped. Boston took the longer outdoor route and were instantly hit with the EMP en route to Point A. Fortunately, the Dragons weren’t coordinated enough to reap the benefits. Second, Aimgod started popping the Transcendence preemptively. This became a meta game between the two as they began baiting each other. Would Aimgod use the Transcend too early? Could DDing hold off his trigger finger and wait him out?
Shanghai got through both points with over two minutes on the clock, but that’s peanuts compared to the Dragons. On offense, Shanghai absolutely steamrolled, capturing both points with over six minutes in the bank.
Second wave
With their second turn on offense, Boston continued to run to Point A through the longer outdoors trek. They captured it quickly, but were thwarted in a snowball attempt on Point B by more EMPs from DDing. However, they were able to stagger on the point. Shanghai couldn’t wipe them all out. Specifically, Axxiom showed up with a minute to spare, caught Gamsu out of position, and Earthshattered the Dragons. After the mop up, Boston took Point B with seconds to spare.
With all the time in the world, Shanghai methodically pushed through the two points. DDing continued to quickly gain EMPs, thwart the Uprising’s ability to respond, and have his main tanks swarm in and clean up anyone else. Notably, Kellex started to show his ability to counter the EMP. He played away from the rest of the team and dropped in after the EMP with his Sound Barrier. As a result, this helped the Uprising sustain until the EMP wore off and delayed the inevitable capture.
Third wave
With only a minute on the clock, Boston’s chances of getting both points were slim. However, they were able to push up to two ticks on Point A. Shanghai, with over two minutes, had more to play with. Sadly, they were up to the task.
What do you do when you’re the first team to ever lose to Shanghai? When you’re a map away from getting swept? First thing you need is attitude. And holy hell did Boston have the attitude down:
Kellex and Aimgod literally burned a hole through their monitor with those stares
Attitude may help but you still have to perform. And, well… with Boston on offense, they were unable to get to the second point. Kellex seemed tilted and was the first to get picked off by the Dragons in nearly ever fight. A full sweep seemed inevitable.
What an absolutely horrendous night. Just about everything that could have gone wrong, did. It’s hard not to feel as an Uprising fan that you got kicked in the gut. I wish I could say a few days separated from it happening has made it easier to accept, but that’s not the case. Let me go through, rapid fire, the bad. Don’t worry, I’ll leave something hopeful at the end so you know there’s light at the end of the tunnel.
Bad
1. Colourhex didn’t seem to integrate onto the team well. He had his moments where he pulled some plays, but he isn’t meant to play Zarya. With Axxiom forced to go from Zarya to Rein last minute, the whole team seemed uncoordinated. How much of that is Colourhex, last minute craziness, or the Dragons can’t be clarified.
2. Good god did DDing have a day. These numbers may stand the test of time. 152 enemies hacked? This guy must work for the Russians or something because he is a hacking savant. The Uprising have struggled against Sombra all season and until the meta shifts, they need to look at those few times it they countered the EMP and build from there.
The obvious MVP of the match
3. Excuses are a dime a dozen and worth less, but it’s hard not to wonder about ‘what if’. Specifically, what if Fusions is in this game? Does his aggressive style keep Shanghai in check? Without a last minute addition of Axxiom on Rein, do the Uprising play the way they scrimmed all week?
4. Where was Alamou? It seems like at some point Kellex wasn’t getting the job done and a change at support may have helped. The Brazilian is a Lucio main, and may have been better at dropping Sound Barriers to counter the EMP.
5. Blase did not bring any birthday magic. Sad.
6. Remember when we thought a charge of prostitution on the team’s owner would be the biggest drama of the night?
Good
7. Be happy for Gamsu. The former main tank was a great player for Boston and established a winning culture here. He gave us his all and was a part of many of the best moments from our first season. We shouldn’t harbor any ill feelings towards him. Maybe he was offered to go into coaching and thought he had something left in the tank. He clearly does. It’s nice to see him get a chance to play and show what he can do. You just wish it wasn’t against Boston.
8. Goodness must these guys have a chip on their shoulder. Losing to Shanghai is more than just lighting a fire under them, it’s like igniting a nuclear bomb under their collective rear ends. We’re going to learn very quickly how these guys respond to adversity. With a 1-2 record, there’s no time left to waste if they’re going to make it to stage 1 playoffs. The motto stays the same. PROVE. THEM. WRONG.
For all the latest on the Overwatch League and Boston Uprising, please follow me on Twitter #BostonUp
New to Overwatch? Get caught up on everything Overwatch League by reading our introduction.
Friday, February 22nd @ 10 P.M. â Boston Uprising vs. Shanghai Dragons
âââAfter opening week the Boston Uprising see themselves having scaled from bottom tier in most preseason rankings to tenth in the league standings. With only a Friday game on the docket, Boston has had a week to prepare for their one opponent – the Shanghai Dragons. Winless in the inaugural Overwatch League season and already 0-2 this year, can the fan favorite Dragons break through for their first win?
It’s High Noon
Most of the drama surrounding this matchup will center around Noh âGamsuâ Yeong-Jin, the South Korean former main tank and captain of the Boston Uprising. Traded to Shanghai just two days before the season, Gamsu will play a critical role in the matchâs outcome. One has to assume that he has a chip on his shoulder being passed over for Uprisingâs current main tanks Axxiom and Fusions. Given Bostonâs performance without him in week 1 he likely will be playing with an axe to grind. As a result, expect the broadcast and casters to focus attention on Gamsu. Lastly, he will have had a full week to prepare and integrate with his team. Look for his signature Winston to try to pop off and disrupt the Uprising in this match
Observant fans, however, will see the addition of Colourhex to the Uprising as the more impactful roster move. Coming off his 2 game suspension, the dps player adds flexibility the team sorely lacked week 1. As a result, the New Zealander likely would play either Zarya or Sombra. Colourhex’s ability to flex between the two gives Boston a better chance to not get rolled as they did last week. Shanghai may mimic the NYXL and Outlaws Sombra comp that consistently devastated Boston. Armed with a dps that can flex to a Sombra of their own, expect Boston to come out better prepared than theyâve been all season.
Boston and Shanghai will play on Ilios, King’s Row, Horizon Lunar Colony, and Rialto
With Colourhex in the match someone has to hit the bench. With Note on off tank and Colourhex on Zarya the choice falls to Fusions or Axxiom. Given his breakthrough performance in his Contenders call up and first OWL match (with two days notice!) itâs unlikely the Brit will be pulled. As a result, expect Axxiom to only see stage time if Boston runs a Winston comp. If Colourhex can adapt to his first OWL match and quickly integrate with the team thereâs no reason to think the Uprising canât beat their week 1 performance.
Justice Rains From Above
This is not to say Shanghai doesnât have a lot to prove. Their current winless streak has brought them near universal admiration from the OWL community. Boston should expect to receive the full ire of of the audience. In their matches during the opening week, Shanghai stood out by playing unique comps. Playing dive and a 3 support, 2 dps, 1 tank comp, the Dragons arenât afraid to play unconventionally. Boston will need to prepare for several possible comps.
Lastly, Shanghaiâs off tank Geguri deserves a lot of credit. Not just the only female player in the league, but already a top Hammond player. Her play on Horizon Lunar Colony against the Spark was easily their brightest moment in the match. If her and Gamsu can get on the same page and get something from their support line, they could finally get their elusive first victory.
Match Preview
After being thrown in the trash heap by every talking head, the Uprising already put those hot takes into the freezer. Barely falling to the NYXL and enduring a 5 map match to the Outlaws, Boston is playing with purpose. They are a much better team than everyone (except us Uprising fans) expected. I love the passion thatâs coming out of these guys. They have a chip on their shoulder and they want to prove people wrong.
Motivation and talent are all great but in a league with as much parity as this, Boston canât take anything for granted. Fusions has to keep improving. Coaches are going to have to balance a stacked tank line to optimize for the GOATS meta. Colourhex will have no time to adjust and needs to prove himself straight away. Everyone has to fill their role.
Prediction
All that said, Boston should roll Shanghai. There won’t be any miracle happening in L.A. For a team that has language barriers, new players, and hasnât sniffed a win in over a season, Shanghai isnât ready for what Boston will be bringing. Expect this to be a statement game for the Uprising where they put everyone on notice. Theyâre coming for the stage 1 playoffs and no winless Dragons team or anyone else is going to stop them. This seasonâs goal remains the same. PROVE. THEM. WRONG.
For all the latest on the Overwatch League and Boston Uprising, please follow me on Twitter #BostonUp
New to Overwatch? Please read our introduction to learn about and get caught up on everything Overwatch League here.
Overwatch League’s opening week is in the bag. All the preseason power rankings and hot takes are starting to fade out against the cold indifference of reality. Unexpected heroes, disappointing performances, and POG plays abound throughout the league. Now it’s time to pull up the VODs, crunch the numbers, and have a realistic look at how the Uprising look.
Boston Uprising vs. New York Excelsior
Much has already been said about what this match means and what many expected. Would Boston get rolled 4-0? Could they steal a map? How could a team with last year’s MVP not dominate? Lastly, can a team that traded their main tank 2 days ago show any signs of life? Fortunately, the tempo of the match would be revealed quickly.
Nepal
In a foreshadow to how the match would be decided, stage 1 of Nepal saw NYXL play a rare off-GOATS team comp. Switching Meko from DVa to Sombra, the Uprising’s inability to stop the EMP would quickly become obvious to everyone. Without a dual dps threat (as Colourhex came into the match suspended for two games) NYXL had the advantage of knowing exactly how the Uprising would play. Unfortunately, it cost them the first map.
A nasty EMP from @MekOppa makes the enemy defenseless!
Despite the Sombra play by NYXL causing major disruptions, Uprising put up a valiant resistance on stage 1. NYXL squeaked by 100% – 99%. Stage 2 saw more back-and-forth but the NYXL prevailed. Interestingly, Note would be de-meched and eliminated first. Additionally, he missed all 3 of his Self-Destructs on Nepal. Stats don’t lie and these would portend future concerns.
Numbani
New York matched the GOATS comp of the Uprising on Numbani. This slower paced play style lead to equal exchanges on both sides throughout the match. Equal, that is, until Fusions decided he wanted to show what a Contenders and World Cup player from the other side of the pond could do:
Fusions: “Did someone say I would be nervous in my first OWL game?”
NYXL was supposed to steamroll the underprepared and lesser experienced Uprising, but Boston showed they were up to the task on this second map. Carefully managing their ultimate economy, focusing picks, and timely healing all were clear parts of their strategy. Did you know? According to the broadcast: NYXL won 29% of teamfights where they suffered the first death last season, 5% more than the next highest (Boston). Who’d have thunk?
Numbani was ultimately decided by the Uprising. Left with only a minute and a half after capturing Point A, the Fusions led team forced their way through NY’s defense and stole Point B. On the other end, New York was unable to capture Point A despite having over four minutes to do so. Boston’s impressive defense rested on their positioning on top of the point and splitting the front and back lines of New York. As a result, their team coordination drove them to take the map 4-3.
Horizon Lunar Colony
On map 3 we saw a bit of tactical differentiation between the two teams. Whereas Boston went up the right stairway to Point A, NYXL consistently used the longer outside path. Next, they walked along the skybridge and dropped down to Point A. Both teams played the GOATS comp appropriately, but to me, this was the PoTG on this map:
Forced into Overtime at Point A and down 2-0, New York cleared the point and pushed Point B before Boston had regrouped. As a result, the Uprising rushed into a defense that became staggered. Through sustained offense and timely ultimate use, New York pushed through and tied it up 2-2. Thwarting Boston’s attempt on offense, NYXL had a minute and a half to get a tick on Point A. What did they do?
Surprising everyone in the audience (and the casters) they pulled out an unbelievable team comp. Mercy, Zenyatta, Hammond, Sombra, Pharaoh, and Tracer. I don’t think we saw this team comp anywhere else all week. While Wrecking Ball peeled Boston away to open the Point to Pharaoh spamming rockets, Axxiom’s Zen finally picked Pharaoh during her ultimate. Justice did not rain from above and Boston forced the draw. 1 – 1 going into the fourth map. New York’s arrogance to play this off-meta team comp failed. Gloriously.
Route 66
Remember when I said earlier that Nepal foreshadowed the end of the match? A Sombra having free reign to EMP and the Uprising not having an answer to it? Well, NYXL thought back to that first map and said, “Hey let’s do that again!”
That clip pretty much sums up the fourth map. Over and over again, Meko would creep around behind the Uprising clouded in invisibility. At that point, EMPs would be unleashed onto the enemy team. Boston became defenseless and at the mercy of the NYXL. Deaths, objective failure, and frustration. It was like shooting fish in a barrel. Look at these statistics from Route 66, specifically Meko:
Meko with 0, Z-E-R-O deaths on Route 66
Boston was unable to get through to the third point. As a result, New York pushed through to the end to win the map and the match by a combined score of 2 – 1.
Analysis
It was a story of good and bad for the Uprising. First, they silenced all their critics. Though many put Boston as a preseason bottom tier team (of which there were many) they showed they could compete with the elite of the league. Additionally, though former captain and main tank Gamsu departed abruptly just two days ago, Boston’s tank play didn’t miss a beat. Fusions, having landed in LA just two days before this match, already showed he was capable of holding his own at the OWL level. Lastly, Boston was held back by the absence of both of their dps’ availability. With more scrims and matches going forward with Fusions and Colourhex the sky is the limit for this team.
Of concern was the less than stellar performance of Note. Going into the fourth map, he had only hit 2 out of 12 of his Self-Destructs (for two kills total). He also seemed out of position often. Even in replaying the matches, it’s difficult to determine precisely the cause of his seemingly poor play. It could be that the supports were focused on boosting Fusions. New York could have been focusing their attack on the more mobile off-tank. Lastly, he could have just been uncomfortable among a relatively new set of teammates. Given his underrated performance last season, there is no cause for concern. The season just started and their is no reason to think he won’t turn it around.
Boston Uprising vs. Houston Outlaws
I spoke in my weekend preview of the unwarranted attention the Outlaws received. Given that they were a team that missed the playoffs last year, their offseason praise by critics is unjustified. Leaving their roster mostly intact, the Uprising had no reason to fear starting the season 0 – 2. Fortunately I wasn’t proven wrong.
Nepal
This got ugly, quick. Houston had watched tape on the Uprising and knew Colourhex was still out, forcing Boston onto the GOATS comp. Interestingly, they started out with a Hammond, Mercy, Pharaoh, Somra, DVa, and Zen comp. Much like they did in their match against the NYXL, Boston had no answer to the EMP. Taking a page from New York’s assault on Horizon Lunar Colony, the Outlaws also had free reign with their Pharaoh, Despite a 100% – 43% win for Houston, the stage was a slaughter. Outlaws scored 23 eliminations with Boston only earning 5.
Unfortunatley for Boston, the Sanctum stage didn’t play out any better. Muma showed why he is often considered one of the league’s top main tanks, popping off for multiple environmental eliminations. With both teams using a GOATS comp, Houston had no problem rolling Boston for a dominant 100% – 29% win. Was all the momentum from Thursday about to get lost in a 4 – 0 against Houston?
This is bad.
Hollywood
Fortunately for fans of the Uprising, Boston’s players were able to put that devastating map loss behind them. Boston’s coordinated strike included Note landing kills with his Self Destruct and Fusion doing what he does, putting Houston on their heels. Pushing the payload on their attack, Boston was unable to make it the last few feet to capture the third point.
On defense, Boston proved up to the task. Fusion landed several Earthshatters and hammered through several shields, each setting up Note for more effective Self Destructs. Houston was able to make it through the first two points, but reached a road block towards the end of the map. First, they were at a disadvantage at getting past Point 2 during Overtime. That gave them just over a minute to play with. Houston got the payload right up to their victory location at which point a dragged out war was waged. With Muma popping off and hammering down Uprising players, it was Kellex hopping around on Lucio that contested the point. Eventually Fusions and the rest of the Uprising ran out of spawn and repelled the Outlaws. As satisfying as the map win was, Houston was a Torb hammer’s length away from winning the map.
Note showing he still knows how to hit the Self Destruct
Volskaya Industries
As both teams stuck with a GOATS team comp, a back and forth predominated the early match. After a reasonably quick Point A capture, Boston sped forward to two ticks of Point B. Houston repelled them twice until Boston broke through with this nontraditional route to the capture point:
I’m still debating what to call this. The Mass Pike? The Beantown Highway? Still undecided. Fortunately, the grouping on the platform worked as Boston captured the point. Houston responded in kind, capturing both points with a 3.5 to 1.5 time advantage going into the second turn. With only enough time for one push on Point A, Boston saw themselves stuck in massive team fight. Fortunately, Note saw Rawkus’ Zenyatta out of position and dove him. Eliminating their healer, Boston snowballed Houston to capture Point A. Additionally, Note got a key pick on Muma on Point B to push the Uprising to 4 – 2 going into Houston’s turn on offense. Houston was unable to match Boston’s push on Point B and lost the map 4 – 3.
Boston ended last season with a record of 10-1-1 on Volskaya Industries. Their only loss came in the playoffs to the Fusion. As a result, the Uprising still claim unofficial ownership of the map.
What if I told you that Houston pulled out the Sombra? Would you think that this was the one time all week where the Uprising turned it around? If so, thank you for having that pure fandom to believe in the impossible. Sadly, you are mistaken. Danteh went back on the Sombra and used multiple EMPs to disable the Uprising’s heroes and snowball the team. A drawn out map that was over before it started.
Finally the two best words in all of Overwatch: MAP. FIVE. Winner take all, best of 3, control map. There’s nothing more exciting when you’ve fought through four other maps to get to this point. Houston had lost earlier in the week on map 5, losing in a reverse sweep to the Toronto Defiant. Would they fall apart at the end of a marathon of Overwatch again?
After trading stages, it comes down to the final winner-take all stage 3 of Illios. Boston would take the early lead, reaching 87% when they gave way to the Outlaws. With a Graviton Surge and Self Destruct, could the Uprising pull off the GOATS combo in the clutch?
Yes! Note’s Self Destruct on Linkzr and Dive on Rawkus (again) sealed the victory for the Uprising. #BostonUp!
Analysis
What a first win for Boston! There are too many delicious treats to feast on here for Uprising fans. After getting absolutely demolished the first map, the boys put Nepal in the rear view mirror. Plowing through Houston the next two maps, it was that kryptonite of Sombra that forced them into a fifth map. Boston will need to figure out how to counter her if they’re going to survive this meta going forward. Adding Colourhex should help with that.
There were many questions coming into the 2019 Overwatch League season. Questions transformed into concerns when Gamsu was traded two days before the start of the season. But many of these have all been pushed to the side. Fusions has shown himself more than capable of bringing this team where we want it to be. Note continues to be the clutch player we need him to be. As a team, neither the bright lights or the pressure seems to faze them. Facing the heralded NYXL, this team went down to the very last point on the last map and barely scrapped by without a win. They took the favored Outlaws to five maps and came out with a win.
Next week will see the possible addition of Colourhex, the New Zealand dps. It will be interesting to see what Uprising coaches do – continue to use the same six starters to run GOATS or change team comps? Additionally, the Uprising only have one match next week – against the Shanghai Dragons (Friday at 10pm EST).
How emotional will players be going against their former captain Gamsu? Will they respond to having the entire Overwatch League’s fans on the side of the Dragons as they look for their first franchise win? Lastly, what happens when Fusions has actual time to scrim and develop with his teammates? Needless to say, the Overwatch League is on notice. Fans should keep an eye on all the casters and opinion makers as they scramble from their preseason takes. Don’t be fooled – we knew all along who these players could be. And we never doubted. We’ve just got three words for all the doubters.
PROVE. THEM. WRONG
For all the latest on the Overwatch League and Boston Uprising, please follow me on Twitter #BostonUp
As I take the T out to the burbs on my way back from the Hard Rock Cafe, juiced on adrenaline, I have to dump my thoughts. Here are a few things that popped up as I watched the game and that Iâll investigate further this weekend for the next Monday Morning Shoutcaller. In no specific order:
The good
-The entire Overwatch League is on notice. All those preseason power rankings putting the Uprising in lower tier territory will need to be scrapped. Look out tomorrow for all the pundits to thaw their hot takes and come back to earth and realize what we know. Huk is a talent finding unit.
-Lets start with the obvious MVP of the night is Fusions. Coming from Britainâs World Cup team, to the Uprising Academy, to getting called up to the main roster and landing in LA just two days ago. This kid can compete. His positioning with the Rein shield, timely charges, and effective shatters allowed the Uprising to stay in every team fight. If this kid had any nerves from going on the big stage, I sure didnât see it.
-Another rookie who showed no signs of that freshman status was Axxiom. Playing primarily on Zarya, a character out of his hero pool, put him at a disadvantage from the start. Still, he seemed to land many of his gravitons and bubbles. Iâm anxious to see him develop over the course of the season.
Another unknown to the Overwatch League community, Alamao, showed up big. His Lucio bounced around and always seemed to have a Sound Wave when we needed it. I wouldnât say heâs put himself in elite company. However, heâs silenced any doubters that his South American Contenders experience would hold him back.
-The one millionth rookie debut on the team was Blase – and he drew the short straw named Brigitte. Was he elite? No, certainly not. Could he have done better? Sure. But give a pro OWL player two days to learn an unfamiliar hero and show me someone who played as competently as Blase.
The bad
-I have to throw a flag at Note tonight. It seemed in every team fight that Note was the first to die. As a result, the Uprising often found themselves without the tank line that could prevent a snowball. I also would wager he didnât break double digits with his self destruct across the match. Without looking at vods, itâs hard to say whose to blame. Maybe the NYXLs plan was to focus the DVa. Conversely, maybe without his partner in crime Gamsu, the Note we know and love disappeared. Itâs early, but itâs something to keep an eye on going forward.
-Unfortunatetly, as I expected, the Uprising were forced into a GOATS meta all game. Team comp never changed, even when they subbed Kellex in. Problem is, if you give a team like NYXL 4 maps theyâre going to figure out a way to counter it. Feel good Uprising fans that the Uprising GOATS got the better of NYXLs GOATS. But we all could see just how disabling the Sombra was, and how the Uprising has nothing to switch to on Route 66.
Takeaways
-Close your eyes. Go back to that last map. Imagine having Colourhex and Blase there, swapping to a Tracer, Genji, Doomfist, or Junkrat. See how the Uprising could twist their strat around these new dps and push that payload those last few feet on offense. Or pick off all of NYXLs tanks on their approach. This isnât a dream. Youâre not imagining things. Had the Uprising not been held back by Colourhexâs suspension, thatâs what would have happened. Take that to the bank.
-After itâs all said and done, the Uprising have all the reasons to walk away feeling great. The presumed future champions were nearly beaten on opening night. The same night that saw the defending champions unexpectedly lose in the first match of their title defense.
-We are well on our way to fulfilling the teamâs 2019 mantra – PROVE. THEM. WRONG.
-Imagine being the Outlaws right now. Sunday afternoon canât come soon enough.
Thursday, February 14th @ 8:30 P.M. – Boston Uprising vs. New York Excelsior Sunday, February 17th @ 3 P.M. – Boston Uprising vs. Houston Outlaws
Boston Uprising vs. New York Excelsior
Whoever is running the Overwatch League clearly knows the Boston – New York rivalry is import. Boston’s match opens up the season right after the Grand Finals rematch between Philadelphia and London. How does the Uprising follow up an inaugural season where they claimed the only undefeated stage and surprised everyone by making the playoffs? If you’re Robert Kraft’s team you charge headfirst against the juggernaut that is the NYXL with a chip on your shoulders looking to silence your critics. And there are plenty out there with things to say about the Uprising.
Tonight’s matchup will feature Nepal, Numbani, Horizon Lunar Colony, and Route 66
Match Preview
When facing the NYXL, the Uprising have to hope the past stays in the history books. Posting a 2-3 record against the Excelsior last year, the Uprising have their work cut out for them. Unfortunately, that losing record includes that crushing defeat in the Stage 3 Finals all the way back on May 6. New York didn’t post the league’s best regular season record by being slouches. Seven out of their ten players made last year’s Atlantic All-Star team. This includes league MVP Jjonak, human highlight machine Pine, and arguably the best DPS player in Saebyeolbe. NY is a coachâs worst nightmare to plan against, and President of Gaming Huk and his staff have their work cut out for him.
Most optimistic statistic I could find for the Uprising…
Realistically, if the Uprising can put together a solid gameplan and put up some degree of resistance they may likely steal a map. But fans should temper expectations – expecting the Uprising to win the entire match may be unfair of a roster of strangers playing together for the first time. Consequently, if they can walk out of the match showing some signs of life, fans have reason to be hopeful for the season. But if the NYXLâs roster flattens the Uprising, fans may have to #riseup to get their team to put it together as the season may unravel before it even gets started.
Boston Uprising vs. Houston Outlaws
While theyâll be facing an unstoppable force in the NYXL their first game, the Sunday matchup against the Houston Outlaws is a different story. The Outlaws are the Overwatch equivalent of vanilla ice cream. First, they posted a slightly above the mean 22 – 18 record. Second, their sole post-season experience was losing to London in the Stage One playoffs. Though they made up significant ground in Stage Four, they were on the outside looking in when it came playoffs time.
Justice Rains from Above
If the Outlaws are vanilla ice cream then consider their rainbow sprinkles to be the unofficial league spokesmen Jake and Rawkus. Appearing seemingly everywhere – these two havenât shown the performance that warrants the attention they get. Jake’s âJakeratâ play may be popular with fans, but itâs unlikely to do anything against the presumed GOATS comp the Uprising will run. There is no statistical evidence to show that Rawkus is an elite Zen, Ana, or Sombra player. Additionally, their much hyped main tank Muma is more style than substance. Looking at his stats, he didnât actually show anything outside his Stage One Winston play. His inability to adapt to past the dive meta portends poorly for the Outlaws.
Sunday’s match will be played on Nepal, Hollywood, Volskaya, and Dorado
Given this background what exactly have the Outlaws done to improve? More than any other team in the league, the Outlaws doubled down on their roster. While scrapping several bench players, all their core starters from last year have returned. Given their middle tier status, that decision is questionable. Their only notable roster change was to add former San Francisco Shock dps Danteh. As he mentioned in a Players Lobby post – his inconsistency throughout the inaugural season gives no reason to fear he’ll be the Uprising’s undoing. As a result, the Outlaws enter the 2019 season thinking their experience, team camaraderie, and growth will carry them through this season. Considering Boston has had a nearly complete roster overhaul, a meta battle of team building strategy will be fought in Sunday’s game.
Match Preview
If the Houston Outlaws are the sliced white bread of mediocrity than why are they seemingly favored by all the predictors? Nothing in their history last year should give any reasonable fan confidence in picking them over the Uprising. While Boston’s current roster may not go into the match with a history together, they’ll have already faced NYXL by Sunday. Given that experience on the stage and all their scrims in between, there’s no reason to doubt their preparation. While Houston’s sole bright spot from season 1 was their Stage One performance, 2019 is a different story. Jake’s DPS abilities, regardless of what you think of them, are largely irrelevant in the GOATS meta. Muma has not shown elite level tank play. They are who they are and there’s no reason to think they’ve changed.
It can be a bit overwhelming to get into any new sport, let alone one of the biggest eSport league in the world. In an attempt to get you up to speed, I will be presenting a five part series to introduce everyone to the Overwatch League, the four different game modes, the basics of Overwatch’s heroes, some common terminology, and a look at the Boston Uprisingâs roster. In this article, Iâll be looking at the Boston Uprising’s roster.
Roster Moves
Boston Uprising’s first season was nothing less than a rollercoaster. Experts predicted the unknown players would sink to bottom of the league. Instead, they went on to claim the only undefeated stage. Like many other teams, they went on to crumble in the playoffs. And lastly, they went on to gut their roster.
Striker, the star DPS of the team, was traded to the San Francisco Shock. Giving away one of the best Tracer players in the league raised a lot of eyebrows. Rumors of dissension with the coaching staff abound. Uprising’s oft-lauded support Neko was also released and signed with the Toronto Defiant. The Zenyatta main’s coordination with fellow Korean players Striker and Gamsu is likely what propelled the Uprising to their highest successes last season. Other players Kalios and Snow both were let go.
Going into the 2019 season it seemed the Uprising would rely on their core of Gamsu, Note, and Kellex to bring continuity to the team. Then this happened:
With two days to go before the season starts, the Uprising sent Gamsu over to the Shanghai Dragons. While it was a shocking move, there is a certain level of sense to it. Given the overlap between Gamsu, Axxiom, and Fusions (more on them later), the Uprising had a surplus of main tanks. Moving one seemed inevitable. However, no one expected Gamsu to be the one traded. With him gone, a vacuum of leadership permeates the Uprising. Additionally, with only two days to go before the start of the season, how the Uprising regroup and create synergy will be a main storyline of their 2019 season.
Kellex
Another returning player to the Boston Uprising is the Danish main support Kellex. Last season he played a lot of Mercy, but with the addition of Alemao and Aimgod likely to take a more prominent role, many expect him to return to his main, Lucio. Last season, Kellex’s success seemed to flow along the same path as the overall team. As a result, many fans wonder if he can be the difference maker that other supports in the league are. To get to the next level, Kellex will need to show he can push his team over the hump when the challenge is at its highest.
Note
Note is the last of the three players on the Boston Uprising’s roster who played most games last season. An underrated DVa player, Note spent the off-season leading Team Canada to a bronze medal in the Overwatch World Cup. With Gamsu gone, how quickly Note can learn to work off-tank from Axxiom will be crucial for the Uprising’s success. While many thought the small DPS line would be the Uprising’s biggest weakness, Gamsu’s trade has shifted the spotlight to the tank line.
Aimgod
Aimgod is the second support player for the Boston Uprising. Though he played on stage towards the end of last season, his ability to contribute is still a question. As a Zenyatta main, Aimgod saw limited playtime at the end of last season. How he fits in with Kellex and Alemao is one of the bigger storylines going into the season.
Colourhex
One of the few New Zealand players of the league, Colourhex plays the flex DPS role for the Uprising. Going into season 2, he will be serving a two game suspension for player boosting. Uprising will miss him, as his Widowmaker, Genji, and Pharaoh specialities will surely be needed. Unproven on the main stage, the Uprising will lean heavily on him in the absence of Striker. Whether he can live up to that level of talent will direct how far the Uprising can make it in the 2019 season.
Axiom
Coming from Boston’s minor league affiliate Toronto eSports, Axiom is a main tank who mains Reinhardt and Winston, like Gamsu did. He played well last year in Overwatch League’s minor league Contenders, but hasn’t faced elite competition. Given the Gamsu trade, Axiom will face significant pressure to live up to the former fan-favorite main tank. Fans speak highly of Axiom from his performance in Contenders, Overwatch’s minor league. If he can bring that elite level of play and mesh well with Note, the transition could be a smooth one.
Fusions
Another main tank, Fusions is a British born player on a two-way contract with the Uprising’s minor league affiliate, Uprising Academy. With the departure of Gamsu, Fusions has been called up to the main roster as a main-tank sub. As a result, it’s likely he’ll get his opportunity to shine on the main stage in situational roles. Seeing as he wowed fans in the World Cup this past year, fans are anxious to see how Fusions plays on the Overwatch League stage.
Alemao
Brazilian flex-support player Alemao was well known in Overwatch League’s minor league Contenders league. While he was on Brazil’s Overwatch World Cup roster the last two years, he has no Overwatch League experience. As the first Brazilian on an Overwatch League roster, Alemao will have a lot of pressure on him to perform well. A true flex support player, he is known to be just as productive on Mercy, Lucio, or Zenyatta.
What does all this mean for next season? Looking at their schedule, the Boston Uprising have a long road ahead of them. Out of the gate they start day 1 against the NYXL, last season’s most dominant team. They finish week 1 against the Houston Outlaws, another playoff team. If they can’t squeak by with a win there, they’ll be showing signs of blood in the water if they can’t manage to top the winless Shangai Dragons in week 2. This matchup will have more attention paid to it given that Gamsu was just traded to the Dragons. It could get ugly real fast so the Uprising need to come out strong.
Tanks
How will they succeed in the 2019 season? First, Axxiom and Note need to get on the same page. There will be little time for Axxiom to adjust to the Overwatch’s top level. Success came aplenty to the Uprising in the dive meta, which relies heavily on aggressive tank play. Strong tank play is central to success in the Overwatch League. Therefore, if the Boston Uprising wants to reach the playoffs, they need to confidently rely on their tank line. Fortunately, with Fusions on the roster, the team has backup on call if things turn south. Given that Gamsu was traded two days before the start of the season, Uprising fans may rightly be anxious about the play of their tank line.
Lastly, the unheralded support players need to do their part. With Kellex on Lucio, Aimgod on Zenyatta, and Alamao on Mercy, the Uprising seem to have a reliable support line. If these three can step up and do their part they will play a critical role in the team’s success. Kellex has done admirably in the past and looks to continue his success. For Aimgod, he needs to continue his growth from where he ended last season. Many saw him as a strong Zenyatta main last year. If he can continue playing at a high level, he could claim the title of unspoken hero of the team. Alemao, as well, needs to face the pressure head-on and show he can perform at an elite level.
In a bombshell announcement two days before the season is starting, the Uprising’s main tank Gamsu has been shipped to the Shanghai Dragons. Boston’s star main-tank, a fan-favorite and considered the captain, is now tasked with helping the Dragons secure their first win. Where does this leave us?
Looking back
Boston already is reeling from an off season where breakout players Striker, Neko, and Mistakes all departed. While new players Axxiom, Alemao, Blase, and Colourhex all have potential, the Uprising already are low on returning players. Going into the 2019 season it seemed Note, Kellex, and Gamsu were the core of the team. Gamsu on main tank and Note on off-tank were the engine to the team’s undefeated stage 3, dive-focused streak. Breaking up this pair portends poor future returns for the uprising.
Many fans noted the abundance of tanks on the Uprising after the initial turnover of the roster in the offseason. Additionally, Axxiom and Fusions both can fill the main tank role. With Fusions on a two-way contract, expect Axxiom to land on the starting roster this Thursday against NYXL. Can Note and Axxiom spark the type of magic the Note/Gamsu pair had?
Looking ahead
Opening day’s one-DPS issue has suddenly been switched out with a healthy dose of tank drama. Consequently, what are we to make of Hek’s decisions? We knew with Colourhex’s suspension that an in season DPS pickup was likely. Also, we knew that we would be in for a tough transition at the start of the season. However, that doesn’t mean we expected such a drastic change 2 days before the season. This is a team that has been scrimming for weeks now, trying to build synergy. What state can we expect this team to be in on opening day? How many reps has Axxiom got with our starting roster?
Fortunately the Uprising are opening their season against the NYXL. Dealing with a suspended DPS and the loss of their star main tank shouldn’t affect their performance. Who would think that?
If you talk to Overwatch League fans or listen to a broadcast, you will hear some terminology you don’t know. If you’re not careful you’ll be easily left behind! As a result, a basic understanding of some common terms and concepts is worth reviewing. This won’t be an exhaustive list, but should help you sit through a game of Overwatch and feel comfortable knowing what’s going on. Let’s try to hit the basics.
Meta
Overwatch League teams interface with a constantly changing dominant strategy as other sports teams. Whether it’s moving to a 3-point heavy shooting in basketball, pass-focused offense, or the defensive infield shift, rules and tactics are always changing. ESports has this type of meta change often. Regular patches to the game change the fundamental ways it can be played. In addition, in Overwatch new heroes and maps continue to be updated on a regular basis. This means that the meta, or the commonly accepted primary tactics used by teams, is constantly moving. For example, dive was a dominant strategy for the first three stages of the inaugural Overwatch League season. Stage four saw the introduction of GOATS which teams had to quickly adapt too.
Team Comp(osition)
The heroes that you choose for your team are the foundation of any strategy in Overwatch. Whether you choose all support characters, 3 DPS and 3 tanks, or any other combination will dictate how you play the game. Commentary around the game is often focused on how different hero classes are chosen. Different team comps become so popular that they get their own name (see dive, goats, 2-2-2, etc).
Dive
Team comps centered around quickly mobilizing towards a goal are called dive. Generally the idea is for a team to pick an enemy hero and have all heroes converge (or dive) on that single target. Given that the team that gets the first kill statistically wins the most team fights, dive is popular because it prioritizes achieving the first kill. Dive is generally created with a core of Winston, Dva, Zenyatta and Tracer. For more info, see here.
GOATs
Another popular team comp that includes 3 tanks (Rein, Zarya, Winston and/or DVa) and 3 support (Lucio, Birgitte, Zenyatta, and/or Moira). Originally used by a North American Contenders team called GOATS, this team comp is the primary meta for the start of the 2019 Overwatch League season. This team comp is focused on tanks being blanketed with constant healing, making them difficult to take down. With Lucio onboard, they are also able to quickly get from point to point.
Triple Tank
Any team comp that includes three tanks. Arguably a meme until GOATS came around and showed the team comp could succeed. With the addition of Hammond the triple tank has seen renewed attention.
2-2-2
Generally the default team comp you see in online play. This includes two tank heroes, two DPS heroes and two support heroes.
Pirate Ship
A team comp on escort/hybrid maps where teams set up on the payload. Generally this means putting a Bastion or Torb turret on the payload with a shield and/or a pocketed support. As a result, the payload becomes almost a mobile weapon for the offensive team
CC (Crowd Control)
Crowd Control is a catch all term for hero abilities that limit or stop a hero’s movement by either slowing or stunning them. Examples of this include McCreeâs Flashbang ability, Meiâs ultimate Blizzard and Endothermic Blaster, or Ana’s sleep dart. Therefore if you hear something like “Winston is popping his ultimate for CC” you know Primal Rage is coming.
POTG (Play of the Game)
At the end of a game of Overwatch a single highlight from the match is replayed. Play of the game, or POG, is the name of this end game highlight. When watching a game from the Overwatch League, fans often call out “POG!” when something exciting happens. Think of it as the eSports version of being on Sportscenter’s Top 10 Plays.
POG
An online meme that is used when someone is excited. Often you’ll see Twitch chat fill up with “POG!” after an exciting play. You can follow an online rabbit hole to find out more about the origin.
A changing meta throughout a season of Overwatch League means that the most flexible team will be rewarded. If a team is only strong in one meta they risk being left behind in the next meta. As a result, teams have to develop a roster of diverse skillsets in order to convert to the dominant meta of the time.
Buff/Nerf
Regular patches to the Overwatch game itself by Blizzard change the characteristics of the game’s heroes. They can be both positive and negative. For example, if a hero’s guns are changed to an additional amount of damage per bullet, this positive change is called a buff. Conversely, if a hero is weakened by a patch it is called a nerf.
Shoutcaster
The eSports word for an announcer. Because everything has to be different in eSports.
Main/hero pool/one trick
All phrases that refer to the primary or set of heroes that Overwatch players have the most expertise in. To main a hero is to default them – the one you have most familiarity with. While you may main a certain hero, you can still have a hero pool of other characters that you are competent at. Conversely, to be a one-trick is to only have one hero that you main and not have any others in your hero pool.
Boop
A type of attack, special ability, or ultimate that pushes other characters back. Certain levels where enemies can be pushed off the map to their death make booping useful. An example of a boom attack is LĂșcioâs Soundwave.
Squishy
A hero that is ‘squishy’ is anyone with a small health pool/health bar. Non-tank characters are generally considered a squishy and ripe to be taken out quickly by most other characters.
Peel
To peel is to essentially drop everything you’re doing and get to your teammates who are under attack. This was first prominent when dive was meta in the Overwatch League. If the enemy team dove onto a teammate, the only response would be for everyone else on the team to peel to the one under attack. Another way to get a team’s front-line attack to stop is to get them to peel. Attack the backline and get front-line attackers to peel back to help. There is more information on peel here.
Choke
A choke is a location on the map where there is generally little space a team has to traverse through. By focusing on choke areas, the opposing team knows where the other team is going to be and can set up their position to respond. Oftentimes escort, hybrid, and assault game modes see the defensive team focus on choke points to thwart the offensive team.
Front/Back line
The front/back line is a generic way of understanding how teams orient themselves on the map. Generally a team’s frontline consists of its tanks and dps characters. They are first to engage the enemy or reach the goal on the map. Back lines are made up of a team’s support characters. Heroes that get hurt in a team fight will flee to the back line to get healed before reentering the fight. Also, the backline is in constant need of peeling from the front line in the event of an attack. The balance between the two lines is what makes a team formidable.
Ultimate
An ultimate is a power that heroes gain after a fluid amount of time. While players can theoretically just wait for an ultimate to charge, often they aim to charge it through actions. This includes using other powers, both offensive and defensive. Additionally, some heroes are able to charge their ultimates quicker than others. For example, Tracer’s Pulse Bomb and Sombra’s EMP are ultimates that can be gained quicker than DVa’s Self Destruct or Zarya’s Graviton Surge.
Ultimate economy
At a meta level within a game, teams are tracking which heroes are accruing their ultimates and have them at the ready. Ultimates often dictates the winner of a team fight. As a result, the careful accrual and expenditure of ultimates can dictate the overall game. Therefore, the team that is constantly tracking their ultimates as well as the enemy’s within the context of the broader game has a better chance of winning.
AoE (Area of Effect)
Abbreviation for Area of Effect. Used to describe abilities or weapons that can affect multiple targets within a specified area. These are useful to get an enemy or enemy team away from a specific area on the map, like a payload or objective point.
Splash damage
Any type of attack that can hurt more than one target. Ashe’s dynamite, Pharah’s rockets, or Junkrat’s grenade launcher all do this. Oftentimes teams will try to focus all their splash attacks on areas of the map where they know the enemy will concentrate, like a choke point or an objective.
Staggering
Teams intentionally waiting to kill an enemy after a team fight to prevent them from getting respawned faster and thus preventing the attacking team to regroup faster. To delay or ‘stagger’ an opposing team’s respawn and extend the time needed for regrouping results in a smaller time bank. Staggering is a great way to force an opposing team to burn time while they regroup, or force them to make a mistake in their haste.
Hitscan/projectile
Heroes whose primary fire hits their targets instantly is categorized as a hitscan. In contrast, a projectile is an attack that launches from the attacker and delays in reaching the target. An effective projectile hero is an expert at tracking enemies and calculating the right place to aim their weapon to lead their target.
Full-hold
A full hold is when a defensive team prevents the attacking team from reaching a single tick on the objective point. This happens on assault and hybrid game modes. To be able to prevent the enemy from getting even a tick on the first point is quite the accomplishment, given that the offensive team spawns significantly closer than the defensive team.
C9’d
If a team loses an objective or fails to capture it because they accidentally either vacated the point, or did not touch it in time despite winning the fight, they C9’d. This term comes from the pre-Overwatch League APEX Season 2, where the team Cloud 9 (or C9 for short) made this mistake in several key matches. Today, people say C9 when a team leaves or doesn’t get on the objective, even if it was impossible to get on.
ï»żFor all the latest on the Overwatch League and the Boston Uprising, please follow me on Twitter #BostonUp
Welcome to the first edition of Monday Morning Shotcaller, where I will be armchair quarterbacking the past weekend of the Overwatch League. As I clearly am writing for Boston Sports Extra, my focus will always be the Boston Uprising. I’ll be providing an analysis of the weekend’s matchups, try to provide honest reaction, give other OWL notes, and review the good, the bad, and the ugly. As this weekend featured the Community Countdown (OWL’s preseason equivalent) let’s get into what went down on the precipice of the 2019 Overwatch League season.
Now Loading…
Overwatch League announced on February 7th a Community Countdown event. Featuring a “series of rivalry-building scrims” and interesting custom games, the unofficial preseason gave fans anxious for opening day something to chew on. Dallas Fuel coach Jayne hosted the day’s festivities. Providing commentary and answering fans’ questions in Twitch chat, he let on how disorganized the event was. Oftentimes he had no idea why there were such long breaks in between maps. He also didn’t realize it was a best of three on maps until the second game ended.
Despite the disorganization and haphazard nature of it, the Community Countdown was still an opportunity for fans to see their favorite teams and players. How would teams treat it though? A legitimate opportunity to try new strategies or an exhibition to goof around in? Well, here’s what the Overwatch League commissioner had to say 1 day into the 5 day event:
Needless to say it was a disaster for those seeking high level Overwatch play. Teams played seemingly random if not meme-seeking team comps that were clearly meant for fun. The day’s first match between the NYXL and Paris Eternal symbolized what was to come. Coaches clearly didn’t want to show off the strats they had been working on in practice and private scrims. Better to save that for the regular season, so they’d say. But what happened when Boston took on the Atlanta Reign?
High Noon
The Uprising made it clear from the get-go how they were approaching the day. Opening roster on Ilios was:
The less we talk about that map the better. Considering the Uprising were fooling around there isn’t anything to read into it. They tried even less on King’s Row. Starting on offense, the Atlanta Reign got a full hold as Boston never attempted a coordinated strike. Seeing as all they had to do was get one tick on Point A, Atlanta had it easy. The Uprising didn’t put up a fight, although gems like this made it worth watching:
Atlanta saw their first stage appearance during this matchup. Many Overwatch fans were interested to see famous Overwatch streamer/Contenders player Dafran. The former McDonalds worker is famous for tilting and complaining, publicly. Such as this lovely piece of poetry:
The end. I hate the game. Thought I could love it again and have passion but its impossible, I always end up soft throwing. Contract ended, Overwatch uninstalled, Mcdonalds here I come. For real though thanks for everything u have given me OW Community
Dafran clearly changed his mind and ended up signing with Atlanta. His team showed that they could coordinate and run what Jayne referred to as the TOAST comp. That’s Rein, Zen, Tracer, Zarya, Ana… and Tjorb. Two teams throwing off-meta team comps made for some interesting plays. But it makes it hard to draw any real conclusions. We’ll see how Atlanta does when the lights are a bit brighter and fans are screaming in their faces.
Considering this weekend’s games were a joke I’m not going to try to change the mood. Here’s a quick little interchange from the end of Boston’s Kings Row defense that made me smile. We’ll see you Thursday for our game preview for the first week of the 2019 Overwatch League season!
For all the latest on the Overwatch League and the Boston Uprising, please follow me on Twitter #BostonUp
