As we conclude week 2 of stage 4, similar patterns have begun to emerge while new and unexpected surprises have been shifting the standings of the League. Seoul Dynasty and the Boston Uprsing are still struggling to get their first win, and the New York Excelsior and Los Angeles Gladiators are still dominating in stage 4. However, the sudden rise of the Dallas Fuel is changing the status quo of the current standings and the predictability of the season 1 playoffs’ contenders. By beating both the Philadelphia Fusion and Boston Uprising, the Fuel has put their opponents of the week at great risk of losing their playoff spot. Another surprising factor was that the Houston Outlaws has not been able to replicate their dominance from week 1. By being completely swept by the San Francisco Shock and getting crushed by the Los Angeles Gladiators, it seems it will be difficult for the Outlaws to join their counterparts in the season 1 playoffs.





A Race Against the Dynasty





The final contenders of the season 1 playoffs of the Overwatch League will largely depend on how the Los Angeles Valiant, Philadelphia Fusion, and Los Angeles Gladiators will compare against the Seoul Dynasty. While Seoul was struggling the first two weeks, they faced 3 tougher opponents out of the 4 matches that they played these last two weeks. While the Valiant, Gladiators, and the Fusion have been facing some of the easier matches, there are still fierce challenges that they must overcome to remain in their current spot of the League. Assuming that the Dynasty will beat both Florida Mayhem and the Shanghai Dragons, these 3 matches will be some of the most important matches of the week.



In week 1, the Philadelphia Fusion’s spot in the playoffs looked like it was almost guaranteed due to the strong performance they have shown. Now, their position is in peril. Fusion will be facing two of the tougher matches of the week and the chances are looking grim. They will have to kick off the week by facing the New York Excelsior, then the Los Angeles Gladiators on Thursday; with their unexpected loss against the Fuel, the Fusion have given the Dynasty a potential opening to the season 1 playoffs.



As for the New York Excelsior, the strength of the team with this meta is currently unknown. They cruised through Weeks 1 and 2 against easier opponents like the Florida Mayhem and Shanghai Dragons. While it is true that they faced the London Spitfire and Seoul Dynasty, the New York Excelsior faced them while London was in a slump and faced a Seoul Dynasty that might have been throwing to prepare for London. This means that the Fusion has a good chance of taking a win from Excelsior. Fusion’s past battles against the New York Excelsior have always been close, and they even managed to beat them in Stage 1. With a new main tank Sado, who has great synergy with the team, the Fusion might put up a good fight.



The Battle of Los Angeles returns in Week 4 as we head into the final stages of the 1st season of the Overwatch League. The stakes here are high. A loss for the Gladiators or Valiant could mean a potential loss of their spot in the playoffs. This is especially true for the Gladiators since they are on the border and will be facing the Valiant and Fusion this week, then the New York Excelsior and London Spitfire the week after that. The Gladiators must take every win that they can possibly get. Valiant is not in an easy position either. They will have to face the Gladiators and New York Excelsior this week and the London Spitfire and Houston Outlaws next week.



While the Valiant are currently in the lead, they do appear to be weaker in their current state. The Valiant have been struggling against teams like the Boston Uprising, a team that is admittedly having a difficult time. It is true that the Uprising might be getting used to the meta and have started to find their own pacing. Despite this, the Valiant do not look as coordinated as the Gladiators. Despite the Valiant’s individual talents, the Gladiators are looking to take the win with their superior teamwork.



While the Gladiators are slightly behind the Fusion, their lineup and gameplay has shown little to no weaknesses so far. While it is true that many of the teams they have faced so far were on the weaker side, they were able to sweep the Dallas Fuel and completely outmatched Fusion’s strategies in week 2. A lot is at stake for both teams. If the Gladiators or Philadelphia lose this match and then lose against the other match of the week, then it will give the Seoul Dynasty a real chance of being in the playoffs.



The true strengths of these teams have not been tested yet. Both teams have faced only the “weaker” team, so it is hard to tell who is actually playing well in stage 4. On paper, however, the Gladiators are looking more solid, with less mistakes and better preparation for their matchups. On the other hand, the Philadelphia Fusion did lose against Dallas Fuel, and they might have a tough time is they continue to fall behind in preparation. I wouldn’t count them out just yet, but my money is still on the Gladiators.





Disclaimer: The following article was written freely based on the author's opinion, and it may not necessarily represent Inven Global's editorial stance.

(All photos of the Blizzard Arena have been provided by the official page of Overwatch League.)