This Week’s Focus: Tracer

Methodology

After having collected all of the available data, I separated it all on a per-player basis. This week, since a couple teams have multiple Tracer players, I decided to extend the limit beyond just one per each time, and instead opened it up to any additional players that had over one of hour of Tracer data. This added a secondary player for both Seoul and London: Munchkin and Profit.

I then averaged out their statistics in each of the following categories: Eliminations, Deaths, Hero Damage, Ultimate Kills, Best Kill Streak, and Weapon Accuracy from Overwatch League broadcasts; in addition to Time To Charge Their Ultimate, First Kills, and First Deaths from Winston’s Lab.

I calculate how well each individual performs, compared to the average, and total those numbers. Due to the limited data-set, I have also weighted each player’s stats up against the level of competition they were playing against. Averaging out the raw data with the weighted data brings me to my final rankings.

All data is extrapolated on a ‘per 10 minute’ basis, both to provide a point of reference for comparison, and to match the standard that Blizzard has set.

Let’s start things off with the most basic aspect of Tracer’s role - killing people.

Eliminations : Raw Data vs Weighted Data

Averages: 21.35 (R), 21.72 (W)

Here you can see how each Tracer player stacks up when it comes to eliminations. At the top of the raw data, we have Linkzr, and at the top of the weighted data, we have Effect. These two players also illustrate the greatest deviations of my strength of opponent calculation, thus the largest gap between their raw and weighted totals. To elaborate on my reasoning behind doing this, let’s take a look at the the data-set I have available:

Explaining Weighting Data

Weighting - allowance or adjustment made in order to take account of special circumstances or compensate for a distorting factor.

Effect’s games include (in descending order): vs. PHL, NYX, HOU, LDN - teams with an average win-rate of 72.50%. Linkzr’s games include (in descending order): vs. DAL, FLA, SHD, LAG, LDN, NYX - teams with an average win-rate of 40.00%. Not only that, due to Linkzr having more data against teams like Dallas, Florida, and Shanghai (and conversely, less against London or New York), the weighted average actually decreases all the way down to 32.41%. Effect’s weighted average of opponent is 72.61%. Simply put, Effect’s performance against a team like New York holds more weight than Linkzr’s performance against a team like Florida.

For most other players, there’s less variance between their raw and weighted averages - and this gap will continue to lessen as more data is collected.

Carrying on…

Deaths: Raw Data vs Weighted Data

Averages: 5.93 (R), 5.78 (W)

Killing others is good; others killing you is bad. Tracer is both the most fragile hero, as well as one with the potential to be the most difficult to kill. Mastering Tracer is, in large part, down to her two abilities: Blink and Recall. She can be quick, unpredictable, and elusive, and perhaps no one utilizes these abilities better than Profit.

In a case where lower is better, Profit sits well at the bottom of the pack. But to delve deeper into both kills and deaths, I think there’s an important aspect to consider…

First Kills vs First Deaths

First Kills Average: 13.44%, First Deaths Average: 10.07%

Tracer is often tasked with operating independently of the rest of the team. Flanking the enemy team, at worst, applying pressure and making them cautious of your presence; at best, getting a key opening kill that acts as the green light for the rest of your team to engage.

The gamble is that you can just as easily be picked off yourself, leaving your team to either fight at a disadvantage, or back-off entirely.

Some Tracers might excel at getting kills, others at avoiding them - but Profit excels at both. He is second behind Linkzr in first kills (15.88%), as well as being second behind Striker in fewest first deaths (6.47%). The largest gap between the two stats, by far.

Linkzr, meanwhile, is both the most likely to get an opening kill (18.55%), as well as the most likely to get killed himself (13.71%). Diya and Munchkin both have the unfortunate distinction of getting killed first more often than they get a first kill.

Best Kill Streak: Raw Data vs Weighted Data

Averages: 9.62 (R), 9.82 (W)

It should come as no surprise that three of the least likely to die (Striker, Carpe, Profit), are also among the top in regards to having the best kill streaks (joined by Soon to round out the top-four).

Weapon Accuracy: Raw Data vs Weighted Data

Averages: 37.99% (R), 38.79% (W)

Most Tracer players are quite even in this category - hovering right around 38%. For what Linkzr seems to lack in movement and staying alive, he makes up for with his top-notch aim - as the only player averaging over 40% accuracy.

Soon, on the other hand, sits just below 35%. In his defense, however, Soon is the only player who’s #1 most killed hero is Tracer, everyone else focusing on either Winston or Zenyatta - much easier targets.

Average Time To Charge Ultimate: In Seconds

Average: 70.81 seconds

Another case where less is better, Profit again shows his dominance, averaging just 62.86 seconds. Effect is close behind at 63.37 seconds, while most others sit between 68–75 seconds.

Saebyeolbe, Logix, and Striker have the slowest times (79.69, 79.08, and 78.96, respectively). But building your ultimate is only half the battle…

Pulse Bomb Kills: Raw Data vs Weighted Data

Averages: 2.02 (R), 2.07 (W)

Linkzr is nothing if not accurate, with 2.61 kills per 10 minutes. Profit comes in second at 2.37, Soon in third with 2.27, Effect at fourth with 2.22, and a special shout-out to Diya, who ranks fifth at 2.19 - proving to the world that the Shanghai Dragons can be above average at something.

Hero Damage Done: Raw Data vs Weighted Data

Averages: 8,470.19 (R), 8,647.98 (W)

Last but certainly not least: damage. A bit of a surprise to me to see Danteh at number one (9,695.79) - and it makes me wonder what will happen to him once Sinatraa turns 18.

Effect puts up impressive numbers (9,565.94), even against a high-level of competition, showing just how hard he tries to carry Dallas. Bunny comes in third, and is the only other player averaging over 9,000 damage (9,011.19).

Meanwhile, the other Tracer specialist from Seoul, Munchkin (7,559.37), sits in dead last, and Diya’s (7,591.32) brief glimpse of the summit comes crashing back down to reality.

Summary: The Overall Rankings

Averaging all of the statistics above, we come to this conclusion:

Profit is good. Really good. He is above average at each of these metrics, with the exception of weapon accuracy, and is often times among the very best. To temper his ranking slightly, he does have less playtime on Tracer than most others, and as such, it remains to be seen if he could keep up his insane numbers if he played to the extent that other Tracer-mains do.

is good. Really good. He is above average at each of these metrics, with the exception of weapon accuracy, and is often times among the very best. To temper his ranking slightly, he does have less playtime on Tracer than most others, and as such, it remains to be seen if he could keep up his insane numbers if he played to the extent that other Tracer-mains do. Striker is also really good. He not only puts up crazy numbers, but he does so with the absolute highest sample size - meaning these aren’t just peaks for him, he performs at this level consistently.

is also really good. He not only puts up crazy numbers, but he does so with the absolute highest sample size - meaning these aren’t just peaks for him, he performs at this level consistently. Profit got a lot of attention here, but London’s primary Tracer player, Birdring , is also in the top-five. Can any other DPS-duo contend with these two?

got a lot of attention here, but London’s primary Tracer player, , is also in the top-five. Can any other DPS-duo contend with these two? Korea dominates the top half of the rankings. Soon , at eighth, is the best from the west.

, at eighth, is the best from the west. Linkzr , despite performing well (against mostly lower-level teams), just is not on the same level as the top Tracer players in the league - which is the most glaring weakness Houston has.

, despite performing well (against mostly lower-level teams), just is not on the same level as the top Tracer players in the league - which is the most glaring weakness Houston has. Asher has not been performing up to what is expected of him, and it’s no surprise that Surefour has taken more playing time from him lately.

has not been performing up to what is expected of him, and it’s no surprise that has taken more playing time from him lately. Shanghai cannot catch a break.

Thanks for reading, and I’ll talk to you again soon!