Scrub's OWL Power Rankings: Stage 3 Week 5

The second homestand of the 2019 Overwatch League season has completed. Eight teams competed in Atlanta for a chance to improve their overall record. For some teams, this past weekend was an opportunity to vault themselves into the Stage 3 playoffs.

However, that opportunity was available for only a few teams. After the Atlanta Homestand is said and done, only two teams that competed in Georgia will be in the Stage 3 playoffs.

Therefore, a mostly new cast of characters will play in this upcoming week. Hopefully an exciting stage playoffs will lead to a greater amount of changes in the upcoming power rankings.

Here are this week's rankings following Atlanta's Homestand Weekend.

Image credit: Ben Pursell for Blizzard Entertainment

1. (-) Vancouver Titans (20-1)

The Vancouver Titans Vancouver Titans OWL Rank #18 Roolf Randal Stark flex support KSAA Alhumaidi Alruwaili off tank Dalton Dalton Bennyhoff dps sHockWave Niclas Smidt Jensen dps ShRedLock Abtin Shirvani tank CarCar Carson First support will enter the stage playoffs following a week off, giving them extra time to prepare. They should be as dominant as ever.

2. (-) Hangzhou Spark (14-7)

DPS player Krystal recently took a leave of absence from the Hangzhou Spark Hangzhou Spark OWL Rank #9 BeBe Yoon Hui-Chang (윤희창) flex support QOQ Yu Sung-joon (유성준) off tank GodsB Kim Kyeon-Bo (김경보) dps Architect Park Min-ho (박민호) dps guxue Xu Qiulin (徐秋林) tank M1ka Liu Jiming (刘济铭) support to visit an ill relative. While such a departure would normally be problematic, Krystal hasn't played in Stage 3 and was thus unlikely to factor into the team's gameplan. They should continue to carry the momentum of a strong Stage 3 into the stage's playoffs.

3. (-) New York Excelsior (19-2)

Despite a strong 7-0 map score in Atlanta, the New York Excelsior New York Excelsior OWL Rank #6 JJoNak Bang Sung-hyeon (방성현) flex support HOTBA Choi Hong-joon off tank Saebyeolbe Park Jong Ryeol dps Haksal Kim Hyo-jong (김효종) dps Mano Kim Dong-gyu (김동규) tank ANAMO Jeong Tae-seong (정태성) support have maintained their third place ranking. Their dominating wins over weaker opponents don't say much more about them than their match the week before did. Their true test will be in the upcoming week when they play in the stage playoffs. The Excelsior lost in the first round of the Stage 1 playoffs despite going 7-0 in that stage. They run the risk of running into a repeat when they take on the upset-hungry Shanghai Dragons.

4. (-) San Francisco Shock (16-5)

Last week, I talked about the San Francisco Shock San Francisco Shock OWL Rank #2 ChoiHyoBin Choi Hyo-Bin (최효빈) off tank Viol2t Park Min-ki flex support Striker Kwon Nam-joo (권남주) dps ANS Lee Seon-chang (이선창) dps smurf Yoo Myeong-Hwan tank Moth Grant Espe support 's inability to adapt to the Stage 3 meta. I'm not convinced they'll look any different in the stage playoffs and I expect them to be knocked out before the grand final.

5. (-) Los Angeles Valiant (8-13)

A tough Hangzhou Spark team awaits the Los Angeles Valiant Los Angeles Valiant OWL Rank #11 McGravy Caleb McGarvey off tank Lastro Moon Jung-won (문정원) flex support Shax Johannes Nielsen dps ksp Kai Collins dps Dreamer Song Sang-lok tank RAin Park Jae-ho (박재호) support in the first round of the stage playoffs. A defeat at their hands wouldn't discredit the Valiant, especially if the match is close. Of course, the Valiant can continue their rise through the rankings if they take home any wins this weekend.

6. (-) Seoul Dynasty (12-9)

It's surprising that the Seoul Dynasty Seoul Dynasty OWL Rank #4 creative Kim Young-wan (김영완) flex support FITS Kim Dong-eon (김동언) dps Profit Park Joon-yeong (박준영) dps Marve1 Hwang Min-seo (황민서) tank Gesture Hong Jae-hee (홍재희) tank tobi Yang Jin-mo (양진모) support haven't added a new main tank player to replace Fissure yet. Based on their usage of just one lineup in Week 4, it's possible that their plan of running two completely different lineups is already dead. It's also possible that they felt it unnecessary for their matches that week or they are waiting to find the right main tank to add so they can bring back the strategy.

7. (-) Shanghai Dragons (12-9)

Despite losing to the Charge in Atlanta, the Shanghai Dragons Shanghai Dragons OWL Rank #1 Izayaki Kim Min-chul (김민철) flex support Void Kang Jun-woo (강준우) off tank Fleta Kim Byung-sun (김병선) dps LIP Lee Jae-won (이재원) dps FEARLESS Lee Eui-seok (이의석) tank LeeJaeGon Lee Jae-gon (이재곤) support look strong and poised to create upsets. Strong DPS play from diem and DDing could be just what they need to beat Stage 3's only undefeated team.

8. (-) Los Angeles Gladiators (13-8)

After failing to qualify for the Stage 3 playoffs, the Los Angeles Gladiators Los Angeles Gladiators OWL Rank #13 Shaz Jonas Suovaara flex support SPACE Indy Halpern off tank birdring Kim Ji-hyuk (김지혁) dps kevster Kevin Persson dps OGE Son Min-seok (손민석) tank BigGoose Benjamin Isohanni support can take solace in the fact that they're the highest ranked team that won't be playing next weekend.

9. (-) Houston Outlaws (8-13)

The Houston Outlaws Houston Outlaws OWL Rank #19 MekO Kim Tae Hong off tank rapel Kim Jun-geun (김준근) flex support LiNkzr Jiri Masalin dps Danteh Dante Cruz dps Hydration João Pedro Goes Telles flex Jecse Lee Seong-soo (이승수) support are in the Stage 3 playoffs in large part due to their upset over the San Francisco Shock. They'll need another unlikely upset to go their way to make it out of the first round of those playoffs.

10. (-) London Spitfire (12-9)

A combined 2-15 map score to teams in the Stage 3 playoffs is a concerning record for the London Spitfire London Spitfire OWL Rank #17 BERNAR Shin Se-won (신세원) off tank Highly Lee Sung-hyeok (이성혁) flex support Glister Lim Gil-seong (임길성) dps Although Jung Hyun-wook dps JMac Choi Dae-han (최대한) tank SanGuiNar Lym Kyu-min support entering Stage 4. Despite the concerns, they should still make the top 12 no matter what happens due to their current record, and they should look better if the 2-2-2 lock does indeed enter the Overwatch League in Stage 4.

11. (+2) Guangzhou Charge (9-12)

The preparation the Guangzhou Charge Guangzhou Charge OWL Rank #5 Shu Kim Jin-seo flex support Cr0ng Nam Ki-cheol (남기철) off tank Happy Lee Jung-woo (이정우) dps Eileen Ou Yiliang (欧倚良) dps Rio Oh Seung-pyo (오승표) tank Chara Kim Jung-yeon (김정연) support put into their match with the Dragons was apparent. That upset over the Dragons has put them within a map of the top 12 and shows the potential of this team when they play well.

12. (-1) Philadelphia Fusion (12-9)

The Philadelphia Fusion Philadelphia Fusion OWL Rank #3 Fury Kim Jun-ho (김준호) off tank Alarm Kim Kyeong-bo (김경보) flex support Carpe Lee Jae-hyeok (이재혁) dps Ivy Lee Seung-Hyun dps SADO Kim Su-Min (뜨용) tank FunnyAstro Daniel Hathaway support 's DPS duo at the end of last season was probably one of the three best in the league, yet the Dragons' DPS looked to be totally in control in the head-to-head. While that shows the overall improvement of the league, it also shows that multiple teams have caught up to the Fusion's greatest strength.

13. (-1) Chengdu Hunters (9-12)

Despite never making a single stage playoffs, the Chengdu Hunters Chengdu Hunters OWL Rank #12 Lateyoung Ma Tianbin (马添彬) off tank Molly He Chengzhi (何诚智) flex support Jinmu Yi Hu (易虎) dps Leave Huang Xin (黄馨) dps Ameng Ding Menghan (丁蒙涵) tank Yveltal Li Xianyao (李先曜) support are currently in the top 12 of the overall standings. That's thanks to their consistent 3-4 record they've earned in every stage.

14. (-) Paris Eternal (8-13)

The schedule for the Paris Eternal Paris Eternal OWL Rank #7 hanbin Choi Han-bin (최한빈) off tank Fielder Kwon Joon (권준) flex support SoOn Terence Tarlier dps SP9RK1E Kim Young-han (김영한) dps BenBest Benjamin Dieulafait tank FDGoD Brice Monscavoir support in Stage 4 doesn't look too favorable. They will have to play the Excelsior, the Dragons, a streaking Valiant squad and a Fusion team that has built a winning record off the backs of weaker teams. They will need to improve to make it into the top 12.

15. (+2) Atlanta Reign (9-12)

While the Atlanta Reign Atlanta Reign OWL Rank #14 Dogman Dusttin Bowerman flex support Hawk Xander Domecq off tank Lr1s Kim Seung-Hyun (김승현) flex support Edison Kim Tae-hoon (김태훈) dps saucy Garret Roland dps Gator Blake Scott tank Masaa Petja Kantanen support do deserve some credit for going 2-0 in front of their home crowd, excitement for this team shouldn't take off too much--after all, they had an easy schedule for the weekend. Still, they've played teams closely all season and are now 11th in the overall standings. There is still hope for the Reign to make the playoffs.

16. (-1) Dallas Fuel (10-11)

The Dallas Fuel Dallas Fuel OWL Rank #15 NotE Lucas Meissner off tank Crimzo William Hernandez flex support Doha Kim Dong-Ha (김동하) dps ONIGOD Stefan Fiskerstrand dps Gamsu Noh Yeong-jin (노영진) tank Paintbrush Nolan Edwards support need to turn their momentum around if they want to remain in the hunt for the postseason.

17. (-1) Boston Uprising (8-13)

After a horrendous Stage 3, the Boston Uprising Boston Uprising OWL Rank #20 Myunbong Seo Sang-min (서상민) flex support punk Leyton Gilchrist off tank Colourhex Kelsey Birse dps Jerry Min Tae-Hui (민태희) dps Fusions Cameron Bosworth tank mikeyy Michael Konicki tank Halo Kobe Hamand support will need some kind of change to have a shot in Stage 4. They still never announced the addition or promotion of a dedicated head coach following the departure of Crusty last season. Perhaps having one could help.

18. (-) Toronto Defiant (7-14)

It was a rough weekend in Atlanta for the Toronto Defiant Toronto Defiant OWL Rank #16 KariV Park Young-seo (박영서) flex support Nevix Andreas Karlsson off tank Logix Andreas Berghmans dps Agilities Brady Girardi dps numlocked Seb Barton tank Kruise Harrison Pond support . However, there is some silver lining. Despite going a combined 2-12 in the last two stages, the Defiant are still only two games back of 12th in the standings. If the team begins to gel before the start of Stage 4 and their new additions begin making a difference, the Defiant might sneak their way into the play-in tournament.

19. (-) Florida Mayhem (2-19)

Outside of their win over the Houston Outlaws, the Florida Mayhem Florida Mayhem OWL Rank #8 Gargoyle Lee Beom-jun (이범준) off tank GangNamJin Gang Nam-jin (강남진) flex support BQB Lee Sang-bum (이상범) dps Yaki Kim Jun-gi (김준기) dps Fate Koo Pan-seung (구판승) tank Kris Choi Jun-soo (최준수) support never won more than a single map in a series throughout all of Stage 3. In fact, the last map five they played in was their 3-2 loss to the Justice in Stage 1 Week 5. They went to map five three times that stage and have not played in a single one since.

20. (-) Washington Justice (2-19)

If you thought that was bad, wait until you find out that the Washington Justice Washington Justice OWL Rank #10 AimGod Min-seok Kwon flex support JJANU Choi Hyeon-woo (최현우) off tank TTuba Lee Ho-sung (이호성) dps Stitch Lee Chung-hee (이충희) dps Decay Jang Gui-un (장귀운) dps ArK Hong Yeon-joon support failed to win more than one map once this entire stage. The Justice's last map five is at least more recent when they beat the Uprising 3-2 in Stage 2 Week 5. Like the Mayhem, it was only their third map five of the season. At least they're 2-1 when they manage to force teams into an extra map.

Weekly Wrap-up

In the interest of fairness, I've also confirmed the Defiant failed to win more than single map in a match once this stage.

But enough about struggling Overwatch teams. The Stage 3 playoffs are upon us and thus the eight best teams of Stage 3 are set to duke it out for the stage title.

While the last stage finals seem predestined to be a showdown between the Shock and the Titans, this one feels more wide open. If the grand finals ends up the same, it will have to be earned in matches against teams surging to the front of the pack and eager to challenge the league's best.