One Updoot, One Downdoot: 2020 Overwatch League Preseason Edition, Part 2 (Pacific West Division) sgbros1 Follow Jan 3 · 5 min read

The Pacific West Division is as stacked as it can be. We have both 2019 Grand Finalists, still looking strong as ever; we have the two-time playoffs team LA Gladiators with numerous heavyweights; we have the Dallas Fuel with some (hopefully) good pickups from the offseason. And… there’s the Valiant. Eh, someone has to be the punching bag.

This is part 2 of One Updoot, One Downdoot: Overwatch League 2020 Preseason Edition!

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Los Angeles Gladiators (17–11, 5–6th Place, Playoffs)

Out: Surefour (DPS), Hydration (DPS), Decay (DPS), Void (Off-tank), rOar (Tank), Panker (Tank), Ripa (Support)

In: birdring (DPS), MirroR (DPS), Jaru (DPS), Bischu (Off-tank), SPACE (Off-tank), OGE (Tank), LhCloudy (Tank), Paintbrush (Support)

My updoot: We can reuse this gif again!

Well the jersey makes sense at least

My downdoot: I don’t know if relying on Birdring for hitscan is the right idea. Unless MirroR has a nasty Widow I don’t know about (from what I know he plays mostly projectile but has like a pocket McCree or something), Birdring getting like another injury in a hitscan meta would not be ideal for the team.

My recommended addition: Asking

Well if you need some hitscan, just get the god himself. Nuff said.

Vancouver Titans (25–3, 2nd Place, Playoffs)

Out: Hooreg (DPS), Bumper (Tank), TiZi (Tank), rapel (Support)

In: Fissure (Tank), ryujehong (Support)

My updoot: The handsomest main tank in the Overwatch League is back! (And apparently he leaks league info so that keeps me in the business!)

My downdoot: Goodbye gigachad. Goodbye Scrim Godreg.

Also unless they’re gonna rotate the two of them either Twilight or Jehong will be benched pepeHands.

(2020 season hasn’t even started and I already miss Bumper)

My recommended addition: Gogora

Despite people thinking Fissure will be a problem on Vancouver, I think he will be fine. When not being over-dramatic I think he’s a stellar main tank (e.g. when he was on Kongdoo Panthera and LA Gladiators pre-ego boom). And maybe Seoul wasn’t the right fit for him. He also has a resource-heavy playstyle ala Bumper, so maybe Titans could be the right fit.

But enough about being a Fissure apologist, I think Vancouver’s biggest problem might be on off-tank instead. We’ve seen in the playoffs that JJANU might not be the best player in the world when off his comfort pick D.Va. So I think a more flexible backup off-tank might be what Vancouver needs. Gogora has shown to have a pretty good Sigma at the Gauntlet, and I think he can flex his chops on other off-tanks as well. And hey, we need more Contenders Pacific representation in OWL anyways ᴾᵃᵗᶦᵖʰᵃⁿ ᶠᵒʳ ᴼᵂᴸ ²⁰²² ᵖˡᵉᵃˢᵉ.

San Francisco Shock (23–5, Champions, Playoffs)

Out: Nevix (Off-tank)

In: ANS (DPS)

My updoot: PogYou

My downdoot: I have nothing really bad to say about Shock, but when I first saw NRG’s new logo I thought I was time-travelling back to like 2004 or something.

at least it’s not Evil Genius

(That being said if the Shock’s new colours are greyscale plus orange like what the rumours are then that’s kinda weirdchamp too)

My recommended addition: Unique

I don’t know who to add to this team. Maybe a Korean main support, so that they can field a full six-man Korean roster? And if that’s the case, their best option is probably the Gauntlet-winning main support.

Dallas Fuel (10–18)

Out: OGE (Tank)

In: Doha (DPS), Decay (DPS), Gamsu (Tank)

My updoot: Getting Gamsu, Decay, and Doha? That’s some pretty top-notch additions. Hopefully these players can turn the Dallas Fuel ship around and get them heading towards victory harbour.

My downdoot: That’s what we said last year, and look what happened.

(I’m not sayin’ it will happen, but if it happens again for like the third time I won’t be surprised)

My recommended addition: Crimzo

uNKOE has not been up to snuff recently, and with a long history of medical injuries, I don’t know why he’s the sole flex support player on the Fuel’s roster (yeah I know about Harry but it looks like he’s not super comfortable on flex support). And they have a perfectly good flex support right on their academy team. I’m just sayin’?

Los Angeles Valiant (12–16)

Out: Agilities (DPS), SPACE (Off-tank), FCTFCTN (Tank), Kariv (Support), Custa (Support)

In: Apply (DPS), Dreamer (Tank), Lastro (Support), Slur (Support)

(Note: I’m gonna put up a part 5 for any late announcements, and Valiant will be part of it, considering they still have a lot of rumoured signings and most importantly, don’t have a main support right now. But I’ll look at their current announced roster today)

My updoot: Now that McGravy is starting, I hope this is what the Valiant comms sound like from now on.

(I miss the old Envision, before we knew their boss fucked them all over)

My downdoot: Don’t know why Valiant wants to copy Boston in more ways than one.

Cmon guys go back to green

My recommended addition: Named

Obviously, with the team lacking a main support after Custa retired, I kinda had to pick that role. And even though Meta Athena has never looked super good in any of their seasons in Contenders, Named was one of the few bright spots on that team. His boops were at times fight-winning, and a player as clutch as him could prove to be the miracle the Valiant needs.

This has been part 2 of my One Updoot, One Downdoot 2020 OWL Preseason series, if you missed part 1 you can check it out here. The second half will drop in a few days, so stay tuned for that!