The Overwatch League’s All-Star weekend is quickly approaching, but I’m not too interested in the pro games now that someone decided to retire. Instead, I’ve turned my eye to the Talent Takedown- a showcase match featuring your favorite casters, analysts, and MCs. With bragging rights at stake, I expect both of these teams to give it their all for the first map or two before letting things devolve into utter chaos. Which sounds perfect.
The question is, who will feed the least?
Forward Atlantic
Malik, Sideshow, Goldenboy, Mr.X, DoA, Uber, Bren (Coach: Pavane)
I did some digging to get a feel for how the Atlantic team is preparing for All-Star weekend. Sideshow feels that his team will definitely end up on top, even with a pro player like Reinforce on the other side. At the same time, though, Bren seems determined to prove him wrong. Most likely out of spite.
This looks tough, we don't have Reinforce to carry.
On the positive side, we don't have Monte, Puckett, Soe, Hex, Crumbz and Semmler feeding their brains out. https://t.co/TOOzzejkyO
— Josh Wilkinson (@SideshowGaming) August 15, 2018
I'm going to feed my brains out. https://t.co/egWeszwIko
— Brennon Hook (@BrenCasts) August 15, 2018
Even so, Sideshow remained confident when I talked to him on Saturday.
“Honestly, all their team are feeders except [Reinforce],” Sideshow remarked. “We just have to keep our console players in check.”
“Monte and DoA will be the biggest feeders on each team, I think. Monte is a tank player who never plays the game in the worst meta for main tanks. He’s supported by Puckett, who donates his D.Va mech to the enemy team at every opportunity. Their tank line is gonna feed us like a fucking soup kitchen.”
“DoA I have full confidence in, but he is trying to challenge me for my Zenyatta position and everyone knows I’m a god. If he demands to be on Zen and claims seniority, then I won’t heal him and he will feed relentlessly.”
I think it’s safe to say Pavane will have his hands full with this team. Something tells me Jjonak never had to fight off Ark for his Zenyatta spot. At least they have some Pine-level confidence?
“The Soup Kitchen”
Reinforce, Crumbz, Soe, Semmler, Monte, Puckett, Hexagrams (Coach: Moon)
The Pacific Division stars seemed less inclined to provide comment, but I think it’s largely because their play speaks for itself.
Jonny “Reinforce” Larsson is the de facto team captain. He’s one of the most experienced players in the history of the game, guiding Rogue, Misfits and Team Sweden to successful tournament runs in the pre-OWL era. As an analyst at Blizzard Arena, Jonny’s understanding of the game has leveled up even further, which will be a crucial edge for Team Pacific.
The next strongest component for the team is synergy. Semmler and Hex have grown a lot as a pair this season, and their strength as a casting duo will translate well on stage, I think. Puckett and Soe also play together frequently with other community members, which lead to plays like this and the clip below:
Highlight of the day though was definitely @Soembie's Spawn Splosion. Her https://t.co/Rs641BaBA5 Bombs were @Poko Level all day long.
Thanks for clipping @AngelDarkchylde! Now we just got to find the POTG from her POV. pic.twitter.com/KEYPw9uJYT
— Papa Puckett (@MLGPuckett) July 31, 2018
Finally, you have Flexagrams. In a highly adaptive meta, the team with the deepest hero pool often prevails, and I expect Hex to pull out plenty of crazy hero options to help his team.
Overall, I think the Pacific team might take this a little more seriously than the Atlantic boys. There certainly seems to be less internal conflict here, at least. But who knows? Maybe Soe and Crumbz will have to fight over D.Va duty? Will Monte cross no-man’s land to stand by his long term casting partner in this time of conflict?
The Verdict
I took a poll from some TGH writers and other talent to find a consensus on who’s walking away with a win on All-Star weekend. The results are… really something.
Katrina Weil, TGH Writer
Fraser Connell, TGH Writer
Josh “Sideshow” Wilkinson
Robert “hexagrams” Kirkbride
Mitch “Uber” Leslie
Chris Puckett
Sidethrow for the trance champion hexagrams and Main tank MonteCristo. We’ll sweep the Atlantic crew EZPZ.
Alberto “Crumbz” Rengifo
There’s no one like me. I’m from their cloth. There’s no one that can match me. My style is impetuous, my defense is impregnable, and I’m just ferocious. I want your SR. I want to eat his avocados. Praise be Jeff.
So, uh…
These verdicts raise plenty of questions. Is Sideshow an idiot? Is the Pacific team full of feeders? Will DoA punch Sideshow in the face to secure Zenyatta for himself? Anything’s possible in the Talent Takedown! Let us know what YOU think will happen!
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Featured Image Courtesy of Robert Paul for Blizzard Entertainment
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