Did anyone expect Dallas to beat NYXL? No. Did anyone expect Timo “Taimou” Kettunen to return and win two maps against one of the best teams in the league? Also no.
Overwatch League 2019 Season Stage 3 photo:Stewart Volland for Blizzard Entertainment
Even though Dallas lost that game, it showed hope for the team. Zachary “ZachaREEE” Lombardo was previously in Brigitte jail, however now, he has been playing Pharah, Hanzo and Junkrat. Surprisingly, he looks pretty good on those Heroes. He was consistently getting picks and was great in neutral fights, despite some lack luster ultimate usage, especially on Junkrat.
The above average performance from ZachaREEE on DPS and Taimou showing that he’s still got it could mean a change in the tides for the Fuel roster. The Reinhardt, Zarya, Sombra, Brigitte, Ana, Lucio composition has been on the rise in the league with most teams preferring it over traditional GOATs. If the coaching staff on Dallas opts to take this route, then the team might see success again.
Overwatch League 2019 Season Stage 3 photo:Stewart Volland for Blizzard Entertainment
Taimou was on the bench all season long, only to return and stun the crowd… Then he was subbed out. This was due to Dallas’ coaches wanting to run different strategies in the later maps. However this proved that Taimou could be answer to Fuel’s problems with his shot calling and Sombra/Widowmaker play.
Most teams are now running Sombra and Ana in their GOATS and subbing out their D.Va players. The reasons to this are complex, but basically D.Va feeds Sombra, EMP is the best DPS ultimate in the game and Ana has more utility over Zenyatta. Earlier in the season and even before season two, Transcendence would be used exclusively for Graviton, but now with EMP in play, it’s less obvious when to use this important ultimate. Teams have now opted to use Ana and Nanoboost because Nano can be used in a variety of ways, aggressively, to save a teammate, to survive Graviton, etc. A lot of teams have also learned when to cut their losses, if their main tank gets solo graved and is instantly blown up, or the enemy Sombra EMPs half the team and they die, teams take the L and go again.
The point is the meta is different now and it just so happens that Dallas has two Reinhardt players, a great Zarya in Dylan “aKm” Bignet, a surprising Sombra in Taimou, a decent Brigitte and good support duo. Nobody knows what the meta will be in Stage four, but the default will likely be the Sombra, Ana GOATS and Dallas could feasibly make it work.
Subbing out Lucas “Note” Meissner on D.Va is a tough call, but most teams have opted that way for a Sombra player. It seems just like last year when Brigitte was introduced and Brandon “Seagull” Larned came off of the bench and became on of the best D.Va’s in the league. Taimou could himself return from the bench and become one of the best Sombra’s in the league.
What do you think of Taimou’s return? Tell Ethan what you think @Hearin_Voices
Featured image courtesy of Overwatch League
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