Coming off of a much-needed win, the Toronto Defiant seek another victory as they head into a new week of games. For them, a potential win comes in the form of an opponent that fans can’t quite make heads or tails of. The Washington Justice had very high pre-season expectations when they made an incredible run in Stage 4 of the 2019 Overwatch League season. Free from GOATs, they showed why their signings were logical, especially DPS star Corey “Corey” Nigra.
With new bans, however, comes a new challenge. Though the Toronto Defiant got a scrappy win against a faltering Boston Uprising, it’s unsure how these hero pools are affecting them. This team has shown a lot of ups and downs since the beginning of the season. The current hero pool consists of Wrecking Ball for tanks, Mei and McCree for damage and Brigitte for support. In the long run, these heroes being out of play doesn’t affect the Defiant the same way it does Washington. That’s why there’s a chance for a comeback win, and for Toronto to get their heads back in the game.
Washington Justice (2-4), Apr 4th
With the same standings, these two teams have a lot to prove when they go head to head. The deciding factor in who has the upper edge comes down to hero pools. With certain heroes off the table, the Toronto Defiant have a chance to shine with a comp that earned them many accolades early on in the season. McCree and Mei are finally out of play for a week together, enabling the use of a more Dive-heavy composition. This means that DPS duo Lane “Surefour” Roberts and Brady “Agilities” Girardi are free to play their very successful Sombra and Doomfist combination.
Though Washington DPS Ethan “Stratus” Yankel is formidable on Doomfist, as well as Corey on his signature Widowmaker, this hero pool plays a little more favorably towards Toronto. Both of these teams have been in a struggling position. Both looked poised to snatch wins from the get go, but have yet to really find their stride among their fierce Atlantic competition. If Toronto goes back to favorable strategies that earn them the upper hand, specifically with enabling Surefour’s aggressive style, they could seal the deal and earn another much needed win.
PREDICTION: Toronto wins 3-1
Player to Watch: Agilities
Though Surefour is a contender, the pressure falls to Agilities this week. Going up against Corey and Stratus isn’t an easy feat by any means, and Agilities will have to perform at top levels in order to keep the blood thirsty Stratus at bay. Without Mei in the hero pools, Stratus is only slightly less powerful — he still has a range of heroes to pull from. If the Defiant wants to ensure quick success, they need to pool resources into their DPS line to enable them to pop off. With a boost from Kristian “Kellex” Kellar and Young-seo “KariV” Park, Agilities should be up to the task.
Featured Image Courtesy of Ben Pursell for Blizzard Entertainment.
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