E-Sports: Outlook on Phase Four – OWL

The fourth and therefore last phase of the current season of the Overwatch League starts with some changes. SPORT1 shows what to expect from now on.

The fourth phase of the Overwatch League brings some changes.

From now on the “2-2-2 Role-Lock”, which Blizzard recently introduced, will be implemented. This means that from now on only two tanks, two supporters and two damage heroes can be chosen in one team at the same time.

This innovation is throwing some team compositions out of the window that had established themselves, especially in the Overwatch League over time – including the infamous GOATS composition.

Conversely, this also means that from now on the DPS players, who have been on the bench for quite some time, will finally be back in action.

SPORT1 Overwatch expert and Caster Viktor “Noserino” Polster also gave us his opinion:

“Teams with strong DPS players could really turn up in the last stage: London Spitfire and Philadelphia Fusion, last year’s two finalists, are much stronger with the 2-2-2 lock. Carpe, Birdring & Profit should unpack their sniper again because we will see much more Widowmaker and Hitscan in general in Stage 4”.

Noserino also stresses that other, newer teams should not be underestimated. Especially the Shanghai Dragons could have proved themselves in the last playoffs on DPS heroes.

Especially the long-time popular “Dive Composition”, which requires a very fast playing style and a high degree of coordination in the team, could prevail again with the changes.

60% of teams have another chance at playoffs

The best six teams at the end of this fourth phase are automatically allowed to advance to the Grand Final of the current OWL season. The prize pool will amount to a total of 3.5 million US dollars.

The teams on playoffs seven to twelve will also have one last chance to win the last two free places in the Grand Final.

For Noserino, one thing is certain: “Every team has the chance to turn the table upside down with the Role Lock. We don’t know which Meta will dominate in the end and how the teams will cope with it so that the last stage will be really exciting again.”

The Overwatch League LIVE at eSPORTS1

The whole thing can be followed on eSPORTS1 on 27.07. from 1:00 to 8:00 am, as well as on 27.07. and 28.07. each from 9:00 pm to 4:00 am.