It's been a week since the release of Junkenstein's Lab, Overwatch's new game mode, and an interesting trend has emerged. The Tank role has consistently been the most popular choice among players, with queue times for Tank significantly longer than for other roles. Let's explore the reasons behind this phenomenon and the implications it has for the game's balance.
The Rise of D.Va:
One of the primary factors contributing to the Tank role's popularity is the overwhelming strength of D.Va in Junkenstein's Lab. Her "oneshot boop" build, which combines various upgrades to maximize her damage output, allows her to easily eliminate non-tank heroes. This build typically includes the following upgrades:
- 100% melee damage buff
- 20% increased primary fire damage while flying
- Increased missile charges
- Anti-boop ability
- Exploding missiles
When combined, these upgrades enable D.Va to burst down squishy targets in a fraction of a second, making her a formidable force on the battlefield.
Orisa's Reliability:
While D.Va's oneshot potential is undeniably powerful, some players find Orisa to be a more reliable choice. Her early tier upgrades, such as the deflecting skin and heat-resetting spear/spin, provide significant power spikes in the initial rounds. This allows Orisa to maintain a consistent level of performance throughout the game, whereas D.Va's effectiveness may fluctuate depending on the availability of her key upgrades.
The Struggle for Other Tanks:
The dominance of D.Va and Orisa has left other Tank heroes, such as Reinhardt, in a challenging position. When faced with a composition featuring D.Va, Pharah, Ashe, Mercy, and Zenyatta, Reinhardt players often feel helpless and outmatched. The combination of high damage output, mobility, and healing makes it difficult for Reinhardt to effectively protect his team and make an impact on the game.
Emerging META Picks:
As players continue to explore the various upgrade paths and hero combinations, a META (Most Effective Tactic Available) is beginning to take shape. In addition to the aforementioned D.Va and Orisa builds, other heroes are showing promise:
- Damage-focused Ashe with Mercy pocket
- Triple exploding kunai Kiriko
- Cross-map fade triple orb Moira
- Homing rocket Soldier: 76 with biotic field attachments and shields
These picks excel at dealing massive amounts of damage from a distance, making them difficult to counter without proper coordination and targeted upgrades.
The Need for Counterplay:
To address the current imbalance in Junkenstein's Lab, it's crucial for the development team to introduce more counterplay options. One suggestion is to allow players to swap heroes during the match, enabling them to adapt to the enemy team's composition and upgrade choices. Additionally, incorporating a wider variety of Tank heroes could help diversify the role and prevent the dominance of a single hero.
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The popularity of the Tank role in Junkenstein's Lab highlights the need for careful balancing and continuous iteration in game design. While it's exciting to see players discovering powerful builds and strategies, it's equally important to ensure that all roles and heroes have a fair chance to contribute to the game.
