Overwatch League, Week 3: Los Angeles Valiant easily defeat Florida Mayhem

While the Florida Mayhem struggled, the Los Angeles Valiant are sitting pretty.

Earlier this week, the Florida Mayhem were shut out by the Houston Outlaws in a decisive manner. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Valiant won a thrilling five-map series against their LA counterparts. Not only are the Valiant looking strong, but they can’t afford to lose. Even with their big win over the Gladiators, they have to keep winning to keep up with the likes of the Houston Outlaws and Philadelphia Fusion

Map One: Eichenwalde

The Valiant went on attack first, with Agilities on Pharah. Easily enough, LA took the first point, with Agilities combined with SoOn taking out player after player. And immediately upon taking the first point, SoOn and Agilities pushed up to pressure Florida in the doorway of the castle while the rest of LA stayed on the payload to push it forward.

Without encountering much resistance, LA took the second checkpoint as well, taking down Florida’s Zebbosai just as he achieved Valkyrie. Immediately after capping the checkpoint, LA once again pushed up quite a bit to put the pressure on Florida as the payload moved behind them. With no solution to the Pharah problem on Florida’s side, Agilities were free to rain down damage, including a very well-timed and placed Rocket Barrage. With over three minutes remaining, LA finished the map.

Florida put TviQ on Pharah for their attack. Logix and Manateen were able to move all the way around the point into the building at the back in an attempt to close in on LA on all sides but were unable to get the picks necessary. Florida’s next push was more successful, with Kariv getting caught out after getting overextended trying to heal every single LA player in his Transcendence. Even though LA’s Envy flew back to contest the point, Florida would cap it soon enough.

LA would contest the payload early, but TviQ would help Florida open it up with three quick rocket picks onto members of LA. Florida was stalled at the castle doors, but thanks to a great Self Destruct, the Mayhem once again would create room to move forward. As the payload moved indoors, TviQ switched to Junkrat to do more ground damage. Florida was able to win several fights thanks to big TviQ Riptires, but LA came back strong to push them off as time ran out. With the payload nearly there, the Valiant shut the Mayhem down to take the map.

Map Score: Valiant 3, Mayhem 2

Match Score: Valiant 1, Mayhem 0

Map Two: Temple of Anubis

On defense, Florida set up their Orisa on the far high ground. LA would come out in the classic dive composition. While their first attack was stalled, their next would knock Orisa off that rooftop. As usual, that would signal the end of the defense’s hold.

Moving to the second point, SoOn attempted to get some first picks by hiding the hallway on the side of the objective. However, the LA first push was unsuccessful. Going in next and able to take out the Florida supports, the Valiant were able to make considerable progress on the point. Just as they were about to take the second tick on the objective, LA’s Unkoe fell and without that, the push faltered. But all they needed was one more push. With Florida’s Zuppeh falling early, unable to use the Valkyrie, LA seized the opportunity to gain control of the point and finish the map.

Los Angeles would also occupy the high ground on defense. TviQ would attempt the long flank around the point to get to the Orisa while Manneten flew onto the opposing rooftop to try to flush out the rest of LA. That attempt ended poorly, with Manneten getting stuck in a trap. Florida’s next push was stopped by SoOn’s Widowmaker, getting headshots on TviQ, a de-meched Manneten, and Zebosai.

With time under a minute, Florida would try to go up the right side of the map. Agilities on Junkrat would make it extremely difficult to move through the rooms without taking significant damage. While the Mayhem would be able to take him out, the rest of LA was there to shut Florida down. The Mayhem would end up falling onto the point with damage raining down on them from the rooftops. As members of Florida fell, SoOn was there to prevent the respawns from making it back onto the point. In the end, overtime would run out on the Mayhem and give Valiant a 2-0 series advantage.

Map Score: Valiant 2, Mayhem 0

Match Score: Valiant 2, Mayhem 0

Map Three: Ilios

As the series entered map three, LA would swap Agilities out for Silkthread. LA and Florida would head to Ruins first, with SoOn and Logix on Widowmaker. LA would get take control of the point first, and SoOn would extend it with two quick headshots on TviQ and Zuppeh. But on Florida’s next push, they were able to take out both LA supports. While it looked like it would be the Mayhem’s chance to take the point, the Valiant wouldn’t completely give up, investing a few more ultimates into the fight before finally backing off enough to let Florida take the point. By that time, the Valiant already had 99 percent on the control meter. It would just take one more calculated push for LA to retake the point and take the point.

Moving onto the Well, it would be Silkthread on Pharah for LA and no answer for the Pharah on Florida. But it was Manneten taking out LA’s front line within the safety of Winston’s shield, and Florida would take the point first with no real threat from the Pharah. However, TviQ would be downed early in the next engagement. With other Mayhem players falling, Manneten would be left alone to stall for as long as possible before giving the point up.

The next engagement took place mostly in the alleys around the point instead of on it. As the fighting ensued, the point switched into Florida’s possession and then back into LA’s. The Valiant finally solidified their control with a big Rocket Barrage from Silkthread while SoOn made things difficult on the ground as Tracer. LA would take the second point as well and win the map.

Map Score: Valiant 2, Mayhem 0

Match Score: Valiant 3, Mayhem 0

Map Four: El Dorado

Agilities came back in for LA as the series moved onto the last map, and he would be on Genji as LA opened on attack. The very first engagement saw eliminations on both sides, but it was Florida finding themselves understaffed as both supports were downed. Unfortunately for the Mayhem, they had used many ultimates in the fight. As the payload moved toward the first checkpoint, however, Florida did have a chance to contest again and fortunately, Agilities’ Dragonblade was unable to find a victim. It took another LA push for them to get that first checkpoint.

The Valiant immediately positioned themselves as far forward as possible to set up for the next fight. Agilities immediately found TviQ in the backline but was then pushed back by Cwoosh. Meanwhile, Florida was able to take out Unkoe and Kariv. As Agilities attempted to take out TviQ again in the backline, he was ganged up on by TviQ and Cwoosh and did not make it out alive this time. LA reset and came back, this time winning the fight and earning themselves some room for the payload.

With less than a minute remaining, the payload was on its way to the second checkpoint. But Florida was also able to push LA off once again. Going into overtime, Florida looked on the verge of successfully holding when the Valiant’s respawns came in. With only TviQ and Logix nearby to contest the point, SoOn cut their chances in half by headshotting TviQ in close range. LA would take the checkpoint and move into the last portion of the map with a little more than a minute on the clock.

Manneten would immediately take out one from the LA with a Self Destruct, stalling Valiant temporarily. They would come back, making great ground thanks to a great Envy Self Destruct that flew up and over into the ranks of Florida. But Florida doubled down in the end with tanks supports by a Moira, and simply outlasted LA, denying them a chance to get that last point on their score.

On attack, TviQ came out as Widowmaker, grappling himself up to get a read on the defense. As he went back into the spawn room to change to Pharah, the Valiant pushed up aggressively to take advantage of the temporary man-advantage, only losing Fate in the process.

Florida’s next push got the payload moving in earnest. As they moved into the courtyard, TviQ was able to take advantage of Valiant members slightly bottled up in the alleyway leading into the courtyard. Even though he was taken out during his Rocket Barrage, the ultimate was enough to catch Unkoe. Without that support, LA was free for the taking and it was Logix on Tracer cleaning up the area as they took the first checkpoint.

The Mayhem rolled through the second portion of the map relatively unchallenged. LA finally mounted a defense over the second checkpoint but made a mistake by not positioning themselves over the payload to contest it. Florida would push it through, even winning the next fight thanks to Logix and TviQ on Widowmaker. LA would stabilize as the payload reached the halfway point of the last section of the map.

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Florida’s next push would start wonderfully, with Unkoe falling early. Then it was Cwoosh knocking LA back from the payload using a Primal Rage. And finally, TviQ would use his Dragonblade to clean up the respawns. Florida would earn themselves a map win within the series.

Map Score: Valiant 2, Mayhem 3

Final Match Score: Valiant 3, Mayhem 1

Player of the Match: Fate, Los Angeles Valiant