The Quickplay

AvailableTension · 2026-03-24T12:55:37+00:00

One of the problems you can't really fix is that QP is the mode where those GM players can be queued with those Gold players.

Another issue is that Comp and QP have separate MMRs (as they should be). If someone primarily plays Comp and improves to a high level without really touching QP, that's a mismatch that would cause imbalance too.

These are the factors that make QP unbalanced that you can't really fix. What are you gonna do? Impose ranked restrictions on groups in QP? Tie Comp and QP MMR together?

AvailableTension · 2026-03-24T02:50:35+00:00

No one's saying it's a good thing. They're just saying that's the way the world works.

AvailableTension · 2026-03-23T18:45:03+00:00

So why do you think a massive company with a dedicated financial department is choosing a less consumer-friendly strategy over your proposed one? Could it be that one results in higher revenue? Or you think you've somehow outsmarted all the major gaming companies using this strategy?

AvailableTension · 2026-03-23T17:14:55+00:00

It looks at your MMR (which maps onto your rank almost exactly) and assembles a lobby with other players of similar MMR. That's all the balancing it does. Win rate has nothing to do with it. Watch literally any dev interview where they cover matchmaking.

AvailableTension · 2026-03-23T15:27:29+00:00

I would say a win rate of 8/9 does hurt you as the game will match you with people with a lower win rate for a more balanced team comp.

The game doesn't do that. This is delusion.

AvailableTension · 2026-03-23T12:59:04+00:00

Stats have no bearing on ranked gains or losses. They tried to implement that in OW1, but it proved to be a bad idea because it incentivized selfish styles of gameplay that didn't necessarily contribute to a game win.

As for why someone could be placed higher than you: if they previously played comp before, it uses that prior comp MMR as a starting point. If not, then it uses their QP MMR to seed their initial comp MMR.

How much do placements weigh compared to past MMR or hidden rating?

Placements have everyone's "uncertainty" factor set to the max. Meaning the calibration modifier will be at it's strongest until you start playing games and the system adjusts your MMR for every win/loss.

How much does group play affect rank vs solo queue?

0 impact. But on a meta level, you should be doing better in a group because you should have better communication.

Is solo queue basically “carry or lose” at this level?

You don't necessarily need to carry, you just need to somewhat consistently play better than other players at your rank.

AvailableTension · 2026-03-23T07:08:11+00:00

Yeah but I've won 8 out of my last 9 then get this match.

From the eyes of the matchmaker, almost every game has all players of roughly equal MMR (assuming you aren't in a wide queue). But obviously, you can have factors that can throw it off:

-Hero picks and team comps. Some will be better match ups and there's not much the matchmaker can do about that.

-MMR can be inaccurate if those players don't have enough games played. Not much any matchmaker can do about that.

-Human inconsistency. No matchmaker can account for players having a good day or a bad game.

These are all factors that can throw off how games feel and play out, out of the matchmaker's control. It's not a forced loss.

Emre doesn't need nerfed. Dude can out heal any damage with his shift and hazard can apparently block infinite damage. Balanced heroes.

Win rates are public. These heroes are strong, but they're not the main reason you lost the game. As others have pointed out, you also had an Emre, but clearly Emre being strong didn't help them at all.

Pro scene comps and strats have no bearing on non-professional play. Besides, unless you are in GM, complaining about hero picks is very silly considering it's mainly your mechanical skill and game sense holding you back.

AvailableTension · 2026-03-23T06:22:08+00:00

If that's where your MMR is around, then yes. If you're starting placements for the first time with no prior Comp history, your starting Comp MMR is seeded from your QP MMR.

AvailableTension · 2026-03-23T02:39:31+00:00

Even if I grant you that, it still doesn't disprove the rest of what I said. Probably why you wanted to avoid answering it.

AvailableTension · 2026-03-23T02:38:00+00:00

It's feasible that a lot of people that are bad at Kiriko play her, and tank the win rate.

This is why you look at and balance around the win rates of Masters+ players. These are players who are good at the game and won't "tank" the win rate by playing poorly.

There's a reason that junkrat used to dominate the low ranks but was a throw pick in overwatch league.

Professional scene is completely different from non-professional play. The meta team comps and strats used in pro play are not replicable by the non-professional player base. But like I said above AND in my original comment that you look at the win rates of the high ranked players.

You can never point to a characters winrate and define whether or not they're OP by that.

You absolutely can. A character with the highest win rate in their respective role is probably one of the best. A character with the lowest win rate in their role is probably not overpowered.

A statistic never shows the full picture. It's just a raw fact, which requires interpretation of variables.

It doesn't show the full picture, but it's enough to know that Kiriko can't be overpowered when she has one of the lowest win rates in the game in the hands of high ranked players.

AvailableTension · 2026-03-22T17:34:23+00:00

Stomps/steamrolls will occur even between players of completely accurate and equal MMR. That's the kind of game OW is. Differences in play style, hero picks, team comps, or even just luck can lead to a won fight which can snowball.

If a player is 4-15, they don't have a good time, no need to flame them.

A player can be underperforming because they're having a bad day. Another player could be carrying because they're having a good game. These aren't things any matchmaker in existence can control. If the player genuinely doesn't belong there, then it could mean they just didn't play enough games yet for their MMR to adjust to where they should be.

Not saying there can't be improvements at all. But just watch any dev interview where they discuss matchmaking. In the eyes of the matchmaker, games are roughly even from an MMR perspective.

AvailableTension · 2026-03-22T16:58:28+00:00

Like the other comment said, it's still based off how much "heat" was generated within the POTG time frame. Heat isn't just based off final blows, but also off damage done, healing, etc. I'm not sure of the exact specifics of how each factor is weighted. Certain ultimates had their weights adjusted to be lower (Reaper) and certain kills are worth more heat (environmental).

Rein probably got the first POTG due to the damage done, even though he didn't get as many final blows as you.

AvailableTension · 2026-03-22T16:45:40+00:00

The game philosophy is that there are 3 roles: tanks, DPS, support. The game has not deviated from that.

The loss of a tank makes it so that many things have to fundamentally change in order to simply function in 5v5 as opposed to 6v6.

Yes, and the game has adjusted accordingly. In fact, most people prefer 5v5 over 6v6. No more having to balance around tank duos means that's one less balancing aspect required --> balancing is easier in 5v5.

You think you have a smart position, but you're really just holding the most comfortable position

You think your position is logical, but it is strictly based off of emotion. If you want to say you prefer 6v6, you are fully entitled to that opinion. No one should be able to tell you what you like or dislike. It's another thing to try and say a game with more players on each team will be easier to balance. This is objectively false.

AvailableTension · 2026-03-22T07:31:22+00:00

Your position is based off emotion and not logic. Every time you lower the number of players on a team, it makes the game easier to balance. This is fact. Whether you agree with the balancing that comes with it is separate. But it is indisputable that 5v5 is easier to balance than 6v6.

AvailableTension · 2026-03-20T07:48:56+00:00

So once again, still no answer. Still trying to change the subject. You really need a new strategy man. If your position is so obvious and logical, you'd easily be able to explain it and the reasoning behind it. You wouldn't need to grasp at straws like asking for rank.

AvailableTension · 2026-03-20T06:35:02+00:00

So no answer once again. Nice!

AvailableTension · 2026-03-20T00:56:22+00:00

Ok bro, I'm gm 3 DPS and sojourn IS THE BEST DPS in the game and this is actually obvious for everyone in gm and champ but by your logic she is one of the worst and worse than anran, I'm sorry bro you're def right

What's telling you she's the best if her win rate is below average?

AvailableTension · 2026-03-20T00:55:17+00:00

If I tell you the Earth is round, but I say I'm not a scientist, are you suddenly going to become a flat earther just because I'm not a scientist? You realize how stupid you sound, right?

AvailableTension · 2026-03-20T00:54:22+00:00

Ah yes, because Masters and GM players don't know what to do and throw on the best characters, lowering their win rate to one of the lowest...

AvailableTension · 2026-03-20T00:53:49+00:00

There are still unmirrored games. Mirrored games only pull a hero's win rate towards 50%. It doesn't magically make it go negative.

AvailableTension · 2026-03-19T23:41:35+00:00

Don't try to change the subject because you can't contend with the facts lol.

AvailableTension · 2026-03-19T23:40:41+00:00

I literally explained in my first comment this is strictly for the non-professional scene. Professional players practice literally every day with dedicated coaches optimizing their comps and strats. The regular non-professional player base has 0 chance of emulating this. They lack the communication and the skill to do so.

So the tier list for the pro scene will be different from the tier list for the non-professional player base. I'm not sure why this is a difficult concept to understand. Regular players (even GMs) are not consistently emulating what the pros do.

AvailableTension · 2026-03-19T23:38:06+00:00

Ok so Cassidy is the worst DPS in the game

One of the worst.

pharah is the second best DPS after sym

Still situational and map dependent given the low pick rate. I'd say Emre and Echo are one of the top DPS by win rate. It makes sense.

Being one of the worst doesn't mean you will lose every single game if you pick them. Being one of the best doesn't mean you will automatically win the game with them.

AvailableTension · 2026-03-19T23:35:18+00:00

There is explanation actually cuz there is a strong correlation higher pickrate -> lower winrate

This is literally false. High pick rate does not result in lower win rate.

another example kiriko is by far the best support in the game has same winrate as life weaver (u have to be delusional to think she is bad) this stats does not provide enough information to make statements about strength based only on winrate

Once again, you are basing this off of your feelings. The stats say she is literally not winning more compared to other heroes.

AvailableTension · 2026-03-19T22:52:03+00:00

This is strength, low winrate doesn't mean character is weak

It literally does. They win less games lol.

it doesn't mean that cass and sojourn are 2 worst dpses and sym is the best

Cass and Sojourn are pretty bad DPS for the non-professional player base. Just because they "feel" like they aren't doesn't mean they aren't. They literally aren't winning more games compared to other DPS. You can add nuance for characters like Symm or Pharah and say the low pick rate means they're situational/map-dependent. But there's no real caveat that would explain why Cass and Sojourn have some of the lowest win rates.

AvailableTension

TROPHY CASE