Once expected to be a top 3 team in the Overwatch League, the Dallas Fuel faced a series of challenges leading them to a disappointing first three stages. Sporting an array of powerful anti-dive elements to her kit, Brigitte hit the t1 competitive scene with the beginning of OWL stage 4. In response to community outcry at all levels of play concerning the dominance of dive tanks and tracer, the Overwatch development team announced the release of Brigitte in late February of 2018.
Dive meta lasted approximately one and a half years, followed by mercy meta for almost another year. This vulnerability to dive led to Zappis playing as the team’s solo dps for the rest of NiP’s run in Overwatch, with soldier and Mei being his staple picks. Ultimately, the reason Ninjas in Pyjamas gave up on the triple support in late 2016 was the lack of survivability Zenyatta offered against dive.
Damage mitigation was not as extreme in late 2016 and early 2017 as it is today, so ults were not necessarily needed to sway team fights. This doesn’t mean the level of play has changed, but rather that the game has. “Pick potential” was the sought after characteristic in a team composition during this period of Overwatch, whereas today traits such as “ult economy” and “win conditions” are what teams are looking for when constructing their compositions. Roadhog was a crucial element to their composition because before his multiple nerfs in mid-2017, as he could effectively find important picks using his hook, even when the team was at a 1 or 2-man disadvantage.