Spiciest Season 18 Hot Takes: 5v5, Orisa, Stadium Builds, Map Voting, And Wu Yang’s Role ⇒ OverwatchCentral

KarQ is back from a Wu Yang promo trip in Chengdu and he came loaded with opinions. From the eternal 5v5 vs 6v6 debate to Stadium’s Cheesecake Factory menu of upgrades, here is the must read recap with quick context and what it means for your games this week.

TL;DR

5v5 tanking feels powerful and expressive, most active tank players prefer it
Orisa is fun now, the spear skill shot and faster gun carry her, the new shield perk can lean her back into bunker if you want
Stadium complexity is a feature, not a bug, learn items like you scan builds in other MOBAs
Silly builds should be viable alongside meta lines so there are multiple competitive paths
“Not fun” heroes are perspective based, Tracer is KarQ’s most annoying matchup, Freja can feel oppressive for others
Map voting frustration is real, but the pool uses a smart rotation that surfaces underplayed modes over time
Wu Yang fits a main support style in coordinated play, and pairs well with Brig or Lucio in fast brawl dive comps

5v5 Over 6v6

KarQ sides with modern tanking. One tank means you set tempo, own space, and live with the consequences. Critics on social media are loud for 6v6, but in ranked reality many tanks like the agency. When it goes wrong you get blamed, when it goes right you hit those Junker Queen five mans and feel like the protagonist.

Orisa Is Not Boring

The Overwatch 2 rework made her faster and more skill expressive. Spear is a satisfying pick tool, the primary fire feels chunky, and yes, the new shield perk exists if you want old school bunker lines. No Halt, no problem.

Stadium’s Big Menu Is The Point

Dozens of upgrades can be daunting. KarQ compares it to Cheesecake Factory. The fix is not removing “numbers” perks, it is learning the best pages for each hero. Hit tab, read what the enemy bought, and counter buy. Visual clutter from extra indicators would not help. Knowledge will.

Make Multiple Builds Viable

Meta funnels are boring. The game is better when two or three build paths are truly competitive. Buff underpicked powers and let “silly” lines breathe in quickplay while keeping ranked healthy.

What Makes A Hero “Not Fun”

It is perspective. A hero is “not fun” when they shut down your role. Support players groan at Sombra, tanks at Mauga, Ana players at Tracer. Speaking of regional flavor, the Chinese community memes Mauga’s cage voice line and spams “SSV GG” because of the local VO delivery. Culture is wild and wonderful.

Map Voting Fatigue

hybrid and Escort often win votes, which can drag match length. Behind the curtain, the third option tends to be random and the system nudges underplayed maps or modes into your pool over time. If Flashpoint disappears, it usually swings back with multiple options later.

Most Annoying Hero Right Now

For KarQ it is Tracer. With public hero stats showing Tracer overperforming across ranks, the perpetual poke, burst, and resets grind players down. Freja can feel oppressive too, especially out of effective range, but Ana can tag her when she floats.

Wu Yang’s Best Use Case

Wu Yang fits a main support archetype in coordinated teams. He shot calls, scans, peels with Guardian Wave, and enables engages from a safe mid range. Pairs seen in play include Wu Yang plus Brig for brawl control, and in OWCS we are seeing Lucio plus Wu Yang for fast dive. Keep distance so your orbs empower, use Guardian Wave to start or save, and play the map like a field general.

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Source: KarQ Archives video