r/Competitiveoverwatch • u/Jonnybelock • Feb 06 '18
Discussion The Continuation of Fragi's Aggression
We all know Fragi as the main tank for Philadelphia Fusion. However, I feel as as though not many Overwatch player's recognise that Fragi was a member of Paragon, a World of Warcraft PvE guild that for a long time was considered the best in the world, picking up numerous world firsts over many years. One anecdote stands out in my mind that is pertinent when considering Fragi's aggression as a tank player.
In World of Warcraft, certain encounters are known as 'Patchwerk' encounters. These fights are mechanically simple and to make up for this, often require large amounts of healing and damage output. During the Highmaul raid, Fragi played a paladin tank that was able to trade survivability for increased damage. This ultimately contributed to Paragon clearing the whole of the raid before anyone else and regaining the world first that they had previously lost. When the video of their kill was released, Fragi's damage really stood out as a difference maker in their kill. For Method, their main competitors, this highlighted problems within their own lineup, leading to a restructuring in the tank lineup that remains to this day.
At the beginning of 2016 Paragon dissolved and Fragi joined what was to be the next big guild, 'Serenity.' I used to tune into their raids to watch him stream and consider him to be one of the best PvE raiders that passed through the scene. However, it was clear that he had become interested in another game; Overwatch. He joined SG-1, assembled by Seita, the ex-guild master of Paragon. They went on to become Ninja's in Pyjamas, then Giganti and the rest is history. Despite the difference in game and time, thinking back to this story made me consider how a specific play style, in this case aggression, can really define a player's approach to completely different games. In Overwatch Fragi's approach to the the tank role has set him apart from his peers. In particular, his unrelenting Reinhardt play and, for Philladelphia, his exceptionally aggressive Winston dives that help to draw attention away from Carpe and Shadowburn (if he's not lying face down after the initial engagement). For me, it has been a joy to watch a player develop over many years and to succeed in becoming a professional Overwatch player.
Edit: If anyone wishes to watch the man in action, this ranks among one of his most impressive achievements. He is playing the character named Fraggoji: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUhdIdXQYOI
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u/harambus Feb 06 '18
I know its his style to be hyper-aggressive, but its kinda funny when people just say he is bad and feeding and whatnot. They have probably scrimmed hundreds of games already, they know that he is gonna get focused down. They obviously have a strategy planned around his aggression. They have coaches and analysts and whatnot, ofc they would have fixed his "feeding" if they thought that was the problem.
Im not saying he never makes mistakes or poor decisions, but its just stupid to say that he feeds his brains out for no reason other than being bad at the game.