Overwatch pro Super explains why GOATS is dead after the February PTR patch

Overwatch pro Matthew ‘Super’ DeLisi has explained that he believes the new patch on the Overwatch PTR will mean the end of the infamous “GOATS” meta.

GOATS is a triple-tank, triple-support composition named for the Overwatch Contenders team that popularized it, and has been the game’s dominant strategy for several months now.

The composition uses the area-of-effect (AOE) capabilities of the likes of Lúcio, Moira, and Brigitte to keep the tanks healthy and fast-moving, making for a particularly durable variation on classic “death ball” strategies to which the most reliable answer is often simply to mirror it.

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Though GOATS undoubtedly requires a lot of communication and precise timing to execute properly, but with no DPS heroes involved it’s less likely to produce spectacular plays, and the sheer power of the composition has reduced the game’s diversity by dissuading players from using alternative line-ups in many instances.

Both Overwatch players and viewers have complained about the supremacy of GOATS.

It seems, however, that the latest update to the Overwatch PTR might finally spell the end to the reign of GOATS, which according to San Francisco Shock main tank Super will be the “nail in the coffin” for the composition once the patch reaches the live servers.

Super highlighted the changes to Lúcio in particular, who is set to receive a nerf to his Speed Song once further balance changes hit the PTR in the coming days.

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Lucio

• Speed Song: Effect lowered from 30% to 20%
• Amp it up: Speed song amped effect reduced from 70% to 50%
• Wall Ride: Passive movement speed gained while wall riding increased from 20% to 40%.

While Super states that GOATS may still be viable on certain maps, such as King’s Row, he believes that the patch should mean the end of the composition as the game’s dominant force, and team-mate Grant ‘Moth’ Espe agrees.

These Lúcio changes come on top of a variety of balance changes, with a whole two-thirds of the hero roster being affected by the PTR patch. Assuming the update reaches the live servers without a significant overhaul, it will likely mean a major shake-up to the game’s meta.