In Part 1 of our interview with BackToZer0, captain of Penn Hills’ Overwatch 2 team, we explored their journey into the world of high school esports, their leadership role, and the challenges they face managing a competitive team.
Now, in Part 2, we’ll dive deeper into the game itself. BackToZer0 will break down their approach to team composition, communication strategies, and how they stay ahead in the ever-changing Overwatch 2 meta. Get ready for an in-depth look at what it takes to lead a team to victory in one of the most dynamic esports titles today!
Mastering the Meta
Which Overwatch 2 hero do you believe is currently the most critical for team success, and why?
Personally I believe having a Dva is critical to success right now. Her matrix being able to (if you manage it correctly) stop an entire reaper ult , most of a sojourn ult , a Cassidy ult, any projectile in the game , and only a cooldown of one second is insane. Dva is one of the tanks that if you don’t counter her, you lose the game.
How do you stay up-to-date on game patches and changes to ensure your strategies remain effective?
As soon as a patch is released I read through the entire thing and test it out in game. If Ana’s nade was to be buffed with more damage, I would go into the game as Ana and see how much easier it would be to heal or kill people.
What’s your process for developing strategies for specific maps or against particular opponents?
I normally watch videos and attempt it in games. If it works well we do it, if not we don’t. For opponents we try to check ranks before the game starts, if one rank is higher than the others, we target that rank, as their other teammates are not as much of a threat.
In your opinion, how important is synergy between players, and how do you build that synergy over time?
Synergy is extremely important, for example my and my assistant captains’ synergy is amazing. We both dive the same person without even saying anything and eliminate the entire backline while the rest of our team fights the tank. You can build it by playing together a lot. Learning how your teammates think and them learning how you think will let each other know how to play. For example again, if you know your teammate plays very safe but once he dives, he is diving hard, then you know to also play passively until you see your teammate diving in and then you go along with him.
Leading the Charge
What qualities do you think are essential for leading a team in a competitive game like Overwatch 2?
Loud, Patient, Thoughtful, Kind, Smart, Charismatic etc. You have to be ready to tell your team when and what to do as soon as you can or else the other team will capitalize on you not doing anything, and you will get killed. You as well can’t yell or talk down to your teammates once they make a mistake, it would make them feel dumb and this would kill their morale and gameplay.
How do you manage practices to ensure both individual and team improvement?
I usually watch replays of each of my players on my own or with my assistant captain writing down what they did poorly and well. I would then go on to tell my players this information showing them if they are confused or ask me to. Personally in my free time I try to play as much comp or watch videos on positioning or use of my abilities to improve.
How do you ensure effective communication during matches? What systems do you use to keep everyone on the same page?
We all are next to each other so we can hear each other, but we still use vc anyway. We also constantly ping to let each other know where we are going or where enemies are.
How do you adapt your communication style when playing with new team members or substitutes?
When playing with substitutes or new players instead of giving in general callouts like ‘go over here’ I give more specific ones like ‘(insert name here) go to here along the wall’.
Challenges of Coordination
What are some challenges you’ve encountered while coordinating plays with your team in a fast-paced environment like Overwatch 2?
While I’ll tell my team where to go, sometimes some of my players will swing too wide, or play in front of the tank getting picked off, forcing us to go into the enemy team with only 4 people.
How do you handle conflicts or disagreements within your team, especially during high-pressure matches?
I don’t believe we have really had an conflicts or disagreements during games, if we do I usually agree with the person who is arguably right, however I don’t fully take their side, seeing the other person’s side with how ‘You could be right but instead think of it this way’ and would explain to them why they are wrong and why the right answer is right.
Again, don’t talk condescendingly or like a baby to them, talk to them like you’re on their level or vice versa so they don’t feel stupid for not being right.
What’s your approach to motivating your teammates when morale is low?
Our morale hasn’t really been low yet as we have only lost one game but when it is, (like for example we lost the first game and are down 0-1) before we start the second game I would pin all the blame on myself by saying “I should’ve switched faster” or “I made some really stupid decisions”. Doing this your team would think, ‘hey we didn’t do bad this game, he did. If I’m not doing bad, then I can only do better!’ By saying the opposite of your team’s current thoughts, you boost their morale.
What have you learned from being an esports captain that has helped you outside of gaming, whether in school or in life?
I’ve learned that you can teach people that even you think have zero skill or potential into doing what you never would’ve thought they could. Like doing a group project where you do all the work, if you just taught one of your ‘useless’ group members on how to do it, they can do it and you’ll finish faster than if you just did it by yourself.
Looking Ahead
What are your personal and team goals for the future? Do you have any aspirations for pursuing esports at a collegiate or professional level?
I do wish to pursue Overwatch at a professional level when I’m in college. What I hope is that we make it to finals where scouts watch the games and I get scouted to play for a college team. My assistant captain wants to go to college for Valorant and the rest of my team is not trying to go into esports any more than they currently are.
What’s been your most memorable moment as a captain of your esports team?
My most memorable moment is back when I was first a captain, in our first game, where I gave a callout on where to go and my team actually listened to me. If you played Overwatch before you know how hard it is to get randoms to listen to you. It felt so invigorating to finally be heard, and best of all we won that teamfight!
What advice would you give to younger students who aspire to become esports team captains or professional players?
I would tell them to just keep working and use their resources. If you are currently on a school team, ask your coach or more likely your captain to look over some of your gameplay and what you could do better. After being told what’s wrong, work on it, look it up on youtube or use reddit to find your answers. There are so many ways to improve you just have to work.
If you could design your dream Overwatch team with any players, real or fictional, who would be on it, and why?
If I could design my team I would put all of my favorite overwatch youtubers/streamers on it. KarQ, Jay3, Frogger, Flats and Marblr. I just think it would be funny to watch them all play together in a not serious setting.
