North America vs. Asia: Which Region is Favored in the Overwatch League Final Four?

The Overwatch League Grand Finals are fast approaching, and with the level of talent set to face off in the final four, viewers are in for an apocalyptic level of mayhem. Two teams each from North America and Asia will compete in the bracket: the Philadelphia Fusion and the San Francisco Shock from North America, and the Seoul Dynasty and Shanghai Dragons from Asia.

The two regions are, in many ways, evenly matched heading into Grand Finals weekend. The Dragons and the Shock have remained favorites since early in the season. As the top two teams in the Overwatch League, it's hard to say which has the better chance. If there's an edge to be had, it's in whichever team adapts more fully and rapidly to the new meta.

North America vs. Asia: Which Region is Favored in the Overwatch League Final Four?

Speaking of which — the Seoul Dynasty are the ascendant trophy aspirants because of their post-season revival, spurred in large part by their quick mastery of the new meta. Jae-hee "Gesture" Hong's Roadhog, in particular, has made the team a true Grand Finals threat. Of the two lower seeds, the Dynasty appears the more deadly outfit, but it's hard to count out the Philadelphia' Fusions workhorse effectiveness and the star power sprinkled throughout their roster.

In the bracket itself, the first round pits the Shock against the Dynasty and the Fusion against the Dragons. Most analysts would say the Dragons is a safe bet in that first round, but Philly's no stranger to big games. That experience could be a factor in the first few maps as Shanghai hasn’t played on a stage this big. Similarly, the Shock is favored over the Dynasty, but Seoul's mastery of the meta could destabilize the top North American seed just enough to eke out a win. If Seoul can knock the Shock into the losers bracket, Asia will have a real chance to outdo North America in the tournament.

That said, one of the Shock's great strengths is its coaching. If any team can crack the counter to the Dynasty's composition, it's the Shock. Either way, the Seoul/San Francisco matchup is likely the key to which region will reign supreme. At the end of the day, Overwatch doesn't lie. Fans will have to tune in to see on which side of the East/West divide the trophy lands.

The Overwatch League Grand Finals Weekend runs Oct. 8-10, culminating with the Grand Finals championship match Oct. 10. Make sure to catch all the action at YouTube.com/OverwatchLeague!

This article is the result of a partnership between DBLTAP and Activision Blizzard.