# Ball Dive

**[afnleaf's notes](https://afnleaf.github.io/notes.html)**
*patch 1.61*

----

<div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/4DXV40N.jpg" width="400" title="BALL" class="center"></div>

This *hybrid* composition is made up of two main groups, the *frontline* and the *backline*. Depending on the line up, you can play for all three archetypal win conditions(dive, spam or brawl) as well as burst or sustain. (*see win conditions at the bottom*)

**Frontline** *(Divers)*
![ball](https://i.imgur.com/EroZpJL.jpg "ball" =50x45) ![tracer](https://i.imgur.com/4NrjTQO.jpg "tracer" =50x45) + ![sombra](https://i.imgur.com/25DeGBZ.jpg "sombra" =50x45)

The dive squad wants to play for its own win conditions while enabling the backline to get value.

**Backline** *(Core)*
![zenyatta](https://i.imgur.com/LtrummE.jpg "zenyatta" =50x45) + ![brigitte](https://i.imgur.com/Hvj3YxE.jpg "brigitte" =50x45) ![dva](https://i.imgur.com/J37idVM.jpg "dva" =50x45)

The backline wants to play in a way where they can support the divers with orb of harmony and packs while also getting their own mouse one value in.

#### Simple steps
- Scouting
- Decision making(plan)
- Setting up the backline
- Playing to win lanes
- Playing for wincons with advantage

**[To fully understand this document you must also have a good understanding of the Dive Cycle](https://hackmd.io/@afnleaf/BJWvnKXT_ "Dive Cycle")**.

## Scouting

Process of deduction based on lanes taken -> Make a decision with this information.

**Retake**:
Spend time gathering information about the enemy positions before making a play.

Common questions:
*vs Mirror* | What lane is Tracer/Ball in? Where is their backline? Other DPS?
*vs Double Bubble* | Where is the Monkey, where is their backline?
*vs Rein Brawl* | Where is the Rein, where is their backline?
*vs 2 Shield* | What groups are they playing in?
*vs 6man* | Scouting for Sombra(everyone), what angle is their team looking to engage from?

**Pt. Control**:
Hold Lanes in a way that will maximize the information you can have.

What to say? (Comms) Hero + Location.

*vs Mirror* | Scout where the enemy Ball/Tracer are. This is your Ball/Tracer's job.
*vs Dub Bub* | What angle is the Monkey looking to jump from, what path is their core taking?
*vs Rein Brawl* | What rotation are they going to do? Rotation bait?
*vs 2 Shield* | What rotation are they going to do? Any Splits?
*vs 6man* | Scouting for Sombra(everyone), what pathing is their team taking?

## Compositional Differences

**Q**: Do we want to play for *burst* or *sustain*? *fast* or *slow*?
*A: Are we better than the enemy at playing fast/slow for burst/sustain?*
- Find out your compositional differences.

#### Supports
. . ![zenyatta](https://i.imgur.com/LtrummE.jpg "zenyatta" =50x45) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ![mercy](https://i.imgur.com/q64GA3L.jpg "mercy" =50x45) . . . . . . vs . . . . . . ![brigitte](https://i.imgur.com/Hvj3YxE.jpg "brigitte" =50x45) . .
Zen is a cool boi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mercy(***sustain***) . . . . . . . . Brig(***burst***)

Brig might need to play slow and avoid a fight so that the DPS on her team have time to set up, ex; Sombra+Tracer dive.

Sometimes Mercy needs to play fast to engage on rotations with the DPS she is pocketing.

#### Anchor Tank

![sigma](https://i.imgur.com/eslhlP7.jpg "sigma" =50x45) . . . . ![roadhog](https://i.imgur.com/g9wvxER.jpg "roadhog" =50x45) . . . . ![orisa](https://i.imgur.com/4XbbwcI.jpg "orisa" =50x45) . . . . ![reinhardt](https://i.imgur.com/wKkGxcz.jpg "reinhardt" =50x45) . . . . ![zarya](https://i.imgur.com/YzMdJtz.jpg "zarya" =50x45) . . . . ![dva](https://i.imgur.com/J37idVM.jpg "dva" =50x45)
***sustain*** --> --> --> --> --> --> --> --> --> --> --> --> --> ***burst***

Reinhardt plays to his backline's win condition rather than his own. Occasionally he might need to play more like a shield bot.

Zarya plays to her CD Tempo and Energy level. Much like Dive you will need to set her up for success. This makes her not necessarily the fastest.

#### DPS
Tracer can always be played and fits into all archetypes.

![widowmaker](https://i.imgur.com/IY1TzoS.jpg "widowmaker" =50x45) ![hanzo](https://i.imgur.com/bxRfivm.jpg "hanzo" =50x45) ![ashe](https://i.imgur.com/mpQlxrs.jpg "ashe" =50x45) ![pharah](https://i.imgur.com/qExt1w2.jpg "pharah" =50x45) ![soldier](https://i.imgur.com/iLUFcbc.jpg "soldier" =50x45) ![mccree](https://i.imgur.com/gvXShkD.jpg "mccree" =50x45) ![echo](https://i.imgur.com/lHpRFQf.jpg "echo" =50x45) ![genji](https://i.imgur.com/E0LfjfL.jpg "genji" =50x45) ![sombra](https://i.imgur.com/25DeGBZ.jpg "sombra" =50x45) ![doom](https://i.imgur.com/DO3V7co.jpg "doom" =50x45)
***sustain*** --> --> --> --> --> --> --> --> --> --> --> --> --> --> ***burst***

### Comp Examples

**APAC Dive**
![ball](https://i.imgur.com/EroZpJL.jpg "ball" =50x45) ![dva](https://i.imgur.com/J37idVM.jpg "dva" =50x45) ![tracer](https://i.imgur.com/4NrjTQO.jpg "tracer" =50x45) ![sombra](https://i.imgur.com/25DeGBZ.jpg "sombra" =50x45) ![brigitte](https://i.imgur.com/Hvj3YxE.jpg "brigitte" =50x45) ![zenyatta](https://i.imgur.com/LtrummE.jpg "zenyatta" =50x45)

**Spam/Dive**
![ball](https://i.imgur.com/EroZpJL.jpg "ball" =50x45) ![sigma](https://i.imgur.com/eslhlP7.jpg "sigma" =50x45) ![tracer](https://i.imgur.com/4NrjTQO.jpg "tracer" =50x45) ![ashe](https://i.imgur.com/mpQlxrs.jpg "ashe" =50x45) ![mercy](https://i.imgur.com/q64GA3L.jpg "mercy" =50x45) ![zenyatta](https://i.imgur.com/LtrummE.jpg "zenyatta" =50x45)

**Full Spam**
![ball](https://i.imgur.com/EroZpJL.jpg "ball" =50x45) ![orisa](https://i.imgur.com/4XbbwcI.jpg "orisa" =50x45) ![widowmaker](https://i.imgur.com/IY1TzoS.jpg "widowmaker" =50x45) ![pharah](https://i.imgur.com/qExt1w2.jpg "pharah" =50x45) ![mercy](https://i.imgur.com/q64GA3L.jpg "mercy" =50x45) ![zenyatta](https://i.imgur.com/LtrummE.jpg "zenyatta" =50x45)

**Brawl/Dive**
![ball](https://i.imgur.com/EroZpJL.jpg "ball" =50x45) ![dva](https://i.imgur.com/J37idVM.jpg "dva" =50x45) ![tracer](https://i.imgur.com/4NrjTQO.jpg "tracer" =50x45) ![mccree](https://i.imgur.com/gvXShkD.jpg "mccree" =50x45) ![brigitte](https://i.imgur.com/Hvj3YxE.jpg "brigitte" =50x45) ![zenyatta](https://i.imgur.com/LtrummE.jpg "zenyatta" =50x45)

**Cyber Dive**
![ball](https://i.imgur.com/EroZpJL.jpg "ball" =50x45) ![dva](https://i.imgur.com/J37idVM.jpg "dva" =50x45) ![sombra](https://i.imgur.com/25DeGBZ.jpg "sombra" =50x45) ![genji](https://i.imgur.com/E0LfjfL.jpg "genji" =50x45) ![brigitte](https://i.imgur.com/Hvj3YxE.jpg "brigitte" =50x45) ![ana](https://i.imgur.com/GKmy4Z9.jpg "ana" =50x45)

**Doom Brawl**
![ball](https://i.imgur.com/EroZpJL.jpg "ball" =50x45) ![zarya](https://i.imgur.com/YzMdJtz.jpg "zarya" =50x45) ![tracer](https://i.imgur.com/4NrjTQO.jpg "tracer" =50x45) ![doom](https://i.imgur.com/DO3V7co.jpg "doom" =50x45) ![brigitte](https://i.imgur.com/Hvj3YxE.jpg "brigitte" =50x45) ![ana](https://i.imgur.com/GKmy4Z9.jpg "ana" =50x45)

**North Korea**
![ball](https://i.imgur.com/EroZpJL.jpg "ball" =50x45) ![reinhardt](https://i.imgur.com/wKkGxcz.jpg "reinhardt" =50x45) ![tracer](https://i.imgur.com/4NrjTQO.jpg "tracer" =50x45) ![pharah](https://i.imgur.com/qExt1w2.jpg "pharah" =50x45) ![mercy](https://i.imgur.com/q64GA3L.jpg "mercy" =50x45) ![lucio](https://i.imgur.com/M3hs7pk.jpg "lucio" =50x45)

**Onga Bonga**
![ball](https://i.imgur.com/EroZpJL.jpg "ball" =50x45) ![winston](https://i.imgur.com/xLXrWXU.jpg "winston" =50x45) ![tracer](https://i.imgur.com/4NrjTQO.jpg "tracer" =50x45) ![echo](https://i.imgur.com/lHpRFQf.jpg "echo" =50x45) ![mercy](https://i.imgur.com/q64GA3L.jpg "mercy" =50x45) ![lucio](https://i.imgur.com/M3hs7pk.jpg "lucio" =50x45)

**OG Dive**
![ball](https://i.imgur.com/EroZpJL.jpg "ball" =50x45) ![dva](https://i.imgur.com/J37idVM.jpg "dva" =50x45) ![tracer](https://i.imgur.com/4NrjTQO.jpg "tracer" =50x45) ![genji](https://i.imgur.com/E0LfjfL.jpg "genji" =50x45) ![lucio](https://i.imgur.com/M3hs7pk.jpg "lucio" =50x45) ![zenyatta](https://i.imgur.com/LtrummE.jpg "zenyatta" =50x45)

**#RunTheBath**
![ball](https://i.imgur.com/EroZpJL.jpg "ball" =50x45) ![roadhog](https://i.imgur.com/g9wvxER.jpg "roadhog" =50x45) ![torbjorn](https://i.imgur.com/0essngl.jpg "torbjorn" =50x45) ![genji](https://i.imgur.com/E0LfjfL.jpg "genji" =50x45) ![brigitte](https://i.imgur.com/Hvj3YxE.jpg "brigitte" =50x45) ![ana](https://i.imgur.com/GKmy4Z9.jpg "ana" =50x45)

You can come up with your own variations. Make sure you take into account whether your comp plays better for burst or sustain.

#### Other Questions

**Q**: I don’t know what to do! We are mirrored D:
*A: Play to win lanes, and then execute your strongest win condition whether that be Brawl, Spam or Dive.*

**Q**: I don’t know how to beat the enemy comp D:
*A: look at what type of hybrid the enemy is and play to maximize your strengths and minimize your weaknesses.*

----

## Setting up the backline

**Q**: Why?
*A: Zen is essential to your win con in every situation.*
**Q**: Where?
*A: You want a position with the following characteristics...*

**Together**
- You can rotate while holding hands
- Safer

**Corners**
- Ability to close off enemy angles

**LOS** *(Line of Sight)*
- Harmony/Discord/Pack value
- DPS

**Rotation options**
- Kite to a new location (safe from dive)
- Setup a new angle (play to spam with Zen)
- Continue closing distance (play to push in Tank+Brig)

**Distance** *(from enemy engagement angles)*
- Prevent the dive, scout so you can chip/discord divers before they engage
- Easier to react to divers and CC them before they get on you
- After living push in or play aggro to get more LOS

Or

**Closed Space**
- Enclosed(roof) makes it harder for MT divers to get in
- Absorb the dive, easier to absorb when you know where the enemy is coming from.
- Less likely to take enemy spam when you can close off those angle
- Push back in, press W after sustaining throughout the dive

**Surprise Flank angle**
- Go first with an ultimate when you have pt. control and a support ult
- Get aggro Zen/Brig M1 value

----

## Diver Jobs
The following will be information best used in a Ball/Tracer mirror matchup.

**Q**: What is our Ball/Tracer doing?
*A: two more questions:*
- is our backline in position?
- *(yes): look to make aggro plays*
- *(no): our backline needs to rotate*
- is our backline in rotation?
- *(yes): match and prevent the enemy from pressuring them*
- *(no): deal with whatever is preventing the rotation*

### Phase 1: *(Scout/Posture/Poke)*

#### Scouting
Get information about the enemy positions. Constantly update information so your team is up to date.

#### Matching
Taking a duel with the enemy Ball/Tracer to either stall or win the lane. Depending on whether you have advantage in lane or not. You must be able to recognize whether you can trade positively or negatively in the lane before committing.
- Understand your advantages/disadvantages in lane
- Play in LOS of your backline
- Health pack advantage

#### Dueling
If you have a clear advantage in a lane you can look to be more aggressive and get kills.
- Play together, shoot the same target
- Push far into a lane to find the enemy occupying the lane
- Ask for your support resources so you can win a duel (give me packs, harmony, discord my target)

ex, our backline: ![zenyatta](https://i.imgur.com/LtrummE.jpg "zenyatta" =50x45) ![brigitte](https://i.imgur.com/Hvj3YxE.jpg "brigitte" =50x45) enemy backline: ![zenyatta](https://i.imgur.com/LtrummE.jpg "zenyatta" =50x45) ![mercy](https://i.imgur.com/q64GA3L.jpg "mercy" =50x45)

We have pack advantage and should look to duel their Ball and Tracer aggressively.

#### Holding
Play defensively to protect your team's space
- Hold space on the perimeter of your backline
- Prevent enemy from setting up a dive by forcing attention onto yourself
- Can play split to get more information

ex, our backline: ![zenyatta](https://i.imgur.com/LtrummE.jpg "zenyatta" =50x45) ![mercy](https://i.imgur.com/q64GA3L.jpg "mercy" =50x45) enemy backline: ![zenyatta](https://i.imgur.com/LtrummE.jpg "zenyatta" =50x45) ![brigitte](https://i.imgur.com/Hvj3YxE.jpg "brigitte" =50x45)

We are at disadvantage in lane without packs, we want to protect our Zen. Our advantage is playing for sustain and keeping the Zen alive.

#### Soft Pressure or Forcing point
Threaten the enemy backline or get on point to force attention onto yourself. This forces a response which frees up pressure so your backline can move into position. Make sure you always have a way out when playing for soft pressure.

#### Pathing
- Longer lanes vs closed lanes
- Avoid enemy LOS
- Fastest path vs path with most cover, find a middleground
- Walk near health packs or team LOS
- Play in an area with lots of options to engage from or continue on your path

### Phase 2: *In | (Engage/Midfight)*
During phase 1, if you have gained some type of advantage or see an opportunity for a play, look to force an engage.

*Target + Location + 3..2..1.. = a kill*

----

## Win Conditions

**Dive**: Burst an isolated target *(Ball + Tracer + Discord)*
**Brawl**: Close distance *(press W and Brig M1 + Harmony + Anchor Tank)*
**Spam**: Angles -> Pressure -> Kills *(Zenyatta M1 + Discord + Diver angles)

**Burst**: Focus your resources at the same time
**Sustain**: Spread your resources over time to maintain constant pressure

### Getting an advantage
This simply means your team is trading resources positively, giving you a window where you can use your cooldowns aggressively to take more space or execute a play. An advantage for your team could be something that is more obviously a disadvantage for the enemy.

- your frontline/backline forced enemy dive CDs out
- hit a right click
- discord on the right target
- hitting an enemy rotation(inherent disadvantage crossing through chokes)
- enemy is in the killbox you setup
- team has ult advantage

Can you think of any more advantages?

If your team is at a disadvantage you want to look to prevent the enemy from executing onto you or live their engage.

## General Playstyles

### vs Mirror

**Pt. Control**
- Scout enemy positions.
- Core starts in a position where they can apply pressure.
- Ball/Tracer play to control lanes(marking) or punish enemy when your team has advantage(Dive a rotation).
- Play for advantage in the lane where you are strongest.
- Try to execute a win condition when you have an advantage.

**Retake**
- Scout enemy positions.
- Divers try to trade attention, at the same time your Core rotates to a position where they can start applying pressure
- Play for advantage in the lane where you are strongest.
- Try to execute a win condition when you have an advantage.

**Neutral**
- Scout enemy positions from rollouts.
- Play for advantage in the lane where you are strongest.
- Try to execute a win condition when you have an advantage.

### Map Control
A key concept to employ in non-mirror matchups is *map control*. Mobile heroes should be able to control large parts of the map and funnel the enemy into a location you can take an advantageous engage in. Try to control as many lanes as you can.

### vs Brawl
Split up to take more angles

[<img src="https://i.imgur.com/IGzLdR1.png" width="700" title="">](https://i.imgur.com/IGzLdR1.png)

- start off by playing for spam, use *rubberbanding* to get more value
- build your ults
- engage on advantage (key target is Baptiste)
- look to have one hero always follow their tail (behind them)

### vs Spam
Punish less mobile off-angles from the enemy

[<img src="https://i.imgur.com/439SSAz.png" width="700" title="">](https://i.imgur.com/439SSAz.png)

- punish the enemy off-angles by diving them (*hack is strong vs mobile targets*)
- your backline needs to play safe from enemy spam
- engage on enemy core with ults

If you can successfully punish the enemy offangles this will limit their map control and force them to play more grouped up. If they are clumped up together play like you would against a brawl comp.

### vs Dive
Control lanes (flanks) -> get an advantage -> execute best wincon

[<img src="https://i.imgur.com/DlwQE3h.png" width="700" title="">](https://i.imgur.com/DlwQE3h.png)

Understand what lane you can win and what you will lose. In this example the sombra can be used to beat the enemy Ball or Tracer with hacks or health pack advantage. Your backline will lose their lane because of the spam pressure coming from Echo and Sigma. This will limit the help you can get from your backline through harmony orb and brig packs. Look to punish their mobile targets as soon as possible.

----

## Problem comps that need to be solved

### Double Shield Spam
![orisa](https://i.imgur.com/4XbbwcI.jpg "orisa" =50x45) ![sigma](https://i.imgur.com/eslhlP7.jpg "sigma" =50x45) ![echo](https://i.imgur.com/lHpRFQf.jpg "echo" =50x45) ![ashe](https://i.imgur.com/mpQlxrs.jpg "ashe" =50x45) ![mercy](https://i.imgur.com/q64GA3L.jpg "mercy" =50x45) ![baptiste](https://i.imgur.com/7GMdqFD.jpg "baptiste" =50x45)

Standard Dive:

- Isolate and Dive off angles
- Divert the mercy away from your real target
- Avoid engaging on Orisa without major advantage
- Prevent pulls on your backline

### Double Shield Anti-Dive
![orisa](https://i.imgur.com/4XbbwcI.jpg "orisa" =50x45) ![sigma](https://i.imgur.com/eslhlP7.jpg "sigma" =50x45) ![dva](https://i.imgur.com/J37idVM.jpg "dva" =50x45) ![mccree](https://i.imgur.com/gvXShkD.jpg "mccree" =50x45) ![torbjorn](https://i.imgur.com/0essngl.jpg "torbjorn" =50x45) ![tracer](https://i.imgur.com/4NrjTQO.jpg "tracer" =50x45) ![sombra](https://i.imgur.com/25DeGBZ.jpg "sombra" =50x45) ![brigitte](https://i.imgur.com/Hvj3YxE.jpg "brigitte" =50x45) ![baptiste](https://i.imgur.com/7GMdqFD.jpg "baptiste" =50x45)

Sustain Variant:

- Use your mobility to force out off-angles and get enemy to stack
- Play angles and out trade the enemy using sustained pressure
- Look for Burst plays when enemy is low on key anti-dive resources
- Engage on enemy if they push on of your angles, force their engagement to be in open space
- Make sure you have ways to dodge pulls

Zarya Dive:

- Use your mobility to force out off-angles and get enemy to stack
- Play angles and *soft* commit with a clear disengage plan(bubble the ball) to force out resources
- Re-engage with a *hard* commit when the right resources for one of your win conditions to work have been used by the enemy

### 6man Brawl/Dive
![winston](https://i.imgur.com/xLXrWXU.jpg "winston" =50x45) ![dva](https://i.imgur.com/J37idVM.jpg "dva" =50x45) ![tracer](https://i.imgur.com/4NrjTQO.jpg "tracer" =50x45) ![reaper](https://i.imgur.com/mrLp0CS.jpg "reaper" =50x45) ![sombra](https://i.imgur.com/25DeGBZ.jpg "sombra" =50x45) ![lucio](https://i.imgur.com/M3hs7pk.jpg "lucio" =50x45) ![moira](https://i.imgur.com/bVjeL8C.jpg "moira" =50x45)

Standard Dive:

- build a wall in front of your zen
- set up triangles around enemy rotations/engagements
- isolate angles when poking and play LOS of supports to maintain positive trading
- maintain awareness of enemy punish plays (ex, bubble hack) have escape plans
- hack packs behind backline

Sustain Variant:
- living their engage
- pushing back in to punish
- put angles around their killbox
- play split to force them onto one target, ex baiting your zen
- out sustain them, value over time

The problem with their comp is that it is actually a sustain brawl because of moira. It cannot out sustain your spam provided you have enough angles. You force them to play to burst you and try to live that.

### Rein Anti-Dive
![reinhardt](https://i.imgur.com/wKkGxcz.jpg "reinhardt" =50x45) ![dva](https://i.imgur.com/J37idVM.jpg "dva" =50x45) ![zarya](https://i.imgur.com/YzMdJtz.jpg "zarya" =50x45) ![reaper](https://i.imgur.com/mrLp0CS.jpg "reaper" =50x45) ![torbjorn](https://i.imgur.com/0essngl.jpg "torbjorn" =50x45) ![mccree](https://i.imgur.com/gvXShkD.jpg "mccree" =50x45) ![tracer](https://i.imgur.com/4NrjTQO.jpg "tracer" =50x45)![brigitte](https://i.imgur.com/Hvj3YxE.jpg "brigitte" =50x45) ![sombra](https://i.imgur.com/25DeGBZ.jpg "sombra" =50x45) ![moira](https://i.imgur.com/bVjeL8C.jpg "moira" =50x45) ![baptiste](https://i.imgur.com/7GMdqFD.jpg "baptiste" =50x45)

This is an attempt at a hard counter pt. control comp vs standard, works fundamentally the same as vs the double shield anti-dive.

Sustain Variant:

- Use your mobility to force out off-angles and get enemy to stack
- Play angles and out trade the enemy using sustained pressure
- Look for Burst plays when enemy is low on key anti-dive resources
- Engage on enemy if they push on of your angles, force their engagement to be in open space

Zarya Dive:

- Use your mobility to force out off-angles and get enemy to stack
- Play angles and *soft* commit with a clear disengage plan(bubble the ball) to force out resources
- Re-engage with a *hard* commit when the right resources for one of your win conditions to work have been used by the enemy

### Winston Ana Dive
![winston](https://i.imgur.com/xLXrWXU.jpg "winston" =50x45) ![dva](https://i.imgur.com/J37idVM.jpg "dva" =50x45) ![zarya](https://i.imgur.com/YzMdJtz.jpg "zarya" =50x45) ![tracer](https://i.imgur.com/4NrjTQO.jpg "tracer" =50x45) ![ashe](https://i.imgur.com/mpQlxrs.jpg "ashe" =50x45) ![echo](https://i.imgur.com/lHpRFQf.jpg "echo" =50x45) ![ana](https://i.imgur.com/GKmy4Z9.jpg "ana" =50x45) ![brigitte](https://i.imgur.com/Hvj3YxE.jpg "brigitte" =50x45)

Default:

- dominate the map using mobility
- understand where enemy burst engages (anabong+monkey) will happen
- break enemy killboxes before your backline walks through them
- make sure your backline lives instead of trying to trade vs brig/ana

### Mirror
![ball](https://i.imgur.com/EroZpJL.jpg "ball" =50x45) + anything

- understand your compositional differences
- prevent hard commits onto your backline
- play for lane advantage
- execute a win condition with advantage