Who are Overwatch League’s elite four rookies?

Every year we praise Overwatch's graduating rookie class for their explosivity and prowess—and this year might be the best of them all. 2020 we had allusions to One Piece's "Worst Generation" (we promise it means they are good) and 2021 had players like Oh "Pelican" Se-hyun make their debut to super effect. While much is still shrouded in indigo, Overwatch 2 is preparing the community—and a new set of rookie stars—to jettison to the stars and abandon our cosy little plateau. However, a set of them stands ahead of the pack as the proverbial final bosses of the Overwatch League rookie race. We've collected our badges, Pokemon-style, and are ready for battle, so who are the 2022 Overwatch League elite four?

First On The List

After a wildly successful season, the Chengdu Hunters teetered on glory. With a liable hole in their DPS lineup, they found success throughout the season all while being pigeon-holed into relying on their creativity. Their answer to that empty space in their roster lay in wait on their academy team—and now we get to see Li "Apr1ta" Yuanjinghao in action. 

Striking hearts and minds, Apr1ta leapt onto the world's radar after his former team toppled one of the best amateur rosters ever assembled. Since then, Chengdu has kept him close, waiting for the day he was eligible for the promotion into the Overwatch League. Daydreams of Apr1ta on last year's roster almost always result in a grand finals appearance or at the very least improve the Hunters in a myriad of ways.

With no second Tracer player to speak of and without a capable hitscan DPS to call upon, Chengdu was forced to be a bit more stylistic. Not to say they were lacking, but having the luxury of fielding the entire roster that Overwatch brings is something that will be important as we venture into Overwatch 2. All those questions and concerns are answered in one dynamic swan dive. 

The fact of the matter is this; Apr1ta is the perfect complement to the Hunters and will thrust them into intonation competition.

• Make sure you stay ahead of the competition by learning how to register for the Overwatch 2 beta.

Second Hurdle

You cannot discount the eye Hangzhou Spark have for talent. Since their debut, Hangzhou has amassed some of the best players in the Overwatch League but has failed to transmute that undoubted talent into any meaningful long-term success. Alongside standout rookies from seasons past, Kim "AlphaYi" Jun aims not just to be some status effect or entry hazard, but to earn gold for himself and Hangzhou.

With a career that stretches back into 2018, AlphaYi was one of the first "new" names that stuck out after the end of the APEX era of Overwatch. Forging a name for himself on the back of some incredibly projectile DPS play, AlphaYi spent the next two years being praised for his talent but was too young to compete.

2021 saw him venture outside of his domestic stomping grounds to compete in China alongside the Hangzhou Spark's academy team, Bilibili Gaming. There the pair found immediate success and became one of the dominant forces within the region, large in part due to his prowess. 

Tracer, Genji, and even stretching into a world-class Echo, AlphaYi will be a large part of Hangzhou Spark's pay day this season—and you can count on that. 

• Check out what's new in Overwatch 2.

Third Aims True

The Philadelphia Fusion has been close but never to the dance. 2020 was a season of near misses and 2021 was just strictly a miss, not for lack of trying of course. With a fresh turn of the page, Philadelphia should look forward to welcoming Yoon "MN3" Jae-hee into the fold. 

Never short for incredible hitscan DPS, the Fusion has incubated MN3 within their academy system for only a short stint comparatively, but to incredible effect. Widowmaker, Cassidy, you name a hero in Overwatch that demands precise aim with the potential to take over a game, and MN3 is an ace at it. So much so that experts and analysts alike already see worlds where MN3 is a starting mainstay for Philadelphia during his rookie debut.

Defying their narrative spectre, Philadelphia has a lock-on the eastern division. With something to prove to the world, both MN3 and the Fusion take aim at Overwatch League's best.

Fourth And Final

Outside of their 2021 grand finals appearance, the Seoul Dynasty have been waiting for a catalyst to thrust them into the title-contending conversation. And with their promotion of Jeong "Stalk3r" Hak-yong from their academy, the dynasty Seoul has been searching for is within reach.

2019 saw him debut on the biggest stage in amateur Overwatch at The Gauntlet with an impressive showing. In just over a year, Stalk3r returned to The Gauntlet and became a star for Seoul's academy team earning them a silver medal in their region's half of the event.

What's most impressive about Stalk3r is that he nears a rare distinction. DPS who can not only play the entire cast of Overwatch's wide range of heroes but can do so at the highest level are worth their weight in gold. They move past your standard "flex DPS" title and enter a category all their own—"hyper-flex". 

While the jury is hung on whether or not Stalk3r can consistently contend with such a heavy moniker, Seoul's newest DPS prospect is primed to have the season of his life. Sinking his teeth into international competition, Stalk3r will rip, tear, and bite through his North American counterparts. 

Shoulder to shoulder with some of the greatest to ever do it, Stalk3r might be the architect to assist the Dynasty to their first world title.

"The Champion"

And at the end of it all stands a champion defending his title. While the distinction of "elite four" is nice and tidy, if you plan to finish the gauntlet then you have to challenge "the champion." 

Hailing as the only team in Overwatch League history to both win two world titles and do so repeatedly, expectations were near fever pitch for the San Francisco Shock coming into 2021 and no one can deny they failed to meet those expectations. However, for their 2022 bid, they've acquired the rookie to end all rookies—Kim "Proper" Dong-hyun.

Preordained as the rightful winner of 2022's Rookie of the Year Award for his flexibility and world-class skill, Proper is the king of the jungle when it comes to rookies. He has entered the league as Overwatch royalty, with royalty, playing for royalty. With so many rookie talents entering the league, with hopes and aspirations to be recognized as the best for this year, Proper stands ahead of them, laughing.

He is the dream eater.

DPS of this calibre are painfully rare, but their importance cannot be overstated. Proper is a franchise player, someone teams can build their future around. From the eye test, he seemingly can do it all and when you glimpse his resume it shows. Overwatch is a fast game, not just in terms of pace but how strategy comes and goes. With such a high demand individually, consistency is not something you catch often—and that's why Proper is an outlier. 

Since 2019 Proper has terrorized South Korea alongside O2 Blast, winning three Overwatch Contenders titles. Seldom absent from a podium, Proper enters the Overwatch League as the most exciting prospect by far. He's more than earned the hyper-flex badge and will be a fixture not only for the league but for a San Francisco Shock thirsty for their third title as well.

Sojourn is the new hero heading to Overwatch 2. Check out Overwatch 2 Sojourn abilities for a breakdown.