AITAH Prioritizing Heals In Plat Diamond Comp Lobbies When DPS/Tank Takes Too Much Damage?

Hey guys, let's dive into a scenario familiar to many of us support players grinding through the competitive ranks of Overwatch (or any team-based game, really). You're in a Plat/Diamond lobby, the pressure's on, and everyone's vying for that sweet SR. You're playing support, doing your best to keep your team alive, but then it happens: the DPS or tank starts laying into you, claiming they're not getting any heals. But here's the thing – you are healing, you're pumping heals into them as fast as you can, but they're taking so much damage that it feels like you're trying to fill a bathtub with a teaspoon. So, the burning question is: AITAH for not being able to out-heal their excessive damage intake and prioritizing other teammates who are positioning better and not feeding?

This situation is super common, and it really highlights the complexities of the support role, especially in those mid-tiers where individual skill levels and game sense can vary wildly. You've got players with the mechanical skill to frag out, but maybe their positioning is questionable, or they're diving in at the wrong times. Then you've got the tanks who think they're invincible and charge headfirst into the enemy team, only to get melted in seconds. As a support, you're constantly making split-second decisions: who needs healing right now? Who is in the most immediate danger? Who is likely to survive if I focus my attention elsewhere for a moment? It's a triage situation, and sometimes, you have to make the tough call to let someone die in order to save the rest of the team. It's not that you want them to die, but you recognize that their current playstyle is unsustainable, and pouring all your resources into them is just going to leave the rest of your team vulnerable.

Let's break this down a little further. Think about the different support heroes and their kits. A Mercy, for example, can provide consistent single-target healing, but she's also highly mobile and can easily fly to different teammates in need. A Moira can dish out massive healing in a short burst, but she needs to manage her resources carefully. An Ana can provide both healing and anti-healing, but she requires good aim and positioning. Each support hero has their strengths and weaknesses, and a good support player will understand how to maximize their hero's potential while also adapting to the situation at hand. So, if you're playing Ana and your Genji is constantly diving into the enemy backline, taking tons of damage, and then spamming "I need healing," you might have to make the call to focus on your tank who's holding the frontline and creating space for the team. It's not that you're ignoring the Genji, but you're recognizing that his current playstyle is putting him in a position where he's taking more damage than you can reasonably heal, and that healing him at the expense of your tank could lead to a team wipe.

Understanding the Support Role in Overwatch

To truly grasp this AITAH situation, we need to understand the multifaceted nature of the support role in Overwatch and similar games. Supports aren't just heal bots; they're playmakers, strategists, and often the glue that holds a team together. Yeah, keeping your teammates alive is a big part of the job, but it's not the only part. A good support will also be looking for opportunities to enable their team, whether that's through damage boosting, utility abilities, or even just providing crucial information about enemy positions. They're constantly juggling multiple responsibilities, and that's why it can be so frustrating when a teammate tunnel-visions on their own health bar and blames the support for their deaths.

So, let’s talk more about what supports actually do. Beyond healing, supports bring a ton of utility to the table. Think about abilities like Zenyatta's Discord Orb, which amplifies the damage taken by an enemy, or Lucio's Speed Boost, which can help the team engage or disengage quickly. These abilities can be game-changers, but they also require the support player to think strategically and prioritize targets. A well-placed Discord Orb on a key target can make a huge difference in a team fight, but if the support is too busy trying to keep a feeding DPS alive, they might miss that opportunity. Similarly, a timely Speed Boost can help the team push through a choke point, but if the support is constantly babysitting a tank who's overextending, they might not be in a position to provide that crucial speed boost.

Another key aspect of the support role is positioning. Supports are often prime targets for the enemy team, so they need to be mindful of their positioning and stay within safe distances from their teammates. A support who's constantly out of position is going to be an easy target, and if the support dies, the rest of the team is likely to follow. Good positioning also allows supports to have better awareness of the battlefield, which is crucial for making informed decisions about who to heal, who to damage boost, and when to use their utility abilities. Think about it this way: a support who's positioned behind their tank has a much better view of the fight than a support who's trying to heal a DPS who's flanking on the other side of the map. The support can see who's taking damage, who's in danger, and who needs help, and they can react accordingly. This is why it's so important for supports to communicate with their team and let them know where they are and what they're doing.

Plat/Diamond Comp Lobbies: A Unique Kind of Chaos

Now, let's talk about the Plat/Diamond comp environment. This is a fascinating place, a melting pot of skill levels, playstyles, and, let's be honest, a healthy dose of ego. You'll find players who are mechanically gifted but lack game sense, players who have great game sense but struggle with their aim, and everything in between. This inconsistency can make it incredibly challenging to play support because you never quite know what you're going to get from your teammates. One game, you might have a tank who's a master of positioning and cooldown management, making your job a breeze. The next game, you might have a tank who charges in solo, gets melted, and then blames you for not healing them. Ah, the joys of competitive play!

The thing about Plat/Diamond is that it's a rank where people are trying to play the game "correctly," but they often don't quite have the full picture. They might understand the importance of team compositions, but they don't always know how to draft a balanced team. They might know that they should be grouping up with their team, but they don't always know when to group up or where to position themselves. This lack of coordination can lead to some chaotic situations, and it puts a lot of pressure on the support players to try and keep everything from falling apart.

One of the biggest challenges in Plat/Diamond is dealing with players who are overextending or playing too aggressively. These players often have a hard time recognizing when they're in a bad position, and they tend to take a lot of unnecessary damage. As a support, it can be tempting to try and keep these players alive, but it's often a losing battle. You might pour all your resources into them, only to have them die anyway, leaving the rest of your team vulnerable. This is where the triage mentality comes into play. You have to assess the situation, identify who is most likely to survive, and focus your attention on them. It's not a personal decision, it's a strategic one. You're not letting someone die because you don't like them; you're letting them die because you know that trying to save them will likely cost the team the fight.

The Ego Factor and the Blame Game

And then there's the ego. Oh, the ego in Plat/Diamond. It's a powerful force, capable of turning a potentially good team into a toxic mess. You'll encounter players who are convinced that they're the best player on the team, and that any losses are solely the fault of their teammates. These players are often quick to blame the support for their deaths, even if they were the ones who made a mistake. "No heals!" they'll cry, as they lie dead in the enemy backline, having overextended for the tenth time in a row. It's frustrating, it's demoralizing, and it's unfortunately a common experience for support players in these ranks.

The blame game is a toxic cycle. It starts with one player making a mistake, then instead of taking responsibility, they deflect the blame onto someone else. This can lead to arguments, infighting, and ultimately, a loss. As a support player, you're often the easiest target for blame because your performance is directly tied to the health bars of your teammates. If someone dies, it's easy to point the finger at the support and say, "You didn't heal me!" But the reality is that there are often many factors that contribute to a death, and the support is just one piece of the puzzle. Positioning, cooldown management, target priority, communication – all of these things play a role in whether a player lives or dies.

So, how do you deal with the ego and the blame game? First and foremost, try to stay calm and avoid getting drawn into arguments. It's tempting to defend yourself, but often, it's better to just mute the toxic player and focus on your own gameplay. Second, try to communicate constructively with your team. If you see a teammate making a mistake, offer a suggestion for how they could improve. For example, if a DPS is constantly overextending, you could say something like, "Hey, maybe try playing a little closer to the team so I can heal you more easily." The key is to be helpful and not accusatory. Finally, remember that you can't control the behavior of your teammates. You can only control your own actions. Focus on playing your best, making smart decisions, and supporting your team as much as possible.

Prioritizing and the Tough Choices Supports Make

This brings us back to the core question: AITAH for prioritizing heals? The answer, in most cases, is a resounding no. As a support player, you have to make tough choices about who to heal and when. You can't save everyone, and sometimes, the best decision is to focus on the players who are most likely to survive and contribute to the team's success. This is not to say that you should completely ignore the players who are struggling, but you need to be realistic about what you can do and prioritize your resources accordingly.

Think about it in terms of resource management. Your healing abilities are a limited resource, and you need to use them wisely. If you're constantly pouring heals into a player who's taking excessive damage, you're essentially wasting those resources. Those heals could be used to keep your tank alive, to enable your DPS to make a play, or to save a teammate who's in a critical situation. By prioritizing your heals, you're maximizing the impact of your abilities and increasing your team's chances of winning.

Of course, this is easier said than done. It can be difficult to watch a teammate die, especially if they're spamming "I need healing." But you have to remember that you're making a strategic decision, not a personal one. You're not letting someone die because you don't like them; you're letting them die because you know that trying to save them will likely cost the team the fight. It's a tough call, but it's a necessary one. And honestly, sometimes, letting a teammate die can be a learning experience for them. They might realize that they were overextending, that they were out of position, or that they need to play more conservatively.

So, AITAH? The Verdict

So, after all this, let's circle back to the original question. AITAH for not healing the ego-driven DPS/tank who's taking excessive damage in your Plat/Diamond comp lobbies? Absolutely not. You're a support player, not a miracle worker. You're doing your best to keep your team alive, but you can't out-heal bad positioning, poor decision-making, or a blatant disregard for self-preservation. You have to prioritize, you have to make tough choices, and sometimes, that means letting someone die. It's not personal, it's strategic. And anyone who blames you for their own mistakes is just projecting their own frustration.

In conclusion, if you're a support player in Plat/Diamond, you're a hero. You're navigating a chaotic environment, dealing with inflated egos, and making split-second decisions that can make or break a game. You're doing your best, and that's all anyone can ask. So, the next time someone cries about not getting heals, take a deep breath, remember your priorities, and keep doing what you're doing. You've got this!