the actual problem with envy and how to fix it

the ascension envy roster was a team that had an extremely strong identity. perma double duelist with a yoru otp. really simple but effective calling style. the willingness to fight anything and everything while doing it TOGETHER, and inspire with a playstyle not similar to the other players, but one that ties them all together, doing a great job of filling in their gaps and weaknesses, controlling the map in his own way.

if you look at current envy, not only did they entirely lose the rankers’ core by losing 3 players, you will find it difficult to find any of these points in their current gameplay. aside from eggster and poppin, none of these players have ever played with each other before this lineup (to my knowledge). for this team to succeed at all, they need to do 1 of 2 things.

1. find a new identity and lean hard into it (basically impossible with a ragtag team like this, especially in the short term)
   or
2. try your best to recreate your old identity (what i will be suggesting)

there are a few different possible rosters to go about this, but i think the most important things are to keep demon1, as his individual skill is not worth giving up, and in some way shape or form keep at least 3 of the rankers roster and keep that core

these are my suggestions (for short term you can replace ion with any t2 smokes like zander or something and have demon1 not flex smokes but this year is basically fucked already so i’m looking at next)

1. demon1 poppin inspire eggster ion
   poppin perma scan igl and inspire senti/viper are the obvious two. eggster will perma play yoru or phoenix depending on the map (i still think yoru is playable on breeze and pearl, maybe lotus and split as well) and then ion and demon1 can switch roles between smokes and duelist depending on the map. demon1 playing astra brim on pearl fracture, jett everywhere else. then ion playing omen most maps and whatever other duelist on pearl fracture.

2. demon1 poppin inspire ion +an available duelist player like victor, flor, or poach someone from t2 like solada dragon or smoke. for purposes of comps i’ll just say flor for simplicity
   without eggster you get freedom to play more viper senti comps since you wouldn’t need 2 duelists, and allow demon1 to play chamber. ion would probably perma smoke in this configuration

example comps:
pearl - flor neon, demon1 jett/astra, ion duel/astra, inspire vyse, poppin scan
breeze - flor neon, demon1 chamber/jett, ion 2nd smoke, inspire viper, poppin sova
split - flor neon, demon1 chamber, ion omen, inspire viper,
poppin skye (prob not the best possible comp for the team, just wanted to give an example of double smoke with a senti)

beautiful analysis

allat

the problem is on the current roster there is not a single good player, like not one - no one is being dragged down, no one is being carried. they all just suck equally. a rebuild would involve getting rid of all of them. demon1 is just not good he's riding off his 2023 eg still, poppin looks like the worst player in americas, eggster looks very bad on role swap.

Kick everyone. +flor +nightz (18 in june I think?) +smoke +chloric +okeanos +Elevated HC. These players could give off the same "style" and vibes as the original core whilst having someone who seems to have decent leader ship in chloric who could hold the team together. + Elevated is just a good coach. Plenty of potential in this team.

one of these players have ever played with each other before this lineup (to my knowledge)

Rossy and Demon1 played on LEV

-stunner -Rossy (IGL) -keznit

+sonofcar +nightz

unfortunately ion is 18 in january, so cant play

if they want to go down the T2 route (they should), they should be looking at fireballops to replace rossy imo

id also like a keznit replacement, the team is lacking cohesion so they could just go and grab sonofcar who is already teammates with FBO on nightblood

they DEFINITELY need to lean into their old identity though, they are currently just a recycling bin for failed t1 talent atm