Not sure about that. There loss against Optic probably still happens as this was the game where they really started turning the corner and incorporating neon in their comp. And by the time they played The Guard, it would have been so late in the tourney that lan jitters are a nonfactor.

E Xolos is pretty good, and Leviatan is an up and coming team. Let's not overreact because LATAM was the one with the weak showing this Masters. If we overreacted before this tourney, Japan and maybe even Brazil would be worked out of Masters.

Dude is pretty cracked, but his team has still yet to break onto the top of APAC.

Idk about that. People are doubting The Guard because they got blown out by Paper Rex, but that was was a terrible matchup for them. The Guard probably was the team with the closest loss to Optic (I know Optic lost to Loud and Xerxia, but The Guard was very formidable is my point. The problem is The Guard is very structured. Relying on set plays and baiting utility to win games. Paper Rex does not play into that, and they honestly played far more loose than the Guard. This led to a perfect storm for the Guard to get rolled.

Where Optic succeeds where most of NA, and most teams in the world, Optic knows how to balance structure and chaos.

Bootcamping can get you pretty far. Look at The Guard, the amount of team synergy got them pretty far.

Same. I'd hate to see them fall off after a good showing in Champs.

That's rough... Good luck in Stage 2.

Damn, I just realized they got double elimed by XERXIA. Why'd XERXIA have to FF?

Thanks!

As long as bdog doesn't ace vs. V1 through smokes again, I'll be ok with this.

C9 is definitely below Optic, The Guard, and V1 on set plays, but raw skill, C9 is championship class.

Yeah, sucks for them last stage since their group had XERXIA and Bleed. If they keep improving they are right there for at least a top 4 finish in APAC.

Thanks. I might just do that eventually :P

I know most people tend to focus on their own region when it comes to Valorant and it makes sense, but I wanted to write a guide going into stage 2 ranking the regions on who best to watch going into stage 2. Note that this isn't a ranking on each regions skill, but a ranking of each region based on balance of competition.

1: NORTH AMERICA
I know it's easy to point at Optic and say they will once again be at the top of NA, but for fans of NA Valorant, we all know how balanced NA is right now. Coming into Stage 1, Version1 and Cloud9 showed themselves as the heavyweights of the region, but the playoffs showed how untrue that was. Optic went on a fantastic run in the top bracket forcing C9 into the lower bracket and beating The Guard before falling them into the finals. The Guard is among the top of NA in team synergy and certainly has the skill to back it up. Cloud9 is probably the most balanced team in NA skillwise, and continues to be one of the favorites in the region. Version1 is arguably the best team in NA as far as their set plays and how they do their homework. While they did lose to LG in the playoffs which led them having an early exit in lowers to Cloud9, they did crush Optic early in stage 1, and have the potential to win NA. XSET is the team always cursed to get 4th, but with Cryocells being one of the best Jett players in the world, they have potential to make any of NA's best bleed, and maybe even make the big stage. Sentinels also sits in this region looking to make a comeback after their fall off following Masters 3, while Kanpeki might not be the answer for Sentinels, the fact they are making changes is a sign they are dedicated to getting back to the top.
The rest of the NA teams also have potential to improve as PK, LG and NRG are not bad teams and often play close series with the teams mentioned above. Finally I have to mention the teams that are rebuilding and probably bootcamping going into Challengers, 100 Thieves, TSM, T1, and Faze, and we will have an event that entertains from start to finish.

2: EMEA
While the region is a mess right now thanks to the Russian-Ukrainian War, EMEA has been and will continue to be one of the most tightly contested regions in the world. With FPX coming back hoping to stamp their way into the next major after being denied due to the aforementioned, they will have to adjust to BaddyG leaving the team. M3C (formerly Gambit) continues to be one of if not the best in the region and will look to rebound after narrowly missing Iceland. Fnatic is making big roster changes and it's a question mark whether they can successfully match their dominant performance in Stage 1. Team Liquid is a big question mark as well as they continue to prove their prowess on an international stage but continue to disappoint against their European counterparts. G2 proved that their roster and ability to adapt to teams can put them at the top of EU, but after a disappointing performance in Masters 1, it's unknown if they can produce these results again. Acend is making big roster changes and will try to put themselves back on top of the Valorant world. NAVI, LDN UTD, Guild, and BBL have all been getting better as time has gone on, and hope to finally make that step onto the international stage. BIG retained their spot in EMEA, though I don't think anyone considers them a contender, but they are joined by FOKUS who rolled in EMEA's P/R tourney 2-0ing both Big and SMB who made it to Stage 1 groups.

3: APAC
Paper Rex and XERXIA probably will continue to dominate this region and should be favorites to make it back to masters, but the region is huge and many teams will continue to fight for relevance in a region that has proven to be filled with talented players. Bleed, BOOM, and Full Sense will be the next tier of teams to look out for, and while Im not as versed on the region as a whole, I would love to hear what teams APAC fans are most excited to see moving onto Stage 2.

4. LATAM
I know, I know, weird choice. KRU has never lost the region since Masters Reykjavik 2021, but that doesn't mean that the kings of LATAM haven't bled this year. Leviatan barely missed out Masters in a 3-2 loss to KRU in the Grand Final of LATAM, including a stunning comeback on Ascent where they came back from being down 11-1 to force a game 5 against KRU. Leviatan is led by young and hungry talent, and is currently coached by KRU's former coach who led them to their incredible Champions run. E-Xolos Lazer is another team that is right there, after dominating LATAM North, they beat KRU 2-0 only to drop to Leviatan is a extremely tight game, and fell to KRU in the rematch. KRU also can't be underestimated as while they struggle in Masters they did show that they have talent still, and can go as far as Keznit takes them. 9z and Movistar Optix are two other LATAM South teams to watch, and for LATAM North look for Fusion and Six Karma to also improve.

5. Korea
This is where I start to get into regions that likely dominate their regions and it's not even close. DRX looked poised to win Masters in the first half of the tourney, and while they failed to do so, I can't imagine any team in Korea challenging them. The only real exception is On Sla2ers, who have beaten DRX in the past and look leaps and bounds above the rest of Korea. DAMWON and World Game Star also have potential, but are far behind the top as of Stage 1.

6. Brazil
If Brazil only got 1 spot they would be my last place region. LOUD has never lost in Brazil and almost continued that winning streak to a championship run in Masters. Their biggest challenger is obviously NIP, who also was hailed as a super team going into Stage 1, and while NIP has looked good, LOUD is undoubtedly leaps and bounds above them currently. But they certainly have potential to push LOUD, and I hope to see great improvement from NIP in Stage 2. Vivo Keyd has proven to still be a top contender in Brazil also along with FURIA, and look to make it back to an international stage. Keep an eye on Gamelanders Blue while you're at it. Also mibr finally sneak into Brazil groups, and as one of the few teams to take a map on LOUD, maybe look at them too.

7. Japan
Sorry Japan, but ZETA should have a dynasty for a long time. Their improvement and team chemistry should carry well into a region that seems rather weak outside of ZETA itself (And they had to improve from that level in Masters 1 itself). Crazy Racoon is easily the only team capable of competing with them, but I don't think even they stand a chance against ZETA.

Anyways, that's just my thoughts. What are yours, and who do you think makes it to masters out of your region next stage?
Also give me the hottest take of why your team will win Masters 2.

LOL, my bad. You didn't reply to trembo directly, so I read it as a separate statement xD

I doubt it. Sentinels were so behind the meta in NA, unless they boot camp and get a coach, they might even fall behind 100T and TSM who are preparing to boot camp into Stage 2.

Yay always takes the blame for losses, even though he's always towards the top of the scoreboard, if you think that's an L person, then you truly don't understand the heart of a competitor. Also he said "ggs lost 1-2 vs @LOUDgg, they played insane and Less had a crazy series." So it's not like he doesn't give other teams their dues.

You obviously haven't been around very long if that's your impression of yay.

https://twitter.com/yayFPS/status/1518336766796652544

Yay also had to play more games. Impressive that Yay could be at the top end of ACS, even though he was target #1 for teams.

nAts was the innovator, Marved might be better now, but nats is literally the player who defined what a controller should be.

Yay is the nicest guy I swear.

Optic was the first team to expose Sentinels as frauds in NA. Optic was the team that knocked Cloud9 into the lower bracket of NA playoffs. Acend got exposed in EU, to the point they blew up a team that just won a world championship. And finally M3C got 2-0'd by G2 who literally got shit on this tourney. Only actual benefit for Optic was no FPX.

Optic is the best team in the world. With their backs to the wall after losing to Loud in the Upper Finals, Optic goes 6-0 in the next 2 maps. Impressive especially since LOUD had all the advantages coming in.

To LOUD fans, don't hang your head. Incredible run by you guys. LOUD almost a guaranteed lock for champs, and plenty of time to for them, and Brazil as a whole to improve. Looking at you NIP.

Also: YAY FINALLY GOT THE TROPHY!

Yay never really got a chance in CS. Played for 1 big team, and there was plenty issues with that team besides yay.

c9 got 3-0'd by Guard. Calm down.

I don't think many NA fans hate Brazil. Outside of rooting for NA, LOUD has been my #2 choice.

Kru was in quadruple OT against Gambit. As cool as Zetas run is, KRU's was unreal. They legitimately could've won it.

Cry more. Maybe EU should've shown up.

I would compare them more to the 1990s Bills. 4 straight SB appearances, no trophies.

Austin would be great.

C9 White has a dynasty in NA's female league. They can win 1 or 2 games in open qualifiers, but they never are able to beat teams that have orgs.

If yay pops off or Zeta fails to deal with Marved's lurks, they lose it.

Optic 3-2. Assuming your map picks are right, I think you Fracture goes to Optic as they seem to have scrimmed on it a lot to get the neon pick down. Bind is obviously a map that favors optic so they go up 2-0. Split is intense, but Zeta wins it. Zeta beats Optic on Icebox to force a game 3, but seeing as haven is one of Yay's best maps he carries them to a 3-2 win.

I don't care if Im wrong though. Zeta is amazing.

I don't hate BR. My hatred for EU is just their dominance, I don't actually hate any of the teams, and wouldn't mind seeing a TL or a Fnatic win. I'd just prefer to see other regions get their chance to perform

I remember watching them in the Japanese playoffs and thinking about how dumb they often played. And then the first game against DRX just cemented that. While they had a nice game against Fnatic and NIP, I think the real turn around for them was TL. That's when I really started to see the confidence come out of them, and the game where their gameplay went from decent to elite.

Downvoting to offset the potential jinx.

I don't care who wins.

LOUD winning is them putting a region on their back and continuing an undefeated run to a championship.
ZETA winning is the truest test of resilience and heart willing a team to win.
Optic is Yay finally getting a win in a major, as one of the most wholesome players to have the talent he does.

Sentinels probably. Jokes on them though, we hate sentinels too.

No, just no. EMEA may be weaker. (You guys still let G2 get second only for them to shit the bed), but literally every region is playing their best valorant yet. Especially in terms of team play.

No really. Keep doubting them, I don't want anyone to jinx them. This run has to end eventually right?

I've been around awhile, I'll just say that.

Dude literally gave optic a free map win. Don't hate him for being a competitor.

Andrew makes troll posts like this after every game. Stop replying lol.

You can only ban 1 map in the finals. So Loud would have to play optic on fracture or split.

Optic has been the best team in NA since Yay joined them. If they don't win an international, it truly will be a shame. Especially Yay, who never really got the chance with a major org until he joined Envy, despite having a long career.

Luckily for me as an NA fan, I also watch Brazil and LATAM, so I've grown fond of these teams too.

Just a reminder, Loud has never lost a game 1. Only showing us how strong their mental toughness was here, especially with Less, the youngest player in the tourney, coming up so big on map 3.

Great team. They could've easily fell apart after map 1, but they proved even when pushed they can have the resilience to win. I don't know if Loud will win it, but they will be a force not to be taken lightly .

As for optic, I think optic has proven NA to still be a championship caliber region, a couple of swing rounds here and it's optic there instead.

This has been the most entertaining masters tournament by far, and outside of Fnatic, no team was bad. (And that's not even fnatics fault.)

VAMOOOOOOOO

Yeah, my bad, I didn't know the wording for it.

Not enough Copium from the looks of it