It's harder to play longer macro rounds because of the initiator nerfs. You have to play obscenely slow if you want to do really good macro and even then the cooldowns just don't allow you to have as many options. This is one of the main reasons that duelist are everywhere now because it's much easier to just take your one small window of having recon and slamming site than trying to do 3-4 steps to every round.

No I think the team made masters and relaxed because they accomplished their goal.

I dont really know what they will do with for masters but I assume there will be a lot of anti-OP stuff. Like Sage, KAYO, Iso, maybe some Clove. Extra lives and drones

They can beat NRG but they need to play their game instead of being scared little mice. But yeah they probably would benefit from playing vs a PAC team

I'm only really optimistic about EDG. I could also see XLG doing something if they can stop choking internationally. But it's mostly EDG and it's mostly because their 3 most important players are playing well, on comfort agents and macro is less important than it used to be.

What's the curse? EMEA winning a tournament? I think they have a decent chance. Probably third highest?

Yeah i think she gets played a decent amount. Maybe like 30%ish pick rate

zero chance

Favorite = Breeze, Fracture, Pearl
Veto = no
Tejo will probably get buffed but doesn't need to be

Nah, a lot lurk though

probably not. If they get a super favorable draw. But they just arent very good

Smoggy playing Duelist and a better meta fit for everyone

I think going to be a little hard as all 1 seeds are good this time

Extremely. Probably will be a totally different team

At least 3 teams going play the agent regularly

Meta fit and Smoggy, CHICHOO and KK are all in good form currently.

I think Raze and Deadlock both get played a bit more than they are currently.

Yeah I would like to coach more. Only had one offer though so far.

PRX can win, they are favorites. I think they probably end somewhere in the top 3-4. NRG can also win but I think much less likely.

1) it makes sense. Trexx is extremely good and it means that kamo and purp0 don't have to play recon.
2) definitely possible since they played very late at EWC and have their first international together.

Both teams need to play their own game instead of trying to adapt to the big stage. I feel like a lot of Chinese teams think they need to try and play "better valorant" and so they start playing super passive and careful which is just not how most teams play in their region.

Somewhere in between those two?

I think so.

Wo0t is very good on raze/jett. Koshmaras will probably keep playing Neon while other teams drop it.

Lol.
I think it's going to be tough for s0pp. Super young and the only agent he has played in tier 1 gets nerfed.

Probably a team like Vitality or EDG who were not heavy shotgun Neon abusers and now get to play more jett and raze

Made a podcast on it but:
1) something 2) Trent 3) Brawk 4) Neon 5) Primmie

Yeah kind of. He pulls some ridiculous stuff out of his ass in rounds they have no business winning. But they also play better as a team than a lot of Pacific teams until it's time to close out easy rounds. GE is solid.

Probably PRX or G2 considering their expectations are winning the event. But I am also lower on NRG than most I think.

Never been sadly. I assume it's overhated.

1) I slightly favor GE but I think it's fair to favor LEV.
2) I picked NRG, VIT, GE and LEV

Smoggy since people don't watch China. Kr1stal. Rarga

For game one it's prep advantage. After that, they need to not get caught up in the emotions of the tournament and steal some rounds with Patmen and Kr1stal clutches. I think they either go out in groups or make top 4.

FUT and then probably a team from groups.

Yes but also I am doubting them until they show that they won't completely choke on stage.

100%. Starting in playoffs without games to warm up is a little dangerous for a team like PRX

I feel like anyone other than G2 or PRX is kind of a dark horse, but a real spicy take would be XLG I guess.

NRG and VIT but I think there is like a 40% chance XLG wins.

None of them

I assume GE counts as an upset? I think they have a good chance to bear LEV. I also think XLG can beat NRG.

I'd say VIT, XLG and GE. All have way more talent than their results have shown

XLG makes top 6

I have many

I am worried about them because they played EWC but also I think they make it out of groups on skill alone.

Little travel, super super super experienced players on VIT and TH. Meta shift should empower both VIT and TH

PRX is most likely to get top 3

TH, EDG and G2

PRX always fight dirty

The honest answer is because Flashback retired.

Percentage says PRX but my personal pick is probably either G2, TH or EDG

I talked about this on my podcast but I think they probably ran into the thing that happens to teams made up of really skilled players. They probably outskill their scrims and don't actually learn good habits. Then when their scrim habits don't work they don't have a player to rally them and end up imploding in a negative spiral.