Idk but I trust sean/ddk to make it good :)

That's fair. I'd say that overall they did look worse than C9 throughout qualifiers, but when it came down to it, they won. I don't think they'll win every match this tournament, but with the way that they've been improving (far more than C9), they'll be the best at the end of the year. I think Iceland is a fantastic proving ground/way to gain LAN experience for the team as a whole, and I trust the Guard to consistently play good valorant and have some exciting games.

LMFAOOOO tell me without telling me that you haven't watched derke since champions

Honestly Optic beats Liquid if both teams maintain their form from regionals

I think if you factor in igling, boaster > mistic at least this year so far. Both great players in their roles tho

Cause they were funny as fuck

They've been super involved with esports as a whole and valorant in particular for a while. Plus they make good points and have some common sense, which's sorely lacking here.

NIP + ZETA are hot garbage but Loud is banging

Yeah uh I'm pretty sure Derke should be top of duelists, but I respect the rest as your opinion

Ah true

I'd want Zander over L1NK, even if he's not igling, he's an insane fragger.

Definitely. They're all pretty knowlegable, do their HW, have good insights, and are pretty funny. With guests it's even better.

So am I!! Optic is a great team too and they put in a ton of work since the group stages. All in all, I feel a lot better about NA valo this year than at the end of last. Loud look fucking sick too.

Literally if you watch it with Tarik who's distinctly NOT an IGL for a top 10 NA Valo team, he actually comments on what's happening, and what strategies are being used, etc. Or at least asks the other people in his watch parties. Check in on someone like Vanity or Boaster (both top IGLs) and analysts/casters like Sideshow/Mimi and you'll see far more of that. The difference between them and Shaz is wild to me.

Bro when I tell you that Sen is no longer representative of Pro NA Valo culture, I mean it. It's def for the best imo

Honestly Plat Chat

Hey the top 5 of NA are genuinely so much better in terms of practice than Sen especially Guard and Optic. They're working just as hard as the majority of EMEA teams (maybe not as much as FPX or M3C but those guys are on another level).

I honestly think Shaz just lost all his drive. In the watch parties, he'd never examine what the teams were doing and their comps and ideas, he'd just be chilling and farming views + subs. Obviously the point of a watch party is to chill, so I'm not that mad about it overall, but if he doesn't give any insights (or seem to have any) while watching the best of NA play, that's a sign of apithy and stagnantation. I really hope he can change it around, but I don't see it happening.

COME ON NEAREST AIRPORT YOU GOT THIS

LMFAOOO YOU WATCH OTHER PEOPLE PICK UP GIRLS ON YOUTUBE?????

Nah it's like asking desert scorpions how to get wet

I really like the article but maybe capitalize their names for professionalism. Great job tho!!

Nice job but I recommend mentioning how they looked when playing. For example, fnatic looked like the best team in valo history against M3C (and then lost their shit against G2) while kru looked wonky and disjointed in their final. Good work dude

Second

Hoping to see you play!!! Feel better soon :)

Derek’s playing I think. Without him fnatic would definitely be fucked tho

0/8 TSM is too unbelievable rn. If you tried sen instead that might get more ppl.

Lol sen 5th

Hot take I think Optic just edge it out over Xerxia but I think Xerxia beat Kru and Liquid to qualify. This is assuming liquid look as flaccid as they did in EMEA playoffs.

I think there's a fundamental difference because sen were never the work hard type and they also acted way too arrogant about it. The guard don't give me that vibe, especially with all the dedication they've shown.

I'm sorry but his util usage (which I really can't comment on bc I haven't been waching for it) and clutch rate (which people hype him up for too much) doesn't make up for his severe underfragging and tendancy to bait his teammates. That's why I'd take any of the sovas mentioned above over him anyday.

Same between NA teams like Guard + C9 vs Sen or 100T

All of these NA sovas are better than hiko mechanically: Trent, Effys, Crashies, BcJ, Shaz, and Xeta

I agree Guard are on a honeymoon phase, but I trust them to work hard with MCE to remain on top or at least near it after that phase ends. Also Hiko is not a top 5 sova in NA much less the world lmao.

It's like valorant but more aim less think

Exactly, plus it helps the guard bc they come back stronger after a loss

DOUBLE ELIMS THANK FUCK

Optic are looking pretty good imo

DERKE NOT GOOD ON RAZE LMFAOOOO

I think Fnatic have a pretty good chance if they play like they did against M3C. G2 is a wild card imo, I have no clue what's up with them.

Bro optic beat guard the first time, like I said. Then they got a lot better and beat optic in the finals (better long term again like I said)

Yeah it’s so sad :(

Tell me you didn't watch a single m3c game without telling me you didn't watch a single m3c game

What a shocker that they look the best. Who would've thought working makes you improve lmao

Yeah it's kinda weird, as soon as they qualified he stopped looking as good.

Lowkey agree with this, his performance was crazy. He was the only piece of life in vivo keyd.

Cryo did look insane but I don't think he's better than anyone on this list. There's just so many good players at the moment!

Faker would shit on S1mple, Zywoo, NiKo, and sh1ro in any FPS lets go

Forsaken is Indonesian??

Lmao just looking at that, surf was having a ROUGH time with clutches. 0/33 is so sad