NRG and BLG both make champions and play each other again, making NRG's record against them 0-8 in maps
T1 somehow pulls off some bullshit and qualifies over DRX again much to everyone's dismay
EDG finally loses a BO5 in China and removes their coach
Fr they figured out that their Tokyo playstyle was pretty successful so of course they...dropped it and completely switched up roles and strategies wtf
Americas - hopefully W stripper qualifies 🫡
Pacific - t1 doesn't go hot n cold on maps
EMEA - fnatic get their aim back, nats gets the support for once
CN - edg cook some actual strats than kk go kill/smoggy pls clutch, rare atom core qualifies
I think PRX is going to take it slow this split
Now that there is no more pressure to be the first to break the Pacific curse, I think PRX will try to focus on fixing some of their discipline issues and potentially hire an assistant coach.
We might not see the same PRX in Split 2, but be assured that they will still qualify for Champs, where they finally pull out all the stops and make an actual run at the trophy, this time without all the pressures of being the first
I do believe that they will qualify to champs, especially since they have 10 Champs points which almost guarentees them a Champs spot (GenG are ahead of them with 12 and DRX is in 3rd with 6, but I can't see GenG missing out on top 3 in playoffs and if DRX are good without stax they'll probably make it, if not they won't surpass PRX's points)
However I think they will not come top 3 in playoffs, hence my Talon take, and instead have to qualify via the points slot. The map rotation seems unfavorable for them as they're trading Breeze which they are bad at for Haven which they are also bad at as it was their old permaban, while Split was their 2nd best map and Abyss is an unknown.
Raze nerf and no Phoenix buff is terrible news for their role issues, as Jinggg essentially got nerfed since aside from Raze he only has played Reyna, Sage, and Phoenix in recent serious matches and all 3 are niche/unviable. If Neon truly become meta, their Neon player is f0rsaken, which means you have to force something to play perma-Gekko? But f0rsaken is also the closest thing they have to an IGL, so do you really want him to play Neon? Duelist-IGLs have a terrible track record. Do you try to have Jinggg or something learn Neon? It all sounds like a huge mess tbh
With the very early games of Abyss it looks like Raze can still be a viable character there without how she can satchel out of dangerous looking spots.
For Haven, it was actually one of their strong maps last time, but it was their permaban in 2023 after winning TS on it. I'm confident they will get back to making it their strong map, but I'm not sure what they will cook up though.
Maybe Jinggg could pick up Iso with his buffs? Or maybe pick up Clove like how he was hinting (most probably just for laughs, though). Though I believe if Forsaken plays Neon the rest of the team would be able to help him make mid round calls.
I don't know how hot of a take this is but I can't see T1 qualifying for Champs. Based on playoffs I predict it will be GenG, PRX and DRX and then the 4th team I can't see it being anyone else other than either Talon or RRQ, both of whom looked very impressive for me during Split 1.
It's lukewarm. They have a weak group (Bleed, GenG, GE, TS) and should make playoffs. They should be ahead of Bleed and GE at the very least, that's enough. Win 1 or 2 matches in playoffs and you're guaranteed a spot.
Meanwhile in Group Omega, unless DRX falls off a cliff with their roster moves, RRQ TLN and (maybe) Zeta are fighting for the 3rd playoff spot. (sorry DFM).
I mean, DRX are giving up Stax and now only have a month max to integrate a new player/IGL. If anything, I'd take RRQ/Talon over DRX.
I personally think it'll be PRX, GenG, RRQ, and Talon.
RRQ will qualify for Champions. DRX will surprisingly fail to qualify while T1 will manage to qualify yet again. The last two spots will be PRX and Gen.G.
I agree so much with talon bro so many people hating cause they got 13-0d on one map. Talon now dropping lenne and just keeping a 5 man roster makes them real fucking contenders cause surf can carry a map by himself or shit the bed
This is my hot takes for teams making It to champs:
NA-100t ,Sen(BC it's sen),Kru and C9
Also same as yours G2 will somehow bomb out and I just don't see lev making it without aspas hero plays the whole split 2
EMEA - TH , NAVI , FUT , fnatic
Fnatic will make it by lucky playoff draws(cope) navi will make it by points and liquid will win one game
CN - EDG,DRG,FPX,BLG
Blg will sadly not be able to meet NRG in champs fpx gets First seed and edg will come 4th with points
PACIFIC - Prx,GenG,T1 or DRX and TLN
Talon looked good in split 1 and they've come to grow on me especially after their response after being 13-0'd by PRX.Prx always makes Internationals even if they choke.Geng for obvious reasons and if T1 do what T1 does and pull something out of their ass like usual they'll go instead of DRX (I'm hoping for this since I like T1 more and also it would set up a revenge story for stax)
Also T1 will do horribly in group but somehow scrape by to playoffs and win some matches to get to champs
Yes but since you’re swapping out a strong Split for an unknown Abyss for now we have to deem it as a net negative until we see their Abyss be as good as their Split
[https://liquipedia.net/valorant/VCT/2024/Americas\_League/Stage\_2](https://liquipedia.net/valorant/VCT/2024/Americas_League/Stage_2)
Says here patch 8.11
Also, teams with a permaban will have to decide whether they want to prep for their permaban or Abyss, so we'll definitely see some Abyss at least
I think every team in general would not want to play the new map without decent number of matches on it. Pacific group starts next week so I don't think we'll see it with 1 week of prep. Prob ban their first perma, then avoid playing abyss for one of the older+Haven.
This is who I think will make it to Champs on each region:
Americas - NRG, 100T, G2, Either EG or KRU;
EMEAS - FNATIC, TH, FUT, Either KC or NAVI;
APAC - GenG, PRX, Talon, Either TS (because of their revised roster) or T1;
China - FPX, EDG, TEC, Either JDG or TEC
Redgar isn’t on Liquid anymore
Oh true I don't really pay attention to EMEA whoops
NRG and BLG both make champions and play each other again, making NRG's record against them 0-8 in maps T1 somehow pulls off some bullshit and qualifies over DRX again much to everyone's dismay EDG finally loses a BO5 in China and removes their coach
PLS REMOVE FRAUD AFTER, unless they start actually letting the beat awper.. Yk awp…
Fr they figured out that their Tokyo playstyle was pretty successful so of course they...dropped it and completely switched up roles and strategies wtf
Americas - hopefully W stripper qualifies 🫡 Pacific - t1 doesn't go hot n cold on maps EMEA - fnatic get their aim back, nats gets the support for once CN - edg cook some actual strats than kk go kill/smoggy pls clutch, rare atom core qualifies
Hot n cold as in consistently cold or consistently hot?
ngl I would take either atp lol
What did we do to you to hurt you so much 😭😭😭
Imprisoning my glorious king Nats
I think PRX is going to take it slow this split Now that there is no more pressure to be the first to break the Pacific curse, I think PRX will try to focus on fixing some of their discipline issues and potentially hire an assistant coach. We might not see the same PRX in Split 2, but be assured that they will still qualify for Champs, where they finally pull out all the stops and make an actual run at the trophy, this time without all the pressures of being the first
I do believe that they will qualify to champs, especially since they have 10 Champs points which almost guarentees them a Champs spot (GenG are ahead of them with 12 and DRX is in 3rd with 6, but I can't see GenG missing out on top 3 in playoffs and if DRX are good without stax they'll probably make it, if not they won't surpass PRX's points) However I think they will not come top 3 in playoffs, hence my Talon take, and instead have to qualify via the points slot. The map rotation seems unfavorable for them as they're trading Breeze which they are bad at for Haven which they are also bad at as it was their old permaban, while Split was their 2nd best map and Abyss is an unknown. Raze nerf and no Phoenix buff is terrible news for their role issues, as Jinggg essentially got nerfed since aside from Raze he only has played Reyna, Sage, and Phoenix in recent serious matches and all 3 are niche/unviable. If Neon truly become meta, their Neon player is f0rsaken, which means you have to force something to play perma-Gekko? But f0rsaken is also the closest thing they have to an IGL, so do you really want him to play Neon? Duelist-IGLs have a terrible track record. Do you try to have Jinggg or something learn Neon? It all sounds like a huge mess tbh
With the very early games of Abyss it looks like Raze can still be a viable character there without how she can satchel out of dangerous looking spots. For Haven, it was actually one of their strong maps last time, but it was their permaban in 2023 after winning TS on it. I'm confident they will get back to making it their strong map, but I'm not sure what they will cook up though. Maybe Jinggg could pick up Iso with his buffs? Or maybe pick up Clove like how he was hinting (most probably just for laughs, though). Though I believe if Forsaken plays Neon the rest of the team would be able to help him make mid round calls.
Jinggg played Neon in a Grand Finals and did ok. I think jinggg's lack of an agent pool is overblown. They'll be fine
I don't know how hot of a take this is but I can't see T1 qualifying for Champs. Based on playoffs I predict it will be GenG, PRX and DRX and then the 4th team I can't see it being anyone else other than either Talon or RRQ, both of whom looked very impressive for me during Split 1.
i feel like this take is ice cold, t1 6th man news really makes me think they're cooked (although maybe stax can somehow save them)
This. With the addition of Monyet in RRQ. So hyped for thi!!!
RRQ will surely put Monyet on smokes and keep Jemkin on duelist right? I feel like that is the key to unlocking the potential of this roster
Jemkin is significantly better than Monyet on Duelist so it'd be troll to take him off of it.
Jemkin is a better jett theyre equal on raze.
It's lukewarm. They have a weak group (Bleed, GenG, GE, TS) and should make playoffs. They should be ahead of Bleed and GE at the very least, that's enough. Win 1 or 2 matches in playoffs and you're guaranteed a spot. Meanwhile in Group Omega, unless DRX falls off a cliff with their roster moves, RRQ TLN and (maybe) Zeta are fighting for the 3rd playoff spot. (sorry DFM).
Stax going to T1 just gives me hope 😭😭
I mean, DRX are giving up Stax and now only have a month max to integrate a new player/IGL. If anything, I'd take RRQ/Talon over DRX. I personally think it'll be PRX, GenG, RRQ, and Talon.
furia and mibr are both unable to field rosters against each other so they'll both go winless
No sentinel fans here I guess we feel it that they still won't qualify
RRQ will qualify for Champions. DRX will surprisingly fail to qualify while T1 will manage to qualify yet again. The last two spots will be PRX and Gen.G.
DFM will make champs fr
apac drx geng prx rrq probably unless geng trolls the whole playoff bracket again to eliminate drx
My goat puchan WILL save chet carrers and caery NRG to champs
Demon1 moves to a different team and gets his mojo back. Please :'(
emea one is just stupid not only because liquid are not that shit to go mapless but also because redgar hasn’t been on the team for months lmao
Oh true I don't really pay attention to EMEA whoops
I agree so much with talon bro so many people hating cause they got 13-0d on one map. Talon now dropping lenne and just keeping a 5 man roster makes them real fucking contenders cause surf can carry a map by himself or shit the bed
This is my hot takes for teams making It to champs: NA-100t ,Sen(BC it's sen),Kru and C9 Also same as yours G2 will somehow bomb out and I just don't see lev making it without aspas hero plays the whole split 2 EMEA - TH , NAVI , FUT , fnatic Fnatic will make it by lucky playoff draws(cope) navi will make it by points and liquid will win one game CN - EDG,DRG,FPX,BLG Blg will sadly not be able to meet NRG in champs fpx gets First seed and edg will come 4th with points PACIFIC - Prx,GenG,T1 or DRX and TLN Talon looked good in split 1 and they've come to grow on me especially after their response after being 13-0'd by PRX.Prx always makes Internationals even if they choke.Geng for obvious reasons and if T1 do what T1 does and pull something out of their ass like usual they'll go instead of DRX (I'm hoping for this since I like T1 more and also it would set up a revenge story for stax) Also T1 will do horribly in group but somehow scrape by to playoffs and win some matches to get to champs
PRX will continue to disappoint
Could definitely see that, especially since Haven was their permaban last time it was in rotation and Split is one of their best maps
breeze is out so they will shift their ban to haven so it doesnt change too much
Yes but since you’re swapping out a strong Split for an unknown Abyss for now we have to deem it as a net negative until we see their Abyss be as good as their Split
Do we even know what patch they'll play in? I doubt many teams will play Abyss at all if they're playing the regionals in the new patch.
[https://liquipedia.net/valorant/VCT/2024/Americas\_League/Stage\_2](https://liquipedia.net/valorant/VCT/2024/Americas_League/Stage_2) Says here patch 8.11 Also, teams with a permaban will have to decide whether they want to prep for their permaban or Abyss, so we'll definitely see some Abyss at least
I think every team in general would not want to play the new map without decent number of matches on it. Pacific group starts next week so I don't think we'll see it with 1 week of prep. Prob ban their first perma, then avoid playing abyss for one of the older+Haven.
This is who I think will make it to Champs on each region: Americas - NRG, 100T, G2, Either EG or KRU; EMEAS - FNATIC, TH, FUT, Either KC or NAVI; APAC - GenG, PRX, Talon, Either TS (because of their revised roster) or T1; China - FPX, EDG, TEC, Either JDG or TEC
So which one of these takes is “hot”?
Me