NA in Kickoffs

I have not seen a single match of Cloud9 or NRG in Valorant. Can they last a map against teams like LOUD, Leviatan, DRX? Or will Riot go easy on them by matching them with Talon Esports and Global Esports? I was excited for kickoffs but hearing that two of the best teams from NA won't make it to kickoffs, that sucks.

With their current rosters? Fuck no. But there will be changes.

Honestly prob not, both teams aren't bad but they're not international stage good, they'd get grouped IMO.

Wouldn't be surprised to see C9 and NRG drop a majority of their roster to pick up free agents (or even an entire roster like OPTC).

Full optic and xset roaster are available to choose from, it would be insane if a org kept its 5

YvngKurry [#2]

With their current rosters? Fuck no. But there will be changes.

But I heard that changing roster will affect the team's popularity, and most orgs don't want to do that so they won't change rosters.

arin2016 [#5]

But I heard that changing roster will affect the team's popularity, and most orgs don't want to do that so they won't change rosters.

Could change popularity- but you have to weigh the pros and cons.

I'd argue if C9 dropped their entire roster for OPTC, their popularity would go up.

arin2016 [#5]

But I heard that changing roster will affect the team's popularity, and most orgs don't want to do that so they won't change rosters.

100% they will make a roaster change

Cloud9 used to be top 3 in NA earlier behind prime Sen and 100T. I think they can still compete with a few changes. I wouldn’t call NRG top 5 right now but they can be dangerous if they pick up optic roster. I think that before NA top talent was split between 10 teams. If optic stays together, that means the remaining slots are for NA’s top 20 players. IMO NA has a big chance to wipe EMEA in kickoff.

landonprograms [#6]

Could change popularity- but you have to weigh the pros and cons.

I'd argue if C9 dropped their entire roster for OPTC, their popularity would go up.

But you have to consider that not everyone from Optic or xset are free agents. And there is no way they will sign the full 5 man team. If they pick players one by one, there's issue of compatibility, you could put Yay in Sentinels roster and there is no guarantee that the team will do good because of it. Optic roster is one of the best of the best and they had to put in the work to create this synergy, no? So achieving that will pretty much be impossible unless they pick up the entire team, which I think is kind of unbelieveable. And then there are teams like Sentinels, who will never change roster. If they drop Shazam and TenZ, it will hurt their org's popularity, and if they don't do it, sorry to say but there's no way they are lasting a map with LOUD. And I read another article which says John Riot wants more content from teams.

Blaezey [#8]

Cloud9 used to be top 3 in NA earlier behind prime Sen and 100T. I think they can still compete with a few changes. I wouldn’t call NRG top 5 right now but they can be dangerous if they pick up optic roster. I think that before NA top talent was split between 10 teams. If optic stays together, that means the remaining slots are for NA’s top 20 players. IMO NA has a big chance to wipe EMEA in kickoff.

Did they make any crazy play with tactics or was it only good aim skills? I saw Sentinels play last NA LCQ and I never saw them pull off some play that made me go wow.

C9 definitely can with leaf, Zeppaaaa, and vanity, need to drop curry asap and maybe switch Mitch for someone else

chimpy [#11]

C9 definitely can with leaf, Zeppaaaa, and vanity, need to drop curry asap and maybe switch Mitch for someone else

I had to scroll so much to find the last time they played against a team. I looked into one of their matches and now I can say it with confidence that no, they can't. In no world can they ever beat LOUD or Leviatan like that. I don't know who this curry is but I am watching xeppa and leaf play, they are not that good at all and lack the awareness I saw players have in VCT. They are simply aim differing the other team, which is EG and still somehow lose duels and get flanked. Leaf is bad at oping and they are not even making use of their utility.

NRG could do decently, with a player change here or there.
C9 has to get rid of curry.

arin2016 [#12]

I had to scroll so much to find the last time they played against a team. I looked into one of their matches and now I can say it with confidence that no, they can't. In no world can they ever beat LOUD or Leviatan like that. I don't know who this curry is but I am watching xeppa and leaf play, they are not that good at all and lack the awareness I saw players have in VCT. They are simply aim differing the other team, which is EG and still somehow lose duels and get flanked. Leaf is bad at oping and they are not even making use of their utility.

everything depends on the roster moves

Currently C9's gameplay is the worst it's been in a while, due to them losing Xeta and Autumn, and gaining Curry in return

Loud looks pretty much unbeatable atm but with some good roster moves I think C9 could definitely compete against teams like leviatan