FUT 2-0 LEV
completed
... 22 more matches
Monday, May 27th
7:35 AM EDT
Patch 8.09
LEV ban Split; FUT ban Breeze; LEV pick Sunset; FUT pick Lotus; LEV ban Ascent; FUT ban Icebox; Bind remains
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I think the silliest thing in Valorant is the idea that we must always use certain agents on specific maps. Also, the belief that if someone is a duelist, they're responsible for playing all duelist agents is just crazy.
The idea that "we must play these agents on this map" is totally misunderstood. It's so frustrating that it makes me want to pull my hair out. Before we go further, you should know that I'm old. I've seen and been part of the entire evolution of organized esports. We act like we've built esports on solid ground, but really, there are no textbooks or experiments to guide us. We're the test subjects, and no one's writing this stuff down.
The logic behind "we must play these agents" is that their abilities solve the problems the map presents. This assumes a few things that seem to be wrong. First, that we've identified and completely understood the problems on the map. For example, Viper has a long wall and Breeze is a big map. The wall is reusable, applies a debuff, and denies vision. But this is useless if our Viper dies in the first 30 seconds of the round. The lack of discipline around this is crazy.
How often do pros die in situations where their utility would have been useful? This is my first "I'm going to die on this hill" moment: you can't convince me that making pros play agents they don't enjoy is the best decision. This decision assumes perfection in utility usage, positioning, and timing, which isn't realistic. You're expecting perfection from agents they don't like, which require a specific style and gameplay adjustment. All for what? So they don't use the utility and don't have fun?
In competitive ranked play, gunplay comes first. I get that. But the teams that understand and creatively use utility will be the ultimate winners. Utility gives an advantage, and at the top 0.01% skill level, that advantage is huge.
What we see evolving is coaches with minimal game understanding forcing teams to use the same comps as everyone else, expecting to dominate based on their players' skills. This is why we see players like Demon1 and Aspas underperforming.
Why do Aspas and Demon1 seem shaky on Raze compared to other agents? Raze is unique because she disrupts movement before shooting. When Raze lands, there's a sudden slowdown in acceleration, disrupting movement. This is fine with a Phantom due to its low recoil reset and movement penalties. But if we look at their stats:
Aspas: https://tracker.gg/valorant/profile/riot/aspas%23na%D1%85y/weapons?season=all
Demon1: https://tracker.gg/valorant/profile/riot/NRG%20Demon1%23kata/weapons?playlist=competitive&season=all
Both players have significantly less experience with Phantoms than Vandals. We often say these guns are the same, but they’re not. At a basic level, yes, but beyond that, movement is the key difference. The Phantom's low reset time suits the new wave of gunplay, while the Vandal's one-tap potential struggles on Raze.
Pairing Raze with a Phantom optimizes her efficiency. If a player isn't using the Phantom, it's not because their aim is bad; their style is different. For Aspas and Demon1, their aim is more mechanical and deliberate. Disrupting that with Raze introduces extra steps they haven't practiced at a top level.
So, back to the issue of "agents must be played on this map." We've all heard the saying, "there's more than one way to skin a cat." We need to embrace this proverb. Let's try different strategies that match our players' skills instead of forcing them into roles they don't fit or enjoy.
pre-gpt: https://pastebin.com/Zyfx9D16
I understand you mush, but I really feel that you see Valorant with the eye of someone that have experience in classical FPS more than MOBA or hero shooter where in some game the pick can make 80% of victory, In a moba if you pick 5 assacin, you loose even if your player like their char.
I'm not saying Valorant pick is as mush important as moba pick, it's obviously not the case, but it's kinda hard to guess how mush the agent pick take a place in the victory. My actual position is this one : You need at least a smoker, and you need at least an agent that gives active vision/info (Sova, Fade, Skye, Gekko), it's usually better to have one diver (But I start thinking if Riot continue to nerf the only 2 agents, we might enter a world where no duelist are viable), If a team as one info and a smoker, i'm raising an eyebrow and give a chance to the weird comp (yes even if it's a Jett on Lotus), but if that's not the case like FUT no vision on Lotus, I will just consider the composition is not good. And I still consider those 2 criteria isn't enough, and I'm a bit laxest and need to find even more (I tend to put "having a diver" as a third criteria but with Icebox and possibly new nerf i'm not sure of that)
I think your composition is good for general play. But I think what I'm trying to get at is that a valorant map is an informational puzzle. To pick a comp that doesn't address specifics in the map is crazy. That's why I think the general idea about comp is misplaced and the execution is wrong. I think it's extremely difficult to argue with the premise that there is no point to have a meta comp if your talent consistently dies and leaves it unused.
But at the same time, you need to understand the agents you are asking your talent to play. I think because the current coaching system is gatekept by cronyism we actually don't get to see talent used in a way that optimizes efficiency because the knowledge level isn't there. And like I originally said, there's no textbook to go back to or back of the book to check your answers. So we're sort of at a stand still.
I'm just hoping at some point we get to see more coaches who have grown out of Valorant and maybe somewhere around year 7 or 8 we get a true coach without the influence of CS or other games. Valorant is so different and we see the failings in VCT because of it.
What valorant map doesn't need smokes ? I really don't see a map where smoke wont be played. Same for info, info is so mush important to manage space, (in LoL ward/info is basically what make a good support).
To be fair I kinda wish they are no meta comp, if smokes would have been balanced, it would have been amazing to have team that pick their agent based on what their teamate love "Oh you prefer Astra over Omen ? Good lets go Astra then", (That wouldn't shock me if on some team they where an OTP Astra and in other on they are an OTP Omen)
I would deconstruct why you need smokes. What does a smoke provide you? You might say, a smoke can stop a rush. Why?
Well a smoke provides you two things. Vision denial and "what's in the smoke." I think a lot of people think that smokes provide a layer of security. A smoke is easily defeated in so many fashions. Flash, another smoke, time, being in the smoke... It's not always your friend. I'm sure you've experienced a misplaced smoke or one that ended up getting you eliminated.
I guess what I'm trying to say is there is a heavy hand of influence from the past. That heavy hand has been mystified and codified by the passing of the torch to the next generation. We are more or less trapped in a bubble of the past with only the ability to see things through their lenses.
At some point a team is going to crush these common beliefs and the community is going to be puzzled. There's so much left to be discovered in this game that I predict at some point , a team will fully understand this and weaponize it.
Well once again, "a safeway to plant" is just another way to say the opponents can't see me. There are plenty of abilities that block vision. Phx Wall, Sage Wall, Viper Wall, Harbor Wall/Orb.
I truly think this article would be worth your time: https://thedecisionlab.com/biases/functional-fixedness
You truly need to do everything you can to escape what you've been told about Valorant and how you perceive it through other people's eyes. Just from a competitive viewpoint, you will always be behind the people who are viewing it for you. Try to push the boundaries of what you understand and see if they break.
Sorry mate, but if I have one problem in my life it's literally because I think to mush outside the box. (quite litterally)
Nobody told me vision should be mandatory it wasn't the case since few times ago, I come to that conclusion after analysing that nerfing Raze didn't hit her pickrate but destroyed Neon (Saynig nerf Raze is killing Neon is possible only if you think outside of the box)
My point was just saying "No the first thing I would say isnt stop rush."
You have to empathize with him. Completely new environment with no real allies. It's very hard to be the new guy. You just want to be super helpful and go along with the flow. Be seen as the guy who creates no problems and just wants to help.
Well what happens when that comes against something you want or do well? You're likely folding your hand because you know the environment you're in.
They'll figure it out though. They picked him up for a reason. Look at Pancada... they were super rocky for a long time. And then it just starts to work out.
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