Honest prediction:
2-1 for DRX
2-0 for FNC

Americas is too weak... No way KRU will win
Just like we knew SEN wouldn't win
Pacific and EMEA are looking way too strong this year. Which is nice because historically it's always been Americas on top

The outcome of this group seems pretty obvious
Both Fnatic and DRX will qualify.
I could see DRX choke as they tend to often do unfortunately but should be simple wins

This is definitely the most likely scenario.
SEN is looking incredibly weak. They were lucky to even make it to this tournament
As for TH and FPX, they're both looking very solid right now. It's a shame that one of those teams likely won't make it to play-offs

Yep, SEN is taking the first flight back home

*Sentinels overrated. Agreed

Proving that they never should've made it to Champions. A wasted slot for NA
Losing 90% of duels
Fun to watch them get destroyed though : D

SEN fans are the most toxic and cringe children in Valorant... of course everyone is happy when they're miserable.
Is satisfying af

Korea was pretty weak until this year... but you've got a point.
The incredible talent coming out of south korea all at once is scary! Would not be surprised to see them dominating the game like in LoL

EU and Pacific are crazy entertaining in 2024
Americas and CN are zzz

SEN is such a waste of a slot for champions

He's trash.

What are some players that any team would be lucky to have? Where having them on your team instantly knocks that team up a tier?

My list:
Alfajer
Zmjjkk
Sayf
Johnqt
Zekken
Aspas
Meteor
f0rsaken
nAts
Chronicle
Leo
Boostio
Jawgemo
leaf
JonahP
Elite
Meiy
Buzz
Mako
sScary
Demon1
t3xture
Patitek
Yetujey

Rookies: Karon, Primmie (don't know much but his performance so far has been amazing), Hiro

Which teams look like the best contenders to make it to the Grand Finals of Ascension Pacific.
I've only been watching Japan, South Korea and Thailand so I don't know much about the other teams.
From what I've seen though, Sin Prisa Gaming are looking quite strong and very consistent with their performance.
Riddle Order as well though the grand finals against Fennel had them looking quite shakey.
As for Full Sense, they're looking incredibly inconsistent despite having former Talon players on their roster.
And I do know that MYSG tends to be a strong region but I unfortunately don't know much about them.

What are your top 2 contenders in each region to win Ascension?

South Korea won challengers Japan xD

SEN is a funny joke. They'll likely be last

Japan's fans are the absolute best!
It's unfortunate that they don't have the talent to put up with these teams.

Nah

SEN is inconsistent. They made it to Champions purely based on luck.
TH have been incredibly consistent and always perform well

What's this about?

Japan region is cooked... Riddle Order looked extremely strong and consistent heading into this final.
Strong contenders for Ascension but now... Seeing how they're struggling against Fennel in the finals, Japan is doomed for the future.
Fennel is way too inconsistent to win anything.
GG

Heading into Champions, Americas looks so incredibly bad that I would not be surprised to see at least 3/4 of the Americas teams not make it to playoffs.
EMEA and Pacific teams looking clean af and extremely likely to defeat Americas.
No matter your opinion on the matter, this will be one hell of a tournament to watch!!!

GenG has obviously had an incredibly dominant year making it to every single Grand Finals. Winning an international tournament and 2/3 regional tournaments.
Fnatic won 2/3 international tournaments last year and had the most dominant run a team has ever had losing... 3? 4? matches in 2023.

So let's say that somehow this champions grand finals ends up being Fnatic v GenG.
Which team would you say is objectively the best team in the history of VCT if GenG wins or if Fnatic wins?
I'm mentioning Fnatic because their roster is basically the same as last year (except Hiro for Leo) and they were definitely the best team in VCT history until now.
But GenG making it to grand finals, especially IF they win makes it arguably not the case anymore. What do you think?

That would not surprise me. I just expect them to get 3rd or 4th and that's it.
They're always a good team but they never win any international events. If you're a PRX can it's incredibly frustrating

Nah LEV is crazy inconsistent... They hardcore struggled against KRU which is sad enough.
B tier at best

Copium

It'd be quite funny if Valorant started to become like LoL. South Korea dominating the scene and everyone else being irrelevant (apart from China in LoL).

Obviously I don't expect this to happen as EMEA and Americas players have crazy talented players and Valorant doesn't work at all like LoL but it'd be pretty funny.

This is a very W tier list, I'm surprised! Objectively accurate
I'd expect the average idiot on here to place teams like SEN or EDG in S tier because they get hard thinking about it.

Americas WAS dominating. They're sht in 2024

That's a funny joke. They ain't even close
Sacy is a nobody next to Chronicle

It's crazy how America's was such a great region last year. A great region with great teams. Incredibly fun to watch. Now their only good team is G2...
LEV being incredibly inconsistent to the point that they struggled against KRU. SEN who were lucky AF they even got the chance to qualify. And well... KRU. They ain't getting anywhere either.
Meanwhile you got TH, FNC and VIT in Europe performing incredibly well.
GENG obviously being the team to beat. And DRX and PRX being great teams but they unfortunately lack consistency.

China is... China. Little expectations from them.

Would not be surprised if 3/4 of the Americas teams don't even make it to playoffs. Expecting it would be more realistic

You're lucky SEN even got qualified. Waste of a slot

Officially the biggest Mickey mouse tourney yet.
No wonder they won when their biggest competitors were a bunch of tier 2 players in a brand new team.
GG : D

Sayf's back must be hurting after all that carrying.
Been a while since I've seen a player carry a team this hard. Don't get me wrong, his teammates are amazing as well but without Sayf, they wouldn't have qualified for playoffs, yet alone beat TH.
Amazing player!

It's funny how even in the Japanese region, the south korean players dominate.

I love how this team went from utter dominance in 2023 to a terrible performance in 2024.
And now, they looking in very good shape. Not to mention that they're incredibly satisfying to watch!
All 5 players coming up with amazing plays.
My expectations are high for them going into Champions
GenG v Fnatic... Oh boy

Hiro has obviously been an amazing addition to Fnatic!
He's been popping off and has exceeded my expectations as a FNC fan.
But let's not forget that Leo was FNC's carry this year when the rest of the team has trouble performing.

So...
Should Leo replace one of the players?

I mean c'mon... When you've got players like Karon, Meteor and t3xture on your team, it's difficult not to win.
These guys win their duels and outplay most players in the league consistently.

You're hilarious

GenG better win champions!

Had no clue who the guy was.
I got to say, his performance was quite impressive today! Having him on the team definitely put Talon a tier higher than they were before

MIBR or Bleed. Not even close
I do think MIBR is worse just because Bleed has been pushing back near the end

I know right! It's frustrating... they go 6-0 and then end 7-5? Cmon!
Or 5-1 and then end 6-6

I agree, they are quite consistent with their performance at international events and play-offs.
I do think 2023 Fnatic/EG and 2022 Loud for example are way better tho. I guess it depends how they perform in Champions to change my overall opinion of them when compared to the other teams.
If they make it to the finals or top 4, they def have the cleanest run in VCT history

By the looks of it right now, no

I know, doesn't make it any less sad for the enemy team losing a 3v5

Now that was sad to see

I miss Pearl so much... I love watching people play that map

Nah, I'll just swap to one of the other teams I'm rooting for since GenG will be out