I feel like JDG was improving last we saw them. I understand replacing Yhchen but is +sword9 and (I heard +Ego) even an upgrade? Like what have they accomplished in tier 1?

Just in case anyone hasn't seen
https://x.com/TanmayyMhatre/status/1847511211354579111

-Lysoar +Yosemite

I think BLG aren't making top 4 next year. It feels like the org and the players aren't really trying to improve as much as they could. For most of 2024 the team was outright terrible, Nephh and Flex1n dragged them to champs and Whzy is no longer at his mechanical peak.

The 4th place in China is going to between Wolves, JDG and TEC imo. Wolves getting Lysoar and a new coach is big for them.

1. T1
2. DRX
3. PRX
4. GENG
5. RRQ
6. SPG/TLN
7. TLN/SPG
8. GE
9. TS
10. BOOM
11. ZETA
12. DFM
    Hard to predict. I think GENG underperforms next year, but maybe that's a hot take. PRX might have the least international success out of my top 4 BUT they're a regional powerhouse so they're still going to be a top team. RRQ will be a wildcard. I could see them making champs or Toronto. Kush and Warbirds are huge pickups.

Honestly Estrella is one of the most overhated players in APAC imo

The roster has 3 players (Kristal, Patrick Wilson and Papichulo) who are more than deserving of a tier 1 spot and I've seen a ton people on vlr practically begging to see them get signed to a t1 org. But now the contrarianism starts because GE is GE and people expect them to be shit just because. I'm looking forward to seeing the team play.

Nah the roster isn't bad at all. Massive upgrade over the last GE dumpster fire and this team has potential to do SOMETHING next year. Kr1stal, PatrickWatson and Papichulo are all great pickups. I'm not sure about KellyS but UdoTan looks fine to me, sure he'll need to prove himself cuz the only notable thing he's done recently is farm t2 china but he's more flexible than Saya.

keke

potter and yay on eg will feed families

never cook again

These aren't the final rosters, Haodong is rumored for TEC and I'd be outright shocked if TEC doesn't make at least 2 roster changes after their dreadful year.

Even Indians on this site have repeatedly said there's no Indian talent worthy of tier 1, especially not over other valuable players that were selected through open tryouts. How many Indians even tried out?

we're costco guys

From what I understand DRG need to make champs if they want to stay in tier 1, and the macro of the team has been pretty poor especially post-Shanghai. It looks like Wolves, JDG and others are improving their rosters and changing their coaching staff, add to that the already dangerous trio of Trace/FPX/EDG. I think DRG need another win condition outside of Vookashu to be a top 4 team next year.

https://www.vlr.gg/pickem/42c34d22

So the roster for Wolves is -aluba -pl1xx +lysoar +V1ya

I think Lysoar is a big upgrade for this team but I'm not sure how good V1ya is. XLG are playing with YOU for this event and I hope it's not their roster for next year. They need a strong igl and as far as I know YOU has never been an igl and I wouldn't consider him an outstanding player.

If DRG wants to make it to champs next year they really need to find replacements for Shion and Nicc I think. Even if SpiritZ fixes their inconsistent duelist problem it still might not be enough for them.

Scales going 0-14 that one game was absolutely shameless lmao. Slowly returning to TYLOO is big for them imo. But TYLOO does have a history of making good players look like shit. So we'll have to wait and see how this once again new roster turns out.

I was honestly surprised to see that K1ra and x3b were the ones chosen from Ascension. K1ra was okay but x3b was just not good. But I'm guessing x3b is their new igl so firepower isn't their concern for him.

I assumed Bunt was the one out because K1ra is a controller player if I'm not mistaken and x3b plays all of Sword9's roles.

Unfortunately Oxy has a ball and a chain wrapped around his ankle (his C9 contract)

Maybe GENG? Don't they need 2 players?

This. As much as GE is hated and clowned on I'm actually excited for this new roster, it's nice to see new faces and all of their pickups are deserving a t1 shot.

Masters Bangkok:
AMER : SEN G2
EMEA : KC TH
APAC : DRX T1
CN : EDG FPX
Final : G2 vs TH (G2 win)

Masters Toronto:
AMER : SEN G2 LEV
EMEA : TH KC FNC (VIT choke, FNC find a way as per usual)
APAC : GENG T1 PRX (DRX choke)
CN : EDG FPX TE
Final : T1 vs SEN (T1 win)

Champs Paris:
AMER : LEV NRG G2 100T
EMEA : VIT TH FNC KC
APAC : DRX T1 PRX RRQ
CN : EDG FPX WOL JDG
Final : LEV vs KC (LEV wins, c0m crowned best player in val history)

Who is RA?

Honestly I think the hate for BlazeKing is really unwarranted and childish, but I never expected him to be a star player or a huge pickup for a tier 1 team. Like, I don't remember being blown away by his individual performance to the point where I thought "Yeah, another t1 team will definitely grab him" but maybe that's because GE was just shit as a whole this season. Hope he gets picked up by a tier 2 org as he is still a solid player.

EG is like his only option in NA so it has to be that

Foxy and Udo are way better than Saya tbh, hope it's either of them

Hopefuly Udotan, dude is cracked as fuck. Honestly way more flexible than Sayaplayer.

Honestly they need to scrap their roster, maybe just keep Knight and Nephh. I guess they're spending all their money on league of legends and don't give a shit about winning in val.

DRX exposed Trace's inexperience against high level opponents, they just need to get as good as they can in China and hopefully scrims, more practice and a stronger map pool will help them improve throughout 2025.

Isn't his contract still good for another year? He might leave in 2026 but he's definitely going to be on TEC for 2025

I have a feeling he's going down to t2

Honestly there's just far too many Korean shooters for Lakia to stay in tier 1 pacific, and all the non-korean pacific teams have an idea for their rosters already. I expected to see him in China.

I think we should be looking at LOUD in long term. Sato and Lukzo are both really good players. I could see Sato becoming a star duelist in the future.

EMEA, NA and Pacific are all putting together some really promising teams, I'm not seeing a whole lot of buzz for China right now. I think EDG will do well but won't winning an international. But I do think we'll see the Chinese teams improve internationally overall.

k1ng or udotan maybe? who are the best korean sentis on the market right now? I've heard good things about Xross but don't think he plays that role

ncslasher

Vera, UdoTan or Kr1stal would've been fine choices too imo, I don't think this is the best lineup that they could've picked

Talk Tuah

Gotten or Lmemore pls, I like Blazeking but he should go to GE (the only GE player from 2024 that deserves a second chance)

Gotten is definitely the better player over zesbew, but imo I think Lmemore would be the best firepower option

1 T1
2 DRX
3 PRX
4 RRQ
5 GENG
6 SPG
7 ZETA
8 Talon
9 TS
10 DFM
11 BOOM
12 GE

Hard to rank because RRQ still has Estrella as igl right? I don't see them breaking top 3 but likely top 5. PRX's placement largely depends on if they fix their problems or not. They're mechanically still a great team.

no yesican?

Welcome LEV neT

Now that Meteor is confirmed out, Munchkin seems 50/50 and no idea about Lakia what's your GENG roster for 2025?
Texture duelist
Karon smokes
Yoman igl flex
Zest recon
Foxy9 senti

Doombros and Krystal would've been the brain that this team needed, VIT looks like it has way too many cooks in the kitchen and no one to properly lead the team

Lakia is likely not going to be in t1 this year unless GENG resigns him, T1 and DRX seem to have their rosters already

FPX are still playing 'Chinese valorant' and while Trace has a ton of great ideas and I loved their performances on Ascent they lack experience against high level competition (as shown in their match against DRX).

I'm hoping to see both of those teams and others improve even further over the next year. They have the mechanical talent to do what EDG did.

Yay senti
Derrek ini
Supa smokes
Icy or Sym duelist
Mitch igl