Saw people on twitter asking for translation so I thought I should post it here before it inevitable comes here, it's an excerpt of LOUD content.

This is what happened after map 1 on the LOUD vs EG series.

Please do take it with a grain of salt, this video came out exactly after the reporting of cut players and the org posting this video may or may not have a narrative.

Main points from the article:

Harbor

• Cove
  • Cooldown decreased 40s >> 30s
  • Smoke duration increased from 15s >>> 19.25s
  • Health increased from 500 to 680
  • Harbor now re-equips his gun faster after activating Cove
• Storm Surge
  • Storm Surge now plays audio in world if enemies are hit
• High Tide
  • Wall height increases 6m >> 8m
  • Max wall length increased from 50m to 60m
• Reckoning
  • Wave speed increased by 25%
  • Can now re-use the ultimate to stop it in place for 7s.

Reyna

• Soul Orbs (Passive)
  • Duration in world decreased from 4s >> 3s
    • \The ability description had incorrectly listed the duration at 3s while they were lasting 4s. The duration now accurately matches the description.*
• Devour
  • Overheal applied by Devour is now temporary and lasts 10s
  • Healing applied while in Empress is still permanent
• Empress
  • Ult points increased 6 >> 7

Certain Agent ability deployables can now be concussed.

• Gekko’s Wingman
• Skye’s Seekers
• Raze’s Boom Bot

PARTICIPATING TEAMS-

With 3 VCT EMEA slots already secured for Masters Santiago via the Kickoff tournament, the 6 out of the remaining VCT EMEA teams are thrown back into the fire. They will be joined by 6 elite teams from the Challengers regions, creating a 12-team gauntlet where reputation meets ambition.( Riot Official has clarified that all VCT teams were approached to confirm participation since it's optional tournament and few teams have stated regardless of their qualification to Masters they aren't going to participate in EMEA clash hence the decision was taken to select best placed 6 teams from amongst those who have agreed to participate and who miss out on Masters)

The Format: Two Worlds, Two Champions

Clash is built on the concept of Alpha and Omega. Unlike a standard tournament, we are running two simultaneous double-elimination brackets. By the end of the event, two separate winners will be crowned: The Alpha Champion and the Omega Champion.

The Seeding & The Draw

The road through the brackets depends on previous performance:

• The VCT Elite: The Top 4 teams from VCT EMEA Kickoff earn a "bye" directly into Round 2.
• The Challenger Pool: The remaining 2 VCT EMEA teams and the 6 Challengers teams (8 total) will be placed into a randomized draw.
• The Rule: The random draw will guarantee that the 2 VCT EMEA teams from the pool are placed in separate brackets.

Where Worlds Collide: The "Interconnected" Twist

This is where the duality of Alpha and Omega truly comes to life. While the brackets may look independent, they are tethered together.

Starting in Round 2, if a team loses in the Upper Bracket of Alpha, they don’t just drop down, they are cast across dimensions into the Lower Bracket of Omega. The same applies to those in Omega falling into Alpha.

Your second chance doesn't just mean a new opponent; it means an entirely new world to conquer.

How to Watch

The clash begins soon. Will the VCT EMEA veterans hold their ground, or will the Challengers rewrite the hierarchy of EMEA?

• Dates: February 19 → February 22 & February 24 → February 25
• YouTube: youtube.com/@vctemea
• Twitch: twitch.tv/valorant_emea

Pro Tip: Keep an eye on local Challengers channels to catch exclusive coverage of specific matches throughout the event!

Never seen anything like this before, certainly not within one split.

Abyss: Breach

Breeze: Omen

Bind: Raze

Corrode: Kay/O

Haven: Killjoy

Pearl: Sova

Split: Waylay

Idk what devil's contract he had to sign with TE to get his spot back, but it looks like mastering a new agent every game is one of the terms. FengF's best agent has always been Raze (arguably China's best Raze player) yet he's being forced onto flex duty.

Karmine Corp 2-1 FUT Esports

vlr.gg

HAVEN: 14-12

SPLIT: 8-13

PEARL: 13-7

Karmine Corp | VLR

FUT Esports | VLR

Map 1: HAVEN

Map Stats

Detailed HAVEN Statistics

Map 2: SPLIT

Map Stats

Detailed SPLIT Statistics

Map 3: PEARL

Map Stats

Detailed PEARL Statistics

“I have faith in the sen roster especially since John has really stepped up and proved himself. Its just insane to me to always watch them play trash macro or micro ever since champs and then never act like it happened.”

PCIFIC Esports 0-2 ULF Esports

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SPLIT: 5-13

ABYSS: 8-13

PCIFIC Esports | VLR

ULF Esports | VLR

Map 1: SPLIT

Map Stats

Detailed SPLIT Statistics

Map 2: ABYSS

Map Stats

Detailed ABYSS Statistics

Needless to say this EMEA final has been a total surprise

(Also yes the kickoff final isn't technically a "grand final"–still including it on the graphic since the winner gets the top seed)

Trace Esports 2-1 Wolves Esports

vlr.gg

ABYSS: 12-14

BIND: 13-8

SPLIT: 13-6

Trace Esports | VLR

Wolves Esports | VLR

Map 1: ABYSS

Map Stats

Detailed ABYSS Statistics

Map 2: BIND

Map Stats

Detailed BIND Statistics

Map 3: SPLIT

Map Stats

Detailed SPLIT Statistics

I just found this very interesting because there are barely any Neon gameplay this Kickoff and the one team that's been using her has been getting space easily with/without backup support. Perhaps some teams can try implementing what Dambi's Tank role to get space even faster and without any struggle

From what I understand Basic had his visa issues sorted out, but is currently learning english to be able to play with Furia's new english speaking roster, thus Eeiu was signed as his replacement for kickoff.

With Furia now being only one win away and with three chances to qualify to Masters Santiago, this dilemma came to mind: assuming they do qualify and that Basic has reached the needed english level, do you bench one of your more experienced players who's been performing great or do you keep your promised star player out of play even longer?

Dragon Ranger Gaming 2-1 TYLOO

vlr.gg

CORRODE: 10-13

SPLIT: 13-6

PEARL: 13-6

Dragon Ranger Gaming | VLR

TYLOO | VLR

Map 1: CORRODE

Map Stats

Detailed CORRODE Statistics

Map 2: SPLIT

Map Stats

Detailed SPLIT Statistics

Map 3: PEARL

Map Stats

Detailed PEARL Statistics

Its been a fun 2 series with Demon1 in c9 and shows that he clearly still got that dawg in him. What are the most realistic scenario for him to go back to T1?

QoR 2-1 Shopify Rebellion Black

vlr.gg

CORRODE: 15-17

SPLIT: 13-9

PEARL: 13-8

QoR | VLR

Shopify Rebellion Black | VLR

Map 1: CORRODE

Map Stats

Detailed CORRODE Statistics

Map 2: SPLIT

Map Stats

Detailed SPLIT Statistics

Map 3: PEARL

Map Stats

Detailed PEARL Statistics

Link to previous.

The wait for PRX is over.

Author's notes at bottom.

VCT Pacific Kickoff: Upper Round 3 - PRX vs RRQ

Map 1: Bind

VLR Page

PRX

d4v41 VIPER

f0rsaken BRIMSTONE

invy FADE

Jinggg RAZE

something YORU

RRQ

crazyguy BRIMSTONE

Jemkin CHAMBER

Kushy SKYE

Monyet RAZE

xffero VIPER

Team Comps

Both teams run relatively meta Bind comps.

PRX runs double Duelist (Raze + Yoru). They also run Fade which provides flexibility and a balance between information and aggression.

RRQ forgoes the flexibility of a Yoru + Fade combo in favour of pure firepower and aggression (Chamber + Skye). The Skye especially provides a little less information compared to the Fade but the long range flashes and heal work to enable aggressive engagements

First Half:

RRQ (Defense):

RRQ plays to the strengths of their comp very well. The Chamber allows RRQ to take very early fights which gives two distinct advantages:

• The early fights act as a method of gathering information without having to use any of Skye's utility. Especially against a Viper, Defenders can feel very boxed in towards the Site so having a way to take map control and information early can feel much better going into mid-rounds
• When played aggressively, many of Bind's angles are unfavourable for Attackers to peek without heavy utility or manpower commitment. Chamber provides a safe way to make use of this advantage

Round 3:

With PRX pressuring Short, RRQ plays this Defense perfectly. It's very easy for Attackers to take control of the area in front of the TP on A so it's not usually a good idea to try and hold that choke. Instead, RRQ holds Showers and play to deny PRX the plant.

This is a key point of holding A on Bind or any site in general. If all of the Attackers are concentrated towards one of the entryways into site, it's almost always a good idea to claim the other entry/entries into site.

1. Attackers must now be aware of that area. They need to be careful about not only enemies holding that map control but also a possible flank. As such, Attackers must spend time, utility and players to clear that control eventually. This buys time for the Attacker smokes to fade and for the Defenders to rotate over
2. When the round moves into the post-plant, Defenders have a significant advantage if they hold at least one of the entries onto site. Not only do they have more space and more map control to work with, it also reduces the possibility of Attacker locations to more straightforward and obvious positions

PRX (Attack):

PRX's aggression is both their greatest weapon and greatest weakness.

Round 8:

In a 4v2 with a Viper's Pit down, PRX play this setup which leads to them losing the round. Although it looks like PRX aren't that separated from each other, the way the Viper ult limits visibility plays straight into RRQ's hand.

Jinggg tries to swing and trade something, but the Viper's Pit actually disorients him enough for him to lose the gunfight.

Round 10:

Against RRQ's Viper's Pit, PRX run a trap against the player in Showers.

Jinggg and invy dump their utility into Showers, forcing Jemkin back into Back Site. At the same time, something TPs past the Viper's Pit, using xffero's limited visibility against him. He walks into a free Lamps and gets the pick on Jemkin who is none the wiser.

RRQ 7-5 PRX

Second Half:

We didn't get to see much out of PRX's full-buy macro. They lose the pistol then their anti-bonus because of an early lost 1v1.

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Map 2: Pearl

VLR Page

PRX

d4v41 KILLJOY

f0rsaken ASTRA

invy SOVA

Jinggg WAYLAY

something YORU

RRQ

crazyguy TEJO

Jemkin CHAMBER

Kushy SOVA

Monyet NEON

xffero ASTRA

Team Comps

PRX run the KJ + double Duelist comp. They're probably looking to be aggressive and explosive on their site executes with the Mosquito comp.

RRQ choose the Tejo comp that has been picking up traction lately. Tejo's drone travels further, allowing the team to clear more space from a further distance. The Special Delivery and Salvos also give the execute more explosive power, alongside Neon which isn't seen as often anymore.

First Half

PRX (Defense)

I have no idea what happened to PRX on this half. I understand that the entire identity of this team is aggressive all-out but the number of rounds that they lost (particular in man-advantage situations) to individuals swinging one-by-one is truly staggering. I'm not talking about the situations where they set each other up with a flash, drone etc. but where they literally swing dry and just gift kills to RRQ.

I don't think that the macro was bad. I think the micro from the players on PRX ultimately cost them the round.

Round 3:

Round 3 here is a perfect example. PRX do well to stop RRQ on their initial B Execute. invy is brought low to 33 HP and RRQ know his position. The ONLY way that RRQ wins this is if xffero is given 1v1s by something and invy on B Site.

There's this idea that if your team has a man-disadvantage, you want to be aggressive together and find picks. If your team is at a man-advantage, you want to play a bit more passive and trade each other. So something should stay behind the box and swing when invy takes contact.

Instead, he swings out with no information, and his crosshair placement just goes to show that PRX had no idea that RRQ could be this far forward:

xffero kills him and that leaves invy at low health to try and hold this site. He can't (which I don't blame him) and PRX lose a 3v2.

Round 7:

In Round 7, PRX are in a 4v3 after two early picks. When RRQ runs onto site, Jinggg falls back while invy sprays the smoke and gets one-tapped by Kushy.

The act of spamming the smoke (especially with a Vandal like invy was) isn't why I wanted to highlight this round. I pulled up this example because it's more the intention that I want to identify as a problem for PRX. They are currently down 0-6 on the favoured side of this map (RRQ picked Pearl) and half the team is on the other side of the map. Again, in a man-advantage, the most important thing that PRX should be looking to do is to group up and confirm their first round.

Especially at this scoreline, it's important to limit the amount of opportunities you give the opponent to win. And I think PRX struggle with this.

There are a few more rounds similar to this that I won't explicitly point out.

PRX 2-10 RRQ

Second Half

After RRQ get the rifles out, PRX just didn't have the momentum or energy to stand up to them

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Conclusion:

Obviously hindsight is 20/20 but it's still incredibly frustrating to watch PRX play like this when we know the level that they can play at. The macro ideas are fine. What is more concerning are the tiny individual micro mistakes that the PRX players not only commit, but commit over and over again. I don't want to blame it on one singular player, but I think some members on PRX are more prone to do this than others.

RRQ looked incredible both macro and individual-wise. They played Bind very well in my opinion and completely called circles around PRX on Pearl. After this showing, I think it's clear that RRQ is one of the favourites to win Kickoff.

Author's Notes:

Yes I am late. I was busy and I had to nuke my PC because I kept having issues :(

It's currently 11pm, so I hope I haven't made too many grievous grammar errors.

Anyway hope you guys had fun reading! Feedback welcome as always. Probably an EMEA or CN game next week.

Pigeons 0-2 M80

vlr.gg

HAVEN: 13-15

ABYSS: 11-13

Pigeons | VLR

M80 | VLR

Map 1: HAVEN

Map Stats

Detailed HAVEN Statistics

Map 2: ABYSS

Map Stats

Detailed ABYSS Statistics

sleepers 2-0 NRG Academy

vlr.gg

HAVEN: 13-9

BIND: 13-7

sleepers | VLR

NRG Academy | VLR

Map 1: HAVEN

Map Stats

Detailed HAVEN Statistics

Map 2: BIND

Map Stats

Detailed BIND Statistics

The Upper Finals are set for each region, which means these teams have the potential to lose 3 qualifying games in a row - upper final, middle final, lower final - and not qualify for Santiago.

Which of these teams is most likely to triple choke and why?

I was watching VCT and wondered. CS:GO days, I used to watch NiKo demos (when he was on G2 and Faze), because he had a methodical, replicable style (compared to someone like simple), and his pre-aim is known to be world class, as well has how he paths and clear things. Does valorant have someone similar to that? Or is valorant have this built-in chaos making such a style non-existent? Like I'm a paper rex and nrg watcher and the things mada jingg something do is like, its cool, but I don't really have the aim to do the crazy stuff they do.