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Blog entry by Fredericka Allie

5 Takeaways from the T1 x Nerd Street Gamers VALORANT Invitational

5 Takeaways from the T1 x Nerd Street Gamers VALORANT Invitational

The more versatile your character playability is the better chance you will have of being able to adapt to an enemy team's playstyle. Being able to quickly adjust the way you are playing is a solid ace up a player's sle

The matches are long and the SBMM system is subpar, which is why a surrender system should be implemented. This would go hand-in-hand with the honor system as it gives players an out without making them wait a set amount of time before being allowed into a new g

Gen.G, seemingly had the greatest understanding. Despite being arguably outclassed mechanically by Team Brax, StarLadder Berlin Major Gen.G's defense often seemed impregnable and their offense would steam roll through teams caught off guard. Michael "MkaeL" De Luca's Cypher play was masterful, and the information he gained allowed Gen.G's defense to become a brick w

To find the most success with Phoenix understanding how to use his abilities effectively is a necessity. Thankfully, Phoenix's kit allows for players of the character to combine his abilities to create a variety of synergies. Alongside the character's potential for some powerful team-related combination, Phoenix players are spoiled for choice when it comes to optimal p

Breach's third ability is Fault Line. This is Breach's signature ability, which players must equip it first and charge it before firing. Fault Line creates an earthquake that disrupts players' movement and screens that can be fired through walls and cover. Like Breach's other abilities, the exact area it will hit can be seen on the mini-map in the corner of the screen. It can also be used to check corner like with Aftershock, but it is capable of friendly-f

Spycam is an invisible camera that Cypher players can use to watch certain areas. Enemies will be able to see and hear it moving if a player is looking through it. The camera also has a dart that can be shot at enemies that will reveal them until it is pulled

The Blast Pack will stick to a surface after being thrown. After enough time passes, or it is manually detonated, it will explode. Raze can use this ability to launch herself onto higher ground like Overwatch 's Junkr

The first of Omen's abilities is his powerful Shadow Step. A move that allows Omen to teleport to an indicated location, allowing the character to escape to new cover, take high-ground, or simply escape the given danger. Using Shadow Step to take high ground is its primary function, as it allows the character access to some seemingly inaccessible locations. Be aware of Shadow Step's long start-up period, and take this downside into account before you use the ability to either flank or escape a combat encoun

A common phenomenon of hero-style shooters is a player who hops onto a competitive match, and instantly locks their main character. These players are referred to as "one-trick ponies" due to their skill being deeply connected to their one and only character main. If their particular main is locked from their use they become more of a liability than an asset to their t

Before tackling the ranked game-type it is important that players understand how the game mode actually works. Players will win matches and gradually rank up into higher and higher ranks, each rank having 3 tiers within the umbrella term for the ranking before they can be promo

The T1 Invitational was VALORANT 's most competitive tournament yet. For the first time, fans got watch fully formed teams battling against each other in a double-elimination format. Gen.G, the event's champions, proved themselves as one of the top VALORANT teams in the world on Monday. Originally a CS:GO squad called French Canadians, the team was acquired by Gen.G shortly after switching to VALORANT. In their first tournament playing under the Gen.G brand, the young team showed up big. Led by their captain, Keven "PLAYER1 Champagne, they beat every team they faced off against, dropping a map only to Team Brax in the finals. Anthony "gMd" Guimond showcased his skills on information specialist Sova while Danny "Huynh" Huynh had sniper duties on S

Initially, many fans and analysts gave the edge to Sentinels, who recently constructed a roster of former CS:GO pros Shahzeeb "ShahZaM" Khan, Hunter "SicK" Mims, former Overwatch MVP Jay "sinatraa" Won and former Apex Legends pro for Sentinels Jared "zombs" Gitlin. Popular streamer Coby "Dizzy" Meadows stood in for the team's fifth spot. Even with Sentinels' stacked roster, they were taken down by Team Brax in the second round of the winner's bracket and were defeated for good by Team Shroud in the loser's bracket. Despite their struggles this tournament, Sentinels flashed their potential multiple times, and the organization's willingness to go out and sign big name players is a positive sign for the team's fut

Tripwire is what it implies. It is a tripwire that can be set up by Cypher players that is invisible to enemy players until they get too close to it, and enemies that touch the tripwire that will be revealed to Cypher . The tripwire can be destroyed by enemies and if they don't destroy it after walking through it, they will be da

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