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[EXCLUSIVE] “This is something that I wanted” Leviatán Aspas on challenging himself to greater heights

[EXCLUSIVE] “This is something that I wanted” Leviatán Aspas on challenging himself to greater heights

Valorant
25 Feb
Foo Zen-Wen

Prior to the VCT Americas Kickoff tournament, Riot Games organized a Pre-Season Media Day, inviting some of the most noteworthy names in the industry. Strafe Esports received the opportunity to conduct an exclusive interview with new Leviatán star Erick “aspas” Santos. Brimming with enthusiasm and energy, aspas is ready for the new challenges that comes from an international roster.

On a New Path

After 2 years under the Brazilian LOUD banner, aspas is determined to forge a new path on his own, one away from the nurture of his former team. As a result, he’s now under the Leviatán banner, an Argentinian organization that has assembled a veritable superteam of eclectic international talent.

“I want to be better than I was last year.”

[Interviewer] Hi Aspas. Thank you so much for agreeing to this interview. How are you doing?

Good! And you?

[Interviewer] I’m good too. Thank you very much. First off, how are you and your team feeling heading into this new season?

In my team right now, we’re practicing a lot. So, I hope that we can do well on the stage. I’m very excited to see how we can deal with the pressure on-stage, how each one is going to deal with it individually on the stage. I’m excited for this new journey.

[Interviewer] Awesome to hear! Alright, this is a two-part question. First one being, expectations for yourself this season. And then, expectations for Leviatán this season.

The expectations for me; it’s more personal for me, that I try to be better than I was. So, this year, I want to be better than I was last year. Better than I was the last two years. Since it is a new experience for me and speaking a different language.

I’m playing with new teammates. It’s going to be a very good thing for me, because I’m very happy right now that I am doing a new challenge in my life. So, I want to be better than I was, and I am always practicing very hard to be better than I was. So that is my expectations for myself for this year.

For Leviatán, we’re going to keep practicing really hard, and I want to see how we deal with things on-stage - because we are a new team. I want to see how things will go in the first match. I hope everything goes well this year.

[Interviewer] So, we haven’t even seen your final form yet? You can get even better than this?

Ahh, I hope so. [laughs]

Kickoff Journey – Initial Expectations

Heading into Kickoff, Leviatán found themselves seeded into the Group of Death, along with heavy favorites and defending VCT Americas champion LOUD; Sentinels, a reforged roster eager to rewrite their shaky 2023 year; and 100 Thieves, a hungry team of young players now led by defending Champions winner and IGL Boostio.

“I just focus on what I have in front of me first.”

[Interviewer] What are your general thoughts on the Kickoff tournament? As well as the format and timeline Riot has implemented?

Hmm, I like it. Now we have some different groups. Last year was everyone just facing each other. And then you basically get like this spot for like 2 internationals – for Masters and Champions.

Now you play each other in 3 different groups, and then I think you have the Swiss if you lose. Then, you face the winners as well. So now you have a lot more things compared to last year when you had the Groups and the Playoffs, and that’s it.

Now you have a lot of things – I didn’t understand so well because it’s a lot – but it looks interesting. [grinning]

[Interviewer] And now more specifically, they have revealed the group that you are in. First up, you’re facing against 100 Thieves. What are your feelings on that matchup? It’s a ‘new’ team with IGL Boostio, whom you’ve play against last year. How are you feeling? How are you preparing going into this matchup?

I’m happy to play against them because it’s going to be a good match. It’s going to be a tough match. And this is going to be the first time that we are going to be playing on-stage with this team.

So, I want to see how everyone is going to deal with the things there. I’m very excited to play against them, so we’re going to practice really hard. All my focus towards them so that we can try to do the first step.

[Interviewer] And then, this is the question everyone is expecting. You’ve been placed in the same group as LOUD. So, you have LOUD vs Sentinels on the other side of the bracket. There is a world in which you face LOUD. Is this a matchup that you’re anticipating? Something that you’re excited for.

Since now I am just focusing on the match against 100 Thieves, to try and prepare myself the best way I can for the match. So, I don’t think forwards to the thing – to have high expectations – for the after.

Like ‘next match’ I’m going to play against who, but I haven’t even played the match that I have in front of me. So, if I have high expectations and then I lose and I don’t play against who I wanted – and that’s not good.

I just focus on what I have in front of me first. Do the first step and then start thinking about the next thing.

The Evolution of Aspas: The Next Chapter

During the interview, we also spoke with aspas on his journey thus far, and how he plans to continue developing himself as a player.

“This is something that I wanted.”

[Interviewer] Ok fair enough. I had to ask though [laughs]. On a more personal note, how have you been fitting in with Leviatán, you’re now in a new team environment. Away from LOUD, away from Saadhak’s calling. You’ve been with LOUD for 2 years before this. How have you been adjusting? What have been the biggest challenges for you and this new team?

I think one of the biggest challenges is of course the language. But this is something that I wanted. I wanted to play in a team that spoke English. The other fact is that now I have five new teammates.

They don’t know what my playstyle is, how I play, what I like to do in the game. And it’s the same for me to them.

I don’t know how they play; I don’t know their playstyle. Everything is new. Everyone is getting to know each other and learn each other’s playstyles. So, that’s been like the challenge for me. But I like it a lot.

Because the more you play, the more you know them, their playstyles, and what they want to do in the game, what they like. So, it’s been really fun for me.

[Interviewer] That’s really good to hear. You’ve been with LOUD since 2022. Before that you were in Slick, am I correct?

Yeah, they were a part of LOUD as well! So, I was in LOUD for three years.

[Interviewer] Ahh I see! Well, you really made your brand, your name, on LOUD. You became aspas with this organization. What do you anticipate your legacy being on Leviatán now?

I’m going to try to do my best, because I always try to be better than I was. So, I want to do better than I did last year. I want to do better than I did in 2022 as well.

So, I always try to practice really hard. To get better than I was. So, I’m just enjoying this new journey in my life.

Because is a super new experience and playing a different team. Playing and speaking a new language. Everything is new for me, but I will keep with my main goal, that is – always trying to be better than I was.

[Interviewer] Awesome. I also wanted to ask; you’re now under kiNgg, under his leadership, you also have a new head coach Goked. How has your experience been like working with these two individuals?

In-game, it’s been a new type of calls. Because of course it’s a different person, so the calls are different. So, it’s been something new in-game. Like the playstyle becomes different because the calls are different. But everything is going well. And what I said before, I’m having a lot of fun because I’m having a new experience in my life. And that’s like opening a new door for me. That was something I wanted to try – a big challenge that would allow me to experience something new.

In-Game Changes: How Does it Affect the Pro Level?

When concerning meta and agent changes, some of the best minds to ask would be those in the professional scene, who have dedicated their craft to their selected esports title. The minutest of details, can often mean the difference between victory and defeat. Here, aspas offers some insights into the impact that he has noticed as well as predictions for the impact from the changes that have come through.

[Interviewer] I also wanted to get some of your thoughts on some of the in-game changes that have come in. First off, there have been changes to some of the sentinels. You don’t play sentinels, but I wanted to get your take on the changes to Killjoy, to Cypher. What are your thoughts? Does this affect the meta going forwards?

I think Cypher is now really good. So, he’s going to be used more than he was. Like now his trip is really, really good. And Killjoy […] she’s still going to be playable because they didn’t change much about her. Like on Ascent, she’s still going to be used. Breeze will probably be Cypher. So, the things about those two are almost the same. But now Cypher is better.

[Interviewer] I also wanted to ask, are you expecting to play more Jett/Raze, is that what we can expect to see from you? Or will we perhaps be seeing some Chamber from you or maybe some Iso? Is this something you can hint?

Hmm, who knows…[grinning]…maybe something new appears there. Maybe I play a different agent. Who knows, who knows…

[Interviewer] Interesting, interesting. Ok, I also wanted to ask. The current map pool has changed a lot. Haven – big map for you as well – has gone out of the map pool. Of course, Pearl/Fracture is still out. Breeze and Icebox is now back in with some changes. Are you happy with the changes? Are you sad that Haven’s gone out?

I’m really happy, because now we have Breeze and Icebox. And they put Halls back in Breeze. Breeze is my favorite map with halls, they don’t have a true mid, but they have Halls, so it’s ok. I love Icebox as well. For me, the only thing that could be changed there, is like, maybe you take out Sunset and put Haven back. But I’m really happy with the map pool.

[Interviewer] You don’t like Sunset?

It’s not a bad map, but I think Haven is better.

[Interviewer] Something else that’s interesting just happened a few days back. Skye just got a nerf, you won’t get the recharging flashes anymore. How has that impacted Leviatán’s practices, how do you think that would impact the meta going forwards?

The new Skye, it’s a lot weaker. She is still playable, but now you only have two flashes. So, it’s easier to deal with. She was a lot harder to for the duelists because she could always become a really big problem for the duelists, because she had the flashes, and the flashes were rechargeable. And she has the dog as well. But now with only two flashes, it’s easier to deal with her. So, maybe we’re going to see other agents in place of her.

[Interviewer] You now have C0m on your team, and tex too. How has it been like, that sort of culture-mix. You spoke about having interesting experiences and meeting new people, and of course, how has it been like? Working with two North Americans?

It’s nice to speak English. Every day that I spend with them, I can talk more in English, so my English just improves. That’s something really good. Like if there’s a word I don’t know, I can just ask them, and I will just get my English better. It’s good to enjoy my time with them.

[Interviewer] Final final question. Do you think Leviatán has what it takes to win everything this year? Do you think you guys are the best team?

I don’t know, but we’re going to practice real hard for this and we’re going to try our best every single day. And what comes, I hope it’s something good.

[Interviewer] Awesome! Good luck and I hope I get the chance to speak to you again. Thank you so much aspas.

 

Leviatán faces off against Sentinels today in the Decider Series to determine the final team from Group B potentially making it to Playoffs. Either their season ends today until after Madrid, or it continues on in the approaching gauntlet.

Follow the VCT 2024 action on Strafe.

For more information on the VCT Americas Kickoff, check out Strafe Esports' piece on the Format, Schedule, Teams and more. If one of the other Kickoffs catches your fancy, we also have previews for EMEA, Pacific, and China.

As an additional bonus, you can catch the VOD for the interview on our new YouTube channel. Also, check out our tier list for the 33 partnered teams (VCT China notwithstanding) heading into 2024's season.

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