Teams to Watch Out for at VALORANT Champions Seoul 2024

VALORANT Champions 2024 is just around the corner, and the excitement is palpable. As the pinnacle of the VALORANT competitive season, sixteen of the best teams in the world have assembled at the COEX Artium in Seoul to kick off the competition, vying for the ultimate prize in VALORANT esports.

With less than a week left before the action kicks off, we've identified the top teams that have shown exceptional skill, consistency, and determination throughout the year. Here's a closer look at the squads you'll need to watch for as they aim for glory in VALORANT Champions 2024.

Fnatic - The EMEA Powerhouse

The champions of yesteryear, Fnatic have often been considered one of the best teams in the world but have very little to show for it. The winners of VCT EMEA 2024 Stage 1 and 2, Fnatic’s last major international trophy was VCT Masters Tokyo in 2023.

Although Fnatic have tried hard to reclaim their glory on the international stage, their year was not off to a good start as they failed to qualify for VCT Masters Madrid. Even though they managed to clinch the Stage 1 title, their performance in Shanghai was far from favorable.

According to IGL Jake "Boaster" Howlett, the team was facing a host of minor issues that were dragging them down, with Leo "Leo" Jannesson’s declining health rubbing salt in the wound further.

However, this time, Fnatic is going into Seoul with newfound motivation. With Leo being replaced by rookie Emirhan "hiro" Kat, Fnatic have been tearing up the regional scene, with an unbeaten run to their name in Stage 2.

Paired with stellar performances from Nikita "Derke" Sirmitev and Emir "Alfajer" Beder see-sawing between each other, Fnatic seem primed to bring home a trophy.

Going into Korea with a “Trophy or Nothing” mentality, Fnatic are definitely looking to win it all this time, and add themselves to the hallowed list of teams to have won three international tournaments.

Watch: Fnatic Boaster's expectations from VALORANT Champions 2024 | VCT EMEA 2024 Grand Finals

Gen.G - The Dominant Force

When whispers emerged of a new team from the Pacific region dominating the competition, nobody expected it to be Gen.G. Yet the Tiger Nation has managed to prove their doubters wrong, and show the entire world that comebacks are possible, redemption is attainable, and greatness is achievable.

Gen.G started out their current roster as a rag-tag group of somewhat unwanted players who had been struggling in their previous teams. But after signing these players and bringing in ranked demon Kim "Karon" Won-tae into the mix, Gen.G found the perfect recipe for total dominance.

Dubbed the Golden Generation, this Gen.G roster certainly came out swinging. Winning VCT Pacific Kickoff in their debut run, Gen.G also managed to topple their rivals and Korean powerhouse DRX on their first try. And not just them, but also the final boss of the Pacific region, Paper Rex.

This victory set Gen.G on an upward trajectory, making them a household name. Outstanding performances by Karon and Kim "t3xture" Na-ra, combined with the strategic expertise of Byeon "Munchkin" Sang-beom, led Gen.G to reach all five Grand Finals in the year, securing three titles, including the prestigious VCT Masters Shanghai.

This victory made them the first Pacific team to win an international trophy, a feat that eluded both Paper Rex and DRX. Now going into Champions, Gen.G will be playing on home soil for a chance to win the most coveted trophy of the year.

And with how their season has been going, they are definitely looking to bring home another trophy. After all, what better way to close out their dominant season than with the Champions Trophy in Korea.

Read: Gen.G Munchkin on building such a dominant team “Players who are hungry will be more driven to work hard.”

Team Heretics - The Consistent Contenders

Team Heretics has been one of the most consistent teams of the year, second only to Gen.G. Similar to the South Koreans, Heretics also had a roster rebuild before the start of the 2024 season. Building the team around existing IGL Ričardas "Boo" Lukaševičius, this roster shuffle changed everything for the team.

Bringing in Dominykas "MiniBoo" Lukaševičius, Benjy "benjyfishy" Fish, Mert "Wo0t" Alkan, and Enes "RieNs" Ecirli, Team Heretics had on their hands one of the most potential-filled rosters in the world. This new roster showed up immediately, claiming 2nd place in VCT Kickoff and Stage 1, and 3rd place in Stage 2.

Team Heretics is also one of the only teams that has managed to qualify for every international tournament this season, including Champions.

But the team was never in full strength for both Masters. With Patryk "paTiTek" Fabrowski filling in for Wo0t at Madrid, they had an unfavorable run in the tournament.

However, they bounced right back in Shanghai, this time with paTiTek subbing in for MiniBoo, they beat out teams like EDward Gaming, G2 and 100 Thieves, making their way to the Grand Finals, where they eventually fell to Gen.G, claiming another 2nd place finish.

But no professional team worth their salt would be happy with this constant 2nd place finish. With the team unhappy with their recent performance in Stage 2, Heretics are hungry.

And with the team playing with their main five-man roster for the first time on the international stage, they will surely be looking to make an impact and win their first trophy.

Watch: "We're not the team we expect us to be" Boo and Neilzinho on Heretic's post-Shanghai form

Leviatán: The Americas Hope

Leviatán are coming into Seoul as the top seed from the Americas region, being the champions of VCT Americas Stage 2. However, this kind of success didn’t come overnight.

The team can be easily described as one of the most improved teams in the Americas region. Starting off the season with poor results in VCT Americas Kickoff, Lev lost out to LOUD, and a then-powerhouse Sentinels, who went on to win Kickoff, and then Masters Madrid as well. Whereas Lev even failed to qualify for Madrid.

Going into Stage 1, fans were given an absolute show by one of Americas’ homegrown stars and Champions 2022 winner Erick "aspas" Santos. Aspas almost single-handedly carried Lev to a third place finish in Stage 1, beating out teams like Sentinels and G2. However, it was evident that this strategy wasn’t viable for the long run. As seen from their poor tournament run in VCT Masters Shanghai.

Come Stage 2, Leviatan replaced head coach Alex "goked" Kie with Dimitar "Itopata" Staev. Along with this stage came a rise in form from support players Ian "tex" Botsch and Roberto "Mazino" Bugueño.

And with all of these pieces combined, Leviatan quickly rose to become one of the top threats in the region. Not losing a single game in the group stages of Stage 2, Leviatan made quick work of all their opponents (except once against G2) to claim the Stage 2 trophy.

This rise in form is sure to bring out a craving for another trophy in the team. And with Aspas already having a taste of that Champions glory, he'll surely be looking to add another one to his cabinet.

Paper Rex - The Unpredictable Threat

Often called the Final Boss of the Pacific Region, Paper Rex has long been regarded as the best team to come out of the region without a doubt. But recent resurgences of Korean giants DRX and a Golden Generation of Gen.G have put this powerhouse team on the sidelines.

Paper Rex has long been considered one of the most interesting and dominating teams to come out of VCT Pacific. With their unorthodox style of play with no dedicated IGL, and with all of the members in the squad being absolutely cracked when it comes to aim duels, Paper Rex seemed to have all the ingredients to a recipe for success.

But even with their star studded line-up and their top-tier aim, Paper Rex have very little to show for it.

Although they have been basking in regional glory for two years now, their international record is quite spotty. With a 2nd place finish at VALORANT Champions 2023, and a 3rd place finish at VCT Masters Madrid, it looked like Paper Rex were getting close to victory many times.

But it all fell apart when the team failed to live up to the hype surrounding the return of Wang "Jinggg" Jie for Shanghai. The team bombed out at 5th-6th place. And to add insult to injury, their title of Pacific Champions was also taken away by Gen.G in Pacific Stage 2.

However, Paper Rex always steps up to the mark when the odds are stacked against them. And this time should be no different. With nothing left to lose, and another shot at claiming international glory on the biggest stage, they are sure to step up once again.

Watch: PRX ALECKS on being favorites for VCT Shanghai

G2 Esports - The Honorable Mention

If there’s any team that represents hard work, determination, and perseverance, it’s G2 Esports. Making their way into VCT Americas from Tier 2 through Ascension, The Guard Valorant roster was left without an organization after the roster was released.

But the talent on this roster was not let go to waste, as G2 swooped in and claimed them for themselves. After signing the final piece, Nathan "leaf" Orf, G2 were ready for their first outing with the big boys.

But the first showing of G2 didn’t go quite as expected. With a 5th place exit from VCT Americas, they realized that a few more changes were needed. The team proceeded to replace Michael "neT" Bernet with Jacob "icy" Lange, and then G2 went right back to their glory days.

With Jacob "valyn" Batio leading this team with exceptional mental prowess, G2 have all the right pieces for success. And consistent showings at VCT Americas Stage 1 and 2, as well as VCT Masters Shanghai puts them on a list of teams that others can’t risk underestimating.

But similar to Team Heretics, no professional team will be happy to play second fiddle to the top dogs. And with this upward trajectory that G2 is on, they will surely be looking to bring home the biggest trophy of the year to prove to everyone that they are here to stay.

Watch: "They had aimers. But we were playing like superstars that day" G2 VALYN on beating PRX

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VALORANT Champions 2024 promises to be an exciting tournament with top-tier teams vying for the ultimate prize. Fnatic, Gen.G, Team Heretics, Leviatan, and Paper Rex, along with G2 Esports, bring a blend of dominance, consistency, and unique playstyles that will keep fans on the edge of their seats. As these teams battle it out, the stage is set for thrilling matches and unforgettable moments.

Stay tuned to Strafe Esports for more news and updates on Champions 2024. Also, follow our YouTube Channel for exclusive player interviews and press conferences. You can also follow our X account for more updates.

Featured Image Source: Riot Games/Strafe Esports

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