Because the 2023 VCT leagues start their regular circuits after the huge opening LOCK//IN tournament, followers are beginning to get a have a look at the very best from every area.
Most of the gamers within the 2023 VCT have already made names for themselves in skilled VALORANT, together with a Korean star who many take into account probably the greatest Viper gamers on the planet.
DRX’s MaKo ought to be a family identify by now for any fan {of professional} VALORANT, however simply in case you aren’t accustomed to him, he was probably the greatest controller gamers on the planet final 12 months, praised alongside former OpTic controller Marved. MaKo’s Viper, particularly, made an enormous distinction for DRX and enabled a number of their success in 2022.
However whereas MaKo nonetheless sits on his toxic throne for now, one other Korean VALORANT participant appears to be giving him a run for his cash—Gen.G’s k1Ng.
Coming into the VCT Pacific league this 12 months, DRX are undoubtedly nonetheless the staff to beat. They’re the Asian staff with probably the most success at any worldwide event after their third-place end at 2022 Champions Istanbul. And on the opening occasion of the 2023 season, the veteran staff nonetheless confirmed up with nice kind.
Total, DRX’s greatest subject has been consistency. There are video games the place the squad seems unorganized and disconnected, then occasions when all the pieces falls proper into place. The cases of the latter are, most of the time, enabled by MaKo’s potential to divide and management the map. When MaKo is having a very good day, odds are the remainder of DRX are too.
Some comparable power appears to be circulating round Gen.G, DRX’s countrymen, as we noticed at LOCK//IN in São Paulo.
Gen.G’s finest participant in that event was k1Ng. And although the staff solely performed one match after getting an unfortunate draw and having to play the 2022 World Champions LOUD of their opening recreation, they regarded significantly better than anybody was anticipating. Regardless of falling out of the single-elimination bracket early, the final consensus was that the staff regarded strong.
To check particular person statistics between the 2 gamers, MaKo has greater than twice the variety of skilled matches logged on Viper than k1Ng does. According to TheSpike.gg, in the past six months, MaKo has played Viper on 12 maps, with a median fight rating of 235.4. In distinction, k1Ng solely has 5 skilled maps logged on Viper up to now six months, however has a higher average combat score of 246.8.
Each MaKo and k1Ng appear to be enjoying an analogous position for his or her staff. Prior to now, some groups have chosen to play Viper as extra of a sentinel than a controller, letting the agent lurk within the background of the map. However each MaKo and k1Ng appear to play her in a extra engaged fashion, which ends up in them typically high fragging or not less than going even with their KDA. K1Ng, particularly, has boasted excessive KDAs on the maps the place he performs Viper, resulting in this larger fight rating.
You might argue that a part of the rationale k1Ng’s fight rating is larger is solely that Gen.G’s roster doesn’t have the identical duelist or fragging presence that DRX does. DRX’s Rb and BuZz are top-tier entry gamers, which suggests MaKo doesn’t must do as a lot heavy lifting. Each Rb and BuZz have had moments the place they’ve regarded like two of the very best Jett gamers on the planet.
As Gen.G grows as a squad, there may be hope that this form of construction may come to their staff as properly.
Gen.G as a corporation has been on the top of Korean esports, notably in League of Legends. The group additionally owns the Seoul Dynasty within the Overwatch League. After an try at a North American VCT roster, the staff’s relocation to the Pacific league appears to be a very good technique.
Of their first VCT Pacific match, Gen.G simply gained 2-0 over Rex Regum Qeon, and the star of that match was undoubtedly Meteor, Gen.G’s duelist. The staff seems extra well-rounded already, although k1Ng nonetheless had a plus-12 KDA.
Changing into extra well-rounded is actually a very good factor, and if something, this can allow k1Ng to shine on Viper much more. If Gen.G continues to develop as a staff, matchups between MaKo and k1Ng are going to be fairly a present.
