We sat down with Tomas “Destrian” Linikas and talked about becoming a member of Group Vitality, his first expertise with BONECOLD, and the present meta in VALORANT.
Vitality’s 2023 VCT Roster
The low season within the aggressive scene of VALORANT is in full swing. Nearly all groups have reshuffled their lineups. This consists of Group Vitality, which is among the many Accomplice groups and can play within the VCT EMEA League in 2023. They unveiled a revamped roster that included three new gamers: Twisten, MOLSI, and Destrian. In addition to a training employees of Salah and Robust.
From the champion squad that received the French league, ceNder and BONECOLD remained. Group Vitality will play two tournaments within the outgoing 2022. G-Loot VALORANT Conflict – Grand Finals, which can be held on-line. And Red Bull Home Ground #3 in Manchester.
Congratulations on becoming a member of Group Vitality. Let’s begin with how the choice to affix this crew took place?
Destrian: Thanks! The choice to affix Group Vitality took place fairly all of the sudden, after the roster modifications within the crew. Many of the crew members knew me from earlier than, so that they knew what sort of participant I’m, subsequently the trials weren’t too lengthy or arduous. For myself, I noticed the potential within the crew immediately. The atmosphere within the crew was actually good from the beginning.
You’ll proceed to work with the identical teaching employees of Salah and Robust, additionally can be Gorilla. How do you’re employed with them?
Destrian: I actually consider we’ve got top-of-the-line employees groups in Europe (and even the world). Principally we work with Salah, the principle coach, who implements construction and introduces the analysts’ concepts to the crew. Robust, for my part, might be the very best counter-strat and scouting analyst on the market, and I appreciated working with him in my previous crew. Concerning gorilla, I haven’t performed in a crew with him earlier than, however to date I actually like the best way he works and his concepts.
Mark: You additionally work with BONECOLD, the winner of the VALORANT Champions 2021.
Out of your first practices, how would you characterize BONECOLD as an IGL?
Destrian: Inside the sport, BONECOLD is a extremely calm and picked up participant, which is ideal for an in-game-leader. I’d say that his calls are sensible and logical (not random), and works very well inside the construction we applied to date. Though he’s actually calm in-game, he’s actually humorous and pleasant outdoors the sport, which can be an enormous buff to the crew’s emotional atmosphere.
Mark: You’ll play within the EMEA League subsequent season, which can be held in Berlin for 2 months.
What are your private expectations for the upcoming season?
Destrian: I, personally, don’t wish to overhype myself and put the expectations too huge, even when I used to be taking part in with the very best crew in Europe. Regardless, I consider individuals are underestimating us somewhat bit, and I hope we’ll have the ability to show them flawed. If all the things goes proper, I believe we must always have the ability to compete for the highest spots in EMEA.
You will have two tournaments forward of you: G-LOOT and Pink Bull. One on-line, the opposite on LAN. What objectives do you set for them?
Destrian: For the reason that crew is comparatively younger, the upcoming tournaments can be a very good take a look at for us in official matches. We’ll have the ability to see what issues come up throughout officers that we don’t see in apply and what are the issues we have to enhance probably the most for the upcoming league subsequent yr. Concerning objectives, we wish to present our nice Vitality followers the entire potential of our crew!
What do you assume of the present meta at VALORANT? What have you ever modified or left untouched?
Destrian: I consider the present meta in Valorant is kind of wholesome, particularly after Chamber nerfs. We see lots of completely different agent compositions performed out in tournaments, which is an efficient signal of it. Though there are some brokers which can be simply not becoming the meta, making them virtually unplayable, equivalent to Cypher, Yoru, and even the brand new agent Harbor on many of the maps.
I’d like to see some buffs or modifications to those brokers, making them once more viable. For nerfs, I consider that Chamber continues to be a bit overpowered and never a sentinel-like agent, so some modifications to Chamber would additionally profit the sport, for my part.
Are you personally pleased with the outcomes you’ve achieved at this level in your profession?
Destrian: General, I’d say that I’m actually comfortable – I managed to show an enormous ardour of mine right into a profession/job, I met lots of new buddies and connections within the esports world, experiencing one thing that I may solely dream about once I was a child. Concerning outcomes, I nonetheless wish to win an enormous occasion, particularly in a LAN setting. Personally, I haven’t performed in a LAN in Valorant but, so I’d like to expertise that.
Group Vitality began their approach on the online-tournament from G-Loot. From December 9 to 11, the LAN-event Pink Bull Residence Floor #3 will happen in Manchester. Along with Group Vitality, Group Liquid, Group Heretics, and 100 Thieves will even play there.
VCT 2023 will begin with the 30-team Kickoff Event, which can be held in Brazil from February 14 to March 5.
