Hello and welcome to another edition of Samurai Gamers’ Weekly Takeaways! Week 3 of Kaisaya’s AOV Online Community Tournament has gone, and with it we saw a couple of things. From another hero making his debut, to the Upper Bracket finally taking shape, here are some factoids that left an impression last week:
Max Enters the Valiant Server
Week 3 saw the debut of Max in the SEA server a couple of weeks after Teemee. Truly a welcome addition to AOV’s ever-growing roster, Max has seen some action in Kaisaya’s tournament after his release. Credit to Garena for picking up the pace when it comes to releasing new heroes in the different regions.
Given his kit, Max would feel right at home at the Valiant Server, since the meta here has always swayed towards highly aggressive, rough-riding, and front-line heavy gameplay. Here’s a match where Max shows off what he’s got:
It is also worth noting that in his first week, Max has garnered a respectable 60% win rate in 10 games. Teemee’s debut was leagues better (the duo went 6/6 in wins/games played last week), but the Wunderkid still has room to grow as the tournament rolls into the Best of 3 Series of games.
The Picked and the Banned (Week 3)
Week 3 showcased a lot of AOV matches (32 to be exact), as well as the incorporation of the Best of 3 Series for the Upper Bracket. How would the new match format affect the picks and bans this week? Let’s find out!
| HERO | PICK % (32 Games) | WIN % (32 Games) | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maloch |
81.25% |
34.62%
|
Maloch is the most picked hero for Week 3. He is an excellent tank who has great initiates and can soak and deal damage as well.
In a tank-centric meta such as the Valiant Server, Maloch is a go-to tank for most teams. However, his win rate leaves a lot to be desired, as most teams have figured out how to deal with this demon. |
| Alice |
65.63% | 57.14% | Alice continues her reign as one of the best supports for Week 3. Her kit allows her to roam and provide the necessary assistance for her allies.
Most teams that pick her have a relatively high win rate – in the right hands, she is an invaluable asset for any lineup. |
| Xeniel
|
59.38% | 57.89% | Xeniel and Tulen are tied as the third-most picked heroes on Week 3.
Xeniel is comparable to Maloch in terms of his impact during team fights, but his global presence when he reaches Level 4 and lane pressure are what makes him a viable option for players.
Tulen is slowly becoming one of the premier Mages in the Valiant Server. He is a great burst-type Mage who takes out chunks of damage against opponents – he also proves to be a highlight reel jet setter, making a lot of notable plays during Week 3’s matches. |
Here are Week 3’s three most banned heroes:
| HERO | WIN% WHEN PICKED | BAN% (32 Games) | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|
| Superman |
75.00% (out of 4 Games) | 65.63% | Superman (again) has the top honors of being the most banned hero for Week 3 at 21 bans.
The Last Son of Krypton’s kit seems to be catered to Valiant Server’s meta, so it stands to reason that he gets banned because of how strong he is. That said, during games where he gets to play, he has won 3/4 of his contests. This is a stark difference from the past weeks, and it is worth noting if his winning ways continues. |
| Xeniel
|
Xeniel (57.89%, 19 Games) Zephys (40.00%, 15 Games) |
28.13% | Xeniel and Zephys are tied at second place as the most banned heroes this week.
As stated above, Xeniel continues to be a two-way threat that most teams wouldn’t want to deal with. Meta-wise, Zephys is typically a respect ban, considering teams have been runnung him on their lineup. Another hero that is suited well in SEA’s current meta, it remains to be seen if he’ll get to run amok in the battlefield or watch the games in the sidelines. |
| 66.67% (3 Games) | 18.75% | Kil’Groth takes the third spot as the most banned hero for Week 3.
It appears that Kil’Groth has slowly been losing its grip as one of the must-have heroes in a team lineup. It could be indicative that while he is still a viable option, most teams are still subscribing to choosing heroes who can blitz early and often. |
The Tournament Sweep-stakes
Week 3 saw the start of the Best of 3 games for the teams placed in the Upper Bracket. A total of seven Best of 3 matches have been waged last weekend, and all of them resulted in 2-0 sweeps.
It could be a myriad of factors why the sweeps are rampant in the higher bracket, but it goes without saying that the participants at Kaisaya’s Tournament are currently showcasing excellent individual skill, team cohesion, and hero mechanics.
Things are indeed heating up as the tournament continues its Upper Bracket matches next week. That said, teams who were on the losing end of their series still have a chance at redemption, as the Lower Bracket Matches will also commence this week.
Match of the Week: Myth Esports vs. SG TG Game 1
Seeing that there were a lot of matches to go through this week, it was hard to choose one outstanding game. However, we’ve decided to focus on a game that centered towards superb hero knowledge and gameplay. The Match of Week 3 goes to Game 1 between Myth Esports and SG TG. Myth Esports’ Nayeon showcased excellent Tulen mechanics, proving that the current Mage picks just got another strong option in the meta.
Take a look at some of the other highlights from the previous week by clicking the links below:
Valiant Tournament Day 8 Roundup
Valiant Tournament Day 9 Roundup
Valiant Tournament Day 10 Roundup
Valiant Tournament Day 11 Roundup
Valiant Tournament Day 12 Roundup
Valiant Tournament Day 13 Roundup
Catch more of the AOV Valiant Online Community Tournament here:
Kaisaya’s Twitch Channel: Twitch.tv/KaisayaPH
Kaisaya’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/KaisayaPH
Kaisaya’s Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/kaisaya
Kaisaya’s Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/kaisayaph
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