Arena of Valor (AoV) - AoV (MSP) Valor Cup Season 1 Grand Finals Recap

Manila, Philippines – WIL New Era (WIL) were crowned as the champions of the first-ever AOV Valor Cup Season 1 Grand Finals in the MSP server by beating Clutch Guild (CG) in a thrilling and hard-fought Best-of-7 Series, 4-3. The event saw WIL and CG soundly defeating Malaysia’s Penang Food and Singapore’s Tamago in the semifinals 3-0, leading into a grudge match between the two PH teams.

CG was heavily favored to win the finals, since their previous encounter with WIL in the Valor Cup Season 1 PH Finals saw CG leaving with the victory. WIL, on the other hand, wanted to exact revenge by besting CG on the grand stage.

Here is the link for the coverage of the whole Best-of-7 Series

Game 1: AOV Valor Cup Season 1 Grand Finals

Team Picks and Bans

CG started out strong, focusing on getting the Abyssal Dragon early and often. However, WIL was quick to contest, coercing CG to clash with their Maloch-Alice combo against WIL’s bully-bruiser team composition. Each clash saw WIL decimate CG’s Alice, the poor support unable to protect herself.

Ultimately, WIL managed to seize Abyssal Dragon control and thanks to some masterful plays from WIL.NE.Rubix’s Ormarr, WIL.NE.Miggie’s Zephys, and WIL.NE.Bents’ Xeniel, WIL routed CG with a commanding 27-3 kill score to take Game 1.

Winner: WIL

Game 2: AOV Valor Cup Season 1 Grand Finals

Team Picks and Bans

CG opted to run a team composition which utilizes a Lauriel and Lumburr combo to go with heroes who are excellent at taking out single target enemies in Kriknak, Lu Bu and Arthur. Meanwhile, WIL’s team consisted of an all-in team fight composition, with Maloch and Alice providing good initiation and crowd control, backed by The Joker’s heavy damage as well as Zephys and Airi’s single-target damage-dealing prowess.

CG was still adamant at securing early Abyssal Dragon control which gave them a decent gold advantage. They also capitalized on initiating quick skirmishes and coaxing WIL to go all in on team fights only for CG to disengage and regroup to pick off the stragglers.

Thanks to great plays from CG.611’s Kriknak, objective control, lane pressure and precise team engages against WIL, CG was able to get the win with a 17-8 kill score.

Winner: CG

Game 3: AOV Valor Cup Season 1 Grand Finals

WIL opted to force the issue against CG during the early stages of Game 3 by picking a no-Marksman team composition. This led to a 9-1 kill score in favor of WIL and two Abyssal Dragons just before 9 minutes of play.

However, CG managed to turn the tide just before the 10 minute mark, thanks to CG.611’s excellent Murad plays which netted them an Ace and an early Dark Slayer buff advantage. After a close 16-18 kill score between the two teams, CG managed to come out on top with the victory.

Winner: CG

Game 4: AOV Valor Cup Season 1 Grand Finals

CG utilized Kriknak again in their team composition for Game 4 against WIL. This rounded off their skirmish-reliant team which included Lu Bu, Lauriel, Lumburr and Cresht. Meanwhile, WIL opted to go for a poke-heavy and single-target burst team to counter the opponents’ lineup.

The Kriknak pick proved to be a crucial one for CG, as CG.611 netted 5 kills early to propel his damage output against WIL’s squishy carries. This allowed him to snowball and have a higher level compared to the opposing team, which meant he was free to gank lanes and secure objectives.

CG capitalized by split pushing the top lane with four members and Kriknak pressuring the bot lane to eventually rout WIL with a 14-7 kill score victory.

Winner: CG

Game 5: AOV Valor Cup Season 1 Grand Finals

Looking to close out the Best-of-7 Series in Game 5 against WIL, CG picked Aleister as a safety measure against WIL’s predominantly all-in team composition. However, with WIL on the verge of elimination, they cranked up their in-game pressure with the hopes to quell CG.

A highly competitive match saw CG and WIL trade kills, with CG’s 611 getting ahead with Zephys. Not to be outdone, WIL’s Miggie also showcased his skills with Kriknak, earning six kills before the 8 minute mark.

Miggie’s superb Kriknak proved to be the deciding factor, as he was quick to assassinate CG’s Aleister in the latter stages of the match, on their way to a 20-10 kill score win which saved them from being eliminated.

Winner: WIL

Game 6: AOV Valor Cup Season 1 Grand Finals

WIL was on task to get another win against CG to force a Game 7. After banning Xeniel, they immediately picked Lu Bu and Alice, two heroes that CG almost always picked whenever they were open. To counter, CG chose Zephys and Lauriel, as well as Lumburr and Cresht to empower their team fighting prowess.

CG found themselves on the losing end of an Abyssal Dragon contest early in the game, resulting in a 3-0 kill score lead for WIL. This granted WIL some objective and lane pressure advantage. WIL’s Lu Bu and Arthur provided the 1-2 punch to bully and take out CG’s squishy carries.

WIL’s excellent rotations resulted in all of CG’s towers being torn down, and eventually WIL earned a convincing win to even the series 3-3.

Winner: WIL

Game 7: AOV Valor Cup Season 1 Grand Finals

Riding a huge wave of momentum, WIL was intent on beating CG in the do-or-die Game 7. Meanwhile, CG was pressed to close out the series once and for all to win the first-ever Valor Cup on the MSP server.

CG was quick to ban Alice, while WIL opted to ban Murad. This sequence allowed CG to pick Chaugnar; WIL countered by choosing Xeniel and Lu Bu. CG’s team ran a bruiser-heavy team with Violet as their carry against WIL’s all-melee bruiser and burst damage composition.

The early-game action was fast and furious, with WIL able to gain early Abyssal Dragon control, while both teams traded kills. WIL’s Kriknak and Lu Bu continued to single out CG’s Violet, while Ormarr and Maloch provided the much needed crowd control and tankiness against CG’s Arthur, Thane and Cresht.

10 minutes in, CG was playing catch up, losing a crucial clash which gave WIL an 18-7 kill score lead. This led to a deciding team fight two minutes later in CG’s bot lane where WIL managed to pick off most of CG, on their way to an impressive 23-8 kill score win, and the championship.

Congratulations to WIL New Era, winning three straight matches to become the first-ever AOV Valor Cup Season 1 Grand Final Champions for the MSP server.

Winner: WIL

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