Valor Series Begins Tomorrow: Esports Roundup September 7, 2018

A review of esports news as of September 7, 2018. Valor Series season 2 is about to begin, fan favorites SMG are in last place in the GCS, and AWC finalists IT.City Bacon are not in first in the RPL.

Overview

As autumn approaches, Arena of Valor esports is getting into high gear, with Europe, North America, and South America kicking off the $200,000 second season of the Valor Series tomorrow. The Valor Series joins Taiwan’s GCS, Thailand’s RPL, and Vietnam’s AOG among the major ongoing esports events around the world. For more information on the basic rules of each league, check out our August esports roundup.

Valor Series Season Two Begins Tomorrow

The qualifiers have concluded, leaving six teams standing in each region to battle it out during the regular season.

Europe

Europe’s six teams are Nova eSports, Bubble Team, Team Queso, Dead Rabbits, x6tence AoV, and The Alliance. Of notable absence is Team Vitality, who was consistently atop the season one regular season standings, finishing tied for second. Nova eSports’ roster consists mostly of players from season 1 regular season champions Team Noob, with the notable exception of GrizzlyQ from AWC participants For The Dream playing support. Bubble Team, meanwhile, has many of the players from For The Dream, including Valor Series Europe MVP Shurko. Team Queso, Dead Rabbits, and x6tence are all Spanish teams who represented the second tier in Valor Series season 1, but by all accounts have vastly improved and are hoping to make their mark. Finally, The Alliance is a “super team” signed under Alliance that has yet to show outstanding results and barely squeaked into the regular season.

North America

North America’s teams are Marauders, Team Allegiance, Team Toxic, Drawn to Fame, Team VeniVidiVici, and Kranniz Esports*. Team Allegiance returns as the dominant team in the region, though finished in second place in the qualifiers after their controversial disqualification when they changed their in-game names to members of the Power Rangers. Marauders consists mostly of Team Immortals’ initial roster, who had an up-and-down season 1 regular season before massively changing their roster and finishing 2nd in the standings and losing in the semifinals of the playoffs. Neither Immortals, nor any members of that final roster, participated in the Valor Series qualifiers. Team Toxic consists of season 1 veterans Hoon, Neo, and boBo. Former Dino Riders captain YikeZ heads team Drawn to Fame and its lovely acronym. Not much is known about Team VeniVidiVici and Kranniz Esports, though several Kranniz members dot the current North America Conqueror list, albeit with no names matching the names on their ESL page.

*SG appreciates Kranniz’ proper capitalization of “esports.” Looking at you, Nova.

South America

South America’s qualifiers had over 100 teams participating, with GeOeSports, Nova eSports, Synergy e-Sports, paiN Gaming, INTZ eSports, and Assassins Crew making it through to the regular season. There was a bit of controversy surrounding Tencent’s decision to hand-pick paiN Gaming to represent South America at the AWC without any qualifying tournament, making the drama heading into South America’s inaugural season all the more spicy. GeOeSports is owned by popular South American YouTuber DouglasGeO, while Nova eSports is obviously Nova’s South American representative team. Unfortunately, Samurai Gamers has little knowledge of Synergy, INTZ, or Assassins Crew. Let us know in the comments if there’s anything particularly worth knowing about as the regular season begins.

The Valor Series regular season will be streamed to Arena of Valor’s official Facebook page every Saturday and Sunday from 9 am to 3 pm Pacific time.

J Team in First, SMG in Last in GCS

J Team avenged its 3-0 loss to Korea in the AWC by defeating ahq e-Sports Club (whose roster consists entirely of the Korean national team), 2-0 in last week’s marquee matchup.

Garena Challenger Series Standings (as of September 7)
1st	J Team	3-0 (6-1)
2nd	ONE team	2-0 (4-1)
3rd	Flash Wolves	2-1 (4-2)
3rd	ahq e-Sports Club	2-1 (4-3)
5th	Hong Kong Attitude	1-1 (2-2)
6th	MAD Team	0-2 (1-4)
7th	Monster Shield	0-2 (0-4)
8th	Still Moving Under Gunfire	0-3 (2-6)

J-Team is returning to the dominant form it showed last season, already defeating SMG, Flash Wolves, and ahq, and with matches against struggling MAD and MS coming up to further fatten their record. SMG, though currently in last place, has had arguably the toughest schedule so far, losing to J Team, Flash Wolves, and ahq. The fan favorites won the first GCS season and were finalists in season two.

Though only eight matches had been played through three weeks, the action is starting to heat up: there will be six matches this week, six in week 5, four in week 6, and then eight per week through week 10.

The GCS can be watched on Garena Taiwan’s YouTube channel.

ALPHA Red, not IT.City Bacon on Top of RPL

Three weeks into Thailand’s RPL, IT.City Bacon, the team that was one win away from being world champions, currently sits tied for second:

RoV Pro League Standings (as of September 7)
1st	ALPHA Red	5-0 (10-2)	10p
2nd	Bazaar Gaming	4-1 (8-2)	8p
2nd	IT.City Bacon	4-2 (8-6)	8p
2nd	Rex Regum Qeon Black Forest	3-3 (8-7)	8p
5th	EVOS Debut	2-3 (6-7)	6p
6th	Sponsor.Neolution CoolKidz	1-4 (4-9)	4p
6th	Toyota Diamond Cobra	2-3 (4-7)	4p
8th	Buriram Arctic Wolf	0-5 (2-10)	2p

In fact, because they’ve played one more match than ALPHA Red and Bazaar gaming, they’re further behind those two than the standings indicate. As an aside, overall match record does not matter in the RPL, only total points, which are representative of games won.

You can watch the RPL on Garena RoV Thailand’s YouTube channel.

AOG Underway

Vietnam’s Arena of Glory began its third season yesterday, with defending champions Saigon Phantom defeating Box Gaming and Team Flash defeating Esports Kingdom. There will be two matches a day over the next three days (technically split into weeks 1 and 2), with four matches per week afterward, continuing through October 24.

You can watch the AOG on Garena Vietnam’s YouTube channel.

Road to AIC Coverage

Esports Roundup (Valor Series, GCS, RPL, Asian Games) (August 28, 2018)

Post-AWC Coverage

AWC Finals Recap (August 1, 2018)
AWC Semifinals and Finals Overview (July 31, 2018)
Korea Crowned World Champions after Thrilling Seven Game Finals (July 29, 2018)

Arena of Valor (AoV) Recommended Article List

▼ Popular Articles
Beginner's Guide	Hero Tier List
Hero Class Guide	Armory (Item List)

▼ Popular Articles
Beginner's Guide	Hero Tier List	Hero Class Guide	Armory (Item List)

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HERO

GUIDES

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Name

Effect

Unique Passive (Special Ability)

Short Sword

Attack Damage +20

None

Dagger

Attack Speed +10%

None

Gloves

Critical Chance +12%

None

Bloodied Club

Attack Damage +10
Life Steal +8%

None

Chain hammer

Attack Damage +40

None

Cleaving Claymore

Attack Damage +80

None

Arcane hammer

Attack Damage +25
Attack Speed +15%

Speed Up: Normal attacks increase movement speed by 10%.

Tempest Blades

Attack Speed +25%
Movement Speed +5%

None

Astral Spear

Attack Damage +50

Armor Pierce +60

Shuriken

Attack Speed +25%

Vital Point: Normal attacks deal additional 20 physical damage (+1 per hero level) for melee heroes and 40 physical damage (+2 per hero level) for ranged heroes.

Uriel’s Brand

Attack Damage +100
Max HP +600

Magic Guardian: When hero’s HP falls below 40%, Uriel’s Brand grants +200 magic defense and summons a Shield that absorbs (500+hero’s level*100) magic damage for 5 seconds. 75-second cooldown.

Curse of Death

Attack Damage +100
Life Steal +10%

Soul Prison: On dealing damage, reduces target’s HP regeneration by 50% for 1.5 seconds. If this is triggered by normal attacks, the duration is extended to 3 seconds.

Death Sickle

Attack Damage +60
Cooldown Speed +5%

Divine Intervention: Prevents damage from a potential killing blow, then increases movement speed by 20% for 1 second. 90-second cooldown.

Spear of Longinus

Attack Damage +80
Cooldown Speed +15%
Max HP +400

Shatter: Decreases target armor by 50 on hit for 5 seconds. Stacks up to 5 times.

Fafnir’s Talon

Attack Damage +60
Attack Speed +30%
Life Steal +10%

Dragon’s Breath: Normal attacks deal additional damage equal to 8% of target’s current HP.

Claves Sancti

Attack Damage +90

Upon landing a critical attack, grants bonus (30 + Level*2) movement speed for 2 seconds (only for Ranged).

Critical Chance +25%
, Increase critical damage by 50%

Muramasa

Attack Damage +75
Cooldown Speed +10%

Armor Pierce +45%

The Beast

Attack Damage +100
Life Steal +25 (physical and magic)

None

Omni Arms

Attack Damage +70
Attack Speed +15%
Life Steal +10%
Cooldown Speed +10%
Max HP +500

Pentapower: After using an ability, the next normal attack within 5 seconds deals 100% more physical damage. 2-second cooldown.

Slikk’s Sting

Attack Speed +35%
Critical Chance +25%
Movement Speed +7%

Blessing of the Wind: Increase own resistance by 35 for 2 seconds after a critical hit

Fenrir’s Tooth

Attack Damage +200

Fenrir’s Tooth: Increases all damage dealt with 30% when the target’s HP is below 50%.

Blitz Blade

Attack Damage +50
Attack Speed +35%
Life Steal +10%
Movement Speed +5%

Chain Lightning: Every 4 seconds, the next normal attack triggers a chain lightning that deals 102 (+7 per level) magic damage. Each normal attack also carries Life Steal and reduces cooldown by 1 second on hit.

Devil’s Handshake

Attack Speed +30%
Critical Chance +20%
Movement Speed +5%

Flame Wrath: Normal attacks increase attack speed by 10% for 2 seconds. Stacks up to 5 times.

Rankbreaker

Attack Damage +110
Cooldown Speed +10%

Windwalk: Increases movement speed by 10% after exiting battle.

Break: Increases armor pierce by 100 (+10 per level).

Spell Tome

Ability Power +40

None

Lapis Ring

Max Mana +300

None

Pendant of Faith

Mana +10 / 5 sec

None

Ancient Scriptures

Ability Power +80

None

Magic Ring

Cooldown Speed +10%

None

Enchanted Scroll

Ability Power +120

None

Trick Blade

Ability Power +60
Cooldown Speed +10%

Elemental Power: After using an ability, the next normal attack deals additional magic damage. 3-second cooldown.

Spoopy Mask

Ability Power +100

Magic Pierce +75

Phoenix Tear

Ability Power +60

From the Ashes: When the hero gains a level, 20% of HP and mana are restored over 3 seconds.

Virtue’s Bracelet

Ability Power +60
Cooldown Speed +5%
Mana +20 / 5 sec

Soaring Spirit: Restores 20% mana after earning a kill or assist.

Vlad’s Impaler

Ability Power +90

Magic Life Steal +15%

Staff of Nuul

Ability Power +180
Cooldown Speed +10%

Magic Pierce +45%

Virtue’s Necklace

Ability Power +160
Cooldown Speed +10%
Max Mana +300
Mana +30 / 5 sec

Soaring Spirit: Restores 20% mana after earning a kill or assist.

Magic Pierce +75

Tome of the Reaper

Ability Power +240
Max HP +500

Soul Prison: On dealing damage, reduces target’s HP regeneration by 50% for 1.5 seconds. If this is triggered by normal attacks, the duration is extended to 3 seconds.

Boomstick

Ability Power +240

Explosion: Ability hits trigger a small-area explosion that deals 50 (+50% ability power) magic damage. 5-second cooldown.

Hecate’s Diadem

Ability Power +240

Warlock: Ability Power +35%

Orb of the Magi

Ability Power +140
Cooldown Speed +10%

Bide: Gains 12 ability power and 110 HP every 30 seconds. Stacks up to 10 times.

From the Ashes: When the hero gains a level, 20% of HP and mana are restored over 3 seconds.

Rhea’s Blessing

Ability Power +140
Cooldown Speed +10%

Life Shield: Gains a shield that absorbs 450(+50 per level)(+40% ability power) damage when HP falls below 40%. The shield lasts 4 seconds and has a 75-second cooldown.

Magic Life Steal +25%

Zweihander

Ability Power +180
Max Mana +400
Movement Speed +8%

Rapid Blade: Normal attack hits increase attack speed by 50% for 4 seconds. 10-second cooldown.

The Light: Normal attacks gain additional magic damage equal to 20% of the hero’s ability power.

Frosty’s Revenge

Ability Power +140
Max HP +850
Movement Speed +5%

Chill: Abilities that deal damage will also reduce enemy movement speed by 20% for 2 seconds.

Berith’s Agony

Ability Power +140
Cooldown Speed +10%
Armor +270

Torture: Deals magic damage equal to 3% of the target’s current HP per second for 3 seconds (up to 80% against monsters)

Apocalypse

Ability Power +200
Cooldown Speed +10%

Elemental Power: After using an ability, the next normal attack deals additional magic damage equal to 30% of attack damage(+80% ability power). 2-second cooldown.

Soaring Aura

Ability Power+ 140
Max HP +1050

Protection: Reduces magic defense of enemies within 800 units by 75(+5 per level).

Holy of Holies

Ability Power +400

Enlightenment: Increases maximum HP by 1400

Ring of Vitality

Max HP +300

None

Light Armor

Armor +90

None

Gladiator’s Gauntlets

Magic Defense +90

None

Talisman of Strength

HP +30 / 5 sec

None

Necklace of Vitality

Max HP +600

None

Greaves of Protection

Max HP +1000

None

Heart of Incubus

Armor +180

Burn: Deals 50(+2 per level) magic damage to nearby enemies every second (deals double damage to minions and monsters).

Belt of Clarity

Magic Defense +110
Max HP +700

Regenerate: When taking damage, restores 4% HP over 2 seconds. 15-second cooldown.

Platinum Gauntlets

Cooldown Speed +10%
Armor +110

None

Knight’s Plate

Armor +210

Spirit Bond: When taking damage, reduces the attacker’s attack speed by 30%.

Asterion’s Buckler

Max HP +1000
HP +60 / 5 sec

War Cry: Increases damage dealt and damage reduction of nearby friendly units by 5% and 10%, respectively.

Mail of Pain

Armor +300
Max HP +1200

Riposte: 15% of the physical damage taken is deflected to the enemy as magic damage (calculation is based on damage before damage reduction)

Hercules’ Madness

Attack Damage +50
Armor +180
Magic Defense +150

Berserk: Increases attack damage by 40 and gains a shield for 8 seconds when HP is below 40%. 90-second cooldown.

Odin’s Will

Attack Damage +60
Max HP +1000

Adrenaline: Increases movement speed by 2% and deals 2% additional damage after taking damage. Stacks up to 5 times.

Mantle of Ra

Attack Damage +80
Armor +330

Burn: Deals 100 (+4 per level) magic damage to nearby enemies every second.

(Bonus: Deals 100% bonus damage to minions and monsters)

Shield of the Lost

Armor +360
Max HP +1200

Spirit Bond: Reduces the attack speed of nearby enemies by 30%

The Aegis

Cooldown Speed +20%
Max Mana +400
Armor +360

Spirit Bond: When taking damage, reduces the attacker’s attack speed by 30% and movement speed by 15% for 3 seconds.

Gaia’s Standard

Magic Defense +240
Max HP +1200
Movement Speed +5%

Regenerate: When taking damage, restores 8% HP over 2 seconds. 10-second cooldown.

Medallion of Troy

Cooldown Speed +10%
Magic Defense +360
Max HP +1000

Blessed: Gains a shield that absorbs 300(+50 per level) magic damage every 18 seconds.

Crimson Banner

Armor +200
Max HP +1500

Bloody Battle: Restores 20% HP over 5 seconds after earning a kill or assist. 10-second cooldown.

Hyoga’s Edge

Armor +100
Magic Defense+100
Max HP +1200

Biting Cold: Normal attacks increase the wearer’s movement speed by 10% and reduce target’s movement speed by 25% for 2 seconds.

Ancestral Glory

Max HP +1000

Resurrect: Revives wearer 3 seconds after death with 40% HP. 3-minute cooldown.

Frost Cape

Cooldown Speed +10%
Armor +200
Max HP +800

Frost Power: After using an ability, the next normal attack reduces movement speed by 30% and deals 150 physical damage (20 additional damage for each level gained) to an area. 3-second cooldown.

Amulet of Longevity
Removed from the game

Max HP +1800
HP +50 / 5 sec

Restores 2% of max HP and 1% of max mana every second after exiting combat.

Boots of Speed

None

Movement Speed +30

Sonic Boots

Armor +110

Movement Speed +60

Reduces normal attack damage taken by 15%.

Gilded Greaves

Magic Defense +110

Movement Speed +60
Resistance +35%

Flashy Boots

Cooldown Speed +15%

Movement Speed +60

Enchanted Kicks

None

Movement Speed +60
Magic Pierce +75

War Boots

Attack Speed +25%

Movement Speed +60

Hermes’ Select

None

Swift: Increases movement speed by 60 after exiting battle.

Movement Speed +60

Kukri

Requires Punish talent to purchase. Once 2nd or 3rd tier jungling equipment is purchased, the Punish talent will become Frostbite. Frostbite deals damage to enemy heroes and reduces their movement speed.

Hunter: Deals 20% extra damage to monsters and receives 20% more experience from killing monsters.

Monster’s Bane

Grants Frostbite talent

Hunter: Deals 30% extra damage to monsters and receives 35% more experience from killing monsters.

Seek and Destroy: Gains 8 ability power and 30 mana for every monster killed. Stacks up to 15 times.

Gnoll Cleaver

Grants Frostbite talent

Hunter: Deals 30% extra damage to monsters and receives 35% more experience from killing monsters.

Wild: Increases maximum HP by 70 for every monster killed. Stacks up to 15 times.

Mr. Stabby

Grants Frostbite talent

Hunter: Deals 30% extra damage to monsters and receives 35% more experience from killing monsters.

Wild: Increases attack damage by 3 for every monster killed. Stacks up to 15 times.

Loki’s Curse

Ability Power +120
Cooldown Speed +10%
Grants Frostbite talent

Curse Power: After using an ability, the next normal attack deals additional damage equal to 35% attack damage (+45% ability power). 2-second cooldown.

Hunter: Deals 30% extra damage to monsters and receives 35% more experience from killing monsters.

Seek and Destroy: Gains 8 ability power and 30 mana for every monster killed. Stacks up to 15 times.

Leviathan

Armor +100
Max HP +750
Grants Frostbite talent

Flame Magic: Deals 90(+5 per level) magic damage to nearby enemies every second.

Hunter: Deals 30% extra damage to monsters and receives 35% more experience from killing monsters.

Wild: Increases maximum HP by 70 for every monster killed. Stacks up to 15 times.

Soulreaver

Attack Damage +60
Grants Frostbite talent
Cooldown Speed +15%
Increased Life Steal +6%

Hunter: Deals 30% extra damage to monsters and receives 35% more experience from killing monsters.

Wild: Increases attack damage by 3 for every monster killed. Stacks up to 15 times.

Soul Taker: Next ability or normal attack on a hero deals an additional (300 +20 per level) magic damage*, and damage output is increased by 7% for 3 seconds (melee combat only) (30 second cooldown)

Whispering Wind

Grants Frostbite talent

Hunter: Deals 30% extra damage to monsters and receives 35% more experience from killing monsters, killing monsters increases its attack speed by 2%, up to 15 stacks

Scorching Wind

Attack Damage +15
Attack Speed +20%
Life Steal +10%
Grants Frostbite talent

Fire Storm: Normal attacks place a mark on the target, dealing 15 additional magic damage each stack (+1 per 3 levels), up to 6 stacks.

Hunter: Deals 30% extra damage to monsters and receives 35% more experience from killing monsters, killing monsters increases its attack speed by 2%, up to 15 stacks.

Bow of Slaughter

Attack Damage +90
Life Steal +10%
Critical Chance +20%

Bloodthirst: Increases Life Steal by 90% for 3 seconds. 60-second cooldown. Only usable by ranged heroes.

Rock Shield

Armor +150
Magic Defense +150
HP +1000

Rock Shield: 3 seconds after activation, gain a shield equal to 30% of the damage taken within those 3 seconds (+12% of Max HP). The shield lasts for 3 seconds. The player’s damage output is reduced by 70% for 3 seconds after gaining the shield. Cooldown: 75 seconds

Arctic Orb

Ability Power +200

Impervious: Immune to all effects for 1.5 seconds. Unable to move, attack, or use abilities. Cooldown: 90 seconds

Wind Stone

Movement speed +5%
Mana per second +8

Wage: Gain 5 gold and experience every 3 seconds if your gold or experience is the lowest on the team.

Water Stone

HP per Second +20
Mana per Second +10

Windrider Talisman

Armor +175
HP per second +40
Mana per Second +15
Movement Speed +5%

Wage: Gain 5 gold and experience every 3 seconds if your gold or experience is the lowest on the team.
Distinction: Gain 30% more gold and experience after a kill or assist

Ring of Gale

Ability Power +60
Movement Speed +5%
Mana per Second +20

Wage: Gain 5 gold and experience every 3 seconds if your gold or experience is the lowest on the team.
Distinction: Gain 30% more gold and experience after a kill or assist

Crystal Talisman

Armor +120

Devotion: Gain a stack of Dedication Buff every 30 seconds. Stacks up to 2 times. If a unit dies within 800 units, consume a stack of Dedication Buff to grant the nearest ally 15 extra gold and 40 experience.
Tidal Force: You and nearby friendly heroes (within 600 units) receive 20 (+1 per level) HP and 10 (+1 per 2 levels) mana per second.

Stream Bracers

Cooldown Speed +10%

Essence of the Wind

Armor +250
Health +600
Movement Speed +5%
HP per Second +40
Mana per Second +15

Wage: Gain 5 gold and experience every 3 seconds if your gold or experience is the lowest on the team.
Distinction: Gain 30% more gold and experience after a kill or assist
Wind Shield (active): Provide nearby hero with the lowest HP a (800 + Hero Level x 80) point shield and 30% movement speed boost for 3 seconds. 45 second cooldown

Ring of the Fiend

Ability Power +90
Cooldown Speed +15%
Movement Speed +5%
Mana per Second +30

Wage: Gain 5 gold and experience every 3 seconds if your gold or experience is the lowest on the team.
Distinction: Gain 30% more gold and experience after a kill or assist.
Eye of the Fiend (active): Gain vision of the nearest enemy for 4 seconds. Cooldown: 30 seconds.

Tidecaller's Mark

Armor +200
Health +600

Purifying Bracers

HP +500
Cooldown Speed +15%

Devotion: Gain a stack of Devotion Buff every 30 seconds. Stacks up to 2 times. If a unit dies within 800 units, consume a stack of Devotion and grant the nearest ally 15 extra gold and 40 experience.
Tidal Force: You and nearby friendly heroes (within 600 units) receive 20 (+1 per level) HP and 10 (+1 per 2 levels) mana per second.

Purification (active): Immediately remove any control effects from a nearby allied hero, and restore 160 + (level x 30) HP and increase their movement speed by 30% for 2 second. The affected hero is immune to slows for the next 2 seconds. 60 second cooldown.

Blade of Eternity

Armor +120

Fighting Spirit: Increase damage dealt by 10%
Nirvana: Resurrects wearer 2 seconds after death with 2000 + (hero level * 100) HP. This effect has a 150 second cooldown and can only be triggered twice in the same match.