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Best of NA: ROAM’s VGL Quarterfinal Matchup Preview

Best of NA: ROAM’s VGL Quarterfinal Matchup Preview

  • Vainglory
  • |
  • Jan 25, 2016

FeaturedMatches_universal_beforeAs the VGL NA Winter Qualifier enters the quarterfinal round ROAM provides a preview of these top NA teams. Read below for ROAM’s insightful analysis!


(1) GankStars Sirius vs (2) GankStars Vega

GankStars Sirius Roster:

  • IraqiZorro(captain)
  • CullTheMeek
  • gabevizzle
  • Calixte

Some of the biggest house-hold names on the Fold will be going face-to-face in the biggest game of the VGL this far. Behind closed doors these two teams have faced off plenty of times but none of it was ever shared with the public. Sirius is a team that has been playing together for almost a year, and it comes to show how strong this team is as they have been dominating the global scene for just as long. Having suffered two minor defeats in their careers on an international level, this Sirius team has come back to North America to show the viewers and their fans how much of a powerhouse they still are. This is a team that has it all; from individual mechanics, team synergy and great depth in overall knowledge, they come into this match proving to their sister team that the bar of gaming has been set for excellence.

Player to watch: IraqiZorro

Win condition: GS Sirius knows their opponents really well. Coming into this match be sure to watch the drafting phase especially aimed at gaining an advantage in the lane. To be able to apply that pressure will help their power jungle duo play to their fullest potential. Sirius should focus on having as few mistakes as possible, as Vega will know better than anyone how to capitalize on them.

GankStars Vega Roster:

  • FooJee (captain)
  • Oldskool
  • R3ckeD
  • PwntByUkrainian

This is a rematch from one of the first qualifiers hosted back in early 2015. In that match, the former Team Fusion was defeated by this Sirius team in the first match only to dominate the loser bracket for an epic Bo5 rematch. But time and time again this GankStars Vega roster has shown that they have not only expanded their playstyle but are overall playing much more efficiently. Coming into this match their aim is to show how much hard work really pays off. Boasting one of the few teams that had 2 Vainglorious Gold players on the same roster is not something just for show and behind that beautiful trophy lies a sea of broken victims.

Player to watch: FooJee

Win condition: Both teams have an amazing set of jungle duo’s that can carry the team, but given this level of skill the power-struggle translates into the lane. Winning the lane and making quick rotations will definitely be the game changer here. This GankStars Vega team will have to execute a perfectly timed plan. Remember that two of the three leaders of the GankStars organization are on Vega.


(4) Team Penetrate vs (2) Nemesis Hydra

Team Penetrate Roster:

  • CarePackage (captain)
  • LightningT
  • ipwnyou
  • Eecko
  • Shaka713

Team Penetrate has been trampling clear victories into this qualifier so far. Being a team that was just recently formed, they have shown over and over that they have what it takes to qualify for the Live Finals. Their roster has the ability to swap positions, which vastly expands their hero pool. They have used this versatility to create powerful comps while remaining on comfort picks. This round will be their biggest challenge as they face off against Nemesis Hydra who took home the second place standing in the NA Autumn Live Finals. So far they have not shown any signs of demise but rather they keep matching forward with no obstacles in sight.

Player to watch: LightningT

Win conditions: We have seen Team Penetrate swap up positions depending on team compositions before and that is a powerful weapon they hold coming into this game. Although they do have a smaller pool in comfort picks, they excel at making smart decisions and capitalizing on the opponents’ mistakes. This attributes fits right in considering who they will be facing off.

Nemesis Hydra Roster:

  • Hardek (captain)
  • LostBoyToph
  • Chicken123
  • gibbs

Coming into this qualifier for the Winter Season, Nemesis Hydra has made two major roster changes and this fits into their playstyle perfectly. Having almost taken home first place at the NA Live Finals, this team doesn’t seem to be phased by the loss and are currently embarking on their next patch to stardom. Like many other teams, they have taken previous defeats and learned from it, primarily focusing on playing scaling compositions as opposed to the very early-game aggression that they are most known for. Team Penetrate will be a great challenge for them as both teams have very similar playstyles and hero pools. Taking one step at a time, these guys will aim to make a foothold into next week’s matches.

Player to watch: LostBoyToph

Win Condition: Expanding their hero pools is a great way to start but given this short amount of time they need to make sure that their plan versus Team Penetrate goes off without a hitch. Should they be able to execute their plan, they are indeed one step closer to their destination.


(1) Alliance vs (2) Vertigo Black

Alliance Roster:

  • FlashX (captain)
  • MICSHE
  • iLoveJoseph
  • ShinKaigan
  • Yazaru3

Team Alliance has just come back from winning the VIPL in Korea and already they are off to a strong start. All that practicing and team development is surely going to show as they continue their reign on the North American server. With a large target on their back, this Alliance roster has to make sure they bring their A game to every single match. Considered one of the best teams in the world, they too have set a standard for excellence and the competition is aiming to take them down. Is there a chance we will see an Alliance versus Sirius rematch? First Alliance will have to beat a very strong Vertigo Black team.

Player to watch: iLoveJoseph

Win condition: Although they have all the qualities of a true breed champion, this Alliance team has to make sure to bring that consistency into every match. Looking at the playstyle of their opponents, they will need to bring out the same success in their drafting phrase like they’ve done in the past.

Vertigo Black Roster:

  • xBEOWULF11x (captain)
  • RiiKzZ
  • Vikson
  • SushiKid
  • BestChuckNa

Team Vertigo Black has made their presence felt this tournament, dominating every team in their path. This Vertigo team excelled when they played passive comps. Not anymore because these guys have come to show us that they can execute any single style and do it with elegance. Vertigo has improved on the exact things they were criticized for in the past. They’ve expanded their hero pools and they’re ready to prove themselves as a dominant force.

Player to watch: RiiKzZ

Win condition: Going up against the VIPL winner is definitely not an easy task to handle. This is the first mental obstacle that Vertigo Black has to overcome and with only the goal of playing to their full potential. Should this be achieved they greatly raise their chances of taking home the win this round.


(1) VON Menace vs (6) Kinetic

VON Menace Roster:

  • VONC (captain)
  • LoveIce4ever
  • PheonIx
  • Jpiec
  • Supershottt

Von Menace is one of the big dogs coming into this tournament, with many fans cheering for them to take home the win. Having placed second in the first Autumn Qualifier, they came back and won the second one. While they dominantly ran the course at the Autumn Live Finals, they were stumped by LiberationX, the first place finishers at the NA Live Finals.

They will be one of the teams to beat and with such a large field of worthy opponents, there are a few things that this VON team has going for them. Their control and ability to run the most effective counter comps is something that barely any other team has been able to replicate. not only do they pull out off-meta comps, but they itemize them in the most unorthodox way to which only until after the match that viewers can sit back and be like “OH HEY! I get it!” Creating a strategy against them has also proven quite difficult due to the fact that these guys are excellent in every department and have strengthened any weaknesses they have encountered in the past.

Player to watch: VONC

Win condition: Although they are a very strong team with great achievements to prove it, there is one thing that we can look at to find their faults. History has shown that after suffering a loss this team takes it quite hard and thus resulting in declining play the matches afterwards. Seeing as this is possibly their only fault and something that can be adjusted pretty well over time it’s safe to say that the VON team today is much more mentally prepared than before. As this tournament progresses into its final matches we will see how much these guys want to take that number one position.

Kinetic Roster:

  • Bowser (captain)
  • Huskiesrock321
  • Baunfire
  • Yubikiri
  • Baunfira
  • FearPoseidon

One of the newer teams that have shown a successful record so far this qualifier is Kinetic. After making it through several rounds, they are now in position to start earning more points for the Winter Live Finals event. This is a team that has fought tooth and nail to get where they are today and they very much deserve it. Looking back at their matches, we can see they have put every ounce of experience into each game played with hopes to improve on things as they go along. Going up against VON Menace will be the biggest and toughest challenge they have had in the competitive scene and this will be the ultimate crash course on team coordination and the full effects of slow rotations.

Player to watch: FearPoseidon

Win condition: Team Kinetic is going to have to come into this game doing what they’ve done well thus far: picking as many fight as possible and winning them. Securing a strong hero in the lane will definitely be the first step to trying get ahead and making those plays happen out of the jungle. Vision and great shot-calling will be most beneficial to this team as they face VON one of the teams that excel in this area.


The VGL continues at 9AM PST/ 5PM GMT on VaingloryLeague’s Twitch channel. Watch these teams battle for their share of the prize pool!