Franchised VALORANT Leagues Begin with Some Surprising Picks
The VCT has kicked off in two of its regions, giving fans a glimpse of what to expect from professional VALORANT. Players will now settle into a routine of weekly matches and a more consistent tournament structure, while also witnessing the development of the game’s meta.
The Pacific League, based in Seoul, and EMEA League, based in Berlin, have already revealed interesting statistics. Surprisingly, two of VALORANT’s most iconic agents, Chamber and Reyna, have not been picked in the first week of play.
According to statistics from The Spike.gg, Chamber and Reyna currently have a zero percent pick rate in the 2023 VCT regular season.
Chamber’s decline in the meta has been widely discussed since his major nerfs in 2022, but he still saw some play in the opening LOCK//IN tournament. However, he has not been picked once in the 11 matches played so far across both regions.
In addition to his nerfs, Chamber’s remaining strengths do not align with the current meta. Maps like Split and Lotus, which are in the pool, favor other Sentinels like Killjoy. This has made Chamber less viable in competitive play.
Reyna, another popular agent in casual play, has also seen limited usage in the professional scene. While she thrives on individual performance in ranked games, coordinated team play often leans towards other duelists like Jett, whose utility is superior.
Although there are a few players who have made Reyna work in professional matches, it is unlikely that she will see widespread usage anytime soon.
As the VCT Americas league commences, it remains to be seen if Chamber and Reyna will have a chance to shine. With some of the best Chamber players competing in the Americas this season, there is a possibility of seeing him in action.
VALORANT, VCT, franchised leagues, meta, Chamber, Reyna, pick rate, competitive play, ranked games, professional scene, VCT Americas