TSM’s Aggressive Approach Pays off in Valorant First Strike: North America
TSM’s triple-duelist comp proved successful in the Valorant First Strike: North America tournament, earning them a second-place finish. By opting for pure aggression over defensive agents, TSM was able to surprise and overpower their opponents. However, this strategy is not without its weaknesses.
Why TSM Chooses the Triple-Duelist Comp
With the recent nerfs to sentinel agents in Patch 1.11, TSM saw an opportunity to switch up their playstyle. Taylor “drone” Johnson, who was typically playing the support role, could now take on a more aggressive duelist role. This change allowed the team to play with agents they were more comfortable and confident on, leading to a phenomenal performance in the tournament.
An Advantage with Map-Wide Pressure
The triple-duelist comp not only provides TSM with more aggression and kill potential, but it also allows them to apply pressure across the entire map. Unlike the traditional sentinel-based comp, which tends to focus on one side of the map, the triple-duelist comp can be aggressive on both sides simultaneously. This map-wide pressure often catches opponents off guard and leads to advantageous situations for TSM.
The Comp’s Weaknesses and the Future of Valorant Meta
While the triple-duelist comp has its strengths, it also has its vulnerabilities. Good communication becomes crucial without the safety net of sentinels, and the lack of information can be problematic on larger maps. Other teams may experiment with this comp in the future, but whether it becomes the norm or not is uncertain. Riot Games’ ability to impact the meta through agent releases and balance changes also plays a significant role in shaping the future of Valorant competitive play.
Despite the outcome of the tournament, TSM’s aggressive approach has proven successful and teams will need to adapt and find ways to counter their playstyle in order to compete at their level.
Related keywords: TSM, Valorant First Strike, triple-duelist comp, aggressive playstyle, sentinel nerfs