We sat down with Tomas “Destrian” Linikas and talked about becoming a member of Crew Vitality, his first expertise with BONECOLD, and the present meta in VALORANT.
The low season within the aggressive scene of VALORANT is in full swing. Virtually all groups have reshuffled their lineups. This contains Crew Vitality, which is among the many Associate groups and can play within the VCT EMEA League in 2023. They unveiled a revamped roster that included three new gamers: Twisten, MOLSI, and Destrian. In addition to a training employees of Salah and Robust.
From the champion squad that received the French league, ceNder and BONECOLD remained. Crew Vitality will play two tournaments within the outgoing 2022. G-Loot VALORANT Conflict – Grand Finals, which can be held on-line. And Pink Bull Dwelling Floor #3 in Manchester.
Congratulations on becoming a member of Crew Vitality. Let’s begin with how the choice to hitch this group took place?
Destrian: Thanks! The choice to hitch Crew Vitality took place fairly immediately, after the roster adjustments within the group. Many of the group members knew me from earlier than, in order that they knew what sort of participant I’m, subsequently the trials weren’t too lengthy or laborious. For myself, I noticed the potential within the group immediately. The setting within the group was actually good from the beginning.
You’ll proceed to work with the identical teaching employees of Salah and Robust, additionally can be Gorilla. How do you’re employed with them?
Destrian: I actually consider we’ve got top-of-the-line employees groups in Europe (and even the world). Largely we work with Salah, the primary coach, who implements construction and introduces the analysts’ concepts to the group. Robust, for my part, might be the very best counter-strat and scouting analyst on the market, and I preferred working with him in my previous group. Concerning gorilla, I haven’t performed in a group with him earlier than, however thus far I actually like the way in which he works and his concepts.
Mark: You additionally work with BONECOLD, the winner of the VALORANT Champions 2021.
Out of your first practices, how would you characterize BONECOLD as an IGL?
Destrian: Inside the sport, BONECOLD is a extremely calm and picked up participant, which is ideal for an in-game-leader. I’d say that his calls are good and logical (not random), and works rather well throughout the construction we carried out thus far. Though he’s actually calm in-game, he’s actually humorous and pleasant outdoors the sport, which can be an enormous buff to the group’s emotional setting.
Mark: You’ll play within the EMEA League subsequent season, which can be held in Berlin for 2 months.
What are your private expectations for the upcoming season?
Destrian: I, personally, don’t prefer to overhype myself and put the expectations too large, even when I used to be taking part in with the very best group in Europe. Regardless, I consider individuals are underestimating us a bit of bit, and I hope we’ll have the ability to show them flawed. If all the things goes proper, I feel we should always have the ability to compete for the highest spots in EMEA.
You might have two tournaments forward of you: G-LOOT and Pink Bull. One on-line, the opposite on LAN. What targets do you set for them?
Destrian: For the reason that group is comparatively younger, the upcoming tournaments can be check for us in official matches. We’ll have the ability to see what issues come up throughout officers that we don’t see in follow and what are the issues we have to enhance probably the most for the upcoming league subsequent 12 months. Concerning targets, we wish to present our nice Vitality followers the entire potential of our group!
What do you suppose of the present meta at VALORANT? What have you ever modified or left untouched?
Destrian: I consider the present meta in Valorant is sort of wholesome, particularly after Chamber nerfs. We see lots of totally different agent compositions performed out in tournaments, which is an effective signal of it. Though there are some brokers which are simply not becoming the meta, making them nearly unplayable, reminiscent of Cypher, Yoru, and even the brand new agent Harbor on many of the maps.
I’d like to see some buffs or adjustments to those brokers, making them once more viable. For nerfs, I consider that Chamber continues to be a bit overpowered and never a sentinel-like agent, so some adjustments to Chamber would additionally profit the sport, for my part.
Are you personally pleased with the outcomes you’ve achieved at this level in your profession?
Destrian: General, I’d say that I’m actually joyful – I managed to show an enormous ardour of mine right into a profession/job, I met lots of new mates and connections within the esports world, experiencing one thing that I may solely dream about after I was a child. Concerning outcomes, I nonetheless wish to win an enormous occasion, particularly in a LAN setting. Personally, I haven’t performed in a LAN in Valorant but, so I’d like to expertise that.
Crew Vitality began their means on the online-tournament from G-Loot. From December 9 to 11, the LAN-event Pink Bull Dwelling Floor #3 will happen in Manchester. Along with Crew Vitality, Crew Liquid, Crew Heretics, and 100 Thieves may also play there.
VCT 2023 will begin with the 30-team Kickoff Event, which can be held in Brazil from February 14 to March 5.