Shift 16: Spring Major Edition

Though the rankings look a little different, as our staff ranked the sixteen Major teams instead of North American and European teams only, the top three remained the same for the third consecutive ranking. G2 Esports, Team BDS, and Moist Esports are the top contenders to take home the title in London, as they won five of six events in North America and Europe between them. Major regions comprise the top six, but FURIA Esports and Team Falcons are both right behind.

In this edition of the rankings, we’ll be breaking down why each team has a chance to walk away from the Spring Major with a win. To create the rankings, each participating staff member submitted their list. Teams received 16 points for a 1st place vote, 15 for a 2nd place vote, all the way down to one point for a 16th place vote.

1 - G2 Esports

North America - #1 Seed

G2 Esports finished the regional portion of the Spring Split a single goal away from history. They lost the second series of the grand finals of regional three to FaZe Clan in game seven overtime, but a goal would’ve seen G2 Esports become the first team to ever sweep a Split in North America or Europe. Instead, G2 Esports had the single most successful Split in North American history, and are still the reigning international champions after their triumph at the Winter Major. Their pedigree and recent performances, not to mention the world-class talent at all three spots on the team, means they’re among the favorites to win again.

2 - Team BDS

Europe - #1 Seed

Team BDS, much like G2 Esports, won both of their first two regionals. With the addition of French superstar Seikoo during the transfer window, they didn’t drop any of their first 10 series together, and only went to a deciding game five/seven once. Their aura of invincibility was broken with a loss to Endpoint CeX, and a loss in the grand finals to Moist Esports, but they are still clearly among the world’s best teams. They also won the Fall Major, so the team knows what it takes to succeed in the highest pressure environments. With a home Major in London, Team BDS should be favored in almost every matchup, and to win it all

3 - Moist Esports

Europe - #2 Seed

Moist Esports can win because they know what it takes. They’ve won three of the last six European regionals (Team BDS have won the other three), and they finished second at the Winter Major after an incredible lower bracket run. Teams will often come close to winning a LAN event before they can actually do it. G2 Esports finished second at the Season 7 World Championship, before using that experience to secure a Winter Major victory. NRG Esports came close for years, but their heartbreak eventually led to a Season 8 World Championship. Moist Esports has the talent, and now they have the experience.

4 - FaZe Clan

North America - #2 Seed

FaZe Clan are the only team outside of the top three to take a regional win this Split in a major region, and they finally broke through. FaZe Clan have been among the most consistent teams in the world, but hadn’t even reached a grand finals since the opening event of the season. They also only finished outside of the top four twice in that span, which was nine events. The addition of Sypical before the Winter Split was meant to change it, but the results didn’t come until the season’s final event. Now that they’ve won, though, the pressure is off, and their consistency and talent can push them to a win in London.

(image courtesy of Rocket League Esports)

5 - Version1

North America - #3 Seed

Version1 only reached one grand final in the Spring Split, but they failed to take a series, losing the opener to G2 Esports in six games. They were still consistent enough to qualify for London, however, and have shown before that they can play like the best team in the world. From the third regional of the Winter Split through the group stage of the Winter Major, they didn’t lose a match, dominating their way to the top six in Los Angeles. Though they failed to sustain it, and lost two close series, Version1 knows they can find that form again. If they can find it, and sustain it for the entirety of the Spring Major, they can win it.

6 - Spacestation Gaming

North America - #4 Seed

Spacestation Gaming haven’t won an event this season, but they’re still among the top contenders because of their incredibly high skill ceiling. They boast arguably the most talented player with the ball on the planet in Daniel, who will only be better at his second LAN event. Their other two players in Retals and Arsenal are masters of creating space for the young superstar, as they bump and demo as well as anybody. If they can find their stride early, they can recreate what took them to a top three finish at the Winter Major, and take it a step further to a win this time.

7 - Team Falcons

Middle East & North Africa - #1 Seed

Team Falcons are one of only six teams in the world to qualify for all three Majors this season, and they did it by winning every single regional event. Their incredible feat of a perfect nine-for-nine may never be repeated, but the question remains if they can find success against the world’s very best. They showed flashes at the Fall Major, but couldn’t overcome their lack of experience against The General NRG. Unfortunately, the roster was unable to participate in the Winter Major. However, if they can combine their experience from the Fall Major with their dominance from their own region, they can be the first team from a minor region to win an RLCS LAN.

8 - FURIA Esports

South America - #1 Seed

The only minor region team besides Team Falcons to reach all three Majors, FURIA Esports have the best LAN finish ever by a South American team. They reached the top six of the Winter Major, winning their group. They’ve dominated South America all season long, winning six of the nine events. In Los Angeles, they proved that they know what it takes to win. If they can overcome the pressure of the elimination games, and play their game against the world’s best, they can win South America’s first title.

The current Worlds Region Spots heading into the RLCS Spring Major.

9 - Endpoint CeX

Europe - #5 Seed

Endpoint CeX may be the five seed from Europe, but they surpassed the region’s #3 and #4 seeds because of the experience they have, this season and beyond. Veteran talents Metsanauris and RelatingWave both have years of experience, and they’ve qualified for all three Majors this season unlike the two teams above them in the seeding. They may have lost Seikoo to Team BDS, but they replaced him with one of the only players in the world who is at the same level in archie. With their experience and a player who can dominate all over the field, Endpoint CeX is capable of making a Cinderella run all the way to an international title.

10 - Team Liquid

Europe - #3 Seed

Team Liquid are certainly the new kids on the block, as Oski and Atow both made their RLCS debuts this split. Nobody expected them to be this good this fast, as the roster was built to grow together and contend in the future. Instead, they managed two top four finishes in a major region, and beat out established contenders such as Team Vitality to qualify for London. Moist Esports showed during the Winter Split that rookies can dominate a LAN, so if Team Liquid can live up to the pressure and build on their success, they can shock the world with a win in London.

11 - Karmine Corp

Europe - #4 Seed

Karmine Corp were meant to be contenders all season long, but could never find the consistency required to make it to a Major event. During the previous trade window, however, they found their consistency in the form of Noly. Noly had a fire lit underneath him when released in unceremonious fashion by Guild Esports, and turned it into a superstar run. He lifted Karmine Corp into contention, and now they’re only a series or two away from qualify for the World Championship. If the roster can continue to ascend the way it has since adding Noly, they can take their newfound success all the way to a win at the Spring Major.

12 - Team Envy

North America - #5 Seed

The final major region team in our rankings, Team Envy return to a Major with a very different roster than they had in the Fall Split. Atomic is gone, being swapped to G2 Esports for dreaz, and four-time world champion Turbopulsa is now on the bench with Allushin on the starting roster. Team Envy has yet to win an event this season, but they have LAN experience throughout the roster. The real secret to success for Team Envy, however, will be Turbopulsa coming off the bench. If Season 3 taught us anything, it’s the value of the Swede playing the role of Super Sub.

13 - Pioneers

Oceania - #1 Seed

Though Pioneers failed to escape the group stage of the Winter Major, they built up valuable experience. They’ve broken through Oceania’s consistent top two, and have added depth to the region that was never there before. Now, they’re the top dogs in the Spring Split, and will be looking to use their experience to make a run. Oceania has never had a team even imagine going all the way at a LAN, but Pioneers showed flashes in Los Angeles of their talent. If they can put it all together, and pull on their experience, they can truly contend for the first time in Oceania’s history.

14 - Team Secret

South America - #2 Seed

In each of the two previous Majors, South America saw FURIA Esports enjoy relative success while the other team failed to win a single series. Team Secret won’t have history on their side, but they do have the talent. They went on an undefeated run to open the Spring Split in South America, and if they can find that form again, they could do it at the Spring Major. The competition will be miles above what they’ve faced, but South America has proved to be resilient in LAN events in the past.

15 - PWR

Oceania - #2 Seed

Much like South America, Oceania usually doesn’t see both teams having success at LAN events. Before the Fall Major, there had never been an event where both Oceania rosters won a series. But at that Major in Stockholm, both PWR and Renegades were just a series away from the playoff stage. PWR competed with the very best in that tournament, and have experience from years past. If they can take advantage of their experience, they could go on a run.

16 - Gaimin Gladiators

Asia Pacific - Qualifier Winner

Gaimin Gladiators entered all three APAC Qualifiers as the top seed from their region, but they fell short each time. They finally put it together this time out, beating DeToNator in seven games to qualify. They’re the first team from Asia Pacific South to make it to a LAN event, so the shortcomings of previous Asia Pacific North teams doesn’t matter anymore. They finally have their opportunity, and will be looking to make the most of it. If they can play with the confidence that led them to eight wins in nine regionals, they could surprise teams and take the Winter Major by storm.

Did you agree with our rankings? Let us know on Twitter @ShiftRLE or down below in the comments. The RLCS will be back with the Spring Major on June 29th, but make sure keep up with Shift for all your Rocket League news until then!