Best VALORANT Champions Pick’Ems [Playoffs Update]

As the Valorant Champions Paris 2025 playoffs draw concluded, we made our updated pick’ems: predicting who will rise through the double-elimination bracket and ultimately lift the championship trophy. And without much more ado, here are our pick’ems for the playoffs of VALORANT Champions 2025.

Opening Matches: VALORANT Champions Playoffs Pick’Ems

Starting in the upper bracket, Fnatic facing DRX in the first round immediately sets the tone for an intriguing clash. Fnatic, coming off a dominant Group B performance as top seed, showed remarkable consistency, sweeping key matches with tactical precision and disciplined execution.

Their synergy, anchored by experienced players like Chronicle and Boaster, provides a strong foundation to project them past DRX in the opening round. DRX, while a formidable Pacific squad with standout talents, enters as a lower seed in Group C and will need to rely on adaptability to upset Fnatic. The pick’ems here favor Fnatic advancing to face the winner of Paper Rex versus G2 Esports, which is another insane matchup.

Paper Rex, the top seed from Group A, is our standout winner for these Champs pick’ems. Their explosive playstyle and aggressive map control have made them a crowd favorite throughout the group stage. Their ability to close tight maps, as seen in the decider against GIANTX, demonstrates why they are an ideal pick to move deep into the upper bracket, especially with the momentum of their Stage 2 and Masters Toronto trophies.

Facing G2 Esports, a resilient squad from Group D, Paper Rex carries momentum and a tactical edge. G2’s journey through the group stage was defined by recovering from an early loss to Team Heretics, showcasing adaptability but also highlighting some vulnerabilities. Consequently, selecting Paper Rex to advance through this side of the bracket seems logical to us, especially since the last time these teams faced off at Toronto, PRX found a clean 2-0.

The next game, Team Heretics versus MIBR, represents the best underdog matchup with both teams entering Champions as lower seeds from their respective regions. Team Heretics executed a stunning series in the group stage with their upset win over G2 Esports, qualifying with a 4-0 map record. Their strategic flexibility and individual star power make them a dark horse capable of moving into the upper bracket’s second round.

MIBR, while technically the underdog from Group B, has shown resilience in clutch situations and could potentially exploit weaknesses in Heretics’ early-game setups. Including Heretics to advance past MIBR in the pick’ems makes sense to us, but huge plays from players like aspas and Verno could derail this, especially since MIBR’s current form has been decent.

On the opposite side, NRG versus GIANTX showcases a classic seed clash. NRG, the top seed from Group C, demonstrated resilience, insane comebacks, and more. The team with three rookies took down the likes of EDG and DRX to qualify. GIANTX, though starting as Group A’s second seed, surged through the lower bracket to secure a playoff spot with wins over XLG and Sentinels, and their momentum could make them a dangerous opponent. Nevertheless, the pick’ems favor NRG to progress into the upper bracket and eventually face DRX or MIBR from the lower path.

Upper and Lower Bracket Matches

The bracket’s structure also lends itself to predictability in the upper bracket final. Looking at Paper Rex versus Team Heretics, Paper Rex’s aggressive but calculated approach contrasts with Heretics’ strategic adaptability, creating a compelling narrative in the upper bracket final. Selecting Paper Rex as the upper bracket finalist makes sense given their current form, preparation, and past tournament experience.

One of the most exciting elements of this bracket for Champs pick’ems is the lower bracket pathway. DRX, if they drop to the lower bracket, could face a rematch potential against NRG or MIBR, setting up high-stakes games where upsets are plausible. Predicting DRX to survive multiple lower-bracket rounds requires confidence in their tactical depth, but it is supported by their history of strong comeback performances in tournaments. Similarly, our pick’ems anticipate Fnatic surviving a lower-bracket run after potential upper-bracket elimination, reflecting the team’s resilience and ability to handle high-pressure scenarios.

Our VALORANT Champions Winner: Paper Rex!

Haters might say we’re biased, but Paper Rex are definitely the favorites headed into this event’s latter stages. They looked dominant in Toronto as well as Pacific Stage 2, and continued their popoff performance during the group portion of Champions. They also have ex-FNC coach mini once again helping them for the event.

Finally, since Paper Rex has the sole French representative at the tournament with French-born head coach Alexandre “alecks” Sallé, it would be fitting for them to win in Paris. For fans completing their Champs pick’ems, this bracket not only reflects statistical probability but also the narratives that make Champions Paris one of the most thrilling Valorant events of the year.