NRG were the first team to qualify for the grand final of VALORANT Champions 2025 in Paris, sweeping aside Fnatic 2–0 in the upper final. Their run has showcased not just mechanical skill, the impact of an Odin, and calm under pressure, but also a map pool that has many strengths and few weaknesses, with the latter neutralized after beating Fnatic since they’ll now have a double ban in the best-of-five final. The Americas reps hold a unique edge heading into the title decider, irrespective of whom they face, especially considering they’d already beaten both teams.
NRG’s Road Through VALORANT Champions Paris
NRG’s Champions campaign has been dominant from the start, despite a middling 2025 season and multiple roster changes. At Stage 2, they made a miracle run into the finals of VCT Americas to make it to Paris. In groups, they took down Edward Gaming 2–0, finding a comeback from 2-10 on Abyss against last year’s world Champions, then won Corrode, followed by a close series versus DRX 2–1, booking a spot in the playoffs as group winners. Despite being the underdog in one of the toughest groups with teams like Team Liquid, EDG, and DRX, they qualified as top seed.
In the upper quarterfinals, they dismantled GIANTX with a 13–1 thrashing on Haven and a 13–6 on Lotus. In the upper semifinal, they faced resistance from MIBR, losing Haven 4–13 but bouncing back to win Abyss 16–14 and Corrode 16–14 in overtime, proving their resilience in crucial moments.
The upper final against Fnatic cemented their grand final place. A nail-biting Ascent finished 14–12 in NRG’s favor before they closed Abyss comfortably 13–5. It was a statement: NRG can both grind out maps in overtime and dominate outright when on comfort picks.
Map Pool: Where NRG Shine and Struggle
Looking at NRG’s map pool from Stage 2 Americas and Champions Paris, clear patterns emerge when you look at the current map pool and compare it to maps they look good on.
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Corrode (6 maps, 100% win rate): Their most reliable battleground. They’ve gone 6–0 here, with a 65% attacking round win rate and 54% defensive. NRG thrive on this new map, leaning on strong defaults and mid-round reads. Brawk’s oppressive Odin, as well as their excellent reads and ability to consistently control the map, has enabled them to possibly be the best team at the event on this map.
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Abyss (3 maps, 100% win rate): Another elite pick. They’ve taken down top teams here with a 74% attacking round win rate. Their decisive 13–5 win vs Fnatic in the upper final highlights just how scary they are on Abyss. They had an insane comeback versus EDG when 2-10 down as well on this map, and their Omen/Harbor combo can be incredibly oppressive to play against.
- Lotus (5 maps, 80% win rate): A comfort map, with four wins out of five and steady performances across attack and defense. That said, this is a map both FNC have also demonstrated their prowess on, so it isn’t as decisively theirs as the previous two.
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Ascent (3 maps, 67% win rate): A solid option, though closer margins — Fnatic nearly pushed them here in the upper final before NRG closed out the map 14–12.
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Haven (4 maps, 25% win rate): A notable weakness. Losses to DRX in groups (4–13) and MIBR (4–13) exposed Haven as a liability. Their only win here came against GIANTX, a weaker opponent in comparison.
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Bind (2 maps, 0% win rate) and Sunset (2 maps, 0% win rate): Clear permabans for NRG. They have not managed a single win on either map, making them obvious candidates for the double ban.
This statistical spread is crucial: NRG are flawless on Corrode and Abyss, and very strong on Lotus and Ascent. Their only glaring weak points are Haven, Bind, and Sunset.
The Power of the Double Map Ban
In a best-of-five grand final, the team from the upper bracket gets both map bans. For NRG, this is massive. They can instantly remove Bind and Sunset, maps where they have a 0% win rate. That leaves Haven — still weak statistically — but also ensures that the map pool is stacked in their favor with Corrode, Abyss, Lotus, and Ascent.
Fnatic may be individually skilled, but if they’re funnelled into maps where NRG are dominant, their tactical depth and preparation will be heavily tested. They looked helpless on Abyss in the upper final, succumbing to a 13–5 loss.
NRG head into the Champions Paris 2025 grand final with a powerful advantage. Their map pool statistics prove they are one of the most consistent teams at this event, with perfect records on Corrode and Abyss and the safety net of banning out their worst maps. Combine that with the confidence gained from a flawless upper bracket run, and NRG look more than ready to seize the trophy at Champions Paris.
