There is an interesting anomaly happening in competitive VALORANT right now. Winning brings fans in, and people like having a team they know won’t disappoint them, but what really makes the mid-tier VALORANT teams so popular? Plenty mid-tier teams are attracting fandom lately, as viewers tune in to watch the underdogs win and Cinderella story arcs to happen.
Personalities Matter
Obviously when you can rely on your team to win a good 75% or higher of all of their matches its easy to be a fan. Its a pretty stress free experience until you start playing in the international tournaments. With players lke TenZ pulling massive numbers of fans and viewers as a player and a streamer, we’re starting to see Orgs change their approach to the game outside of the game. VALORANT is a huge social media esports, with frequent updates from official channels and stacked media days and content being made. Players like FNS and Yay have made their way back into Tier 1 after some time away thanks to solid play but also are massive streamers when they’re not competing.
As much as it pains me to say it, Fnatic aren’t necessarily a top team in VCT EMEA anymore. Obviously Fnatic is a big org and you could argue they’d fit into the next point better, but Boaster’s personality is something that draws people in and he’s been a big part of VCT’s Marketing for a reason. There will be players on their own for teams that can draw fans, and the teams with some of the biggest fanbases often have some of the most vocal players.
Game Changers really put this approach on the map. While you did have some fun VCT mainstay players like that afforementioned Boaster, or players like Zellsis and Zekken, the onstage energy from Game Changers was a big takeaway from some of the teams, weak and strong, when we got to see their first international event. Personality driven VALORANT teams have been a big change that’s been integrated into the ecosystem now, as fans become intersted in players as well as teams.
Moving fans between game titles
If you’re new, you often look for something familiar, if you don’t have any particular investment in a player or a team, a lot of people find themselves going for a team that they recognize from another title.
I’m partial to root for Liquid or C9 in a match I’d be otherwise uninvested in thanks to their efforts in other FGC titles (Smash, Street Fighter etc) and there will be people who are similar, opting to root for a team because they root for them in other games as well. You’ll have members of SEN city that moved in before the team was good in VALORANT, and longtime Fnatic and T1 fans thanks to Riot’s other massive flagship titles.
“Streamer Organizations” are also a great way to build capitals. Esports is notoriously a money pit, but fan engagement is often at its best where the fans are fans of the org’s owner. Disguised and Moist x Shopify (now Shopify Rebellion) drew massive views in Tier 2 due to their owners, Disguised Toast and Charlie/Ludwig respectively. In Tier 1, Karmine Corp and KOI have understandably rabid fans, with the orgs being started by huge streamers.
Notable mid tier VALORANT teams with “easy to understand” fanbases
- Apeks (EMEA) – Most people weren’t expecting a lot from this team, especially with visa issues coming in. But the decision to pick up the first Game Changers player has drawn a lot of attention to this team. Flor and Friends are a team to watch for any Game Changers and/or Florescent fans.
- 100Thieves (Americas) – Much like Sentinels, 100T is filled with big personalities and is a streamer backed org. Founder Nadeshot is a huge VALORANT co-streamer, watching all of his team’s games, even if that’s not been for that long in knockout stages.
- Fnatic (EMEA) – For some its hope, for others its Boaster, but Fnatic have been always really pushed their social media game and are a treat to follow on socials.
- MIBR / Evil Geniuses (Americas) – Both are teams that have traditionally struggle pretty hard, both are VALORANT teams that have picked up players that were once on top of the world.
- NOVA (China) – Honestly, this one is somewhat results based, despite losing to Dragon Ranger Gaming they’ve managed to upset both of the Top seeds of their group in EDG and FPX which is insane.
- Karmine Corp / Gentle Mates (EMEA) – being a French org has its huge fan benefits, but unlike Vitality, who are expected to win everything, these Streamer Orgs will likely be scrapping for most of their wins, and with the stress that comes with each potential loss, the more euphoric each win is.
- Paper Rex (APAC) – A team that has fallen from their spot atop their region and a runner up internationally, they’ve been off to a bad start but their playstyle is incredibly fun to watch and they’re a team that has a lot of English speaking content, allowing for a connection to a not currently top team to English speakers that’s not quite as prresent for some other VALORANT teams in their position.
- ZETA Division (APAC) – Japanese VALORANT is actually huge, as a team that has previously gone on a big run and is doing better than expected domestically, ZETA holds a lot of the hope for Japanese fans.
- Nongshim RedForce (APAC) As probably the 2nd most impressive Ascension team, behind G2, the noodle org are a like a modern versionof PRX, and they’re winning games.
