Destrian on Vitality: “We must always have the ability to compete for prime spots in EMEA”

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.

Vitality’s 2023 VCT Roster

The low season within the aggressive scene of VALORANT is in full swing. Virtually all groups have reshuffled their lineups. This consists of Crew Vitality, which is among the many Accomplice 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 workers of Salah and Sturdy.

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 affix this crew took place?

Destrian: Thanks! The choice to affix Crew Vitality took place fairly immediately, after the roster adjustments within the crew. Many of the crew members knew me from earlier than, so that they knew what sort of participant I’m, subsequently the trials weren’t too lengthy or exhausting. For myself, I noticed the potential within the crew immediately. The atmosphere within the crew was actually good from the beginning.

You’ll proceed to work with the identical teaching workers of Salah and Sturdy, additionally can be Gorilla. How do you’re employed with them?

Destrian: I actually imagine now we have top-of-the-line workers groups in Europe (and even the world). Principally we work with Salah, the principle coach, who implements construction and introduces the analysts’ concepts to the crew. Sturdy, for my part, might be the very best counter-strat and scouting analyst on the market, and I appreciated working with him in my previous crew. Concerning gorilla, I haven’t performed in a crew 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 very calm and picked up participant, which is ideal for an in-game-leader. I might say that his calls are good and logical (not random), and works very well throughout the construction we applied thus far. Though he’s actually calm in-game, he’s actually humorous and pleasant exterior the sport, which can be an enormous buff to the crew’s emotional atmosphere.

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 wish to overhype myself and put the expectations too huge, even when I used to be taking part in with the very best crew in Europe. Regardless, I imagine persons are underestimating us somewhat bit, and I hope we’ll have the ability to show them flawed. If every part goes proper, I believe we should always have the ability to compete for the highest spots in EMEA.

You could 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: Because the crew is comparatively younger, the upcoming tournaments can be a great 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 essentially the most for the upcoming league subsequent 12 months. Concerning targets, we need to present our nice Vitality followers the entire potential of our crew!

What do you suppose of the present meta at VALORANT? What have you ever modified or left untouched?

Destrian: I imagine the present meta in Valorant is kind of wholesome, particularly after Chamber nerfs. We see quite a lot of totally different agent compositions performed out in tournaments, which is an effective signal of it. Though there are some brokers which can be simply not becoming the meta, making them virtually unplayable, comparable to Cypher, Yoru, and even the brand new agent Harbor on many of the maps.

I might like to see some buffs or adjustments to those brokers, making them once more viable. For nerfs, I imagine that Chamber remains 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 proud of the outcomes you’ve achieved at this level in your profession?

Destrian: Total, I might say that I’m actually completely satisfied – I managed to show a giant ardour of mine right into a profession/job, I met quite a lot of new pals and connections within the esports world, experiencing one thing that I might solely dream about after I was a child. Concerning outcomes, I nonetheless need to win a giant occasion, particularly in a LAN setting. Personally, I haven’t performed in a LAN in Valorant but, so I might like to expertise that.

Crew Vitality began their approach 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 will even play there.

VCT 2023 will begin with the 30-team Kickoff Match, which can be held in Brazil from February 14 to March 5.