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Season Four Top 50 – Introduction

Each year we look back on the previous competitive season and the players who influenced our scene by creating a Top 50 Players list. Season 4 (March 2019 – January 2020) saw a lot of growth, with competitive community-run events popping up across the country. We are incredibly excited to witness this community beyond our typical RCS events sprouting up before our eyes!

Before we delve into the rankings this year, here’s an introduction on how the list was formed along with our events list and hidden bosses.

View more articles in the Season Four NA Rankings Series:

Rivals Rankings Season Four Top 50

Player Qualifications

During season 3 we saw events like Cold Snap and TAPS lead the Grassroots community down an exciting path, but ultimately decided not to count them towards Top 50. As we unveiled the Season 3 Top 50, we shared this announcement:

“It’s worth noting that excitingly, more Rivals-only events are beginning to become large enough, competitive enough, and diverse enough to entertain this list encompassing events outside of the RCS. Our ranking council did hold a discussion on this but ultimately decided to wait until next season to begin including them.”

Now that Season 4 is here we’ve expanded outside of only including RCS events by popular request. For the Season 4 rankings, we only considered players with 2 or more events from the list below. All players considered had to have attended at least one offline RCS event and had to be based in the North American (NA) region to be included in the Rivals Top 50.

Methodology

This year, we brought back the panel system from Season 3, ranking players based on a combination of their best wins/worst losses and their placements at eligible events.

Whether the event took place offline or online was also taken into consideration. Online events are always a contentious piece of the puzzle for our top 50 rankings, and this year we’ve continued the trend of placing importance heavily on offline results. Exceptional players that only competed online have been included, but may appear lower on the list due to lack of offline results. Keep in mind this is not intended to disrespect their skill, but rather our concession that we’re unable to place them accurately in the context of the full season’s events and offline finals.

Once this ranking system was completed, a council made additional adjustments to the order based on head-to-head results, activity, and other data. This group consisted of Menace13, MSB, Renzo, SBS, and Sparx21.

Hidden Bosses

Players given the title of Hidden Boss were recognized by the panel as major threats to tournaments this season that just didn’t quite meet the requirements to be ranked.

Adi, gracefulknight, Kenneth, Wai

NA RCS Season 3 Top 50: #10 – 1

This week we’re counting down the Top 50 Players from season 3 of the North American Rivals Championship Series. For more information about this historical rankings and its process, check out our introduction and honorable mentions post from earlier in the week.

Other Articles in this Series:

NA RCS S3 #10 – Corkxx

NA RCS S2 Rank: 39

<.< Corkxx showed us just how good he really is this year with a fantastic showing at offline events. Win or lose, his aggressive Forsburn gets the crowd excited and is a treat to watch. Corkxx used his fast-paced play this year to take sets from Windows, MattyIce, Jesier, SBS and more. Unfortunately it looks like he'll be out of the country during most of season 4, but he's earned his spot here in the top 10 for us remember him by until he returns.

NA RCS S3 #09 – MattyIce

NA RCS S2 Rank: N/A

Broken Alliance’s MattyIce is the only player in the top 10 that was completely unranked last year. Bursting into the national scene in season 3, the rest of the Rivals world quickly learned what everyone in Florida already knew – that MattyIce was sick. His unique style is satisfying to watch where he’ll often use lightning fast combos into aerial strong attack traps that spell the end for opponents with unfortunate DI. In addition to being a top player, MattyIce is also a community leader and organizer in his home region. We’re looking forward to seeing more of him in season 4, as even though he’s near the top it seems he still has room to rise.

NA RCS S3 #08 – ZeeBee

NA RCS S2 Rank: 23

While ZeeBee is always open to making the crowd laugh, his gameplay is no joke. His improvement from season 2 to season 3 was absolutely huge with him advancing from someone who could be called a solid player to a threat taking games off of the top 5 with regularity. His secondaries are quickly catching up to the speed and precision that his Kragg is known for, and if he can turn these wins into an everyday occurrence ZeeBee certainly has a bright future ahead of him.

NA RCS S3 #07 – MSB

NA RCS S2 Rank: 06

MSB is a fan favorite and inspiration to every Kragg below him on this list. His fascinating tech, Rock tricks, and recovery add seasoning to a character that MSB has proven is anything but straightforward as he seems. Like everyone else in the top 10, MSB’s win record is extensive. However his trouble clinching consistent wins over the top 5 keeps him just outside this group even though he’s still making forward progress. As he continues to grow as a player, MSB has also grown greatly as a community leader and mentor bringing to life countless events both online and off in the Tristate area. We can’t wait for more popoffs in season 4.

NA RCS S3 #06 – Bagel

NA RCS S2 Rank: 17

Bagel is a player who has risen above adversity to achieve a top 10 ranking this year. Battling from a region with few practice opportunities and tough travel arrangements, Bagel perseveres to put up results event after event. Though his gameplay isn’t overly fancy, his Etalus quickly becomes a problem for anyone who gives him an inch as shown with set wins over the likes of CakeAssault, Windows, MSB, Jesier and more. With just a bit more consistency in his placings Bagel certainly has the potential to be a top 5 player and one we’re excited to watch in season 4.

NA RCS S3 #05 – DolphinBrick

NA RCS S2 Rank: 05

What MSB is to Kragg, Tuxedo Esports’ Dolphinbrick is to Orcane. One of the most skilled veterans to solo main a character over the years, he single-handedly keeps The Puddle Jumper on the map. DolphinBrick’s style is versatile but can be characterized with combo heavy play featuring tech chases and mixups that keep his opponents in a world of pain. His frequent attendance at events (placing in a whopping 12 over the season), along with his lovable personality make him a fan favorite. Lately we’ve heard rumors that after 3 years he’s finally looking for a tournament secondary, but we’re excited to see him in season 4 no matter who he brings to the stage.

NA RCS S3 #04 – Windows

NA RCS S2 Rank: 07

Windows has always had lofty goals, and this year he once again levels up and solidifies his name in Rivals history with a top 5 ranking that is indisputable. His patient and punishing play go hand in hand with his character, and his consistency was only Rivaled by the 3 other players in the world on his level. Even more, his distinctive hot pink Wrastor seemed to be the only thing able to send CakeAssault to losers during much of season 3. This year Windows hopes to take his skills over to Ultimate as well as Rivals, so we’re excited to cheer him on in both events during season 4.

NA RCS S3 #03 – Penguin

NA RCS S2 Rank: 09

Penguin is the youngest player in the top 10, which makes his resume this season where he holds the most placing of any player (16) even more impressive. He constantly makes Absa look like the fastest character in the game with his lightning quick movement, execution, and devastating combos that often go from 0 to death. Throughout season 3 his rise was an ever looming threat to the old guard as he got closer and closer each event to securing himself a first place. With Penguin participating in the grand finals of the last 6 offline events of the year it was only a matter of time before it came true at GT-X 2018 last fall. With his meteoric rise and the fact that it doesn’t look like he’s stopping any time soon, season 4 may be the year of the penguin.

NA RCS S3 #02 – FullStream

NA RCS S2 Rank: 01

Panda Global’s FullStream continues to be a dominant force in the Rivals scene. Winning the season 3 finals at Genesis 6 makes him the only 2 time title holder in the series and this isn’t by a stroke of luck. He spent much of season 3 playing different characters at each tournament and consintently bringing them into the top 8 with ease. Rivals is FullStream’s first platform fighter, and thanks to FullStream’s success in Rivals he’s also turned his eyes to Smash. Keep an eye on this player in both games in season 4 as he always brings the hype.

NA RCS S3 #01 – CakeAssault

NA RCS S2 Rank: 02

CakeAssault had another amazing year in Rivals with a simply staggering amount of first place finishes at national events. His Forsburn makes it seem like his opponents are playing a different, much slower game and he’s so good that this applies to literally everyone he plays against. His insanely consistent finishes were only broken twice this year, with a loss to Penguin at GT-X and a stumble at Genesis 6 to make it the only tournament where he didn’t play in grands. His dominant performance and top pedigree have earned him the crown and the right to take the number one on the top 50 players list for season 3.

NA RCS Season 3 Top 50: #20 – 11

This week we’re counting down the Top 50 Players from season 3 of the North American Rivals Championship Series. For more information about this historical rankings and its process, check out our introduction and honorable mentions post from earlier in the week.

Other Articles in this Series:

NA RCS S3 #20 – AZCards

NA RCS S2 Rank: 10

AZCards is one of the most good-natured players in the scene and has been a staple on the Top 50 List since it’s inception 3 years ago. Though his victories against other top players have waned this year, his strong offline results and excellent online finishes have secured him a place in the game’s top 20 once again. AZCards stated at the end of season 3 that this would be his last year of serious competitive play. We wish him the best for where his journey takes him next and hope that we’ll see his distinctive red Kragg again some day.

NA RCS S3 #19 – Chompers

NA RCS S2 Rank: N/A

Chompers makes a surprise entrance to the list this year at number 19. Often overshadowed by more prominent names in his local scene, his consistent RCS performances proved that the national stage was his place to shine. This is a prime example of just how stacked the AZ Rivals scene really is and the effect a dedicated scene can have on its players. We’re looking forward to following his journey in season 4 and hope he continues to bring the Heat.

NA RCS S3 #18 – Dynla

NA RCS S2 Rank: 24

Dynla had a great season overall, but his breakout tournament was definitely Heat Wave 2 where he defeated Kenneth, TurtleBox, Blue, LBO, and more to secure himself 4th place. While this young star showed that he can certainly reach the top, his performances can also be volatile which comes with the territory for many Maypul players. If Dynla can sure up his play against the typical gatekeepers we expect to see him high in the standings throughout season 4.

NA RCS S3 #17 – SBS

NA RCS S2 Rank: 22

SBS, the community leader of AZRivals, built one of the most stacked Rivals scenes in the country from scratch. Their community’s hard work has paid off year after year with new AZ players constantly making national results and advancing steadily up the top 50 list. In season 3 we saw SBS break out a brand new character when he brought his Clairen to the first event of the season and honed her all the way to Genesis 6. His emotive style can be seen in every Rival he uses and his passion shines through in his play, TOing, spectating, and everything else he does for the love of the game.

NA RCS S3 #16 – LBO

NA RCS S2 Rank: 4

LBO is one of the game’s best who took a step back from competing this year to focus on his esports organization, Tuxedo Esports. His season as a competitor started off strong with him defeating Penguin, Corkxx, and more at Hyrule Saga with his classic Zetterburn. However, he quickly switched to Shovel Knight for the majority of the year in search of something new. While not finding the same level of success as his Zetterburn, his Shovel Knight can still make waves and evoked his old exciting style as he began to pave the path for this character the same way he did years ago with Zetterburn.

NA RCS S3 #15 – Dunk

NA RCS S2 Rank: 21

Dunk breaks into the top 15 this year with a slew of fantastic season 3 results. With wins over almost every Kragg above him, the chairman of Dinko Esports stakes his claim as the best at the ditto during season 3 and someone to avoid sleeping on in any matchup. The only things between him from an even higher spot are wins on the very best, and there’s no doubt that he’s got his eyes on those players for season 4.

NA RCS S3 #14 – Bullets

NA RCS S2 Rank: N/A

Bullets is neither the first nor the last player on the top 50 hailing from British Columbia, making this region surreptitiously one of the best regions in North America despite it not being on the forefront of most people’s minds. While Bullets only made it out to a few events, the list of names he took down was consistently some of the game’s best. We’re looking forward to seeing more of him in season 4 where he certainly has higher to rise.

NA RCS S3 #13 – TurtleBox

NA RCS S2 Rank: 11

TurtleBox is another fantastic west coast Kragg player that’s quite the character specialist. His edgeguards are relentless, with his Rocks and aerials always seeming to connect against his helpless opponents. Securing wins over the likes of Bagel, Corkxx, Chompers, and defending America against international threats like Transco has kept him near the top in season 3.

NA RCS S3 #12 – Jesier

NA RCS S2 Rank: 19

Jesier leaps up the list from rank 19 to 12 as he continues to become a household name and make his mark on the competitive scene. As the only solo Ori and Sein main on the entire Top 50 List, he began consistently cracking top 8s in season 3 and looks like he’s there to stay. We’re looking forward to seeing how he can push his character and himself in season 4.

NA RCS S3 #11 – Blue

NA RCS S2 Rank: N/A

Blue seemed to come out of the… blue at official events in season 3. Long whispered about by other top Arizona players like SBS, Blue finally came out himself this year and proved the rumors true by taking sets from the likes of MSB, DolphinBrick, ZeeBee, TurtleBox, and more with his aggressive Wrastor. Capping it all off with a top 8 finish at Genesis 6 helped him lock up the 11th spot on the rankings and makes him a player to fear in season 4.

NA RCS Season 3 Top 50: #30 – 21

This week we’re counting down the Top 50 Players from season 3 of the North American Rivals Championship Series. For more information about this historical rankings and its process, check out our introduction and honorable mentions post from earlier in the week.

Other Articles in this Series:

NA RCS S3 #30 – Dam Danny

NA RCS S2 Rank: 31

Dam Danny’s explosive Zetterburn makes a return to the top 50 list, this time cracking the top 30 players in North America. A staple of the dedicated Arizona Rivals scene, Dam Danny has battled back and forth for top PR spots in his region and utilized these skills to achieve strong placings at 3 of the biggest events in season 3.

NA RCS S3 #29 – DankRamenBoy

NA RCS S2 Rank: N/A

DankRamenBoy may be one of the most improved players on the list from season 2 to season 3. In a short time span he went from losing to devs in pools to collecting wins from top players and achieving multiple top 16 finishes at major events. In addition to his improvement from a competitive standpoint, DankRamenBoy also puts in the work creatively on his character by exploring and innovating Ranno tech. His hard work in both areas is certainly the reason for his rapid rise, and we hope to see it continue in season 4.

NA RCS S3 #28 – Tapscott

NA RCS S2 Rank: N/A

Tapscott is another player who made massive strides during season 3. Now arguably the best tournament Orcane outside of DolphinBrick, he was able to take sets from the likes of AZCards, FullStream, Protagify and more throughout the season while capping things off with a 17th place finish at Genesis 6. He seemed to be focusing on a breakout event, and with his skill we expect to see it pay off if he continues to play in season 4.

NA RCS S3 #27 – Theomach

NA RCS S2 Rank: N/A

Theomach is an old school player that we’re pleased to see participating in more circuit events. Though his travel was limited, he was able to make some big finishes in season 3 to earn himself a spot on the list. He plays Zetterburn with an explosive and aggressive style that often ends with sets going all the way down to the last hit, keeping friends and fans on the edge of their seats.

NA RCS S3 #26 – hoppyKnitz

NA RCS S2 Rank: 34

HoppyKnitz moved up the rankings this year with the help of his signature Maypul play, and even a little “help” from his “signature” Zetterburn play as well. In addition to his strong offline results, hoppyKnitz also competed online with great finishes, eventually securing himself first place in the national RCS October Online monthly over players such as AZCards, Kisuno, Windows, Dr Nitronio, and more.

NA RCS S3 #25 – Sparx21

NA RCS S2 Rank: 36

Sparx21 became the person to look up to for Elliana players in season 3. His creative use of the mechanized menace made his tournament matches a favorite for fans of the underdog Rival. In addition to innovating with the Elliana community, Sparx21 is no slouch with his Kragg either, breaking it out in multiple events when things got rough. With wins over the likes of ZeeBee, SBS, Kenneth, and more Sparx21 was a threat at events around the country and another player we’ll be keeping an eye on in season 4.

NA RCS S3 #24 – Dos Rogers

NA RCS S2 Rank: N/A

Dos Rogers’ solo Ranno is quietly one of the most dangerous frogs you can find in bracket. His slick movement combined with creative use of Ranno’s full kit makes him an exciting player to watch. Though he hasn’t taken home a top 8 yet, Dos is one of those players where you can tell it’s only a matter of time. We look forward to seeing more of him in season 4 of the RCS.

NA RCS S3 #23 – Hatz

NA RCS S2 Rank: N/A

Hatz catapulted to the national stage last year at Heat Wave 2 with his amazing run over the likes of Bagel, SBS, Kenneth, and more to secure 3rd place at the grassroots major. Known before that as a leader in his home region of Colorado, Hatz is a fan favorite who draws energy from the crowd. Come to Elevate and see more of his Absa in just a few weeks!

NA RCS S3 #22 – Adi

NA RCS S2 Rank: 33

Adi might just secretly be one of the best players in the game. While he traveled sparingly this year, his record at First Impact told the story of someone who could overtake the best with wins on Penguin, DolphinBrick, MSB, Corkxx, Blue, and more all happening in a godlike run. Adi is a member of the Tristate scene and plays a handful of characters at a top level, even holding onto some counterpicks for local specific matchups. With few official circuit events under his belt to justify a higher placing in season 3, we hope to see him travel to more this year and take the Rivals tournament scene by storm in season 4.

NA RCS S3 #21 – Kisuno

NA RCS S2 Rank: N/A

NA RCS Season 3 Top 50: #40 – 31

This week we’re counting down the Top 50 Players from season 3 of the North American Rivals Championship Series. For more information about this historical rankings and its process, check out our introduction and honorable mentions post from earlier in the week.

Other Articles in this Series:

NA RCS S3 #40 – Alexis

NA RCS S2 Rank: N/A

Alexis (George Cloney’s biggest fan) is a veteran player with one of the most characteristic and recognizable playstyles in the scene. His use of Forsburn’s clone laid the foundation for maximizing his tricky AI play and influenced the way people think about using it for edgeguards and disruption even today. Alexis is currently ranked first on his local SoCal PR and secured 40th on the list for season 3 with solid performances at the limited events he attended.

NA RCS S3 #39 – Jackie Peanuts

NA RCS S2 Rank: N/A

While this is the first top 50 appearance for Jackie Peanuts, Down B Collaborations’ very own Kragg player has deep roots in the Minnesota platform fighter scene. This favorite Rivals commentator has been a figurehead in his local Rivals scene while continuing to put up results with his Duck Hunt and hone his commentary in Smash at the same time. With a top 8 placing at Shine 2018, many are eager to see what Jackie Peanuts and the rest of the growing Midwest talent can bring to the table in season 4.

NA RCS S3 #38 – Nero

NA RCS S2 Rank: N/A

Nero is another player making a strong case for the growing strength of Midwest Rivals as a region. Though he was absent from the list last year due to lack of significant participation, he made it out enough in season 3 to get the recognition he deserves. His solo Absa is a real threat and his results this year prove it with him securing a strong 9th place finish at Super Smash Con 2018.

NA RCS S3 #37 – Xaro

NA RCS S2 Rank: N/A

One of two players on the list placed exclusively with online results, Xaro has had a phenomenal season in the large RCS Online Monthlies. With several top placings earned by defeating the likes of CakeAssault, Windows, MattyIce, Culex, and more it’s clear that his Orcane can stand up to the best. We hope to be able to see him show up to more in season 4 and continue his staggering performance in person.

NA RCS S3 #36 – Lucius

NA RCS S2 Rank: N/A

As more Sentralites flood the list it’s becoming quite clear the impact this crew has on its local scene. A disciple of Sentinel himself, Lucius’ Ranno is decisive with a strong combo game. Lucius himself credits Sentinel’s coaching for his growth as both a player and a person, and we look forward to the positive impact both will bring to competitive Rivals in season 4.

NA RCS S3 #35 – Protagify

NA RCS S2 Rank: 13

This year was a treat for Protagify’s fans as we got to see the old school warrior all the way from Hawaii attend multiple local events in season 3. Though his region prevents him from getting much high level practice, Protagify still put up solid wins on the likes of Culex and Dynla with a strong finish at Genesis 6 right outside the top 16. We’re looking forward to seeing the runback on the dress match this year at Heat Wave 3.

NA RCS S3 #34 – Culex

NA RCS S2 Rank: N/A

Culex is one of the strongest solo Clairen mains in the game. Taking wins from the likes of ZeeBee and Alexis offline, in addition to being backed by an incredibly strong online result list has earned him 34th on the list for season 3. Culex is a player who still has massive untapped potential at offline events and will be a player to watch if he can master his mindset.

NA RCS S3 #33 – Autumn

NA RCS S2 Rank: N/A

Autumn is a quick and precise Wrastor player from the Tri-state scene, and another member of the Sentralites. Though he wasn’t ranked last year, Autumn has constantly been a tournament threat lurking just outside of the upper echelon in both season 2 and 3. At this point in his career the only players he loses to are often the top 8 themselves which speaks to his talent. Some small tweaks may be all he needs to reach the top this year in season 4.

NA RCS S3 #32 – Randle

NA RCS S2 Rank: N/A

Anoter Sentralite and new player to the rankings, Randle has some great wins this season over the likes of Theomach, Sparx21, Lucius, and Protagify. This combined with an impressive Genesis 6 finish brought Randle into the light where he quickly become someone to watch out for by the end of season 3. Though he plays multiple characters well (with Etalus as his best), the fun he’s having shines through with all of them.

NA RCS S3 #31 – Kenneth

NA RCS S2 Rank: N/A

Kenneth is an enigma and a member of the old guard who can play almost any character at a high level. Though he attends events more for the social aspect these days, his performance at Hyrule Saga and Heat Wave 2 showed that he’s not someone to be forgotten with his 5th place finish at the stacked Rivals-only event. Kenneth could certainly be higher on the list with more attendance, and we imagine the only reason he’s not is because he’s content for now with only keeping the legend alive.