» Category: Esports

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 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 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 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.

NA RCS S3 #50 – Stroder

NA RCS S2 Rank: N/A

Though Tuxedo Stroder’s main focus is Smash, you can clearly see his natural talent and creative play carries over to Rivals. Competing alongside some of the most passionate players in the country in his home scene of AZ has given him the skills to net solid placements around the country. Though Stroder is a multi-character master in Smash, he mainly sticks to Ranno in Rivals. As he travels to more events this year we’re excited follow his progress now that he’s begun playing with DolphinBrick in doubles and is one of the bounty players at Glitch 7.

NA RCS S3 #49 – ProuxEXE

NA RCS S2 Rank: N/A

ProuxEXE is another new player to the top 50 list, though he’s no newcomer to competitive play. A former online-exclusive player during seasons long past, he emerged from the Wi-Fi world as a powerful local threat. Now a strong contender in his local SoCal Rivals scene, his Zetterburn’s impressive onstage punish game can definitely bring the heat. Though he didn’t travel far this year he was still able to compete in 3 of the largest events of the year, taking wins over the likes of hoppyKnitz and TheBestAdamCarra to secure 49th place in the rankings. Rest in peace, Green Bean.

NA RCS S3 #48 – Cheesedog

NA RCS S2 Rank: N/A

Though tournament predictions by Cheese Gaming™ staff are often wildly inaccurate, their top player Cheesedog has put himself on the map this year with his season 3 RCS results. His consistent play always makes him a threat at large events and not someone to sleep on in pools. Although Cheesedog is a Kragg main at heart, not even the allure of nair2 break cancel could keep him from showing off his Sylvanos during rare moments this past season. Regardless of his main going forward the strength of Canadian players only continues to grow, and as such we wouldn’t be surprised to see Cheesedog getting closer to his tournament goals this year with just a few more wins at each event.

NA RCS S3 #47 – TheBestAdamCarra

NA RCS S2 Rank: 28

Adam has covered a lot of ground in Rivals – doing everything including competing at a high level, being a beloved commentator, Tuxedo Esports member, and YouTube personality. Though he often downplays his skill, when he’s in form, Adam can play with the best as shown by his strong placings and even a win over Dynla in season 3. With more results to show Adam would certainly be ranked higher, so as usual this is a player we’re looking forward to seeing return in season 4.

NA RCS S3 #46 – Tandori

NA RCS S2 Rank: 50

Tandori is another old school player who mostly took it easy during season 3. Though he approaches the game more casually now, his results from last season still show that he’s a force to be reckoned with as he battled through some of the new guard with ease to make a solid 17th placing at the massive Super Smash Con 2018 bracket. His solo Maypul play has inspired us since season one, so we’re always happy to see this returning veteran on the list.

NA RCS S3 #45 – yesdefinitely

NA RCS S2 Rank: 48

Yesdefinitely is another SoCal RoA player that is able to put up national results. Having grown tired of dying off the top at 20% as a longtime Wrastor main, yesdefinitely decided to inflict this fate onto others and pulled a switch in season 3 to almost exclusively playing Orcane. His new playstyle involving grounded juggle combos is far from peaking, and yesdef himself has quietly been commanding more and more respect as the months have gone by. With a whole year of Orcane under his belt and the growing SoCal Rivals scene to bolster him, season 4 may be his time to shine.

NA RCS S3 #44 – Akashi

NA RCS S2 Rank: N/A

As a part of the Sentralites, a Tri-State Rivals team, Akashi has made big strides in season 3. Racking up an impressively consistent record along with solid wins over players like Tapscott has earned him his first appearance on the top 50 list. This is another player who doesn’t seem to be slowing down, so we’ll be eagerly watching him and the rest of the Tri-State region as their scene continues to forge some of Rivals’ best.

NA RCS S3 #43 – Jorane

NA RCS S2 Rank: 15

Jorane returns for the third year in a row to the top 50 list with his electrifying Absa play. Though he wasn’t able to travel often, Jorane was a terror online often showing up as a top 16 threat in the massive online brackets. While Absa has risen in popularity as a character, Jorane’s remains one of our favorites to watch and one we hope to see more of in season 4.

NA RCS S3 #42 – Shotti

NA RCS S2 Rank: N/A

Shotti is a solo Forsburn main and another Sentralite member who made some impressive moves in season 3. In addition to single-handedly ending Blue’s career (as shown in the video evidence above) Shotti placed highly at both First Impact and Super Smash Con 2018. Boasting a signature playstyle that combines patient neutral and a devastating offstage combo game, this Tristate resident is another player on the cusp of breaking into a new tier. With some similar placings in season 4 Shotti can easily cement himself as one of the best solo Forsburn players in the game.

NA RCS S3 #41 – Dr Nitronio

NA RCS S2 Rank: N/A

In addition to being a great Rivals player, Dr Nitronio is also an admirable community leader that has been running Rivals events on both Xbox One and PC for years. Though his Xbox One roots were often mentioned in past seasons, the good doctor has solidly transitioned over into the larger PC community with great results. As a threat with both his Etalus and Kragg, Dr. Nitronio has ended plenty of tournament runs online in addition to using the duo to secure 13th at our largest main season event, Super Smash Con 2018.