The Teamfight Tactics Monsters Attack! North American Regional Finals crowned a champmion! JukeYou will be one of NA’s representatives at the Monsters Attack! Championship.
Twenty-four worthy Teamfight Tactics competitors battled it out for three spots at the Monsters Attack! Championship in the Monsters Attack! North American Regional Finals. And after eighteen games of grueling and entertaining competition, JukeYou prevailed above the rest. Along with JukeYou, rereplay, and Setsuko qualified to represent North America at the Monsters Attack! Championship.
North American Regional Finals winner JukeYou
After placing first overall in points on Day 1, and fourth overall in points on Day 2, JukeYou continued his domination on the final day. In the first three games, he was outshined by rereplay who took home 1st place in each of those games. However, just when it looked like rereplay would replicate Robinsongz's legendary Set 5.5 Regional Finals performance of 1st, 1st, 1st, 5th, 1st, 1st, rereplay faltered with a 6th place.
From then on, JukeYou's consistency took over. Before the final game, JukeYou did not place below third place a single time. He accrued a commanding 33 points by placing 3rd, 2nd, 3rd, 2nd, 2nd. While he was the first place overall in points leading into the final game, a 1st place game finish had eluded him.
The final game of the North American Regional Finals
With rereplay just two points behind, JukeYou needed a strong finish above rereplay in order to secure the tournament victory. So why not go for a first-place finish to close it out?
Going into the game, JukeYou and Setsuko had different goals in mind. JukeYou wanted to stave off Rereplay's hunt for first and take home the championship. Setsuko wanted to secure a top finish over Milala, who was chasing the coveted best average placement slot for a berth into the global championship. JukeYou took things slower, leveling to eight on 5-1 and ultimately capping out his board on level 9 later in the game. Setsuko, needing to deny Milala and wanting to tempo his way to the top, took Think Fast on 4-2. He rolled down all of his gold on level seven in order to be as strong as possible as early as possible.
Both JukeYou and Setsuko went for the incredibly popular and strong Ox Force Spellslingers composition to close out the tournament. Both players made it to level nine capped boards. So after assembling the strongest versions of their squad, this is the fight between the two that commenced.
The final fight of North American Regional Finals
This patch is what many top Teamfight Tactics players believe to be one of its most balanced states. JukeYou displayed brilliance throughout all three days of the competition. On his way to one of the most dominating overall tournament performances, JukeYou played fourteen unique compositions across eighteen games. Topping off the final day with a 1st place finish, JukeYou absolutely earned the crown of the Monster's Attack North American Regional Finals.
Qualifications from North American Regional Finals
By winning the Monsters Attack! North American Regional Finals, JukeYou secured a spot at the Monsters Attack! Championship. Joining him from North America is Wasianiverson, Rereplay, and Setsuko. Wasianiverson qualified via the North American Mid-Set Finale. Rereplay qualified through his stellar second-place finish at the NA Regional Finals alongside Setsuko who had the best average placement in the tournament after JukeYou and Rereplay. Additionally, fourth and fifth-place finishers Kindlegem and Robivankenob qualified to the Western Last Chance Qualifier. Players from North America (NA), Brazil (BR), Latin America (LATAM), Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) will compete for one more spot at the Monsters Attack! Championship.
Prize pool distribution
This is how the competitors split the $35,000 USD prize pool:
- 1st: $10,000 - JukeYou
- 2nd: $7,000 - Rereplay
- 3rd: $5,000 - Setsuko
- 4th: $3,500 - Kindlegem
- 5th: $2,500 - Robivankenob
- 6th: $1,700 - Dpei
- 7th: $1,300 - RippleOverdrive
- 8th: $1000 - Milala
For more scores and results from the tournament, click here.
JukeYou's preparation, his strengths and ranking
Preparation for the tournament
JukeYou is a breakout performer this set who has been competing in tournaments for a while now. During the time of Mecha Cup, he got lost as a player just forcing Lulu Reroll on the ladder. But for this tournament, he realized he needed to return to his roots and strengths as a player.
One day I thought, I need to actually come up with a spreadsheet - what you want to roll for at [level] six and [level] seven for every comp out there. I wrote all of that and went, "oh, I get it now."
Strengths as a player
Each player has their own strengths, but the best players are able to identify what they're good at and take full advantage of it. JukeYou did just that over the course of the tournament, helping him pilot a wide variety of compositions to success.
I think my strength is picking up comps really fast. I can kind of intuitively see after seeing it one time, what you're supposed to do with a comp. I definitely picked up some stuff from VOD reviewing other players in regionals. I like to identify my line really early and play towards it.
How he views his overall ranking
Many established players and veterans are consistently among the elite for a reason. Underdogs arrive every set to shake up the order and JukeYou has done just that.
I think I would say top quarter now. (Top 6 out of 24 competitors) I have always had confidence issues. In solo queue, I've never pushed for super high rank. Every time I would hit a certain new milestone, I would think "Okay, that's my limit." After playing this tournament, I feel like I can at least hang with the best.
Rereplay and Setsuko share their thoughts
Rereplay, 2nd place at NA Regional Finals
Transition in and out of Teamfight Tactics
Teamfight Tactics can be such a time-consuming game, especially at the highest levels of competition. Many people can only compete for so long before having to take care of responsibilities outside of the game. For rereplay, it was no different. But now he's back and in peak form.
I played the early sets, 1-3. I played [in] regionals. But then at that point, I started working so I haven't had time to play the last six or so sets. I just found time for it now and I've been playing 24/7 for the last four months. [...] I've played a month of set 6 or a few weeks of a few sets and I'm never really that interested. When I played a few weeks of this set, I was like, "I think this is the one." I actually want to play it all the time.
His competitive edge and preparation
The competition in North American Teamfight Tactics continues to improve each set, but even after a break, rereplay has come back and found his edge.
What I think I do well is understanding the power level of units regardless of their synergies. Being able to play flexible boards mid-game where you're not really playing synergies but playing your strongest board.
He has also joined the wave of study groups, citing that they have been a great benefit to his game.
I have been VOD reviewing a ton with Dpei and Ripple[Overdrive] and all three of us made it to the final lobby. In the last week where we VOD reviewed, I probably learned more than the first four months of playing the set.
How it feels to make it to the Monsters Attack! Championship
To return to the competitive space and reach his goal, rereplay kept it simple.
I'm just really excited. It was kind of my goal the whole set to try and make it to worlds. And now I'm here.
Setsuko, 3rd place at NA Regional Finals
Ladder warrior critics
Setsuko has been consistently Rank 1 or near the top of the North American ladder since Set 4.5, but continuously struggled to put up tournament results for a few sets. Due to this, he garnered an unfortunate nickname as a "ladder warrior." However, he proved himself in the Set 8 Corrupted Cup and here at the North American Regional Finals.
It feels amazing. Even though I've been doing well in tournaments this set, people still think I suck, so it feels extra good for sure.
Challenges in competitive atmosphere
Finding success in tournaments didn't happen by coincidence. Setsuko adapted to the tournament environment over the course of a few sets and is now showing why he is a player to be feared going into the Monsters Attack! Championship.
In Set 5 and Set 6, when I first started playing competitive, I would just go into tournaments thinking it's like solo queue and not roll seven ever, not roll on six. Now, I realized that you can't do that every game. I play to the lobby tempo so it feels a lot better. I used to have nerves as well in tournaments, but this set it's gone away. After the first win in Corrupted Cup, [...] now I just feel confident.
What's next in Teamfight Tactics?
With many Regional Finals concluding this past weekend, there are only a few tournaments left before the competition at the Monsters Attack! Championship is finalized.
- Western Last Chance Qualifier: TBD
- Eastern Last Chance Qualifier: May 20
- Monsters Attack! Championship: May 26 - 28
Stay tuned to Esports.gg for the latest Teamfight Tactics news and updates.