The VALORANT Power Rankings covers the top teams in VALORANT esports, discussing key aspects of their gameplay, notable players, and results. Find out more about the best teams in VALORANT in our Power Rankings.
What is the VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT)?
The VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) is the official tournament circuit for VALORANT esports in 2023. The VCT is in its third iteration, and will see 32 teams in total, 30 of which are officially franchised from the Americas, EMEA and Asia-Pacific, and two teams invited from China, competing throughout the year.
The VCT is split into two levels, Pro and Challengers. The 30 partnered teams will compete at the Pro level, while aspiring Challengers teams can earn qualification to the Pro level via the Challengers Ascension tournament.
How does the VALORANT Power Rankings work?
The methodology for our Power Rankings considers three factors: a team’s overall win rate; recent match results; and percentage of total rounds won. This methodology is far from ideal, with other factors such as Attacker and Defender side rounds won, overall economy management, and Average Combat Score for a team all possible variables to be added in the future once match data becomes more accessible. These rankings are intended to help you inform your VALORANT bettting.
Credit: VALORANT Champions Tour
Who are the best teams in VALORANT esports?
1. LOUD
LOUD top the VALORANT Power Rankings in 2023, having been crowned VALORANT Champions in 2022. Despite the loss of arguably their best player Gustavo “Sacy” Rossi in the off-season, the team has kept in-game leader Matias “saadhak” Delipetro and maintained the same coaching staff for 2023, so they should be able to hold a top spot in the rankings.
2. Fnatic
Off the back of winning the VCT Lock-In tournament at the beginning of 2023, Fnatic have secured second place in the VALORANT Power Rankings, and are likely to contend at the top of the VALORANT Champions Tour 2023: EMEA League. In-game leader Jake "Boaster" Howlett is regarded as one of the best strategic minds in VALORANT, and provides a solid foundation on which the team can continue to grow.
3. NRG
NRG secure the third spot in the VALORANT Power Rankings off the back of their acquisition of multi-tournament winning in-game leader Pujan “FNS” Mehta. He is joined by former teammates Austin "crashies" Roberts, Victor "Victor" Wong, Ardis "ardiis" Svarenieks, and Sam "s0m" Oh, who all have experience playing at the top level of VALORANT esports.
4. Natus Vincere
Natus Vincere (NAVI) make a strong case to be in the top four of the VALORANT Power Rankings, with their lineup consisting of players that have won international tournaments. One notable player on the team is Mehmet "cNed" İpek, who is a VALORANT Champions 2021 winner.
5. DRX
DRX have been a consistent contender in the VALORANT Power Rankings. They have competed at numerous international competitions, placing third at VALORANT Champions 2022, as well as having one of the longest standing player lineups in competitive VALORANT.
6. 100 Thieves
100 Thieves (100T) hold sixth place in the rankings with a string of strong results in the latter half of 2022. This includes a solid performance at the VCT Lock-In tournament, despite losing to eventual Champions, Fnatic, in the semi-finals. This all-American team is full of young talent, most notably Peter “Asuna” Mazuryk, who has been on the team since October 2020.
7. Cloud9
Cloud9 (C9) land at the number seven spot on the VALORANT Power Rankings after a tumultuous off-season that saw the departure of Jaccob "yay" Whiteaker, who is arguably one of the best VALORANT players competing in the North American league. Core members Nathan "leaf" Orf and Erick "Xeppaa" Bach remain on the team, while Jordan "Zellsis" Montemurro, Jake "jakee" Anderson, and Dylan "runi" Cade are the newest members of the lineup.
8. ZETA Divison
ZETA Division (ZETA) represent Japan in this edition of the VALORANT Power Rankings, with a great record against regional teams, but a mixed record in international competition. Their highest tournament placement was third in Masters Reykjavik 2022, but since then the team have struggled to progress into the latter stages of tournament play. ZETA are a team to watch closely in the VCT 2023: Pacific league, and should be a contender for a spot at the next Masters tournament.
9. Team Liquid
Team Liquid (TL) will have a lot to prove in 2023, with a highly competitive player lineup that features star players like Ayaz “nAts” Akhmetshin and Igor “Redgar” Vlasov, who are both VALOANT Champions 2021 winners. While the team have the potential for success, the real question for TL will be whether the international team can be cohesive enough to compete for a top spot again.
10. Sentinels
Sentinels (SEN) have been a fan favourite in VALORANT esports since their inception. The team is home to arguably one of the best players in the world, Tyson “TenZ” Ngo, and have acquired Brazilian players “Sacy” and Bryan "pANcada" Luna, who come from VALORANT Champions 2022 winners LOUD. While this ranking is conservative, the quality of the players on the team should propel SEN higher in the rankings as they play more competitive games together.
