Let the seeding and online qualifiers for the Winter Session continue through the PGL Online Tournaments! Before we get to your rankings, let’s just throw in a few extra tidbits to keep you updated with all of the moves we currently know that are going on with multiple teams in Gears Esports. First off, Pablos has officially signed to represent Oxygen Supremacy. LITBOYZZZ is now representing Parallax Gaming, NmE Esports has also found two teams to throw into the tournament for San Diego as long as everything stays on course. However, some teams that you wanted to root for have disappeared into the Nether and turn into multiple new teams. Fan of Optimum Gaming, they disbanded and spread (although they have a Optimum SD version now with basically a whole new roster). How about Fight Back, yep…. they fell off the world as well disbanding. Gravity? Still intact for the tournaments, but it sounds like the team doesn’t want to make the trip because they want to be funded. So feast your eyes on the carnage this week as a majority of the teams left playing in the online qualifiers are either going to San Diego to have a blast or just playing online to stay warm for Mexico.

Power Rankings – Week 5 – NA Fall Quarter

1. Oxygen Supremacy (Checked In for Week 5) (0)

Roster: INZEM, Xysho, Gearries, Lanarchy6016, and Abolish (Ruthless)

Not going to stop anytime soon said the God of the online tournaments. Oxygen Supremacy, big congratulations on getting the organization to represent you for San Diego and hopefully moving forward as well. Nothing at this point in time will stop this band of goons. They also upped the ante for anyone to go against them by adding a well known coach last week (Ruthless), so even their minor mistakes will be picked up from a coach that’s been around and on other teams through Gears Esports. So keep the dice rolling on the craps table and until the Boxman tells you your all out of skill. I honestly don’t see these young cats going anywhere on these rankings for awhile. So what’s the question to ask for them? When and who will defeat you?

2. Glory (Didn’t Check In for Week 5) (0)

Roster: VitalTheOne, Propells 24, k3soto, ClizzyClouts, GODPLAY5

You got your travel rewards and now it is time to take a break. At least that’s what Glory is doing for this week. On one hand, I like the idea of taking a rest, hanging out with family and friends, and just being able to take a breath before the major tournament arrives in a week and a half. The other part of me is worried, as Glory might lose a pep in their step from taking some time off (then again, they could be doing scrims throughout the whole week and keeping up with the game). Yet, you won’t see this roster filled with professionals from other titles in this week’s tournament and we will see if they pop up next week or not. Nevetheless, this is still your second strongest team in the online tournaments. So will the week off take them off their game or not?

3. Quantam Gaming (Checked In for Week 5) (+1)

Roster: QG Pushyz, QG Reliant, QG Zet, Zizel, QG Rocky

Slowly but surely, Quantam Gaming is rising in the power rankings because of their consistency in team play, but also their commitment to beating teams that are seen as a higher skill. They come into every week more prepared than the last and continuously show why they should be taken seriously when it comes to Gears Esports. When Gears 5 first hit the consoles, multiple people didn’t buy in to this roster from the get go. There was even doubt at one point when Pushyz left the team for just a few days. However, the bond between all of these players has seem to grow over the past few weeks and it is paying dividends for them. Question of the week.  With Glory not playing in the tournament today, can this team come out swinging and play in the Finals against who I would assume will be Oxygen Supremacy?

4. Vision (Checked in for Week 5) (-1)

Roster: Raidhn, Azuries, TheeGreatChubbz, Homicide, Venominal (GreaT)

Simple. Vision is still one of the top teams in the online tournament hands down. They went out early last week by losing to a rising Quantam Gaming squad that is out to pick a bone with anyone they go against. Don’t count this squad out yet, as you should recall they originally qualified for the tournament to see if they would place in Pro League or not. It might of been an off week, going against an opponent they underestimated, or just not enough practice because life hands working people a ton of things to do, but I see they bounce back this week and show why they shouldn’t fall any further on the Power Rankings. The only question becomes if they get a chance to go again Quantam Gaming, will they get their revenge?

5. Parallax Gaming (Checked In for Week 5) (0)

Roster: Nunez, Cellz, Victoreez, Terminus7577, Kyng Switzer

Congratulations is in order again for this roster, as they are representing Parallax Gaming  in San Diego. We stated this in last weeks blurb, but it was so close to the tournament when the update came out, that I’m not sure most would of caught it. Nunez and company made their way through the bracket last week until they were stopped by the same team that took out Vision, that being Quantam Gaming. So in this week’s tournament, I want to see this squad excel in taking down one of the higher tier teams in the standings. A young squad with an unlimited amount of potential, how can they knock of a giant? Let’s see it happen today squad.

6. Gravity (Checked In for Week 4) (+1)

Roster: Suhduceful, FYC Flash, Nightfall3048, Canni, Kryo TYB, (Matias Leonel Morales)

Yachtyy left the coaching position to pursue his own team wit Guh Bade, but that shouldn’t stop this well trained team from having any issues. Gravity is one of the hardest teams to talk about on the Power Rankings, as two things come to mind every time they are brought up. The first one is bracketology. I don’t believe they’ve had one week yet that they didn’t have to go against the top ranking team in Round 2. Although all teams are expecting to win their games and that’s the goal, that is still a hard hill to climb. Secondly, this team is back and forth with if they will continue as a roster or not. From the looks of it, currently they are sticking together for the online tournaments and maybe the Winter Qualifiers, but don’t expect this team to be at San Diego. Players want funding to go, but to be truthful, this team isn’t in any position for any type of travel or hotel accommodations. Maybe the old team pass and jerseys bit, but nothing more than that until they prove otherwise. So Gravity, can you prove me wrong with that realistic and straight forward statement?

7. Money May (Checked In for Week 5) (+2)

Roster: abruptyshots, ffirearm, Denial Hesah, z Crushmo, Tristian Dougherty (Jarid)

This doesn’t seem right at all. Let me be honest here. After the Top 6 rankings this week, things get extremely hectic. We got teams that disbanded, upsets, and more to consider. So here is the one team that has firepower, but didn’t play last week, and gained. Money May was in third last week’s standings and didn’t show up to cause a ruckus in the tournament. Yet, they still maintained their spot in third because all of the teams below them didn’t excel or took one another out. So without further to do, the new and updated roster for this team, how will they look this tournament?

8. Goonigans (Checked in for Week 5) (NR)

Roster: ThixG 2, ClapGxD, ThxnG 1, RxyJugo, Nombierd

Hate to be brutally honest here, but this might be the most left field, makes no sense, ranking of the week. However, I will finally give some recognition to Goonigans. They ended up beating a talented squad in IP GG’s last week, followed by a nail biter of a game against Technique that they ended up winning for the bread. They would eventually lose out to Oxygen Supremacy, yet I still feel this team hasn’t proved enough for me to truly feel this is the right place for them to obtain. So can you get a statement win this tournament and let me feel confident in putting you on the list?

9. HNC (Checked In for Week 5) (NR)

Roster: HNC Precision, HNC Demon, HNC Crucioh, WarriaK, Crashy

They came back and fought well, but were stifled with stiff competition against Oxygen Supremacy. HNC has a way to slay out and play aggressive against any of the competition, but what has kept them from progressing even further in these tournaments, is the same thing that normally plagues Gravity. The braketology and the stars haven’t aligned for this team, but if just the right sequence of games are able for them this tournament, how far can they go?

10. The Fam (Checked In for Week 5) (NR)

Roster: FIexecution, J O H N lN Y, Demoralz, Le Bounce, Afentico (Caelan McLaughlin)

They are here to slay out and take the competition one round at a time. Kudos to The Fam for continuously fighting every round to grow and make themselves better. They have been a Top 16 worth while team in the online qualifiers and they have kept going against some good competition in the early rounds and win them out accordingly. They were taken out by Glory last week, but who knows what they can achieve this week. Will they get further than Top 8 this week?

11. Technique (Checked In for Week 5) (0)

Roster: CREA7i0N. OZ, Peaquat, XeIerates, Outside Del

Upset of the week? Goonigans beating Technique. Yeah, but no worries here, as Technique just recently had a roster switch that they are becoming more accustomed with. Still though, a lot from what this roster had at the starting of these Power Rankings hasn’t been regained since. So this is the week I’m wondering, time for a bounce back? Top 16? Come on down and show out!

12. RiP CancerRz (Checked In for Week 5) (-6)

Roster: RayMinh, CrAZeI, Unreal Might, Vo1kz, Ceetips (Movemxnts)

Two weeks and I don’t know what has happened. This is honestly a great team and can bounce back easily, but it was two weeks in a row of underwhelming performances so they had to have some type of damage. However, these guys can truly goon out and I expect them to come out guns a blazing this week. The only question other than the bounce back for this tournament is you might have noticed, this roster has a sub today in Vo1kz. So what can they do this week?

13. Brutal Democracy (Checked In for Week 5) (+1)

Roster: Jippery McCloud, BDG Abyss, BDG Vibiez, BDG Luck, Sir1 WHOA

Great first round, not so great second round. Brutal Democracy has some bite in them and talent, but they still strive for consistency. One minute the oven is on and burning up the whole kitchen, the next second the overall kitchen turns as cold as ice (willing to sacrifice). So can Brutal Democracy show consistency across all games today?

14. Unite Gaming (Checked In For Week 5) (-1)

Roster: Joey Defiore, Censxd, Krisposaur, Tunez PR, MunchiezTheDon

Son of a gun. Another tournament, another one and done because of a tough opponent right out of the gates. HNC took out Unite Gaming, but it wasn’t easy at all, with the game going down to the wire. Still though, Unite Gaming needs to show some life this week in the tournaments. They got the roster and talent, but what is falling through the cracks? Expect a good performance this week and the team cracking Top 16.

15. Grinders (Checked In for Week 5) (NR)

Roster: Br KeNz, eden montes, Toxcityz, BLN Invirenz, Distract

Life happens sometimes and Grinders knows that. They’ve been MIA for the last two weeks, but are back and ready to get into the action of Gears Esports. I truly think this roster can come out and showcase what they are all about, but like a handful of rosters this week, what will they be able to do with the new look roster? Toxityz and BLN Invirenz are here to play.

16. Bikini Bottoms Boyz (Checked In for Week 5) (NR)

Roster: Screaming D3MON, Sinuatez, xTMNTx MADNESS, Nate 8130, Murkatron (Taboo iX)

You know what? This team needs to be higher on the Power Rankings from the work they did last week. This roster has been on and off since Gears 4 with some of the players, but they are formed back together with a few new people on the roster as well. Just expect this squad to rip through the first two rounds again today without any issues. Then, we will be able to throw them further up on these standings as they deserve. So, was last week a fluke or not? I believe not, but statement week for Bikini Bottom Boyz.

Just Missed Out

Teams: Loyalty, First Rounders, Ether, Tidal Esports

Omissions

Fight Back, what a strong team. Now gone. Why? Who knows? What a waste of a team though, as they were built to create an issue at San Diego. This Sites Trash is making another appearance in the tournament today, but without being on for multiple weeks, I couldn’t throw them into the Power Rankings this week. Optimum Gaming is out of here. Internally, the team had issues that never came to the public light, but all five players are no scattered on other teams with combine total of about 0 points. What a damn shame. So after this tournament, will we see other good rosters just give up and fall into the abyss? Only time will tell.

New Rules

First to 5 now. Boom and Drop in the middle of the map. Some other things have changed for the better, but not at the right time. However, today’s tournament will be the first one that we see teams playing maps only first to 5, which creates a whole new meta in it’s own terms. So who will prevail? More upsets? Let’s see.

#CaseClosed

So what will happen now that Escalation is the first to 5? Will we see some of the higher teams collapse against others with the difference in rules and meta? What teams will solidify themselves as a main stay on the rankings after this week’s tournament? What other teams will fold under pressure or inform their teammates they are not flying out to San Diego?

Overall, this has been a strange week for Power Rankings and I do have to say this one more time. I believe after Rank 7, we will have a crazy shake up going into next week as most of these teams are here and there every week. So who you got this week? We will talk soon!

#getjipped

Updated: November 24 (12:40 PM EST)