The last tournament before Gears 5 first LAN event is here, but where are the participants? With the LAN event right around the corner, it is another bizarre level of marketing gone wrong from Gears Esports and PGL. Here is the truth. Specifying that a tournament is coming up for teams to compete online and not announcing it far earlier in the week is a huge issue. People make plans at the starting of the week and not the ending. So when you tweet out “Tournament this weekend” on late Friday or early Saturday…… chances are participants and teams will be low. Now let’s talk a bit more before we begin.

Amateur players. Gears competitors. Here we are again with the same theme. Teams breaking up for reasons we may never know or do know, but then continue to create a bad reputation or report with other players. This week, multiple teams yet again have either split apart, dropped players, and everything in between. Last time I checked the calendar…. San Diego is less than a week away. So let the pretenders stay in their lane constantly breaking their teams up, dropping players, and throwing excuses out to the wolves. The truth for these Power Rankings, is I have to officially start throwing teams falling apart or breaking up into oblivion straight out of the standings. I didn’t do this to any of you, but you did it to yourselves by not being able to stick together as a family.

Power Rankings – Week 6 – NA Fall Quarter

1. Oxygen Supremacy (Checked In for Week 6) (0)

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

Going into San Diego, what more do you want from this team to show? Been sticking together for multiple weeks now, slaying out the competition with no end in site, have a great coach over the past multiple weeks, and now will be walking into San Diego as the number one seed from North America. Now a quick note, that might not necessarily mean they are first in open bracket because of other teams in other regions (which might be a huge issue come tournament time that I hope PGL addresses). Now with all of that being said, you can’t take the crown off the kings until someone gives them a curb stomp down the rankings.

2. Glory (Checked In for Week 6) (0)

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

A step closer to victory this past tournament, but still not enough gusto to knock the reigning kings off their pedestal at the top. Although Glory didn’t get the chance to take out Oxygen Supremacy in their latest attempt, they still took out a lot of fierce competitors in HNC, Parallax Gaming, and Rip CancerRz. Like the kings above them, Glory can’t be knocked down the totem pole until someone else in the tournament takes them out.

3. RiP CancerRz (Checked In for Week 6) (+9)

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

Hold your horses! With some teams falling apart and then others thriving under immense pressure, here is the biggest mover yet in the Power Rankings Multiple weeks I asked can losing Fadeaway work for this team? Can they bounce back with only a few weeks left? Last week, they told me to put my money where my mouth is as they took out multiple teams that are high quality. Bikini Bottom Boys, Guilty, and Vision all dropped to the new look of Rip CancerRz, with Vo1kz filling the void and Movemxnts being the coach the prior week. So coming into this week, will they end up switching back to what was before or will they stick with the hot hand?

4. Vision (Checked in for Week 6) (0)

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

Consistent, but underwhelming the last few tournaments. Another question is this? Who has Vision beat recently that’s been a team of the same magnitude or better than them? They haven’t been able to beat teams such as Quantam Gaming (dropped some players between last week and now), and Oxygen Supremacy. They’ve beat up on teams that are in fact, not up to their pedigree, but they also haven’t been able to take the next step to showcase what was. So will they show out this week or still be stuck in neutral?

5. Goated (Checked in for Week 6) (NR)

Roster: HbM Perfections, ToXicTacTiX vZ, RepTilian vZ, God Dazed, LimiTs vZ

Mix up some of the rosters that are now defunct with some of the top tier talent from all corners of the game and what do you get? Goated. What a statement week from this team in the last tournament. Making upsets and knocking out teams heading to San Diego early in the bracket. Quantam Gaming, Technique, and Money May all fell to this newly formed team, but couldn’t beat out Glory. Let’s take a step back though. This team slapped some roster around so hard, they questioned themselves and dropped players or asked the question “Why do I play this game anymore?”. It was that type of upset where teams diminished. Quantam Gaming dropped folks and Money May made the tweets stating they don’t have dedicated enough players again. Great work in the tournament for Goated and the rest of the teams that got knocked by them, what a disappointment to break up over a loss. Give me a damn break (and not from that Kit Kat Bar).

6. Parallax Gaming (Checked In for Week 6) (-1)

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

Another sound performance from this group of young guns and an honorable leader heading into San Diego. Only issue that ended up happening for this squad in last week’s tournament was they got knocked out by the kings of the standings. However, they did again prove themselves against teams they are suppose to beat according to skills, such as Goonigans and BLITZ. So let’s give them another whirl this week and see how they spin the story. They only fall a ranking because Goated truly destroyed teams that never saw it coming and on paper and outclassed many opponents.

7. The Fam (Checked In For Week 6) (+3)

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

This team is a sneaky pick. They got great team skill, rotate well with each other, and continue to impress other teams as they climb up the rankings each week. Even with the growth over the past few weeks though, I’m ready to see The Fam knock out a team and make it into the Top 4. Only thing that stands between them and that? Likely Glory if the brackets come together as they’ve had the past weeks.

8. HNC (Checked In for Week 6) (+1)

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

HNC can’t catch a break. They can take out a lot of teams on the bracket, but they again went against Oxygen Supremacy early in the day. So it is hard to throw them any higher or lower than they currently stand, as I believe most of the teams on this ranking below them would have a hard time defeating them or not equipped well enough to do the work. So let’s see how this tournament turns out with bracketology and see if they are allowed to move up higher when they go against stiff competition other than the top team.

9. Technique (Checked In for Week 6) (+2)

Roster: CREA7i0N. OZ, Peaquat, StarbriteZ, Outside Del (XeIerates)

They did the work they needed to in the first round, but only to have a frivolous enemy in Goated to quickly put the fire out that Technique was hoping to start creating. However, Technique still has work to do and skill to show for it. They are a roster that has stuck it out together throughout the last many weeks and they will continue to try and break into the limelight. So like a lot of teams going into this tournament, they need to take the next step to kick start a run that could carry tons of momentum.

10. Encrypted Gaming (Checked In for Week 6) (+3)

Roster: Jippery 3G, Abyss 3G, Vibiez 3G, lLuck 3G, WHOA 3G

Although they lost out to The Fam, the team once under the organization Brutal Democracy, but has now officially been picked up by Encrypted Gaming has grown over the many months Gears 5 has been out. They like other teams, need to break through to the other side with a statement victory against competitors that are above them on the rankings. They’ve gain ground and have been working well together, but almost lost a teammate because of some issues. Now that all five of the guys are headed to San Diego, they can try and right the ship just in time for the tournament.

11. Unite Gaming (Didn’t Check In For Week 6) (+3)

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

Unite Gaming, on the come up. Just can’t stop hitting those hard games with the cream of the crop so early, but still putting a dent into teams why they go down swinging. However, before they went out in the second round, they managed to take out Starbritez team, which is a pretty good feat and advancement from the first round. So let’s see how they bounce back this week against the competition.

12. Tidal Esports (Checked In For Week 6) (NR)

Roster: Tidal Strafe, MotivaL, l AvenguRs l, Darko, Swifficiently (Tidal XpLoiD) 

Good looks on taking out Ether. Sadly though, the fun ended when Money May came around the corner and knocked them out of the tournament. Tidal Esports has been another team that’s been sticking to their guns and together. I can’t wait to see what is in store for this hungry team and see how they can advance in this week’s tournament. Good cross firing and rotations. Just got to put it all together.

13. IP GG’s (Checked In for Week 6) (NR)

Roster: Advanced iP, Chulo CA, Emissive, Hypertonicz iP, PupiLoG

Here is a team that I just can’t put my finger on. Overall, they are a group that shoots well together, can make power moves against other teams that they don’t expect, but are not consistent enough to keep up with the game. What do I mean by that exactly? The team has limited action in these tournaments, so it is hard to say who they can beat out and lose too without more results. With this tournament tomorrow, let’s take a look at who they can knock out tomorrow and prove.

14. Ether (Checked In For Week 6) (NR)

Roster: XpoZe, SG Snows, Florida6688, LaKeMz, DeVeLeS2

Constantly Ether has for multiple times now, almost peaked their head into these rankings. The time has officially come for them to rise from just outside the pecking order and make a splash into the standings. I’ll be honest here. This team has potential and needs to put more work into their game overall, but they got a solid foundation and are excited to grow with one another. That alone is better than half the players and teams that fall apart because of egotistical perspectives. So where do they go now? Keep marching forward and doing what they’ve done. Slowly grow as a whole and continue to become a better team.

15. Goose Gang Honk (Checked In for Week 6) (NR)

Roster: TheTwitchReaper, ON3, Neutralityy, Ezinagi, Arise Optimus

Another team that has stuck it out and has been growing together as a whole. Yet, I can’t get the best read on them. They play well as a team, but tend to over rotate or sometimes don’t play quick enough together to make pushes work. Yet, they continue to grind and keep beating teams that they are better than, but need to like again a lot of these teams on the rankings, prove themselves to the higher squads. Come out swinging and make sure you Honk this week!

16. Goonigans (Checked In for Week 6) (-8)

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

Well that didn’t go over smoothly. Goonigans get their first true test after making the rankings to only show us what we believed would happen. They got knocked around by the better team in Parallax Gaming and never had a chance. I’m glad to see this team continuing as a squad and truly do believe they can make themselves into a formidable opponent. However, it will take more time for this young squad to grow into a force. Good teams are built, not made in seconds. So they still are on the bubble here with the Power Rankings.

Just Missed Out

Teams: Loyalty, First Rounders, Guilty, Grinders

Calling Out

Out with it. Time to call out some teams, players, and folks that need to hear it.

With less than a week before San Diego the question comes into full light. Why are teams doing this to themselves? Quantam Gaming has dropped players without any type of understanding from the general public. A team that I do quote had a player last week that said “We are better than all of these teams but Glory and Oxygen Supremacy“. Well, that is honestly hilarious a week later, life comes at you fast. Dropped two players and now where are they? I can tell you. They picked up one of the same players they dropped and also brought Exlst JC onto the roster for today’s tournament. Why mess with success is the question? Let’s see how this turns out. Assuming it will be good to be truthful, but still a head scratching move in the first place.

Meanwhile, Gravity is officially not going and this was stated last week. Another extremely well put together roster that doesn’t want to travel without funding, but they will be in today’s tournament. However, one player in particular, Suhduceful has tried everything he could to get on a team before San Diego since no one else on Gravity is going. So this is just a case and point of teams that don’t want to put their money where the mouth is and believe they deserve more than they truly do. Let’s watch them do work today in the tournament and take out high seeded teams, only to then realize they are not traveling is a disappointment.

Then we have the curious case of Money May. Every week when they don’t pull through. Tristan tweets out another “no one is dedicated and I’m done with the game”. I understand the frustrations to a degree (to be fair though, I also don’t. Tristan has gone through the ringer ever since Gears 5 has been released with Esports. It is a tragedy). However, why keep committing to teams that obviously are not going to put in the same amount of time or at least, the same vibes as you? Money May once was a hot competitor, but now just an absolute mess. They also haven’t registered for the tournament as of this morning and who knows if they will.

We saw Optimum Gaming leave more than a week ago, with some of their players not getting anywhere the next week. To be fair though, some of them also were on the dominant Goated squad from last week. So kudos for those players bouncing back with a team that did work last week. Lastly, Fight Back. Weeks removed, but what a damn waste. A promising team that fell apart for what reasons I truly can’t remember, but I know many players from that team had it in them to do work.

Now that I can take a breath, the truth is most of these teams, rosters, and individuals could truly make themselves more profitable and better assets by showing some responsibility, commitment, and sticking together to grow. Too many teams want that instant success from out of the box, but that doesn’t rarely work. We’ve seen many teams actually grow together within a month alone, only to drop rosters and leave the game for just a few weeks to come back as a Frankenstein team.

Moving forward, take the time to play with people to see if you will get along with them and can have trustworthy companions that can grow along side you. So many players will throw together a team of naturally skilled players and think it is going to work, jump on an organization, only to drop off the face off the Earth days later. Enough is enough. It is time to grow up and actually put the time, effort, and trust into a team and do damage. By constantly switching rosters and players after announcements or even weeks of work, the move isn’t to just drop players. That’s what try outs are for. Constant try outs to see if you gel together with members that might be on your team.

So in conclusion, stop wasting other competitors times. If you got an ego, throw it out the window and forget about it since you are only outplaying yourself. Got a bad reputation, switch it around in this game by improving your weaknesses. Turn your negativity and hate for everything into a positive approach, it truly goes further than your trash talk and hate.

With all of that being said, if you still haven’t taken any advice or words I said, you are just not cut out to play a team based game. That is the honest truth and I believe you need to take a deep look into yourselves and figure out what you want to do. Do what makes you happy and stop hurting other competitors love for the game by dodging, dipping, diving, ducking, and dodging out of the way. You know I had to end it on a class rule from a great comedy movie.

New Rules?

How do we feel about the new rules for Escalation? Everyone has their own opinions. I truly like the changes, but still feel they shouldn’t of been implemented before the tournament. Now with that being said, power weapons in the middle of the map have now brought us to play like Gears of War 4 in some aspects. However, there are many ways to approach the battle and counter the power weapons plays with secondary weapons and map control. So it’ll be interesting to see how this progresses in tomorrow’s tournament, pro play, and San Diego.

#CaseClosed

I truly love this game. I’m sure you could tell by my constant commitment to bringing more content into the scene and trying my best to keep things constructive and upbeat. However, it takes a village to grow something great and not just a few people. I’m not saying there hasn’t been many mistakes and errors made so far, but let’s come together and make it better as a whole.

Last but not least, from now on, please if you are a free agent or a player looking for a new home, think about what I said above. At the very least, if you love Gears and other video games, you should be creating content and marketing yourself in this world of technology. No organization let alone, sitting around and hoping for the best, is going to get you any type of money. It is on you to grow yourself, reputation, brand, and identity. So give it a shot and see how far you can go with this approach and thought process. I’ll see some of you in a few days and I can’t wait to be with the Gears Family again. So until I see some of you in the tournament tomorrow….

#getjipped

Updated: December 1 (10:31 AM EST)