After a full day of clutch heals, burst damage and kiting, the World of Warcraft Arena World Championship Season 1 Finals has concluded. As a result, Method NA became the Arena World Championship regional champions. Along with gold medals, Method NA received the lion’s share of the $100,000 regional prize pool.
Journey to the top
On May 2, the Arena World Championship for North America kicked off with a match between the Golden Guardians and Cloud9. With a score of 3-0 to Cloud9, the latter team pushed the Golden Guardians into the elimination bracket.
Next up, Method NA duked it out against OTK in the Nagrand Arena. While Method NA’s team composition consisted of a paladin, monk and druid, OTK fought with shaman, death knight and monk.
The first point went to Method NA when the team’s monk began to pressure and interrupt the enemy shaman. OTK’s other players then got stunned and taken down when they came to their teammate’s aid.
Method NA earned another point in Ashamane’s Fall when they defeated the enemy mage. Although the mage managed to use Ice Block, it wasn’t enough as Method NA’s players took him down.
OTK prevented a clean sweep in the following Black Rook Hold arena. The team had to pull off a reverse sweep if they wanted to continue in the upper bracket. However, Method NA did not relent as they finished the game in Empyrean Domain with a score of 3-1.
This meant Method NA had to face Cloud9 next, while OTK duked it out against the Golden Guardians in the elimination bracket.
In the upper bracket semi-finals, Cloud9 earned the first point by defeating Method NA’s rogue with the help of druid, warlock and mage. When both teams clashed in the Hook Point arena, Method NA managed to tie the score 1-1.
However, Cloud9 didn’t let up as they won in Empyrean Domain by not letting the enemy team land crowd control and by dishing out burst damage. In the following Ruins of Lordaeron arena, Method NA once again tied the score.
When it all came down to Ashamane’s Fall, Method NA took out the enemy warlock with the efforts of paladin, mage and rogue.
This pushed Cloud9 into the elimination bracket, where the team fought for a place in the finals by overcoming OTK.
Arena World Championship grand finals
After achieving a score of 3-1 against OTK, Cloud9 was back for more against Method NA in the grand finals.
The Nagrand Arena went to Method NA soon after the team took down the enemy mage. It was a close game as Cloud9 started to set up for the finishing blow on Method NA’s rogue. However, the rogue survived thanks to a clutch heal from paladin.
Cloud9 tied the score 1-1 in Empyrean Domain, but the opposing team didn’t give in Hook Point and came out victorious. Cloud9 then tied the score once again in Ashamane’s Fall.
The fifth game took place in the Ruins of Lordaeron arena and ended with Method NA coming out on top. This was soon tied again by Cloud9 as the team earned a score of 3-3 by winning in Tol’viron Arena.
When it all came down to the Dalaran Sewers, Cloud9’s warlock constantly kited enemy attacks. However, Method NA found an opportunity to go all in on Cloud9’s druid. Although the druid did all he could to survive, it wasn’t enough as Method NA’s mage burst him down, with the help of the rogue’s Death from Above.
With a final score of 4-3, Method NA became the World of Warcraft Arena World Championship regional champions for Season 1.
