Sentinels: the best VALORANT team in the world

Editors note: This story has been updated to show that Bren Esports will not attend the event.

Following months of qualifier after qualifier (after an even bigger qualifier), we’ve reached the end of summer and its final destination: VALORANT Masters Berlin.

There will be 15 of the best teams in the world from seven regions (after Bren Esports’ visa issues) that embark to Germany to capture the trophy and automatic qualification to the upcoming world championship. As a bonus, the winning team will also secure an extra spot at Champions, for their respective region.

As we count down to curtain opening in Berlin, I will guide you through each of the 15 teams vying for masters victory about their roster, map pool and the burning questions surrounding them.

Sentinels starting lineup

Tyson “TenZ” Ngo (Canada)

Agents played (past 60 days): Jett (17 maps), Reyna (9), Raze (4), Yoru (2)

Signature agent: Jett

Stats (past 60 days):

• 248.4 Average Combat Score
• 1.25 Kill:Death ratio
• 0.88 Kills Per Round
• +22 First Kills-to-First Deaths (77 FK, 55 FD)

Shahzeb “ShahZaM” Khan (United States)

Agents played (past 60 days): Sova (23), Jett (9)

Signature agent: Sova

Stats (past 60 days):

• 193.8 ACS
• 1.12 K:D
• 0.69 KPR

Hunter “SicK” Mims (United States)

Agents played (past 60 days): Phoenix (11), Sage (9), Raze (6), Skye (5), KAY/O (1)

Signature agent: Phoenix

Stats (past 60 days):

• 225.6 ACS
• 1.15 K:D
• 0.79 KPR
• +8 First Kills-to-First Deaths (35 FK, 27 FD)

Jared “Zombs” Gitlin (United States)

Agents played (past 60 days): Astra (16), Viper (11), Omen (5)

Signature agent: Astra

Stats (past 60 days):

• 178.5 ACS
• 1.00 K:D
• 0.64 KPR

Michael “dapr” Gulino (United States)

Agents played (past 60 days): Cypher (11), Killjoy (9), Sova (6), Viper (6)

Signature agent: Cypher

Stats (past 60 days):

• 194.5 ACS
• 1.09 K:D
• 0.72 KPR

Stage 3 Map Pool

Haven: 8-2, 80% (54% Attack Round Win, 60% Defense Round Win)

Bind: 5-1, 83% (69% ATK, 56% DEF)

Icebox: 5-1, 83% (50% ATK, 56% DEF)

Breeze: 4-1, 80% (58% ATK, 65% DEF)

Split: 2-1, 66% (59% ATK, 67% DEF)

Ascent: 1-1, 50% (37% ATK, 54% DEF)

My player to watch: SicK

Although the simple answer would have been TenZ, the world’s most-talked-about player who lit up Masters Reykjavik like he was the Northern Lights, I’m taking a different direction.

I’ve been adamant that SicK is the best flex player in all of VALORANT, and he’s coming in the tournament having played five agents in recent days. His Phoenix has become the blueprint that other players learn from, but his evolving Skye might be the most dangerous weapon in his overabundant arsenal.

TenZ and ShahZaM stole the headlines in Iceland. In this tournament, though, I think we’ll see SicK at the forefront as Sentinels look to repeat as international champions going into the world championship this fall.

The big question going into Berlin: Can Sentinels become the first “era” in VALORANT history?

There’s been much discussion in the VALORANT community about whether Sentinels have done enough to claim that this last year of dominance warrants being called “the Sentinels era.”

For me, I’ll happily say that the first year of professional VALORANT in North America will go down as the Sentinels era. Every rival that has popped up, from early days TSM to more recent challengers like FaZe, Version1 and 100 Thieves, Sentinels have answered the call and defended their throne.

Yet, the VALORANT world is much larger than just North America. While they did win the first international LAN in Iceland, they need to close out the year strong for it to be known as the Sentinels era. If they slip up in Berlin and then fail to win or even make a deep run at Champions, it’d be challenging to anoint Sentinels the main characters of the inaugural era of pro VALORANT.

On the other hand, if they do well in Berlin and win Champions? This question will be irrelevant and we can congratulate Sentinels on ruling the world.

In Berlin, Sentinels should be aiming for: The trophy, nothing else.

Fifteen teams heading to Masters can have endings where they don’t play in the finals and win while still leaving fulfilled. Sentinels aren’t one of them, though. They’re not only playing against every team taking a trip to Iceland, shooting to take out the reigning champions and No. 1 team in the world — they’re also playing to establish a history inked in pen and leave an unbreakable legacy.

Sentinels are a team with a superstar at every position with the confidence to match. It wouldn’t be the end of the world if they fail to capture gold at Masters Berlin with Champions right around the corner, but that’s not in the Sentinels style. Unless the Masters trophy is in their possession as they make their return trip back home to North America, Sentinels won’t be satisfied.

All stats for this article provided by vlr.gg