Storm Watch Emerald Forecast

Hello everyone and welcome to a new season of Blue Otter League Emerald. For those who do not know me my name is Storm or CTRL ULT ELITE. I have been the primary writer for this league for several years now and am also the colour commentator on stream. Today is a very short article going over the basics on how all 16 teams I think will do this season. For those who do not know this season Emerald is doing a world-style bracket to ensure that we are done before Christmas. Every week is a best-of-3 full fearless draft and there will be 5 weeks of this before playoffs. Of our 16 teams, 8 will advance to the playoffs after securing their third series win. Losing 3 matches means that you are eliminated from the main bracket and a consolation bracket will be offered to those remaining teams to ensure everyone has a full season. 

Here are Crewman44's (my cocaster and co-host of Otter Talk) Top 5 teams heading into the season

XSV Gluttony, Moonlight Spire, Iceborn Kingdom, SYN Squad Zero, and Team Solo Invade

Here is my tier list ranking(position within tiers does not matter):

Want to know why I ranked your team where I did? Check out the rest of my article to hear my brief thoughts on every team playing this Emerald season. What is the solo que point total? This is the way that Aegis used(IDK if they still do) to determine tiers of teams heading into a season. I think it just gives a good idea if you have not heard of a certain team before how close they are to the cap. Solo queue points are a simple way for me to show how close to the rank cap every player on a team is. A team that is an emerald 4 average would be 20 points, a diamond 4 team average would be 40 points and a plat 4 average team would be 0 points.

S Tier

XSV Gluttony

Top: Czi#OwO 

Jungle: Discrepancy #NA1 

Mid:  xBKP#NA1

ADC: Spaghetti#XSV

Support: avi#6569

Solo Queue Point Total: 23

Player To Watch: Spaghetti#XSV 

XSV Gluttony enter the new season as the reigning champions and once again look like the team to beat. With four of their five starters returning, Gluttony have continuity, chemistry, and championship experience on their side—three things that few other rosters in Emerald can claim. The lone change is in the top lane, where Czi is the new starter. Fortunately for Gluttony fans, Czi has looked sharp in recent Premier play, showing strong laning fundamentals and a versatile champion pool that fits perfectly into the team’s playstyle. He’s a proven upper-half top laner, and his addition shouldn’t be viewed as a downgrade in any sense.

At the heart of this roster is Spaghetti (aka Matty), the team’s undeniable carry threat and emotional anchor. Last season, he was a statistical monster averaging over 7 kills per game, finishing top 3 in DPM, and sitting comfortably in the top 10 for gold per minute. His ability to dominate in lane, find picks in mid-game skirmishes, and close out fights late makes him one of the most complete ADCs in the amateur scene.

Around him, Discrepancy continues to be the backbone of the team’s early game, a jungler known for clean pathing and intelligent setups that allow his lanes to thrive. xBKP remains a rock in mid lane—flexible, consistent, and capable of flipping games with creative picks. Meanwhile, avi’s support play and synergy with Spaghetti give Gluttony one of the most dangerous bot lanes in the league. Both Crewman and I have Gluttony firmly in our top 5, and for good reason. This team has the talent, the history, and the hunger to repeat. If they can maintain their discipline and keep innovating in draft, a second straight title run feels entirely within reach.

A Tier

XSV Envy

Top: Captfil#NA1

Jungle: Sutekh#soup

Mid: canela#tea

ADC: Evil Fallen#XSV

Support: Vaulter88#NA1

Solo Queue Point Total: 27

Player To Watch: Captfil

XSV Envy enter this split as one of the more intriguing lineups in Emerald. Built around a mix of veteran talent and strong mechanical players, Envy feels like a roster with real potential to punch above its current seeding if things come together. The team features two solo laners from last season’s Syndicate roster, bringing with them a proven level of synergy and experience from deep playoff runs. Rounding out the roster are Vaulter88 and Sutekh, two names well known in the amateur scene for their reliability and leadership exactly the kind of backbone a skirmish-heavy team like this one needs.

Stylistically, Envy are built for chaos. They prefer to play fast and loose, with compositions centered around mid-game spike champions and skirmish-oriented play. This is not a team that wants to handshake lanes and scale they want early fights, 3v3s around river, and constant pressure on the map. Their drafts often reflect that, prioritizing champions that thrive on mobility and tempo rather than slow, front-to-back teamfighting. However, that same aggression can sometimes come at a cost. The lack of reliable engage tanks or blind-pick frontliners in their recent match histories could lead to issues if opponents draft more stable, scaling setups that weather the early storm.

At the center of this team’s identity is Captfil, one of the most creative and confident top laners in the league. After helping lead his previous roster to the finals last season, Captfil proved he’s not afraid to experiment under pressure whether that’s pulling out an unexpected Ivern top with Press the Attack or turning a counterpick into a lane kingdom. His deep champion pool and willingness to adapt make him the clear X-factor for Envy’s success.

If Envy can channel their aggression into controlled, coordinated play, this team has the ceiling to make a real playoff run. But that hinges on how quickly they can develop synergy, especially in coordinated dive setups and mid-jungle timing areas that demand precision and trust. For now, they sit comfortably in A Tier, with the potential to rise higher as the season develops. Assuming they avoid a tough gauntlet draw, Envy should have little trouble escaping groups and making some noise in playoffs.

Dorado Gaming Iota

Top: CallyG#NA1

Jungle: chukko#deer

Mid: NBK#NA1

ADC: Mustard#G4s

Support: Gremlin#7725

Solo Queue Point Total: 31

Tier: A

Player To Watch: NBK

Dorado Gaming Iota are entering this season looking like one of the cleanest, most well-rounded rosters in Emerald. On paper, this team has no glaring weaknesses. Every player in the lineup brings both mechanical strength and versatility, which makes them incredibly flexible in draft and dangerous in nearly any meta.

Let’s start with the obvious: NBK. This man is simply too good for this elo. The biggest sitter left in Emerald, NBK has consistently posted dominant performances across multiple splits, and his control over mid lane is surgical. He’s got the laning mechanics of a Diamond player but also the awareness and composure to translate leads across the map. Whether he’s on lane bullies like or scaling picks like he knows exactly how to leverage pressure. If Iota makes a deep playoff run this split and they absolutely should NBK will be at the heart of it.

CallyG in the top lane provides a strong, adaptable presence. Having faced him in the past, I can say firsthand that he’s got a very healthy champion pool—mixing tanks, counterpicks, and flexible choices like Smolder or Gwen that let him shift between carry and supportive roles depending on the draft. That flexibility will be crucial for a team like Iota, which thrives on strong solo lanes and map control. In the jungle, chukko may not be the flashiest player, but he’s steady and reliable the kind of jungler who knows how to play around winning lanes and keep tempo in check. His game sense pairs nicely with NBK’s proactive mid play, allowing Iota to take early skirmishes confidently.

Mustard, meanwhile, has the makings of a breakout ADC this split. Dropping 800 damage per minute while maintaining 8 CS per minute in solo queue is no joke. That statline speaks to both his consistency and carry potential. Combine that with the natural depth of an ADC’s champion pool, and Mustard becomes a huge late-game insurance policy for Iota. Rounding out the lineup, Gremlin at support adds the final piece to this well-balanced puzzle. Whether piloting enchanters to protect Mustard or engaging with hard-initiation picks, he complements the team’s identity well and ensures their laning phases remain stable.

Top to bottom, Iota’s biggest strength is their flexibility every lane can adapt, and every player can shift their role depending on the matchup. That kind of balance is rare in Emerald. With NBK leading the charge and a team full of capable, self-sufficient players behind him, Dorado Gaming Iota should be in serious contention for a top-four finish and could easily push for even more if their synergy develops as expected.

Monkey Business

Top: Moonshot#Luna

Jungle: ELY Mango#Hers

Mid: zZoomy#NA1

ADC: Slayer#Tilt

Support: Nahor#NA1 

Solo Queue Point Total: 31

Player To Watch: MoonShot

Monkey Business are back and they’ve assembled a roster that looks almost too good to be true. Every split it feels like we say, “This Monkeys roster might easily makes playoffs,” and every time there’s that little bit of doubt that maybe, just maybe, they’re setting us up for another banana peel. But this time? This roster might finally be the real deal. On paper, it’s a powerhouse lineup. With two Diamond 4 solo laners, a bot lane full of seasoned veterans, and a jungler with one of the largest champion pools in Emerald, Monkey Business check nearly every box you’d want from a top contender. Their stat lines are clean across the board high KDAs, diverse pick histories, and strong synergy potential.

The spotlight, though, has to shine on Moonshot, who looks poised for a breakout split. A fearless and creative top laner, Moonshot’s champion pool reads like a mad scientist’s notebook Singed, Aatrox, Shen, even the occasional Gangplank and somehow, it all works. Their laning phase is strong, but it’s their impact in teamfights and map pressure that really elevate this roster. I’m all in on the Moonshot hype train this split. With over 50 champions played this season, he’s proving not only his versatility but also his willingness to innovate and adapt. If Monkey Business can harness that creative energy without tripping over themselves, they might finally be the ones leaving other teams slipping on the peel.

ELY Mango, the team’s jungler, deserves equal praise for their adaptability. With an enormous champion pool and the confidence to pivot between carry junglers and utility picks, Mango gives this team flexibility in draft that few others can match. Expect them to use that variety to enable Moonshot’s counterpicks or set up zZoomy, whose control-mage and assassin playstyles both fit perfectly into the Monkeys’ aggressive, skirmish-oriented identity.

The bot lane duo of Slayer and Nahor bring experience and creativity. Slayer, who role-swapped from ADC last split, has found solid footing again and brings strong teamfighting instincts to the table. Nahor, meanwhile, is one of the more unique supports in the league support Zilean, Heimerdinger, and other unconventional picks are part of his regular rotation. That versatility can tilt drafts in Monkey Business’s favor and allow them to play through any lane.

Compositionally, Monkey Business look cohesive. Their drafts make sense, their roles complement one another, and the players seem comfortable flexing into whatever the team needs. The only question mark left is whether they can translate that potential into consistent execution on game day. If they can avoid their trademark volatility and build week-to-week momentum, there’s no reason they shouldn’t be fighting for a top-four finish or even contending for the title.

Moonlight Spire

Top: TMS DannyPhantóm#787

Jungle: witchatblakmass#NA1

Mid: TMS Eros#414

ADC: 0bongo#NA1

Support: Seeker#80085

Solo Queue Point Total: 31

Player To Watch: 0bongo

Moonlight Spire return this season with a familiar core and a proven identity. The top side of the map DannyPhantóm, witchatblakmass, and Eros has now played together for two consecutive splits, and that level of stability gives them a real edge in coordination. While none of these players are the flashiest in Emerald, they all bring steady, consistent performances that make Spire one of the most structurally sound teams in the league. If you looked purely at stat sheets, you might not find a “#1 in role” player among them, but you would find three players who consistently land around the top five in almost every metric that matters. That kind of quiet consistency is exactly what wins games deep in the split.

The new additions to the roster 0bongo and Seeker are what make this version of Spire particularly exciting. 0bongo’s return to ADC after spending last year in the mid lane looks to be paying off. Despite a somewhat deceptive record on paper, his solo queue numbers tell a stronger story: a 27% team damage share, 0.5 solo deaths per game, and solid CS differentials all point to a player who understands lane control and late-game positioning. He’s not just holding his own he’s driving a lot of the team’s output in fights. More importantly, he’s been actively duoing with his support, Seeker, which should fast-track their synergy heading into the season.

Seeker, meanwhile, is a sneaky-good pickup for this roster. His champion pool stands out not just for its depth but for its range. While many supports lock themselves into either engage or enchanter playstyles, Seeker comfortably blends the two, sprinkling in mage supports like Zyra and Swain for good measure. That flexibility allows Spire to pivot their bot lane identity depending on the matchup something they’ve struggled with in previous splits.

As always, teamfighting remains the bread and butter of Moonlight Spire. This team might not blow you away in the early game, but once the map opens up, they thrive in 5v5s. Their coordination, target focus, and ability to play around key cooldowns have consistently been among the best in Emerald. Expect them to continue drafting for scaling and skirmish setups that give them strong mid-game control over objectives. If there’s one concern, it’s ceiling. The Spire is good undeniably good but whether they can break into great depends on how well their bot lane gels and whether their solo lanes can elevate from “reliable” to “dominant.” If Eros can take another step forward in mid and become more of a consistent win condition, this team could easily be a top-three contender by the end of the split.

Iceborn Kingdom

Top: Soez#2Ez

Jungle: hamankarn#06S

Mid: OTF27#NA1

ADC: koopa#0775

Support: Retail Row#SLURP

Solo Queue Point Total: 24

Player To Watch: OTF27

Iceborn returns to the Emerald scene with a roster that blends experience, synergy, and raw mechanical talent. Several members of this team are familiar faces from last season’s Emerald lineups, and that continuity gives them a strong foundation heading into the split. With hamankarn and OTF27 once again reunited, Iceborn boasts one of the best jungle–mid duos in the entire tier two players who thrive on tempo, coordination, and creating chaos in the early game.

hamankarn continues to be one of the smartest and most active junglers in the amateur scene, with a style that mixes calculated pathing with high-pressure early play. He’s the type of jungler who makes every lane feel like they’re part of the plan, and his synergy with OTF27 gives Iceborn a natural advantage around early skirmishes and objectives. The two play off each other extremely well hamankarn’s proactive setups allow OTF27 to capitalize on aggressive picks, and vice versa.

Speaking of OTF27, he remains the centerpiece of this roster and the clear player to watch. Known for his confidence and creativity in draft, he’s a player who thrives on counterpicks and high-impact champions like Sylas, Aurora, and Lebalnc. When he’s given agency, he doesn’t just win lane he warps the map. OTF27 has a knack for finding flanks, solo kills, and game-turning plays, and Iceborn’s best games often come when the team leans fully into his aggressive playstyle.

The top side of the map rounds out with Soez, a player with potential but some question marks. Coming off a rough split with the former Chosen Inters roster, Soez will be looking to rebound and prove he can hold his own in a more coordinated environment. With hamankarn’s guidance and a stronger supporting cast, there’s reason to believe he can find stability and contribute meaningfully, especially when given counterpicks or weak-side assignments.

In the bot lane, Koopa and Retail Row (aka Codis) form an intriguing duo. Koopa enters the split as the highest-ELO ADC in the league, and that alone demands respect. His laning numbers are excellent, and his champion pool gives Iceborn options from scaling picks like Aphelios and Jinx to lane bullies like Lucian or Draven. Retail Row, on the other hand, is still adjusting to life as a support after swapping roles several seasons ago. While his mechanics and macro knowledge are solid, his synergy with koopa will need to develop quickly if Iceborn want to challenge the elite bot lanes of Emerald.

What makes this roster exciting is their stylistic flexibility. Iceborn can play traditional front-to-back teamfights around koopa and OTF27, or they can shift into a skirmish-heavy setup that leverages hamankarn’s early tempo and OTF27’s playmaking potential. This duality makes them difficult to draft against and gives them answers in multiple metas a luxury not every team has. If there’s a concern, it’s on the edges of the map. Both Soez and Retail Row have something to prove, and their ability to stabilize side lanes could determine how far this team goes. But with an elite jungle-mid duo and one of the best ADCs in Emerald, Iceborn have the tools to make playoffs comfortably and the upside to make a deep run if everything clicks.

B Tier

SYN Squad Zero

Top: Murciélago#STRW

Jungle: RustyCrow#NA1

Mid: Evren#Ev1ADC: Domination2340#NA1

Support: CR#NA1

Solo Queue Point Total: 21

Player To Watch: Domination2340

SYN Squad Zero return this split with a familiar and straightforward identity a classic teamfighting squad built around strong fundamentals and scaling win conditions. While many teams in Emerald are leaning toward early aggression and skirmish-heavy compositions, SYN stick to their roots: stable laning, solid front-to-back fights, and a clear game plan centred on their ADC.

At the core of this team is Domination2340, one of the cleanest mechanical ADCs in the tier. He’s the engine that drives SYN’s win conditions, consistently putting up huge damage numbers and carrying late-game fights when given space to operate. His laning phase is rarely dominant, but his positioning and decision-making in 5v5s are elite for this level of play. Pairing him with CR, an experienced enchanter specialist, only amplifies that strength. CR’s champion pool Lulu, Janna, Milio, and even the occasional Bard is tailor-made to let Domination thrive, creating one of the more synergistic bot lanes in Emerald.

In mid lane, Evren brings a deep arsenal of control mages and pocket picks that keep opponents guessing. Known for comfort picks like Mel, Syndra, and Hwei, Evren plays a steady, lane-control style that fits perfectly into SYN’s slower, methodical approach. He’s not afraid to throw in the occasional curveball either something like an Irelia or Lissanadra just to break open the right matchup.

The top side of the map features Murciélago and RustyCrow, two players who thrive when they can be the backbone of a composition. Murciélago is comfortable on tanks and bruisers alike, often absorbing pressure to give his carries the freedom to scale. RustyCrow, meanwhile, is the glue that holds the team together a selfless jungler who plays for lanes, controls vision, and sets up objectives rather than chasing highlight plays. His ability to sync with Evren for early river control and objective setup gives SYN the consistency they rely on to reach their comfort zone in the mid-to-late game.

When the game goes long, few teams in Emerald can match SYN Squad Zero’s coordination. Their spacing, peel, and objective setups make them one of the most dangerous late-game teams in the league. Once Domination2340 hits three items, the game plan is simple: frontline holds, mages control space, and Domination cleans up. That said, the team’s reliance on Domination is both their greatest strength and biggest weakness. If opponents can deny bot lane resources or force fights before SYN are fully online, the cracks start to show. Their early game can look passive at times, and without momentum through mid, they can struggle to dictate tempo or contest proactive teams.

Still, in a league where chaos often reigns, SYN’s structure and discipline stand out. If they can find ways to diversify their win conditions maybe through Evren stepping up as a secondary carry or RustyCrow enabling faster early plays SYN Squad Zero could easily rise above the mid-table and challenge some of the A-tier squads come playoff time.

XSV Justice

Top: Egotestical#DIFF 

Jungle: Blueshift#NA2 

Mid: Malins#SYN

ADC: monaxia#monos

Support: I Amp I#5753

Solo Queue Point Total: 28

Player To Watch: monaxia#monos

XSV Justice might be the “weakest” of the XSV squads on paper, but that says more about the overall depth of the XSV organization than it does about this roster. There’s legitimate individual talent across every role the challenge is just getting all of these strong personalities and playstyles to sync up.

The biggest question mark for this team is identity. Egotestical thrives on bruisers and side-lane skirmishers who need time and gold. Blueshift is an aggressive, resource-heavy jungler who loves to carry from the early game. Malins brings a more measured, wave-control style from mid, while the bot lane duo of monaxia and AMP are the exact opposite they want to brawl from minute one. It’s a volatile mix that could explode in either direction depending on execution.

Monaxia is easily the X-factor here. Their champion pool is pure aggression Samira, Draven, Aphelios and they have the mechanical skill to back it up. If they get ahead, games can snowball instantly in Justice’s favor. But if opponents manage to shut down bot lane early, this team can struggle to stabilize due to their lack of a consistent frontline or scaling insurance. Much will fall on AMP’s shoulders as the primary engage and stabilizer in fights. If they can find clean setups and give Monaxia space to work, Justice can absolutely scrap with higher-tier teams. But until they find a clearer team identity whether it’s early-game skirmishing or coordinated mid-game teamfighting expect Justice to be a bit of a wild ride. They’ll win some matches in spectacular fashion and drop others just as dramatically.

Conduit Esports Phoenix

Top: Punkyrus#na1

Jungle: Nasian#na1

Mid: MelloDevils#na1

ADC: DoritoFingies#maxim

Support: Gunny Thicc#167

Solo Queue Point Total: 27

Conduit Phoenix is one of those teams that’s hard to pin down but easy to respect. Every role looks solid, no glaring weak points, and the roster has enough experience to make a legitimate run toward the top 8. They’re the type of squad that might not always steal headlines, but they’ll quietly rack up wins through consistency and clean fundamentals.

Punkyrus in the top lane is the backbone of this team. He’s shown comfort in both weak and strong side matchups but his Kennen has become something of a trademark pick — the kind of champion you have to consider banning if you’re drafting against Phoenix. Expect him to be the stabilizing force in the early game and the initiator in late-game fights. In the jungle, Nasian is the real wildcard. While his stint in Premier didn’t go well statistically (a 1.54 KDA and a winless record), that result feels more reflective of team issues than individual capability. Nasian has shown in the past that when he’s on tempo and given the freedom to dictate early jungle paths, he can set the tone of a game. If he finds synergy with MelloDevils, Phoenix could become a dangerous early-to-mid game team.

MelloDevils continues to be one of the most stable mid laners in Emerald. He’s not flashy, but he’s incredibly reliable on waveclear control mages the kind of player who keeps his team afloat through difficult mid games and ensures objective setups go smoothly. With him holding down the center of the map, Phoenix’s identity will likely center around disciplined, front-to-back teamfighting rather than chaotic skirmishing.

The bot lane of DoritoFingies and Gunny Thicc might quietly be this team’s biggest strength. DoritoFingies, currently sitting in Diamond, has shown excellent mechanical ability and damage output. His positioning in teamfights is top-tier for this level, and Gunny’s ability to create space on engage supports gives him the platform to shine. If this duo finds consistency in lane, Phoenix could easily overperform their B-tier ranking. Stylistically, I expect Conduit Phoenix to lean heavily into traditional teamfight compositions scaling mids, a strong ADC focal point, and a top laner that can either engage or provide teamfight utility. But if Nasian can rediscover his confidence, there’s a very real possibility Phoenix experiments with more aggressive, assassin-style jungle picks to diversify their playbook.

Conduit Asylum

Top: Noble Barque#NA1

Jungle: wheelchair jg#CRIP

Mid: ALF#PT27

ADC: Wren#123

Support: Cheongseolmo#BDB

Solo Queue Point Total: 17

Conduit Asylum enters the split as a team that feels like it could swing either way strong in some areas, shaky in others but with the potential to surprise if things click. The bot lane of Wren and Cheongseolmo is by far the standout piece. Both veterans have shown over multiple seasons that they can deliver consistent performance with large, varied champion pools. Whether it’s lane bullies, enchanters, or scaling carries, this duo provides a reliable core for the team and a strong foundation to build around.

wheelchair jg in the jungle is another major plus. Historically a solid performer in Emerald, the current meta suits him almost perfectly, emphasizing AD jungle fighters and high-tempo skirmishing, which are his bread and butter. If he can get early leads and coordinate with ALF in mid, he has the potential to carry games almost singlehandedly. ALF is the mid lane pillar for Asylum. His strength comes from zone control mages like Taliyah, Cassiopeia, and Viktor champions that can dictate fights from distance and control objectives. Beyond his in-game impact, ALF brings stability to a roster that otherwise has some question marks, offering a consistent source of damage and crowd control to anchor teamfights. He’s also very handsome a morale boost for sure.

The biggest area of concern is the top lane. Noble Barque appears heavily reliant on a Gragas–Tryndamere two-trick with a smattering of other picks. While those champions are serviceable, the lack of flexibility is concerning, and it seems unlikely we’ll see much experimentation outside his comfort zone With no other top lane champions showing significant mastery or recent play(other than some Teemo), this side of the map could become a vulnerability against adaptive teams.

Given these dynamics, I expect Asylum to default to mid-game teamfighting and objective control, leaning on ALF’s wave control, wheelchair jg’s early pressure, and the reliable bot lane. They’ll likely play around pick opportunities before major objectives, using skirmishes to create favorable fights and snowball leads. If Noble Barque can stretch his champion pool a bit and the top side manages to hold steady, Conduit Asylum could easily be a dark horse in the B-tier pack. Otherwise, their season may hinge entirely on bot lane consistency and jungle pressure, making them exciting but slightly unpredictable to watch.

C Tier

Team Solo Invade

Top: Smoke#Jugg

Jungle: HeroJoe#pride

Mid: Sinja#NA1

ADC: Just RJ#ester

Support: BaconOP#NA1

Solo Queue Point Total: 19

Tier: C

Player To Watch: Sinja

Team Solo Invade enters this season with a roster that’s familiar but slightly shaken up. They’ve swapped NitroDax5 for Smoke and HarmanKarn for HeroJoe. Sorry to the newcomer, HeroJoe, but replacing HarmanKarn is no small ask he’s been an MVP-level jungler almost every single season he’s played. This change introduces a potential weak spot in a lineup that previously relied heavily on HarmanKarn’s early game control and vision mastery.

Smoke is likely an upgrade over Nitro in raw skill, but there’s a stylistic mismatch that might hurt the team. Smoke prefers strong-side, solo queue-style champions like Darius, whereas TSI will need him to play more around the weak-side and enable the rest of the team. How well he adapts to this team-oriented approach could define their early-to-mid game success. The undisputed player to watch is Sinja in mid lane. They are the kind of high-agency assassin player who can flip games single-handedly. When Sinja is on form, TSI is unstoppable, roaming effectively and turning skirmishes into objectives. But the flip side is equally dramatic: if the laning phase goes poorly, Sinja can struggle to make an impact, leaving the team scrambling. It’s high risk, high reward every single match.

The bot lane of Just RJ and Bacon OP is solid but unlikely to be the primary carry force. Think of them as late-game insurance: reliable, experienced, and capable of hitting objectives while Sinja and the rest of the team do the heavy lifting. Their consistency is valuable, but it also means they’re somewhat passive and will rarely dictate the pace of a game.

Looking at TSI overall, I have them in C-tier. They’re a team built for 3–2 splits or late-round exits in Swiss, rather than dominant performances. Their style is high-variance: when things click, they can crush opponents, but when coordination fails or when opposing teams prepare targeted plans they can fall apart quickly. Unlike some of the newer, more unpredictable rosters, TSI doesn’t have the element of surprise; teams will scout them and come ready with a plan, making consistency a real challenge. If they can find synergy between Smoke’s champion preferences and HeroJoe’s jungle pathing while Sinja performs at god mode, TSI could beat anyone but that is a lot to come together all at once. Otherwise, expect a season defined by volatile highs and lows, where a single mid-lane outplay can make or break their week.

Chosen Inters

Top: Starchild#Boom

Jungle: JayceWith12Gauge#KBOOM

Mid: Chosen#SKT

ADC: Slayer Jinx#NA1

Support: DevilsRizen#NA1

Solo Queue Point Total: 20

Tier: C

Player To Watch: DevilsRizen

Chosen Inters enter this split as a team of experimenters and role-swappers, which makes them exciting to watch but also unpredictable in terms of results. Several players on this roster are either returning to their original roles or rotating between multiple positions, which gives them flexibility in draft but also raises questions about consistency and coordination.

Slayer Jinx, for example, is returning to ADC after several seasons in the jungle. While mechanically talented, the shift back to a carry role will require adaptation, particularly against opponents with more polished bot lanes. Similarly, JayceWith12Gauge has split time between jungle and top lane this season, and their limited champion pool (only 5 champions with more than 5 games) suggests that draft diversity could be an issue. Starchild also dabbles in jungle but maintains solid top lane stats, making them a reliable—but not dominant—presence on the map.

The mid lane, held by Chosen, leans heavily toward ADC-style champions, which pairs interestingly with Slayer Jinx. This dynamic could allow Chosen Inters to play for strong side carries or poke compositions, but it also risks leaving the team vulnerable if the side lanes don’t perform or if they fall behind early.

The most reliable element of this roster is DevilsRizen in support. They are likely to be both the best player and main shot-caller for Chosen Inters. DevilsRizen excels on engage supports like Rell and Alistar, creating opportunities to start fights, or on counter-engage picks like Soraka, Renata, and Taric, where they can protect carries and turn teamfights around. Their ability to read the map and coordinate plays will be critical for keeping this team competitive.

Overall, Chosen Inters have a decent chance at making the postseason, but it will be an uphill battle. The roster’s strengths lie in flexibility and surprise picks, while the weaknesses come from inconsistent role performance and limited champion pools in key positions. Against more coordinated teams, Chosen Inters will need clean execution from DevilsRizen and smart roaming from Chosen to stay in games.

Crowd Control Inhouses

Top: baxel#7777

Jungle: leanmeat#lean

Mid: festis#na1

ADC: diablofoxx#UwU

Support: stizra#dad

Solo Queue Point Total: 21

Tier: C

Crowd Control Inhouses come into the split as a classic teamfighting roster, built around engage-heavy compositions and hyper-scaling carries. They have plenty of tools for coordinated 5v5s: engage tops and supports, crowd control from mid lane, and ADCs who can punish mistakes in extended fights. On paper, this team looks like it can run over slower or disorganized squads with clean execution.

That said, the weak points start on the solo lanes. baxel struggled in Premier, and top lane was widely regarded as the weakest role in that tier. While Baxel has flashes of potential, I expect consistency to be an issue in Emerald, particularly against aggressive or coordinated opponents. Similarly, festis, who recently swapped from ADC to mid, has a solid control mage foundation with champions like Viktor and Mel but the depth outside those picks is questionable. 

The jungle and bot lanes, however, are reliable and provide the foundation for Crowd Control’s identity. leanmeat offers strong early-game pressure and vision control, giving the team chances to force favorable fights or secure objectives. Meanwhile, diablofoxx and stizra form a classic bot lane duo that can scale into late-game carries while offering pick and engage potential. Diablofoxx in particular is the player to watch, as their hyper-scaling ADCs are likely to determine whether this team can turn small advantages into game-winning fights.

Overall, Crowd Control is a team that’s capable of upsets, particularly against overconfident opponents or squads that struggle in structured teamfights. They may not dominate the standings consistently, but with clean coordination and patience, they have the pieces to challenge higher-tier teams and potentially punch above their C-tier ranking on any given day.

D Tier

Imperial Gaming

Top: Monarch#caius 

Jungle: NFGCoyote#8031 

Mid: azurexfire#na1 

ADC: flock#crows Support: hunterxz#na1 

Solo Queue Point Total: 12

Imperial Gaming is a team with so many structural issues that it’s difficult to see a path to success this split. On paper, this roster is a collection of misfits, role-swaps, and inexperienced players not exactly the foundation you want for a competitive league run.

Starting at the top, Monarch is primarily a mid laner with minimal experience in the top lane. They’ve played only 24 games in top this season, most of which were months ago, and their win rate sits at a paltry 37%. Expect top lane to be a constant pressure point against almost any Emerald-caliber opponent. In the jungle, NFGCoyote thrives on high-risk, aggressive early-game champions like Lee Sin, Pantheon, and Sylas. While mechanically capable, Coyote’s style demands coordination with lanes that can follow up — and with azurexfire in mid, who primarily plays ADC champions in the mid lane, that synergy seems unlikely. Couple that with the fact that teams can simply ban out their comfort picks, and Imperial’s early-game plans may fall flat before they even start.

The bot lane adds further instability. Flock, primarily a support main, has struggled on ADC with only a 41% win rate. While they can attempt mage bot lane picks to provide some additional damage, the pairing with hunterxz, a newcomer to Emerald who statistically falls off in the mid-to-late game, is shaky at best. This duo is unlikely to carry the team or stabilize games when things go wrong.

Taken together, Imperial Gaming is a team without a clear identity. Their composition is scattered: an inexperienced top, a high-risk jungler, an unconventional mid, a fill ADC, and a support that fades late. Even with perfect coordination, this roster lacks the experience and role stability needed to consistently challenge other Emerald teams. In short, D-tier is generous. Imperial Gaming is more likely to struggle in every series, and any wins they might scrape together will require opponents to completely misplay. It’s a season of survival more than competition and how, if at all, these misfits manage to gel will be the only interesting storyline for this squad.

Mint Gaming Mafia

Top: Cyberplex#plex

Jungle: KappaOne#Kappa

Mid: iNguyen#Neek

ADC: him#hydro

Support: suhporta#suh

Solo Queue Point Total: 8

Good luck, Mint. Honestly, you’re going to need it. This roster has concerns at every position, and it’s hard to see a path to a series win this season. Even veterans who have played in past splits are struggling to keep this team afloat.

Starting at the top, Cyberplex is… a unique case. I’ve literally never seen a top laner average over 8 deaths per game in solo queue, and currently they’re sitting in Gold 1. That kind of inconsistency at the top lane will make it almost impossible to stabilize the map or create space for other lanes. KappaOne in the jungle is effectively a fill player. They’ve barely touched ranked over the past two months (just 8 games), and that lack of recent play and rhythm makes it hard to rely on them for early-game tempo or objective control.

In mid lane, iNguyen has flashes of brilliance I remember some impressive performances in Season 12 against the weaker teams(like Syndra against The Thunder Wolves) but against stronger opponents, their over-aggression has been a liability. Expect the mid lane to be a potential point of collapse if iNguyen can’t temper their risk-taking.

Him is the only player on this roster with a measure of consistency. Farming well all season, they have shown a disciplined approach to CS and lane control. That said, even they are limited: last season, they were the lowest damage dealt relative to gold earned in Emerald, which raises questions about their ability to carry games or influence fights. Finally, suhporta at support has never been a standout. Even when paired with strong rosters like Clown Blood Moon, they were largely invisible in impact metrics. This team is going to need a miracle to find coordinated engages or impactful peel in teamfights.

Overall, Mint Gaming Mafia is a D-tier team with almost no upside this season. They’re a collection of misfits, under-practiced players, and inconsistent performers. Wins will likely depend on opponents underestimating them or major luck in draft and skirmishes. Otherwise, expect a season of struggle, with very few bright spots outside of occasional individual flashes from him or iNguyen.

XG Suprise

Top: Tuba#00000

Jungle: Ziggie#6969

Mid: zz5#NA1

ADC: Spiritless#crazy

Support: nela#two

Solo Queue Point Total: 25

XG Surprise looks like a team that’s here to survive rather than contend. Playoff contention seems unlikely, and there are questions at almost every position. The mid lane, held by zz5, raises immediate concerns. A Caitlyn one-trick in solo queue who has recently swapped to mid lane is a high-risk gamble. Zz5’s ELO is falling, and the lack of a deep champion pool suggests this role may become a liability rather than a strength.

Ziggie in the jungle is similarly constrained. While competent, their champion pool is narrow essentially a Jarvan IV one-trick whop also plays a few carry stlye jungler makes it difficult to adapt to game state or pick a utility jungler like Maokai that the meta may favor. The team’s early-game tempo will likely be limited by this rigidity.

Tuba at top lane is probably the strongest weak-side player in Emerald this season. They excel in resource management, lane control, and scaling, but top lane alone won’t carry the team. With limited mid and jungle impact, their performance might be impressive in isolation but won’t necessarily translate to wins.

Bot lane is another area of concern. Nela, primarily an ADC, is playing support and is better suited to the carry role, while Spiritless plays more of a utility ADC style. This leaves the team without a true damage carry in the late game, relying instead on scaling and teamfighting synergy that may not exist.

Overall, XG Surprise is a D-tier team with low ceiling. Their strengths are isolated Tuba in favorable matchups but the rest of the map lacks carry potential and flexibility. Expect them to struggle in coordinated teamfights, and only occasional surprise victories will come from opponents underestimating them or failing to exploit their structural weaknesses.