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My take.
HALO (A-)
STARTERS: Rough (10), JAMAL (8), Tripin (8), Poid (7), destruct (7)
SUBS: Cripple (7), Zapata (7), sea bass (7)
Cripple drafted frugally but smartly in the jav-department: knowing that in picking Rough early, he didn't need any other heavy-hitters. Instead he picked up two of the most in-form, active and good value 7*s: destruct and Poid. JAMAL and Tripin are also strong pilots, although their exceptional skills lie with other ships. I feel like Tripin in particular might have a break out year, coming off the back of some impressive elim performances. This will be a tough line to beat, but they may struggle against teams with two 9*s or jav-specialised 8*s. They also don't have many options from the bench.
TERRORIST (B)
STARTERS: dreamwin (10) (C), vys (8), Major Crisis (8), Ra (7), Jurassic (7)
SUBS: maketso (9) Sprackle (7) Wirah (6) Nosydawg (6)
Dreamwin has the makings of a good team, but may need to juggle this line before it starts to work. Maketso is a relatively unknown quantity at the moment, but dreamwin has the advantage of knowing him in real life, and can thus get the most value from him. However playing Maketso will entail adding Wirah, making this line very unstable. For this reason I think a 10, 8, 8, 7, 7 formation could work best for them. Major Crisis is actually a good javelin when he can keep his emotions in check, as well as Vys - although never really proven at the highest levels. Of course they also have dreamwin, who is a clutch javelin and captain and has won this many times. Overall I think the lack of a 7* who really enjoys javelin could be the biggest hindrance to Terrorist's success.
DEMACIA (B+)
STARTERS: Trasher (9), Amnesti (9), Kim (8), Iron Survivor (8), Scurvy (6)
SUBS: Lockdown (7), skyforger (7), bitsaver (7), WBM (7)
Demacia have such a stacked potential line that it almost makes a mockery of the star cap. Trasher is a 9.4 jav- statistically the best javelin last season and teetering on the edge of 10; Amnesti has bags of TWLJ experience; Kim is the best value 8* jav (who I wish I'd managed to pick), and Iron Survivor is a killing machine. I think a 9, 9, 8, 8, 6 line here makes most sense: having four scary javelins plus Scurvy, who is competent at 6*. If the 6* proves too costly, the 7/7 option is also there, with Lockdown and bitsaver. I think the big question marks hanging over this team are activity, hunger and brica.
TALENT (B+)
STARTERS: Commodo (10) (C), Mikkiz (8), Ardour (8), nowon (7), Rojo (7)
SUBS: Aprix (9), cise (7), Peru (7), spacedust (7), Violence (7)
Having been burnt in the past by picking the likes of Dreamwin and Turban - and left unable to make the star cap - I knew I had to start at the middle ratings to find a balanced team. Mikkiz and Ardour fall into the same category for this picking strategy: hungry javelins who have made a habit of putting up 10 kills and winning matches. Similarly, Nowon comes fresh from winning TWDT-J as Gryffindor's 7* and often-time MVP. Rojo, who I picked early, is my biggest punt - but I've seen him make some very advanced and aggressive moves in TWJD which gives me confidence in this SVS refugee. Excited to see how we all gel.
CRIMINAL (C+)
STARTERS: RaCka (10), Mean Gene (8), Zizzo (8), beam (7), afghaN (7) (C)
SUBS: Geio (8), Henry Saari (7), Legacy (7), Beast (7), Melanoma (6)
I can see what Afghan's done here: constructing a javelin team that makes total arithmetical sense. However, these javelins have very disparate styles. Racka is quite an aggressive javelin - in stark contrast to Mean Gene and Zizzo, who are passive. This is likely to annoy Racka who is both hot-headed and a little over-rated at 10. If Afghan had managed to grab, for example, Paradise instead of Zizzo, this team would make a lot more sense. The 7* spots are, similarly, a bit average: afghan being captain should make him hungrier than his adversaries... but I seem to remember pushing him around quite a bit last season. Beam - like players who are very skilled in one ship - should be able to transfer some of those warbird smarts, but is another hot-head. Whilst I think the contrast in styles (and temperaments) will ultimately clash, Criminal could still win games if Racka and Mean Gene find some synergy.
POWER (A)
STARTERS: Zidane (10) (C), Okyo (8), ro (8), Bram (7), Ricko (7)
SUBS: draft (8), Skatarius (8), Heaven (7) Mcvicar (7)
Like me, Zidane has wisely opted for middle-rated javelins against his own rating of 10*. Okyo and Ro are about as good as they come at 8*, both playing very attractive styles backed by TWL experience. Zidane has much more of a short-range, bruiser style- teaming, vulching and bringing a focal point to the team. I think this trio will work very nicely. Yet this trio relies upon Ro showing up which is not a given. Ricko (who I initially missed) is a great value 7*, but again has activity issues. Bram is not horrible, but I think will fall short against the likes of Destruct or Rojo. Zidane may not have his 1st line every week, but does have solid options on the bench that will mitigate this.
TREYWAY (B+)
STARTERS: Morph (9) (C), hulk (8), trapped (8), Kira_yamato~ (8), Uprise (7)
SUBS: Paky Dude (7), Banks (7), Let (7)
Overall I think this line has some strong parts but looks flimsy. Morph wasn't really able to get anything going last season, however he has surrounded himself with better javs this time around. Trapped - one of the best players in SVS - possesses obvious skill, but has not had much experience in the 5v5 game. Hulk is playing well but has said he'll be inactive. Kira is solid, as is Uprise. However, the bench is abysmal and this team could really crumble if they miss any of their top line. But they could also be a dark horse in the race.
PURE LUCK (A)
STARTERS: kado (9), Tiny (9) (C), Paradise (8), Ogron (7), Banzi (7)
SUBS: Raples (8), Shadowmere (8), spectacular (7), Rab (7), big sean (7)
Whilst Tiny may have a very dubious base line, his javelin picks were superb. Kado is an excellent 9* javelin, consistently giving 10+ kill performances. Tiny can be good as well, but is more prone to swings in form and has not reached his former glory in recent years. Paradise and Ogron, however, should really bolster this team from the mid-range... both reigning TWDT-J champions and strong players. I've put Banzi in this line because, well, it's Banzi... He'll bring a prestige to the line which shouldn't be underestimated. However, the really impressive thing about this line is the options on the bench: Shadowmere, Raples, Spectacular and Big Sean all call javelin their primary ship, leaving Pure Luck with plenty of support.
________
This year looks set for some very close games, with no team looking unbeatable, and no team looking like complete trash. I think Pure Luck or Power seem most likely to take it down, but these predictions are usually proven completely insane within a few weeks of play. Good luck to everyone!
HALO (A-)
STARTERS: Rough (10), JAMAL (8), Tripin (8), Poid (7), destruct (7)
SUBS: Cripple (7), Zapata (7), sea bass (7)
Cripple drafted frugally but smartly in the jav-department: knowing that in picking Rough early, he didn't need any other heavy-hitters. Instead he picked up two of the most in-form, active and good value 7*s: destruct and Poid. JAMAL and Tripin are also strong pilots, although their exceptional skills lie with other ships. I feel like Tripin in particular might have a break out year, coming off the back of some impressive elim performances. This will be a tough line to beat, but they may struggle against teams with two 9*s or jav-specialised 8*s. They also don't have many options from the bench.
TERRORIST (B)
STARTERS: dreamwin (10) (C), vys (8), Major Crisis (8), Ra (7), Jurassic (7)
SUBS: maketso (9) Sprackle (7) Wirah (6) Nosydawg (6)
Dreamwin has the makings of a good team, but may need to juggle this line before it starts to work. Maketso is a relatively unknown quantity at the moment, but dreamwin has the advantage of knowing him in real life, and can thus get the most value from him. However playing Maketso will entail adding Wirah, making this line very unstable. For this reason I think a 10, 8, 8, 7, 7 formation could work best for them. Major Crisis is actually a good javelin when he can keep his emotions in check, as well as Vys - although never really proven at the highest levels. Of course they also have dreamwin, who is a clutch javelin and captain and has won this many times. Overall I think the lack of a 7* who really enjoys javelin could be the biggest hindrance to Terrorist's success.
DEMACIA (B+)
STARTERS: Trasher (9), Amnesti (9), Kim (8), Iron Survivor (8), Scurvy (6)
SUBS: Lockdown (7), skyforger (7), bitsaver (7), WBM (7)
Demacia have such a stacked potential line that it almost makes a mockery of the star cap. Trasher is a 9.4 jav- statistically the best javelin last season and teetering on the edge of 10; Amnesti has bags of TWLJ experience; Kim is the best value 8* jav (who I wish I'd managed to pick), and Iron Survivor is a killing machine. I think a 9, 9, 8, 8, 6 line here makes most sense: having four scary javelins plus Scurvy, who is competent at 6*. If the 6* proves too costly, the 7/7 option is also there, with Lockdown and bitsaver. I think the big question marks hanging over this team are activity, hunger and brica.
TALENT (B+)
STARTERS: Commodo (10) (C), Mikkiz (8), Ardour (8), nowon (7), Rojo (7)
SUBS: Aprix (9), cise (7), Peru (7), spacedust (7), Violence (7)
Having been burnt in the past by picking the likes of Dreamwin and Turban - and left unable to make the star cap - I knew I had to start at the middle ratings to find a balanced team. Mikkiz and Ardour fall into the same category for this picking strategy: hungry javelins who have made a habit of putting up 10 kills and winning matches. Similarly, Nowon comes fresh from winning TWDT-J as Gryffindor's 7* and often-time MVP. Rojo, who I picked early, is my biggest punt - but I've seen him make some very advanced and aggressive moves in TWJD which gives me confidence in this SVS refugee. Excited to see how we all gel.
CRIMINAL (C+)
STARTERS: RaCka (10), Mean Gene (8), Zizzo (8), beam (7), afghaN (7) (C)
SUBS: Geio (8), Henry Saari (7), Legacy (7), Beast (7), Melanoma (6)
I can see what Afghan's done here: constructing a javelin team that makes total arithmetical sense. However, these javelins have very disparate styles. Racka is quite an aggressive javelin - in stark contrast to Mean Gene and Zizzo, who are passive. This is likely to annoy Racka who is both hot-headed and a little over-rated at 10. If Afghan had managed to grab, for example, Paradise instead of Zizzo, this team would make a lot more sense. The 7* spots are, similarly, a bit average: afghan being captain should make him hungrier than his adversaries... but I seem to remember pushing him around quite a bit last season. Beam - like players who are very skilled in one ship - should be able to transfer some of those warbird smarts, but is another hot-head. Whilst I think the contrast in styles (and temperaments) will ultimately clash, Criminal could still win games if Racka and Mean Gene find some synergy.
POWER (A)
STARTERS: Zidane (10) (C), Okyo (8), ro (8), Bram (7), Ricko (7)
SUBS: draft (8), Skatarius (8), Heaven (7) Mcvicar (7)
Like me, Zidane has wisely opted for middle-rated javelins against his own rating of 10*. Okyo and Ro are about as good as they come at 8*, both playing very attractive styles backed by TWL experience. Zidane has much more of a short-range, bruiser style- teaming, vulching and bringing a focal point to the team. I think this trio will work very nicely. Yet this trio relies upon Ro showing up which is not a given. Ricko (who I initially missed) is a great value 7*, but again has activity issues. Bram is not horrible, but I think will fall short against the likes of Destruct or Rojo. Zidane may not have his 1st line every week, but does have solid options on the bench that will mitigate this.
TREYWAY (B+)
STARTERS: Morph (9) (C), hulk (8), trapped (8), Kira_yamato~ (8), Uprise (7)
SUBS: Paky Dude (7), Banks (7), Let (7)
Overall I think this line has some strong parts but looks flimsy. Morph wasn't really able to get anything going last season, however he has surrounded himself with better javs this time around. Trapped - one of the best players in SVS - possesses obvious skill, but has not had much experience in the 5v5 game. Hulk is playing well but has said he'll be inactive. Kira is solid, as is Uprise. However, the bench is abysmal and this team could really crumble if they miss any of their top line. But they could also be a dark horse in the race.
PURE LUCK (A)
STARTERS: kado (9), Tiny (9) (C), Paradise (8), Ogron (7), Banzi (7)
SUBS: Raples (8), Shadowmere (8), spectacular (7), Rab (7), big sean (7)
Whilst Tiny may have a very dubious base line, his javelin picks were superb. Kado is an excellent 9* javelin, consistently giving 10+ kill performances. Tiny can be good as well, but is more prone to swings in form and has not reached his former glory in recent years. Paradise and Ogron, however, should really bolster this team from the mid-range... both reigning TWDT-J champions and strong players. I've put Banzi in this line because, well, it's Banzi... He'll bring a prestige to the line which shouldn't be underestimated. However, the really impressive thing about this line is the options on the bench: Shadowmere, Raples, Spectacular and Big Sean all call javelin their primary ship, leaving Pure Luck with plenty of support.
________
This year looks set for some very close games, with no team looking unbeatable, and no team looking like complete trash. I think Pure Luck or Power seem most likely to take it down, but these predictions are usually proven completely insane within a few weeks of play. Good luck to everyone!
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