3rd New! Zones Cup
Top 8 | All stages are randomized.
Quarter Finals
Interesting that Bazz chooses vScope on Starfish when he’s able to play Splatlings. A lot of chargers seem to dislike this stage and Sting Ray is considered weaker here. It isn’t uncommon to see them use something like Firefin instead. Leaf likely goes Heavy Deco here because of these quirks.
Painapo switching off H3D for Range is an interesting change as well.
Rate + Sono are the original duo that prefer to use 2x Brellas, from their previous tournament records. However, Vanilla Ice Cream mentions that Sturgeon is a bad map for them. It seems like Kelp and Triggerfish aren’t good maps for their ideal comp either, but they were still able to win in the end.
Nice to see a non-scope main.
Just a note that Nogizaka4 were able to 2–0 Rontsu (vSloshine) + Atobaru (H3D) + Hanjyou (Kensa+Splat Roller) + Chichige (Tenta Brella) in groups.
Yude Tamago was the Kensa Dualies main who placed 2nd back in 9th Tentaclecup on Sept 23.
Nice to see a different Rapid Pro main.
Looking at this and previous tournaments, the missing quarterfinals set is likely:
Bonyuu Yuugeki-dan |Heavy Splatling + Kensa Undercover Brella + Tenta Brella + Enperry Splat Dualies
vs
Kimi no Hitomi ni Sting Ray | Splatterscope + H-3 Nozzlenose D + Splat Brella + Enperry Splat Dualies
Top 4
Game 1 is a random stage, and afterwards the loser counterpicks.
Not surprising Genkai o Koete. counterpick to Humpback. Probably considered the best SZ map for Bubbles and it’s basically Puremia’s playground.
Also not surprising that Vanilla Ice Cream counter to Snapper. Ink Storm’s been very popular there since the beginning. While Leaf’s switch to Ballpoint there is not new, the interesting switch is Puremia to vRapid. They probably know that Vanilla Ice Cream want to do 2x Splat Brellas and other Blasters have switched to Rapids in the past to better deal with Splat Brellas.
New Albacore is an interesting counterpick. Vanilla Ice Cream probably didn’t think someone would go Splatterscope since they seemed to groan at that particular weapon change.
Missing semifinals set is likely:
Bonyuu Yuugeki-dan | Heavy Splatling + Kensa Undercover Brella + Tenta Brella + Enperry Splat Dualies
vs
Ochinchon Girls | Explosher + Rapid Pro Deco + Enperry Splat Dualies + Kensa Splat Dualies
Finals
Main difference between these two teams is one has a Dualies main and the other has a Blaster main. They both have Heavy Splatling, Kensa Undercover Brella, and Tenta Brella users.
Pino trying their best with the Kensa Undercover on New Albacore. Really enjoying how Genkai o Koete. are able to play weapons like this though.
Goby was a pretty close game. Bubbles were MVP.
Humpback was a complete stomp. Great patience by Puremia in the opening moments. Stayed hidden until Kakimochi thought he was safe, then used the Autobomb against the shield before moving up. Neither streamer showed map/main abilities because no one died.
SZ Port Mack has always been awkward for Blaster mains, a good counterpick. Puremia mentions that if they lose, it’s entirely his fault. Another interesting thing to note is how a lot of these higher level players are shying away from 2x Enperry here.
In return, Blackbelly was a great counterpick since no one seemed to be a Blaster or Tri-Slosher main. Both Kensa Undercover Brella players had to switch to a different weapon.
Bronze Match is likely:
Vanilla Ice Cream | Splatterscope + H-3 Nozzlenose D + Splat Brella + whatever Sono wants to play (Splat/Sorella Brella main)
vs
Ochinchon Girls | Explosher + Rapid Pro Deco + Enperry + Kensa
