FLUFFY AIMERS enter Top Ten on Dust2.us' November 2024 Power Rankings

This month's Dust2.us Power Rankings has seen the top five crystalize ahead of the upcoming Perfect World Shanghai Major Americas RMR while the bottom five has seen movement thanks to the changing fortunes of a number of teams. While subtle, the conclusion of ESL Challenger League Season 48 has set the stage for the final two months of the year which will see a number of NA teams hopefully make the Major while the remainder fight for points in the year's final domestic competitions including Fragadelphia 18 and the NA Revival Series events.

As always, we assembled a panel of players, coaches, analysts, journalists, and talent to give their opinion on the state of the scene, with 22 responding to our survey to set the lay of the land in North America.

#1 Liquid (NAF, YEKINDAR, Twistzz, ultimate, jks | Coach: mithR) (—) 982 pts

Despite October being a fairly dismal month for Liquid the international lineup maintained their position at the top of our power ranking likely due to their domestic rivals, Complexity, not having much to write home about either. Liquid's sole win this month was a Bo1 win over Complexity at IEM Rio 2024 while the team were faced with losses against NAVI, FaZe, G2, and Vitality in Rio and Singapore. While some of these matches were close, lagging performances from Mareks "YEKINDAR" Gaļinskis and Roland "ultimate" Tomkowiak raise valid concerns that we are exiting Liquid's honeymoon phase and roster changes may be needed heading into 2025. However, this all depends on how Liquid do at the Americas RMR and the Major, so perhaps the team will be able to impress us in China.

October Events: IEM Rio 2024, BLAST Premier World Final 2024

#2 Complexity (JT, floppy, Grim, hallzerk, EliGE | Coach: T.c, JamezIRL) (—) 892 pts

Like Liquid, Complexity did not get up to a whole lot in October, playing three matches at IEM Rio 2024 — a win over Imperial and losses to Liquid and MOUZ. With that there's not really too much to say about Complexity this month other than their loss to Liquid, while a Bo1, was probably enough for the panel to place Liquid over COL for the third month in a row. Better luck next time I suppose.

October Events: IEM Rio 2024

#3 M80 (Swisher, reck, slaxz-, s1n, Lake | Coach: dephh) (—) 856 pts

Unlike Liquid and Complexity, M80 had a busy month. However, all things said it wasn't the most inspiring as ESL Challenger Atlanta and the ThunderPick World Finals were a wash for NA's ascendant lineup. In Atlanta the team were knocked out by Wildcard in the latest chapter in their rivalry while at ThunderPick the team lost to BESTIA twice. Yikes.

The best thing we can say for M80 this month is that they absolutely cruised through ESL Challenger League Season 48, however for a team with this much talent the expectation is for them to win ECL, anything less than that would be seriously concerning. M80 will now head to China this week looking to put their last two events behind them and cruise to their first Major.

October Events: ESL Challenger Atlanta, ESL Challenger League Season 48, Thunderpick World Championship 2024

#4 Wildcard (stanislaw, JBa, Sonic, susp, phzy | Coach: vinS) (—) 460 pts

Wildcard can head into November feeling quite good about their results in the month of October. While the team were ultimately knocked out of ESL Challenger League Season 48 at the hands of NRG, the team can feel great about besting M80 at ESL Challenger Atlanta while fielding a stand-in, denying their rivals a chance at making playoffs with their new roster. While that may not translate to an immediate result for the team, considering most teams do not take ECL fairly seriously, the Atlanta win likely means a lot for Wildcard as they gear up for China where M80 would be a likely roadblock for Wildcard's Major aspirations.

October Events: ESL Challenger Atlanta, ESL Challenger League Season 48

#5 Legacy (latto, dumau, NEKIZ, b4rtiN, saadzin | Coach: chucky) (—) 455 pts

Legacy went on a European tour this month, playing in the ThunderPick World Championship 2024 and ESL Challenger Katowice while also finishing out ESL Challenger League Season 48. While the team undoubtedly benefited from being able to spend some time in Europe ahead of the RMR, they also failed to make a splash in Poland, with their sole win coming against MIBR. If Legacy want to make the Major they will need a real power up in the next week as being "qualifier merchants" in North America may not be enough to cut the mustard when staring down the likes of Liquid, M80, Complexity, and FURIA.

October Events: ESL Challenger Katowice, ESL Challenger League Season 48, Thunderpick World Championship 2024

#6 NRG (oSee, Brehze, HexT, autimatic, nitr0 | Coach: daps) (+1) 427 pts

NRG are the first team to see movement this month, largely thanks to claiming a spot in the finals of ESL Challenger League Season 48. While the team were smashed in the finals by M80, considering NRG's disappointing results since adding Nick "nitr0" Cannella, earning wins over Party Astronauts and Wildcard in playoffs is nothing to scoff at. As such, it's a shame NRG missed out on the RMR as outside of Fragadelphia 18 the team's year is essentially over with little chance to claim any big scalps and prove themselves before heading into 2025.

October Events: ESL Challenger League Season 48

#7 Nouns (nosraC, cJ, junior, Jeorge, RUSH | Coach: adreN) (-1) 328 pts

Nouns have continued to slip down the rankings as two losses this month to Party Astronauts have done nothing to ward off claims the lineup has stagnated. With the team now also missing out on EPL S21 thanks to their 5th-6th finish in ECL S48, the onus is really on this Nouns lineup to perform at the Americas RMR or many will likely be calling for roster changes, especially as it feels like the squad are falling further and further behind the likes of Wildcard and M80.

October Events: ESL Challenger League Season 48

#8 BOSS (Cryptic, freshie, d4rty, SLIGHT, Fruitcupx | Coach: Warden) (—) 272 pts

October was a fairly quiet month for BOSS as they finished off ECL S48 with a modest 7th-8th finish thanks to a relatively one-sided loss to Wildcard in the playoffs. With the team trading maps with FLUFFY AIMERS and losing to Wildcard multiple times, eighth in North America seems like an accurate position for this team especially with Nouns and NRG looming above them with far more resources at their disposal. Heading into the RMR BOSS feel like an unlikely squad to make it to the Major itself, but like last time do not be surprised if they steal a map away from a squad that is not ready for Matthew "Cryptic" Whitmore and co.

October Events: ESL Challenger League Season 48

#9 Party Astronauts (ben1337, Infinite, FaNg, ogwizard, Peeping) (—) 267 pts

Party Astronauts did quite well for themselves by securing a fourth-place finish in ESL Challenger League Season 48 while securing an upset win over Nouns. While it did not do anything to move the squad up the rankings, it did earn them ~70 points. While it seems like Bogdan "ogwizard" Savula and Jaxon "Peeping" Cornwell have finally found their homes within PA, with the team unfortunately missing out on the RMR it may be a while before we see them again, but PA may still have some life in it yet.

October Events: ESL Challenger League Season 48

#10 FLUFFY AIMERS (jason, brett, slump, nooz | Coach: ayy) (+1) 133 pts

At the very bottom of the rankings we come upon the big story of the month as FLUFFY AIMERS have made the top ten on the Dust2.us Power Rankings for the first time in the organization's history. The placing is well-deserved as the squad have consistently improved and the majority of their roster changes have improved the team's fortunes, especially Dylan "slump" Naylor, who has continued to shine under Brett "brett" Rhein's leadership.

Now if they can only find a consistent fifth they may really be cooking in 2025...

October Events: ESL Challenger League Season 48