#6 Idiot Savants [iQ] vs. #8 Irresistible Blokes [iB] - Game 1 of 2
1 4
Lara Valor
1 6
Big Mchugelarge
2 5
I Go Real
1 4
Rayne Eternal War
4 3
Valis Eranna
6 3
Nalesia Alvindi
3 5
Red Bars Go Up
3 5
Sarus Noobie Bot
7 6
Jeppe On Ninja
1 7
Flyy Goes Pve
1 7
Sissi Goes Warrior
2 5
Ayakashi Sensei
2 5
Wraith Rng
5 3
Emp Van Ruler
3 5
Uhvl Ord
3 7
Urzas Salvation
Note: some skill descriptions may have changed since this match was played. Highlight the skills with a red border to see these changes.
Match report

To say that these two teams were ready to play would be a monumental understatement. Following a day of technical mishaps and confusion, the countdown to match time was full of anticipation and trepidation, but thankfully went off without a hitch. During the downtime since yesterday, iB had made the decision to switch up their build for the opening game, having placed Nature's Renewal and Tranquility in yesterday's match, only to see hardware failure put an end to the day's play. The guys from iQ weren't terribly pleased, because they felt they had a strong advantage against that build, but nevertheless went into the game confident and with yesterday's build intact.

Mobility and confusion were the tactics of choice for iB, who pulled their Recall build from playoffs past, and looked impressive out of the opening gate. iQ appeared caught at first, unable to decide on the appropriate counter strategy, eventually opting for containment over pressure, despite a physical-heavy build and the degen-assistance from a Tainted Flesh Necro. Early on, iB found their openings, working their way into 3-on-1 situations where possible, and maintaining a steady presence in iQ's base. Protecting with a defensive Elementalist where possible, the Savants had difficulty running flags, but held onto their NPCs well until the eight minute mark, when Shadow Stepping reared its head and the Blokes found their opening. Dispatching the E/Mo roadblock quickly, the two Warriors and Assassin combo took down a Bodyguard before iQ could adequately fall back and defend.

The next 20 minutes provided little in the way of highlights, but a continual pressure and harassment strategy forced iQ to almost always be on their heels and in a reactionary mindset. Here and there, iB found cracks in the defense, and were able to whittle down iQ's NPC forces impressively, never venturing in too far without an anchor to pull them back. As for the flag stand team on iB, they appeared to be chanting the mantra of survival, as the entire team teetered on the brink of wiping several times, due in large part to the absence of Heal Party and Extinguish. But Crippling Shot from both Rangers, Blackout on the Mesmer and both Rangers, and Return on one of the Monks meant catching up to the elusive Fins was tougher than it looked.

With a dwindling NPC army at their disposal, and iB maintaining a steady Morale advantage, the Idiot Savants ventured forth into gank territory, which they obviously considered to be their last option. It was short, it wasn't pretty, and it certainly wasn't successful, as iB steamrolled over the invading force, leaving almost no one alive going into the 32nd minute, and even saving one of iQ's stranded Warriors. But upon resurrection at their base, the Americans took their tenacity and their never-say-die attitude right back across the map, though this time a curious thing happened. Instead of focusing their sights on iQ's backline, they appeared to panic and went into pure defense–Warriors on Warriors, Rangers on Warriors, and even the Mesmer doing his best to slow the damage output. Considering the relatively disparate Morale situation, and the additional damage output from their Guild Lord, iB needed only to turn their attention to Sarus and Red Bars for just a moment, and the match would have been theirs for sure. Three Blackouts, a bevy of interrupts, a Domination Mesmer and three Physical characters add up to hell for a Monk troupe that can't kite away, as they were held hostage trying to keep their team alive during the gank.

With nothing in their way, apart from the annoyance of adrenaline loss because of Blackouts, iQ poured on the damage and degen. Poison, Disease, a nuisance of a Hammer Warrior (Counter Blow!), and solid interrupts all added up to a complete implosion from iB, who simply could not sustain the damage output and DPS without Heal Party. In a stunning turn of the tide, even to those of us behind the stage watching and conjecturing, iB's Guild Lord went down alongside almost the entire team just before he was scheduled to head to the middle of the Hall.

~Joshua Lovejoy (GuildWars.com)