As Stage 2 of the Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) 2025 season gets underway, every team is under the microscope. After the turbulence of the Esports World Cup and a strategic off-season for many top-tier rosters, Thinking Man’s Valorant presents a refreshed and highly analytical tier list. While some teams remain dominant forces vying for trophies, others are struggling to rediscover form or must embrace significant changes to stay relevant. Here’s a data-driven breakdown of the rosters leading the charge, those poised just behind the elite, and the squads that must recalibrate if they hope to make noise on the global stage.

Top Contenders: S-Tier Teams Poised for Glory

At the pinnacle of the competitive ladder sit organizations that combine elite talent, strategic clarity, and a proven ability to win under pressure. These are the teams expected to challenge for international titles by the end of Stage 2:

Paper Rex: The reigning champions from Toronto continue to ride a wave of confidence and momentum, establishing themselves as a world-class unit.
Fnatic: Despite falling short in recent international finals, Fnatic remains remarkably consistent with a battle-tested core.
G2 Esports: Their fundamentals, map control, and decision-making shine even when not at full strength, as demonstrated during Leaf’s absence.
Gen.G: Masters Toronto confirmed their upward trajectory, revealing depth and composure under tournament intensity.
Team Liquid: A bold addition to the S-tier after the inclusion of TX. Together with Nats and the ascendant Kiko, Liquid’s upside is too high to ignore.

Perennial Threats: A-Tier Teams with Upset Potential

A-tier teams embody high risk and high reward. While they may lack the consistency of the S-tier elite, they remain dangerous and capable of deep runs with the right momentum:

Wolves: Strong performers in Toronto, but strategic setbacks loom due to recent map pool eliminations.
Sentinels: A volatile team that thrives on fireworks and player peaks. Narate and Bang offer playmaking punch, but team synergy remains a question mark.
Team Heretics: Entering Stage 2 amid high expectations for recovery and a return to form.
MIBR: Solid but stagnant, needing to accelerate development to keep pace with surging teams.
NRG: A disciplined roster lacking that final layer of sharpness required for an elite breakthrough.
EDward Gaming (EDG): Mechanically brilliant yet susceptible to pressure in high-stakes scenarios.
BBL Esports, DRX: Consistent mid-table performances make them formidable yet unspectacular.
T1: A team built for success but plagued by issues in closing out tightly contested maps.

Instability and Flashes: B-Tier Squads in Transition

The B-tier is packed with teams showing glimpses of brilliance but unable to consistently translate that into victories. Upsets are on the table, but a deep playoff run feels elusive without major shifts:

100 Thieves, Cloud9, Evil Geniuses, Crew: A tangled web of talent from the Americas suffering from identity crises and inconsistent play. EG notably slips due to repeated underperformance.
Foot Esports, FPX, Talon, Vitality: All are volatile squads showing potential but lacking sustainable execution. Vitality, however, may rise through its recalibrated approach around Durka’s playstyle.
Karmine Corp: So far unpredictable – a team high on raw potential but lacking a stable trajectory.
Gentle Mates: Building buzz in the community, though yet to validate it on a big stage.
BOOM Esports: Competitive in the Pacific region, but needing refinement to challenge internationally.

Promise Unfulfilled: C-Tier Teams with Work to Do

These rosters have the talent but haven’t delivered reliably enough to deserve a higher ranking. They serve as wild cards for Stage 2 – dangerous but erratic:

LEV (Leviatán), LOUD: Well-respected brands with strong rosters, both are currently underachieving compared to past standards.
Natus Vincere (Na’Vi), Global Esports, KOI, ZETA DIVISION: Teams with structural promise and skilled players, but yet to rise past persistent inconsistency.
Trace, DGR, Nongshim, Elevator: Performances have varied significantly across matches, creating doubt about their ability to deliver on LAN.

At the Bottom: D-Tier and Rebuild Candidates

This level identifies organizations either in rebuilding phases or lagging significantly behind the meta and competition in overall cohesion and firepower:

T1GLU, DFM, AG, Dplus: Their current rosters lack depth and have failed to produce meaningful results, both regionally and internationally.
Leviatán: Strong individual potential hindered by poor team coordination and unclear roles, limiting their impact at the top levels.

Insights & Adjustments: Why the Tiers Shifted

Thinking Man’s latest update introduces some notable alterations following recent scrim performance rumors, map rotations, and player form:

Vitality received a tier bump, fueled by optimism about Durka’s tailored system and strategic flexibility.
Heretics climbed the ranks in anticipation of a performance rebound in Stage 2.
EG dropped due to their failure to adapt and persistently shaky tournament results.
Team Liquid was elevated to S-tier, following standout scrims and undeniable team synergy driven by recent roster moves.

Looking Ahead: High Stakes and Rising Stories

The VCT 2025 Tier List is not a reflection of current win-loss records. Instead, it is a forward-looking assessment that projects where teams are likely to stand after the dust settles in Stage 2. Expect unexpected twists – from breathtaking runs by underdogs to the stunning collapse of former giants. The road to international dominance is anything but linear, and in Valorant, momentum can shift on a dime.

Which placements do you disagree with most? Should Sentinels still be considered A-tier? Will Loud rise from C-tier before it’s too late? Drop your thoughts in the comment section and join the debate.

For exclusive updates, deep-dive tier rankings, and the most reliable match recaps in Valorant esports, visit AllValorant.gg.
Source: Thinking Man’s Valorant – VCT 2025 Tier List

Frequently Asked Questions about the VCT 2025 Tier List

Q: Who are the current top teams in VCT 2025 before Stage 2?
A: According to Thinking Man’s Valorant, the S-tier includes Paper Rex, Fnatic, Gen.G, G2 Esports, and Team Liquid – all consistent, high-performing rosters.

Q: Why did Thinking Man move Team Liquid to S-tier?
A: The addition of TX, plus Nats and Kiko’s evolution, bolsters Liquid’s status as a legitimate title contender.

Q: Why are teams like LOUD and Leviatán ranked lower?
A: Both teams have capable players but failed to maintain expected performance levels throughout the season.

Q: Is Heretics really better than BBL or MIBR?
A: Projected performance matters more than recent stats. Heretics is expected to outperform both based on potential and team tweaks heading into Stage 2.

Q: What tier is Sentinels in?
A: Sentinels are placed in the A-tier – they have explosive upside, but their inconsistency prevents top-tier placement.

Q: What’s the difference between A-tier and S-tier?
A: A-tier teams are dangerous challengers, but S-tier teams have already proven themselves capable of winning major trophies.

Q: Are Esports World Cup performances a driving factor in this list?
A: Not heavily. The list evaluates expected performance heading into the end of Stage 2, not just recent EWC results.

Q: What team might make a surprise comeback?
A: Vitality is pegged for a late-stage surge thanks to a restructured roster emphasizing explosiveness and coordination.

Q: Which region has the strongest representation in B-tier?
A: The Americas, represented by teams like Evil Geniuses, 100 Thieves, Cloud9, and Crew, all navigating growing pains and form slumps.

Q: Is this tier list official?
A: No, it is a speculative expert analysis by Thinking Man’s Valorant based on scrims, player form, roster moves, and projected potential.

Source: VCT 2025 Tier List: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not Before Stage 2?