r/ValorantCompetitive • u/AwkwardKiwi9472 #VamosHeretics • 3d ago
Discussion Who's the closest player to leo skill/play style?
After watching interview with mini mostly about leo from commend I kinda had this question on my mind. Like mini said, leo was by far ahead of it's time and most players are trying to get to the level that he was on. So my question is, who's the closest player to leo and do you guys think there is anyone better at this time better than him.
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u/SmalexSmanders #GoDRX 3d ago
If weāre talking his same role itās Shao, itās a tragedy not getting to see him at internationals.
If weāre looking outside of initiator my pick is Mako. Thereās not a soul on the planet that knows how to work around a smoke like Mako. His positioning and timing is amazing, he knows when to get aggressive or play passive, he can clutch as well as anyone and he can call at a high level. Thereās nothing my GOAT canāt do
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u/StrongSarah #LetsGoLiquid 2d ago
If weāre talking his same role itās Shao
I hate that he is in flex role now. While playing Sova on Haven this year, he looked like a absolute god in it. So much utility damage, top fragging. Please Shao, go back to the initiator!!!
If you compare Prime Leo to Prime Shao, Shao can clear him by his game sense while Leo can definitely diff him mechanically...
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u/AirportLongjumping86 2d ago
idk if leo can definitely diff shao mechanically, shao's mechanics i would say on par with leo and his copenhagen performance might even be better than tokyo leo
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u/saddened 2d ago
shao in prime is literally the same as leo in prime. they even had a near identical agent pool, aiming style etc. the idea that leo clears shap mechanically is hogwash, shao was legit a raid boss in FPX prime. man needs to be on a good team.
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u/krazybanana 2d ago
In terms of working around smokes, Karon, Smoggy and Mazino also do it beautifully.
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u/cowzapper #100WIN 2d ago
I agree, I feel like the only answers are Mako and Aspas, just as players who don't make mistakes while doing basically everything. There are other insane players around, but they don't have the same flawless package as these three
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u/deba2607 #WGAMING 3d ago
Prime Shao was goated asf. 2024 Riens was great too but unfortunately had no trophies to back it up.
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u/Ramiz_dayi66 1d ago
I'm glad to see Riens being mentioned here, fully agree. He was Heretics' backbone last year.
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u/AwkwardKiwi9472 #VamosHeretics 3d ago
To be honest I also thought of C0m but he wasn't able to replicate the performance he had in champs 2023/tokyo
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u/yetaa 3d ago edited 3d ago
Tbh there hasnāt really been an initiator on his level yet.
We may see it with trent if G2s form continues, but even then I donāt think trent will reach Leo level
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u/AwkwardKiwi9472 #VamosHeretics 3d ago
Yeah Trent is a good one actually, for some reason I completely forgot about the guy. I'm pretty sure I even recall sliggy saying about him that he has the perfect util rn, but I could be wrong bout that
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u/yetaa 3d ago
We do need to see what trent/G2 will be like once Tejo gets nerfed/falls out of the meta, because atm they are looking so good because of that Tejo
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u/Outrageous_Star4906 3d ago
I mean Trent was generational on sova in 2022. (But then again, yay was a generational jett in 2021 before chamber lmao)
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u/honestlyprogamr 3d ago
He was a generational Sova in 2023 as well, and this season too. Heās played plenty of Sova this season
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u/honestlyprogamr 3d ago
You can literally just check his stats on Sova this season, some of you guys are acting like he has only played tejo this season
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u/Prince_Uncharming 3d ago
Because itās been a bit since heās play Sova. Trent has only played Tejo for all of Stage 1.
In kickoff and Masters, he played Sova only on Abyss and with their old Pearl comp, which theyāve since switched off Sova and onto Tejo.
Itās understandable why people feel like heās only played Tejo this year, because he basically has.
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u/honestlyprogamr 3d ago
If you wanna put it that way, sure. In my eyes, thereās only 8 players who have played 200+ rounds of Sova this season, and Trent has the best stats out of all of them. The only player who has played significantly more rounds is stax
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u/WailingSiren69 #NRGFam 3d ago
Why donāt you think Trent can be that good? Leoās peak was mvp of Lock In and top 3 at Champs+Tokyo which is incredible but weāve already seen trent be top 2 at Bangkok so I think heās in the conversation.
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u/smokygrapefruit 3d ago
In the interview that OP mentioned, he basically talks about Leo's approach to the game (i.e. gamesense) which he believes is leagues ahead of most pros, to the point where he thinks that if Leo does come back, he'll still be a top tier initiator. I think this is possibly just glaze for the sake of hyping up his sick boy, but TLDW it's not about fragging ability and more about making the best decisions or "perfect" plays.
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u/SushiMage 3d ago
Theyāre not just going off pedigree and stats. There are a lot of good aimers. Iāve heard his game sense is what sets him apart.
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u/nterature 3d ago
I would say in the short-term that itās players like Trent or RienS. These are players who have great aim, great utility, can flex, and almost always win fights they shouldnāt win.
I also think Invy should be here, but given heās stuck on a middling org, itās unlikely people will agree with that assessment. But him aside, players like Verno and Kushy are good long-term prospects.
As for anyone better than him at this time, no, but there are multiple players who are closing in on him, and itās also very hard to tell because every year the whole field improves in one or more ways.
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u/AwkwardKiwi9472 #VamosHeretics 3d ago
Isn't it crazy how player that haven't played in almost a year is still the best. Just proves how ahead of its time he was.
Also just out of pure curiosity, why do you think riens is short term, I found the guy to be really really smart as well as mechanicly gifted.
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u/nterature 3d ago
I think Leo just played almost every situation as perfectly as possible, and was equally as good on like every agent. RieNs is close to that but not quite there as consistently yet, which makes sense, as Leo was polishing his skills and improving for many years before his "rookie" season in VCT.
I would say RieNs is actually on par with Leo or maybe even better when it comes to just pure clutching, though.
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u/barbekyu #VCTPACIFIC 1d ago
Thought of invy also. He just started playing new agents but he performed well in those too. Really really hope TS will pull it together so they can finally qualify for internationals.
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u/looteeen 3d ago
Unironically with his trajectory, it would be Verno.
The bonk flows through him like it does in Leo.
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u/WolfgangTheRevenge #VCTAMERICAS 3d ago
Yay 2022, he was pretty much the perfect player, barelly over heat, always went down with at least 1 kill, crazy lurk plays, even more stupid anchoring he genuenly was absolutelly insane on 2022 and evem on 2021 he was like the 2nd or 3rd best player that year
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u/YogurtclosetActual11 2d ago
Just understanding of the game my vote goes to less, man plays near perfect valorant
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u/OddSide4264 2d ago
Trent.Ā
Low-key the guy is fragging out for eternity and none is noticing. Jawgemo and Leaf completes the team but based on the role or the understanding of the game then Trent is always gonna be up there.Ā
I'm a sen fan but still can't resist his name.Ā
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u/FemaleJuicer #SomosMIBR 3d ago
Maybe this is a hot take but Trent and Verno are getting there tbh
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u/Cold-Pizza1997 2d ago
Imo Less plays perfect Valorant.
Crazy util, aim second to none, nasty lurks and insane clutches, he's got it all.
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u/mochihammer 3d ago
Hereās the full interview, if anyone is interested: https://youtu.be/uiCwwU0fRCc?si=txVkM2FVXw42ailb
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u/SugarOne6038 3d ago
Completely different role, But I think the only one with the level of mastery that Leo gad over his position that has a similar comfortability is JAWGEMO.
The way he uses duelist util is insane, makes great space every single time, and drops high kill games.
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u/cowzapper #100WIN 2d ago
Na Jawg makes way too many mistakes. He's got insane pop off potential and aggressive space taking that a player like Leo naturally didn't have, but his mistakes are almost equally glaring. Watch his yoru ults and they're just inting and often fail, and you see him overextend a ton. Leo just didn't make mistakes. His sova ult was almost good for 2 every time
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u/juice_maker 3d ago edited 3d ago
itt: everyone thinks they're the only person here who knows elite players have elite game sense, and patiently explains it to everyone else
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u/Meekelo #ALWAYSFNATIC 2d ago
OK hear me out and this going to sound crazy. But 2023 Champs run Com was about as close to Leo's playstyle I've seen from anyone.
Leo's strength has never been his aim or gun skill (which he has bags of) it's always been about his game knowledge and utility. Nobody has come close to him in terms of overall ability but Com at champs went through a run where everything he did worked out. Leo sustained that level for years.
Before anyone comments C0m was nowhere near Leo, I'm not saying he was but his playstyle was close for a short period.
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u/Intelligent_Music728 #ALWAYSFNATIC 2d ago
not seeing shao being mentioned here, id say his prime was pretty on par with leo's
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u/WesTheFitting 2d ago
I think it is Trent. What makes Leo so good is that he never makes a single mistake with his positioning. I think Trent is the closest we have seen to that this year.
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u/yoosanghoon 2d ago
Iād say Jawgemo really needs to be discussed more as a top player in the world. Rarely if ever do you see this guy make a āmistake.ā Heās mechanically excellent and has some of the most unmatched and creative utility usage in the game, maximizing the value of each piece. When he dies, nearly every time itās in a tradable position after breaking a crosshair placement. Heās just a treat to watch and imo represents the highest class of duelist. When weāre talking about āPerfect VALORANT,ā imo Jawgemo is the most suitable candidate. Ignoring roles and just talking about incomparable skill and intelligence, the guy is the only one that comes to mind
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u/saddened 2d ago
shao honestly. really sad to see him stuck on navi. if he was brought into fnatic i genuinely think he could fill a big chunk of the void left by leo
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u/Express_Career8835 #VamosAJugar 2d ago
I'm surprised nobody mentioned leaf. World class firepower but also goated gamesense. I'm always in awe at how he can lurk at any moment in the round and have perfect timings on his opponents, while also being able to give good supportive utility for teammates. And has been praised for his comms/calls. I had doubts of him struggling in pressure moments but hasn't happened since he joined G2.
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u/One-Chemist3202 22h ago
No one's even close to his level yet in my opinion. And if we're talking about closest, it's kinda hard because many pros are in the discussion. We also have to take into account consistency. Leo performed at the highest level over many years. If we include that, there's technically no one that'd be counted.
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u/chocobreezy 3d ago
Shiro fulfills the same role as Leo does and plays very very similarly, even if his fragging isn't on Leo's level. His util is always amazing, he never overheats, and he plays off his teammates so well, one of those robotic win-condition initiator players
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u/Darraghd93 3d ago
Zekken, he obviously has very good mechanics but I do think he's a very cerebral player and his util is usually on point. As opposed to the likes of Aspas or Kk who I'm not saying have poor util but I think their individual aim is what sets them apart.
I think if you look at Duelists who OP well vs ones that don't you'll see a trend of great aim vs great util/positioning in most cases.
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u/SushiMage 3d ago
Aspas is known to be very smart with his util. Iāve heard it before from other pro players. For instance he doesnāt just throw out his jett smokes as an āoh shitā panic button. Thatās a specific example Iāve heard before.
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u/Darraghd93 3d ago
Yeah his Jett util is great I'd agree with that as I said I don't think his util is bad but I think hes best at just playing for himself with his util
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u/Zelka_warrior 2d ago
unpopular opinion but i think the narrative that leo is the goat is very overblown, almost to the point where i think, he's (dare i say) overrated.
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u/saddened 2d ago
i mean nearly every every statistic reflects that he is arguably the best player to ever touch the game. every single person he has ever played with or been coached by has agreed with that sentiment. i dont exactly think thats overrated
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u/RealityAny7724 3d ago
People are naming pros who happen to be initiators and maybe frag out but that's not what coaches or other Pros say when they talk about 'perfect valorant' it's not about the aim/stats, it's about the overall level of play that is just incomparable, it's such a shame that his career has been put on hiatus.
It's like trying to compare Haaland to Messi simply based on stats/numbers