ImperialHal talks ALGS confidence, EWC pain & Falcons’ Newcastle Cryptonite

by

As a seasoned Apex Legends enthusiast who has followed ImperialHal‘s career since its inception, I can’t help but feel a mix of anticipation and apprehension as I watch Team Falcons navigate through the ALGS Split 2 Playoffs. The departure of key players from the legendary team has left many fans on edge, wondering if they will be able to maintain their dominance in the face of change.

All eyes are on Team Falcons for the ALGS Split 2 Playoffs, as the best team in Apex Legends history was ripped apart in hopes of a new dynasty moving forward.

Philip “ImperialHal” Dosen is right at the heart of this situation, as everyone eagerly observes how the CEO of Apex navigates the complexities of a fresh team. Notably, he hasn’t taken on the role of an In-Game Leader (IGL) like before, and it seems he might have to hold back more than in past years.

Having secured the runner-up spot in the Esports World Cup, we, the Falcons, are geared up to take the top prize this time around. We’re eager to demonstrate that our fresh squad was indeed the right call amidst the tumultuous team shake-up.

I had a chat with ImperialHal regarding the latest team lineup and discussed the noticeable alterations they’ve made since the End of the Year Championship earlier this month.

ALGS Split 2 wobbles in confidence: Newcastle woes, EMEA strength, and Cryptonite

For the very first time, consecutive Local Area Networks (LANs) will take place, coinciding with the Esports World Cup’s revised schedule that disrupts ALGS Split 2. Consequently, the Playoffs are now set to advantage those teams who can adjust most swiftly.

As a gamer, I’ve noticed a subtle tweak in the meta. The double controller setup is still popular, but there’s a shift happening – Fuse is being phased out and Newcastle is stepping up to the plate. For many teams who were previously hesitant about using Brutus, it’s a frenzy of learning on-the-job.

“To be honest, I was more confident in EWC,” Hal said.

For Falcon players like Hal, they belong to the group that requires adaptation, as he needs to alter his playstyle on specific maps and adapt to the Newcastle strategy. This change puts a bit of stress on him, though it’s subtle.

“I was using Fuse in both maps, but I’m not completely sure because I’m still getting used to Newcastle and haven’t had much chance to get acquainted with him yet.”

In just three weeks, Newcastle has been a popular choice among 35% or more of the teams participating in the Newcastle competition. Interestingly, the Falcons have solely opted to use him on Storm Point and stuck with Fuse on World’s Edge. During the group stages, the Falcons managed to win their two most significant victories using Fuse on World’s Edge, while still securing some wins with Newcastle.

However, the difference between current estimates and those from EWC is approximately 5%, which is roughly within the realm of confidence, primarily due to the factor of Newcastle.

The Falcons aren’t only doubtful about Newcastle; Hal also expressed frustration towards Crypto, stating “I despise Crypto, it’s merely foolish and anyone can manipulate it“; furthermore, he found the outsourced use of the drone to be infuriating.

Surprisingly enough, even though the Esports World Cup heavily favored some teams, it demonstrated how swiftly other regions are narrowing the gap in terms of skill. In the Grand Finals, an impressive 13 teams found themselves at a stalemate, with six hailing from EMEA, two from APAC, and five from NA – indicating that the competition is becoming increasingly global.

Europe has demonstrated an exceptionally high standard of play over the past few weeks, which Hal identified as a potential stumbling block for the Falcons.

He also mentioned that there seems to be an improvement across the board, particularly in the EMEA region. More teams from this region have made it to the finals lately, indicating a definite progression in their skills.

Regardless, he believes the Falcons will demonstrate their abilities and claim victory during the Split 2 Playoffs, given that their confidence grows progressively as the tournament unfolds.

Esports World Cup heart(belly)ache

At the Esports World Cup, it was the first time the Falcons’ current lineup appeared on stage. However, ahead of their potential title as ALGS Playoffs Champions, Hal disclosed that the team playing in Saudi Arabia won’t be the same Falcons competing this weekend.

He stated, “At that moment, I wasn’t feeling well at all. In fact, I was severely dehydrated and hadn’t eaten anything due to constant stomach discomfort throughout the day.”

I felt utterly exhausted throughout due to it, and playing thirteen matches took a significant toll on me.

Excited for ALGS Split 2, he’s optimistic that his previous heartbreaking second-place finish won’t repeat itself, and a fully fit team will demonstrate why they are considered strong favorites.

Hal stated, “From my perspective, if the score had been 50 instead of 60, I believe we would’ve wrapped it up in five matches. Given that it was 60 points and playing over 13 games, fatigue became a factor – something everyone encounters – and that might have influenced our loss.”

I inquired if Hal planned to modify their approach to ensure optimal performance at the right moment instead of relying on luck game after game, but he seemed self-assured that history wouldn’t repeat and the Falcons would accomplish the task more promptly, given that Match Point is currently back down by 50 points.

We don’t plan on taking any extraordinary measures as such incidents are uncommon – the last occurrence was five years ago in Poland, spanning over twelve matches. I find it unlikely that we will face a similar situation again.

When it comes to ALGS Split 2 Playoffs, anything less than gold is a failure.

Look forward to our upcoming interview with Eric “Snip3down” Wrona, where we delve into his strategies that are intensifying the tension among the Falcons team and their interpersonal conflicts.

Read More

2024-08-31 14:13