Arca Hazard

Seeing lots of terrible ZB takes on the TL today, so here's here's one more. Talent (Genetics) This will come off as harsh, but I think most of the good ZB players do not have the same talent as the pros. Genetics are a topic of endless debates in multiple fiends, but the reality is that most players who main ZB do so because they weren't good enough at builds. Literally every single tournament where there's been a large amount of cash on the line, G8 2023, EWC 2025 (even though this was org gatekept / a different gamemode), the top players are always the pros. The pros are the best players in the world for a reason, and a lot of that is talent. If there's a large tournament with a large prizepool, top pros will grind it, and will be incredible at it. G8 2023 was a good example where some ZB players did good (Tacts & Pfluger), but in reality it was dominated by pros who put time in since there was a cirtuit at Dreamhack. This was an open tournament, where anyone could qualify, and unsurprisingly it was dominated by pros. Pressure One thing I'm yet to see in this discussion is pressure. A bit part of winning a huge prizepool tournament is performing under pressure. How will they handle a final game scenario where they're getting landed on, or focussed. My recent video covering Globals covers this well. Top pros are great at this, they do it multiple times a year, both online and at LAN. How will players who are used to playing for $100 in open Victory cups compare? My guess is not well. Of course this can be trained over time through experience, but the ZB Championship will be the first time these players experience that, and the 20th + for the pros. Skillset I really think people are overexaggerating the skillset that ZB requires. The main difference between modes really is just movement, and that's really not that difficult to learn in comparison to building. I'm not sure why it's being discussed that the best players in the world couldn't learn to sprint and slide. Creative Vergo was arguably the best creative player at the FNCS Summit, but placed 8th. A good performance, but these skills do not transfer over 1 to 1. Zenn would be one of the best players in comp if they did, but he is far from that (still great to watch however). There are so many skills that are required for high level competitive Fortnite. Similarly, there are skills and strategies required to do well in certain creative maps. It's not surprise that ZB players won a 4v4 when it's a map / mode they all play. It was a great watch though. Conclusion When you take the best players in the world and give them insentive to practice, it's unsurprising that they'll do well. I think there will be good ZB players who will do well, and place well in these cups don't get me wrong, but the idea that they are going to dominate over the best players in the world is kind of funny.