Week 11: A Cinematic Experience

2550, that is the number that plagues my mind and my dreams making them become nightmares. Is it an attainable rating? It has been almost 2 months since we got into the 2200+ rating range and we’ve yet to crack 2300. The past week we played 16 games and won only 6, yet we somehow gained 15 points. I played terrible, horrible the worst I’ve done since I began this project. I have regressed enormously and I’m not completely sure why. It could have been terrible luck as we encountered many teams that just destroyed me, fresh from the tournament we ran into a lot of Beastcleaves and TSGs and a good RMP. We’ve been defeating Wizard cleave, RLS and RMP fairly consistently but only found those a couple of times and it's reflected in our record for the week. 


The major problem right now is that I don’t do enough damage when focused, for example TSG, having a Warrior right click me and strafe back and forth is super annoying in addition to a DK, his ghoul stun and every other possible thing that prevents me to pump damage out. On top of that they keep running through me to stop my casts, I really really really try to do my best and turn with my mouse along them as I cast even predicting where they may walk to next, but I still fail often. 


Sometime during this the Warrior will Bladestorm, I have to port out and when I do I am confronted with two choices, do I spell lock the non-aura mastery heal the Paladin is throwing out and stay out of LoS until Bladestorm fades or do I spell lock the DK to avoid grip into the Bladestorm and use the time I have, with the distance I made, to put some damage into the target? 


In either of the cases I will end up with a Warrior sticking to my face once Bladestorm is out the only difference is if my RNG caused the Paladin to bubble or not. Most of the times it won’t even force the bubble and after that it’s pretty much game over. 


Beastcleave, I know, you know, we *all* know that it’s a tough composition to beat- there are some teams that run it where we can squeak by with a win but I usually get killed in the blink of an eye. Does it warrant further nerfs? Maybe. Beastcleave on the right hands is extremely deadly however not everyone has the skill to execute and just cruise their way into Gladiator range safe rating island. 

The 2550 island and its offer of safety and comfort is what powers my swimming strokes in this relentless storm, I’m at my limit- I’ve been struggling back and forth being thrown around like a piece of drifting wood by the rating waves I cannot continue any longer. I can’t recall how or when my legs stopped kicking, my arms moving, my lungs breathing; I gave up and I am now slowly sinking into the deep dark ocean… 


Until a gentle but firm hand grabbed my arm and clenched tightly, a second bone-y arm plunged in from above and helped pulling me out. My two teammates Ravasham and Sargaz were in a lifeboat, as I gasped for air the Rogue said- “Don’t give up just yet. We can make it to that island.” I looked up to him at the same time a paddle was placed into my hands by the Shaman: “We’ve carried you this far, from this point on you’ll have to paddle the same as us.” 


I smiled, with focus and energy along with my trusty teammates I am sure we can make it. We slowly start paddling our way unto that safe land in the distance until then you will find us struggling in the arena storm together. 















“yea eum you were going to drown there tho, why didn’t you use Unending Breath on yourself tho?” the rogue asked… 

My reply: “Ooooh, good idea! I’ll try that next time™”