Here at esportsguide, we love letting you know the inside information when it comes to esports. Accordingly, that’s what we did with our Overwatch Rostermania featured articles – really digging into what you need to know. Indeed, do you know what runs in parallel to the OWL? Yes, it’s the Call of Duty League! With that being said, let’s dive into our very own CoD Rostermania discussion below.

This featured article will follow the same format as for the previous iterations. Therefore, we’ll be listing the current state of rosters, listing only the active players. Apart from listing, we’ll be offering our own insights over the quality of the change – what is the potential for improvement with this new change? No, this CoD Rostermania article isn’t ranking the best squads, but the best changes. To note, the phrase ‘NS’ means new signing.

Let’s dive right in!

#1 New York Subliners

• Thomas “ZooMaa” Paparatto
• Makenzie “Mack” Kelley
• James “Clayster” Eubanks – NS
• Paco “HyDra” Rusiewiez – NS
• Coach – John “Revan” Boble

Another reconstructed team, New York were one of the franchises who came back in a big way in the second half of the season last year – but it wasn’t enough. To really gain a proper chance, the Subliners managed to land the world champion of “Clayster” to buff them up together with the young unproven talent of “HyDra” who looks to debut this season.

Although incredibly potent, the one downside of this roster I could see is the lack of a strong flex player should it be needed. Otherwise, this roster has transformed to a potentially dominant one.

#2 FaZe Atlanta – CoD Rostermania Highlight

• Tyler “aBeZy” Pharris
• Chris “Simp” Lehr
• McArthur “Cellium” Jovel
• Alec “Arcitys” Sanderson – NS
• Coach – James “Crowder” Crowder
• Substitutes – Juan Antonio “JurNii” Gonzales and Daunte “Sibilants” Gray

After such an incredible season last year, FaZe Atlanta’s hopes of winning were crushed in the Grand Final. Accordingly, many, including myself, identified the problem in a lack of in-game leadership. To address this, the franchise has brought on world champion “Arcitys” to team once again with his former championship winning teammates. I don’t know how they let this happen, but FaZe look even stronger than last year and remain a top 3 contender.

#3 Minnesota ROKKR

• Dillon “Attach” Price – NS
• Preston “Priestahh” Greiner – NS
• Lamar “Accuracy” Abedi – NS
• Michael “MajorManiak” Szymaniak – NS
• Coach – Brian “Saintt” Baroska

Minnesota ROKKR were the disappointments of last season – starting it incredibly and going toe-to-toe with FaZe, ending on a massive slump and dipping out early at Champs. Accordingly, the staff decided to release all their players and go for a hard reset. Garnering two players from New York and FaZe Atlanta respectively, this team shows an incredible amount of promise. Regardless of the meta at launch, two strong subs, one main assault rifle and a strong flex mark the team as a threat, which is why I have them ranked so high.

Compared to last year, I predict they’ll place higher up in the leaderboard.

#4 Los Angeles Thieves

• Thomas “TJHaLy” Haly – NS
• Kenny “Kenny” Williams – NS
• Austin “SlasheR” Liddicoat – NS
• Donovan “Temp” Laroda – NS
• Substitute: Zack “Drazah” Jordan

Nadeshot is back in Call of Duty with his organization. Rebranding the LA franchise, the average team from last season looks reborn. The veteran of “SlasheR” looks to lead his teammates of “TJHaLy” and “Kenny” once again as back in WWII, hungry for championships. To round out the squad, a strong flex is here to play in the form of “Temp”.

Due to the team’s track record in 4v4 based competition, I’d consider LA Thieves one of the biggest threats heading into this incredibly competitive league.

#5 OpTic Chicago

• Seth “Scump” Abner – NS
• Matthew “FormaL” Piper – NS
• Dylan “Envoy” Hannon – NS
• Brandon “Dashy” Otell – NS
• Coach – Troy “Sender” Michaels
• Substitute – Jordan “General” General and Marcus “MBoZe” Blanks

To begin with, OpTic Chicago is a rebranded Chicago Hunstmen from last year, with just the rights changing over from another franchise.

Technically, this is not a new roster, but the branding is new. However, what is new is the inclusion of Brandon “Dashy” Otell who is back beside “Scump” to once again form a dangerous squad. Without doubt, this looks like the strongest respawn team of the year but more importantly, has unhindered potential for tactical game modes. An incremental upgrade just like with FaZe Atlanta, OpTic Chicago will once again remain a top 3 squad.

The only concern for this squad is the capacity for the players to butt heads with one another.

#6 Seattle Surge

• Sam “Octane” Larew
• Pierce “Gunless” Hillman – NS
• Preston “Prestinni” Sanderson – NS
• Daniel “Loony” Loza – NS
• Coach: Joey “Nubzy” DiGiacomo

Sadly, I was one of the few fans of Seattle Surge last season – a team which suffer heartbreak after heartbreak to place last. This year, “Octane” is getting some help thanks to some much needed fire power through “Gunless” and “Prestinni”, together with some in-game leadership from “Loony”.

Albeit a definite upgrade from last season in all regards, I still have the same concern over slaying ability. Both “Loony” and “Prestinni” are known to not consistently slay as SMGs, and this could hurt them against multiple opponents.

#7 Los Angeles Guerrillas

• Reece “Vivid” Drost
• Adam “Assault” Garcia – NS
• Bryan “Apathy” Zhelyazkov – NS
• Justin “SiLLY” Fargo-Palmer – NS

It’s undisputed that the Los Angeles Guerrillas were the worst team from last season, winning a total of 5 series to place dead last overall. Desperate for change, keeping the young prospect of “Vivid”, surrounding him with veteran talent of the Evil Geniuses World Championship squad is definitely a great move.

However, do these players still hunger for victory or are they all beyond their prime? Although all three had average to poor seasons last year, it remains an improvement from last year’s roster regardless.

#8 London Royal Ravens

• Alex “Alexx” Carpenter – NS
• Trei “Zer0″ Morris
• Dylan “Dylan” Henderson
• Sean “Seany” O’Connor
• Coach – James “Dominate” Batz

London Royal Ravens stunned the community in CoD Rostermania when they dropped two of their top players from last year from some reason. By removing the Marshal brothers, they’ve instead chosen to build the squad around “Seany” and bring in “Alexx” from ROKKR. This came as a surprise as the team managed an astounding 4th place finish at CoD Champs this year.

Here I can definitely sense some potential, with all the players hungry for more. However, I’m somewhat certain that the team will remain a middle of the pack roster on the cusp of greatness but missing out on that championship calibre. Definitely, “Zer0″ as the veteran on this roster needs to step up and lead this team to have a chance at a good season.

#9 Florida Mutineers

• Cesar “Skyz” Bueno
• Colt “Havok” McLendon
• Joseph “Owakening” Conley
• Josiah “Slacked” Berry – NS
• Coach – Ricky “Atura” Lugo

Last year was an absolute rollercoaster ride for the Florida Mutineers. At times they shone as the best team in the game while at others, like at the Playoffs, the dipped out early and disappointed everybody. Paired with the sorrowful passing of their star player in “f3ro”, the roster has remained the same with the sole controversial swap of “Slacked”.

Indeed, “Slacked” had an abysmal season last year, though years of experience in 4v4 could help him redeem himself next year. The main problem I see with this roster is a lack of in-game leadership and perhaps, composure. In my opinion, the roster will remain in the middle of the pack with a few deep runs.

#10 Dallas Empire

• Anthony “Shotzzy” Cuevas-Castro
• Cuyler “Huke” Garland
• Indervir “iLLeY” Dhaliwal
• Ian “Crimsix” Porter
• Coach – Raymond “Rambo” Lussier
• Substitute – Paul “Tisch” Tischler

As the dominant kings of last year, no changes were needed for Dallas Empire. Heading into 4v4 from 5v5, they chose to stick with “Crimsix” over “Clayster” – a very difficult choice to make. Overall, the community believes the right choice was made and the young guns on this roster look to continue their dominance as the number one team in the scene under the watch of veteran “Crimsix”.

With no change and remaining the number one team, that’s why it’s so low in our rankings for change.

#11 Toronto Ultra

• Anthony “Methodz” Zinni
• Cammy “Cammy” McKilligan
• Ben “Bance” Bance
• Tobi “CleanX” Jonsson
• Coach: Mark “MarkyB” Bryceland

A pretty good season for Toronto last season leads them to believe in sticking together and building a stronger chemistry. While that’s admirable, I’m skeptical over the fact that both “Cammy” and “CleanX” are new to 4v4 and may not adapt as necessary to the change in pace from 5v5. The quicker the adapt, the better a chance this team has at success.

#12 Paris Legion

• N/A

Nothing has been announced out of Paris Legion yet – only that they have released all of their players. In this regard, nothing can be said except that the community is buzzing with excitement over who might make it in.

CoD Rostermania has been intense, and it’s still not over yet. Heading into next year, due to the swap back to 4v4, a total of 12 player spots have vanished and we now have the most competitive Call of Duty league in history.

We really hope you’ve enjoyed this CoD Rostermania feature; we’ll be sure to keep up with any updates.

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