Coach

Q: What do you think is the fundamental difference between a championship team and a team that is simply very good? What did NAVI do right?
Coach:  From a gameplay standpoint, I'd say it's the attention to detail. Marvel Rivals is a very connected game, so everything becomes easier when certain seemingly smaller things click. We always look for ways to make the game easier for each other, even if it seems very small, it adds up over time.  From a mental standpoint, confidence and, very importantly, resilience. You need to believe that it's your trophy to lift. Even if some maps weren't going our way, we believed from start to end that we would win because we were the better team.

Q: Once a team becomes one of the favorites to win, can outside expectations become a source of pressure? How do you manage that pressure?
Coach: It can be a source of pressure, yeah, but it's up to you as a team and as a player to use that pressure in a positive manner. If you are the favorite, you could be scared of losing, but being the favorite also means that you simply have to do your job and you will win. It's a form of confidence, and we focus on that part.  After we won the Winners Finals against TLC, it made things much easier for everyone on the team, because from that point everyone believed that we were better than them, and it just streamlined our way of playing since we didn't have to look for solutions, only maintain our condition. There was no doubt in anyone's mind about how they should play individually.

Q: Are there people on the outside that others don't see that you believe has been crucial to NAVI's success?
Coach: Yes. The players execute on the server, but the infrastructure behind them dictates our consistency. Our managers handle all operational tasks. They manage logistics, scheduling, and bootcamp organization, which allows the roster and coaching staff to focus strictly on the game. The entire NAVI support structure builds the system that makes our results possible. Their work isn't on the broadcast, but we don't win without it.

 

qmis1k

Q: When you decided to bring in Terra, what did you value most about him? Was it his individual ability, hero pool, experience, or the way he thinks about the game and what he could bring to the team? 
qmis1k: We brought Terra in because he can literally win a game by himself and we saw it already on Mid-Season Finals. His raw skill and solo plays are on another level. But what makes him special is that he isn't just a brainless fragger. He understands the game deeply, and his vision actually makes our whole team's macro much better. 

Q: From a management perspective, what is the hardest thing to manage within a team over the course of a long season?
qmis1k: Burnout and keeping practice quality high. It’s hard to make guys stay disciplined and look at their mistakes without getting emotional, especially when they are tired or after a week of terrible scrims. But the work just has to get done. 

Q: The biggest problems for professional teams aren’t always about skill. When do you think a team is most vulnerable to internal issues or losing cohesion?
qmis1k: I think when scrims are going badly for a long time, and right after a big win when some guys might get lazy. The teams fall apart the second players stop trusting the game plan. Once trust is gone, everyone tries to create solo moves, and that might ruin everything. 

Q: If you had to describe NAVI's internal team culture in three words, what would they be?
qmis1k: Passion. Adaptability. Results.

Q: Is there someone on the team who you feel is particularly good at stabilizing the team emotionally or keeping the atmosphere positive?
qmis1k: I would say that’s TrqstMe and Shuh, because of their roles in the team and experience, but it could be everyone to be honest. Even though we have strong personalities who might have different visions on the game at the moment we are still able to find solutions that fit everyone.

 

FATE

Q:  Last year, you were RAD and won the first-ever Mid-Season Finals. One year later, you’ve won the championship again as NAVI. Looking back, what would you say is the defining theme of this past year?
fate: Last year for us was really just about working as hard as we can and proving we were the best against all odds. Nobody really expected us to be a top international team but we knew that if we worked the hardest we’d win it all. We played the most and it paid off. This year is less about proving ourselves and more about maintaining our strength.

Q: Strategists aren’t always the most noticeable players to the audience at first glance, How do you see your role and impact within the team?
fate: Strategist may not be the most noticeable role at first glance, especially my category of strategist, but every single player on the team holds the weight of having 1/6th of the impact in the game. As a strategist every mistake is extremely punishing, and it can be an extremely hard role to play. I just have to focus on my own game and ensure I keep up my own performance, whether it’s noticeable or not.

Q: What is the one thing you remember most vividly from this Mid-Season Finals?
fate: The most obvious thing to remember is the Grand Final; it was the best match I've ever played, and it was extremely fun. However, I'd say my favourite moment was being able to finally play Adam Warlock in officials. The 100T game was a match to remember for me.

Q: How would you rate your performance at this Mid-Season Finals? If 10 is a perfect score, what would you give yourself?
fate: My performance in this tournament was for sure one of my best, and I am very satisfied with it, so I'd give myself a 9. Getting a perfect score is unrealistic but it's something I will continue to grind for.

 

TrqstMe

Q: Last year, you were RAD and won the first-ever Mid-Season Finals. One year later, you’ve won the championship again as NAVI. Looking back, what would you say is the defining theme of this past year?
TrqstMe: In RAD, we understood that we had to invest lots of more time. Thankfully, the Marvel Rivals Esports Team gave us a great experience in China, where we could practice before the tournament every day 4 blocks a day, 3 vod reviews; every one of us was highly motivated to win, and none of us went out to drink. We spent infinite time together in the hotel in the morning day and night to win this tournament. I don't recall ever imagining spending this much time on it and it showed. The growth curve was only possible because the environment was good enough to foster and we were able to play lots because of mental capacity boost from LAN practice and good hotel food, treating it like real athletes.

Q: In a match, if everyone has a different opinion, who is usually the person who has to make the final decision?
TrqstMe: Right now it's Terra but it's complicated. Often I would love to lead more but the current environment does not allow that to foster so I need to keep my influence subtle and work hard from the back.

Q: When did you first start playing Marvel Rivals? And what was the moment when you decided to pursue a professional career and knew that Vanguard was the role you wanted to play?
TrqstMe: My friend told me it was a great game and he is a good friend of mine and I played it for him and fell in love with the game ever since. I have played tank in my recent 5 years swinging corners first and thinking more about the game than just point-and-clicking or being second in walking up does not feel the same for me. Taking charge on the map and being the initiator most of the time gets the most out of me.

Q: After overtime ended in Game 5 of the Grand Finals, you stood up excitedly and tapped your teammates. What was going through your mind at that moment?
TrqstMe: That all of the hardship I went through was worth it. I bled for this tournament providing information outside of scrims. Sitting in calls with different coaches and people to enhance my performance outside of the game, talking to the team daily about what I think we should improve or giving proper directional advice. Often I land in the position where teammates are unhappy with me. It is normal if you are a louder voice people will criticize you and scapegoat you when things go wrong. But I knew at that moment all the work I put in clicked and it paid me back with that win.

Q: What qualities do you think separate a top-tier player from everyone else?
TrqstMe: The ability to adapt and to change people around you. That is one of my strengths. I want to get even better at studying human psychology to evaluate how much I can influence the team outside of gameplay performance. Giving advice and direction when they feel lost. But of course since esports is so young individual skill and often people that have a natural feel for it.

 

Lv1Crook

Q: Last year, you were RAD and won the first-ever Mid-Season Finals. One year later, you’ve won the championship again as NAVI. Looking back, what would you say is the defining theme of this past year?
Lv1Crook: The game got more competitive as teams picked up the best players possible, but we kept working hard to level up ourselves.

Q: As last year’s Mid-Season Finals MVP in Guangzhou, did winning that title put more pressure on you? What do you think is different about you this year compared to last year?
Lv1Crook: No, I don't feel a lot of pressure. I view the game a bit more casual now and just play to win. I’d rather just play scrims, think about the game and win the next tourney

Q:  How do you structure your day? How much of your time is dedicated to training?
Lv1Crook: Basic stuff, such as buying groceries, going out with friends, taking walks. Practice is around 7 hours a day.

Q: In the Mid-Season Finals Grand Finals, what was the most difficult moment for you when playing against Team Liquid Citadel?
Lv1Crook: After going into 2 unwinnable Peni matchups we decided we need to change the bans, I think that shifted the momentum and coming back from getting full held 2 maps in a row is a sign of a very good mentality.

 

Raajaro

Q: Last year, you were RAD and won the first-ever Mid-Season Finals. One year later, you’ve won the championship again as NAVI. Looking back, what would you say is the defining theme of this past year?
Raajaro: The defining theme is for sure the amount of time we spend playing, talking about the game and vodding. We have been the hardest working team for a year now and it shows.

Q:  Last year, you lost the Grand Finals to Virtus.pro and finished as runners-up. How much did that loss influence the NAVI we see today? Is there a particular moment or lesson from that series that has stayed with you?
Raajaro: That loss influenced me the most I think, after that I have grinded so much to be where we are today. After the loss I kinda told myself I'm done losing to VP every tournament.

Q: How do you understand the role of a Vanguard in professional play? How is it different from playing Vanguard in ranked?
Raajaro: I think the role requires you to be very smart and have a deep understanding of the game. You control the map as a vanguard and map control wins you the game in professional play.

Q: Coming into the Mid-Season Finals, NAVI was considered one of the favorites to win the championship. Did you have an idea of who you might face in the Grand Final? And what was it like facing Team Liquid Citadel?
Raajaro: We always knew it would be Team Liquid Citadel. They were the hardest team to face in scrims and our scrim record against them was very bad. But during tournaments our entire team always plays a lot better than in scrims.

 

Jur3ky

Q: Last year, you lost the Grand Finals to Virtus.pro and finished as runners-up. How much did that loss influence the NAVI we see today? Is there a particular moment or lesson from that series that has stayed with you?
Jur3ky: Yeah, the main thing I took with me from that Grand Finals was the flexibility of mine.. We basically didn’t have anyone in the team at that point to fill the role of a “flex-dps”. Both Naga and I lacked some heroes, which now isn’t the case anymore since I expanded my hero pool, and Terra dominates on his respective heroes too.

Q: The team brought in Terra at the beginning of the year, and you both play Duelist. What changed for you personally after he joined the team?
Jur3ky: Kind of an extension to the first point, I swapped over from mainly the hitscan role to the flex-dps role. Learning heroes like Daredevil, Wolverine, Ultron and more.  Obviously having the 2 highest damage dealers from Grand Finals in one team helps as well!

Q: When playing competitively, do you prioritize the hero that best fits the current meta and the team, or the hero you’re personally best at?
Jur3ky: It’s not a definite answer, In NAVI we like our comfort picks, but we are also all open to playing something that supports someone else's idea.. Right now I’d say it's a 60/40 split, more in favor of what benefits the team.

Q: Which three players from different teams impressed you the most at this Mid-Season Finals, and why?
Jur3ky: I am a supporter of RAD since my good friend “Vertigo” is there, I was surprised by them, not so much of their skill since I knew how good they were, but the fact that they pulled it off on LAN even through all the nerves.

Q: Do you consider EMEA the strongest region in the world right now? And what role do you think NAVI plays within the EMEA region?
Jur3ky: I consider us the strongest team in the world and based on what region we play in, that region will always be the strongest.

 

Terra

Q: Moving from AMER to the EMEA region was a major decision. Was it a difficult choice to make? What ultimately made you decide to join NAVI?
Terra: Changing regions is a big step, but the choice itself wasn't hard. At the end of the day, I’m here for one thing: to win trophies. NAVI offered the infrastructure, ambition, and roster depth that make winning a realistic expectation rather than a gamble. When your sole motivation is being number one, geography takes a back seat.

Q:  Before you joined, NAVI’s five players had already been playing together for a long time. For you, did joining such an established team make it easier or harder to integrate?
Terra: It didn’t pose a problem at all. If anything, coming into an established five-player core made integration much smoother. I didn't have to help build team chemistry or fundamental communication from scratch; I just needed to bring my individual impact and elevate the foundation they already had.

Q: What were you feeling heading into the Grand Final against Team Liquid Citadel? Was TLC the opponent you expected to face in the Grand Final? 
Terra: We fully expected to face Liquid Citadel in the Grand Final. They had a strong tournament run, so seeing them across the stage was no surprise. Heading into the match, there wasn't any nerve or hesitation—just absolute focus. When you've prepared for every scenario, you just step up and execute.

Q: Many people consider you and SparkR to be the two strongest Duelists. How do you view that comparison? What do you think are the biggest differences between your playstyles? 
Terra: It’s a great narrative for the fans, but we have very distinct playstyles. SparkR excels at a disciplined, methodical, and highly calculated game. My playstyle is much more dynamic and explosive—I look for micro-windows to punish mistakes, push the pace, and dictate the fight. It really comes down to different ways of converting impact into round wins.

Q: Duelists are often the most visible players to the audience. How do you define what it means to “carry” a team? What separates a truly elite Duelist from someone who simply knows how to deal damage? 
Terra: Anyone at this level can pump out high damage numbers, but raw stats don't win matches. Carrying comes down to knowing what to do in every single fight. An elite Duelist knows precisely when to trade, when to pick off a high-priority target, and how to make the right decision under pressure when a round is falling apart. Damage is just a stat; decision-making wins championships.

Q: What part of your potential do you feel your NAVI teammates have unlocked that you didn’t have the opportunity to show before? 
Terra: They unlocked my full aggressive playstyle. In the past, I sometimes had to hold back or play within rigid boundaries. With NAVI, I know that if I make a proactive, high-risk play, my team will instantly match my energy and cover the backline. That level of trust allows me to play without second-guessing myself.

Q: What are your goals for the next stage? 
Terra: To win. We set a high bar for ourselves, and the plan remains the same: keep improving, fix our mistakes, and lift the next trophy.

Discord|X|Facebook|Instagram|TikTok|YouTube|Twitch