This weekend marks the third competition for World of Warcraft in Major League Gaming PC Circuit. This Lan event pits some of the finest players against each other for the coveted prize of $12,000, and 3 HP Blackbird gaming systems. Fnatic Orz returns fresh off of an impressive showing as the Blizzcon regional winners, and champions of MLG Orlando.

Many teams including BMFC, Cya Bro, GotGame West, Gravitas, Pandemic, and Sponsored by RNG are looking to supplant the champions. Many of these teams are working hard to bring their best to this tournament. More info on some of the teams via interview is easily found in the news section of GotFrag.com, and they all are gearing to make this one heck of a show. Let's take a look at the teams.

BMFC

Mark "aimlessgun" Claborne
Darren "Thorrior" Vinarsky
Brian "Kardonnis" Mitchell
Chris "Ocius" Funderburk

The configuration I most likely put them on is Warrior/Warlock/Druid, which has proven to be a juggernaut these season as easily one of the strongest compositions. An interesting direction some of these WWD teams choose to run Warrior/Warlock/Priest in to fight a team that requires more dispels, maybe Ocius can also play a priest? They also have a hunter to sub in for drain team possibilities, a good counter to mana restrained burn teams(read shadowplay etc) if need be. I am about 90% sure they will start with WWD however: to make a reliable and strong early stand. They have their work cut out for them against some of the seasoned Lan players, but they have good compositions and players to back them.

Cya Bro

Jason "Amingo" Franicevich
Maksim "Salemlol" Sokolov
Nathan "KVlol" Crandall
Steven "Pballerlol" Strasberg

I don't know much about this team other then, they run Rogue/Warlock/Druid and a Rogue/Mage/Priest on live. Both are very strong compositions but Pballer is also practicing a shaman, which adds some interesting dimension to the team. The practice team they made, looks to have about every Melee/warlock druid variant possible. I believe this will answer the "To counter comp? Or not to counter comp?" question if they choose to make many switches. This one is a tough one but if I had to bet, I would pick Warlock/Rogue/Druid as their starting lineup because they are comfortable with it and the composition has already proven itself in MLG San Diego. This team will definitely be one to watch, I have a feeling they are working on some impressive strategies.

GotGame West

Ryan "Didyz" Pinkham
vauxz
John-Paul "Greenrangerz" Grenier

First team so far with no substitutions. The clear first choice lineup for this team is Rogue/Warlock/Druid but I am hesitant to give teams only one preferred starting lineup however: with only three people, the comps they can run at peak are fewer. Needless to say, this is one of the best looking Rogue/Warlock/Druids, and I am fairly certain they will run this setup first. It looks like they have been practicing Warrior a bit, for a possible Warrior/Warlock/Druid composition as well. They had, in the past, one of the strongest Warrior/Warlock/Druid compositions but it seems Hoodrych is not playing in this tournament. This is one incredible lineup, and I expect a excellent showing from GotGame.

Gravitas

Corbin "cbnz" Crnkovic
Corey "Emolol" Ratliff
Daniel "Ely_" Vulis
DJ "Celex" Roggenkamp

According to Ely, this team is pumped, practiced, and ready to take it all the way. Coming off a second place finish at MLG Orlando, this team has proved they have the coordination and teamwork to make one of the strongest Rogue/Mage/Priest's in the western hemisphere. I am almost certain they will start with RMP, but Ely hinted of a few tricks they had worked on for tough counter matches. On live, it seems, RMP has it easy as it takes more than a fair share of the percentage pie over 2000. The problem with the composition however: the popularity of Warrior/Warlock/Druid is on the rise. WWD is said to have a more then slight advantage over RMP when both are played to potential. Smart play is what this team needs, and they have it in abundance. I see a possible Warrior endurance style in times of difficulty.

Pandemic

Joe "NoktyN" Romano
Greg "Ecilam" Risselada
Mason "Nitrana" Groendal
Chris "Douja" Cossey

A very impressive lineup, all of these players are known for the classes they play. The icing on the cake is many of these players Multi-class, as well as they play their main. I predict a Rogue/Mage/Priest start, but thats as far as I go. I wouldn't be amazed to even see Rogue/Rogue/Druid, this team can play it all. I personally will miss seeing the only paladin in MLG's, but the lineup may prove stronger. Noktyn also adds an incredible warrior to the team, which opens up even more compositions. How this team utilizes it's players will be the most exciting part.

RNG

David "Finzo" Finley
Simrin "bossdhillon" Dhillon
Chris "Rensy" Kurlemann
Jason "KoldVM" Waits

I have very little in the way of information on this team other then they are practicing Warrior/Warlock/Druid, again a potent setup. They also have a fourth which is most likely a rogue or another healer. This is pure speculation though, and who knows what forms of Multi-classing potential this team has. I am fairly certain they will open with Warrior/Warlock/Druid.

Fnatic

Rumay "Hafu" Wang
Andrew "Rhaegyn" Miller
Alexander "glickzz" Haderski

No doubt, the team to watch as they are considered of late the best Warrior/Warlock/Druid composition in the USA. They have won the past two large tournaments and I'm sure they wouldn't mind adding another. They will run Warrior/Warlock/Druid until they are stopped. I'm sure they have other comps they can play but they most likely won't unless severely counter comped(Double frost mage rogue?). It is going to take an impressive team, and an impressive showing to take this beast down. If Fnatic takes down Dallas they may take more then the prize money, they take the title of best American team period.

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World of Warcraft: MLG Dallas WoW Team Preview