INTRODUCTION

Day 5 is the finisher!

For more information, including an outline of the methodology used, see Day 1:

https://intheloop837.wordpress.com/2017/12/25/librarank-day-1-intro-methodology-41/

Let’s get into it for the last (kinda) top. In the upcoming days & weeks, I’ll be posting some commentary & analysis of the ranking as a whole, going into greater detail on the methodology, providing complete player scores from all regions, etc. Look forward to that! Until then, the top 10…

#10 – COASTAL SOUTHEAST

Final Score: 19.318

High Scored Player: Fatality* (11.625)

Lowest Scored Player: Lazyboredom (59.12)

Players used in final ranking: Fatality, Wrath, Peabnut, Salt One, Sonido, HyperKirby, ScAtt

Best Placement: 2nd, 2GGC: Civil War (Fatality)

Worst Placement: 129th, Super Smash Con 2017 (Lazyboredom)

Potential Rating: A-

With Fatality breaking the gates down and placing well early in the year, he quickly solidified himself as the best Southeastern player. Joining him are fellow and historically solid state players like ScAtt and Wrath, alongside newcomers like Salt and Hyper.

While it may not be immediately apparent based on the players used in the scoring, the Carolinas both have risen from obscurity to something resembling relevance. Dandy Penguin, Mekos, & Donquiavius had modest accomplishments across the year, while Lazyboredom took a set off Zack, leaving room for potential in the fledging Carolinas.

The real story of of the Carolina’s isn’t just Northern Carolina’s rough accomplishments you also have players like Peabnut. While RFang didn’t make top 7, but he clearly shares the same kind of potential as his South Carolinas brethren, making both states potent rivals to Georgia, in and of itself a very capable and dangerous scene noted for big upsets and explosive runs at tournaments.

#9 – NETHERLANDS

Final Score: 18.4460

Highest Scored Player: Mr. R (5.67833)

Lowest Scored Player: Gregs (67.60)

Players used in final ranking: Mr. R, iStudying, S1, Meru, Supahsemmie, Badr, Space

Best Placement: 5th, GENESIS 4, 2nd, CEO Dreamland, 1st, Syndicate 2017 & B.E.A.S.T. 7, etc. (Mr. R)

Worst Placement: 65th, Tech Republic III (Gregs)

Potential Rating: A-

Taking the title of best EU region, the historically powerful Netherlands blasts its way into the top 10 between Mr. R’s incredibly consistent record and the fact that the region tends to just do better than most when it comes to consistency at EU majors, giving most of their players scores ranging around 20.

The A- can’t be helped that much, as while it’s good and has good results in-region and out, it’s hard to deny that S1 has struggled in his trips to the U.S., and that iStudying is somewhat inconsistent. However, a full Dutch crew might shake up brackets pretty heavily, making it representative of Europe’s slow but steady climb up the skill pool ladder.

“Only time will tell,” is the best way to sum up Europe’s potential in Smash 4: There appears to be plenty and a lot of upsets have happened, but travel costs make it difficult for these visits to be frequent, similar to Japan’s plight.

#8 – NEW ENGLAND

Final Score: 18.4391

Highest Scored Player: Marss (10.53)

Lowest Scored Player: Koolaid (33.27)

Players used in final ranking: Marss, MattyG, Light, Pugwest, Raffi-X, LingLing, Kuma

Best Placement: 2nd, The Big House 7 & 5th, 2GGC: Civil War (Marss)

Worst Placement: 129th, Super Smash Con 2017 (Craftis)

Potential Rating: A

While initially best known for Marss and eventually Pugwest, New England has predictably climbed significantly in 2017. The nearer Light got to defeating Marss, the closer we got to a new era – an era where New England becomes one of the world’s biggest regional threats.

It finally happened, eventually, and by the time Shine rolled around it was clear that New England had become increasingly less top heavy as the year rolled by. Honorable mention to Raffi-X for nearly defeating ESAM, and, of course, MattyG’s rise to prominence late in the year as the region’s best Cloud.

Marss, Matty, and Light alone could make this region something special, but in an ea where Peach & Sonic mains have been rising and innovation, I’d recommend people keep a close eye on LingLing, Craftis, and Kuma as future rising stars from the region.

Whether it was people catching up to Marss as a matter of time or a strong regional-wide drive to be as good at the game as possible, the end result is an 8th place on an extensive and large region ranking.

#7 – MEXICO

Final Score: 17.466

Highest Scored Player: MKLeo (9.16)

Lowest Scored Player: Yura (55.212)

Players used in final ranking: MKLeo, Javi, Chag, Serge, Regi Shikimi, Hyuga, Captain Levi

Best Placement: 1st, GENESIS 4 or 1st, 2GG Championship (MKLeo)

Worst Placement: 129th, GENESIS 4 (Yura)

Potential Rating: A+

First making itself known as a threat on a large scale at G3, Mexico proved that MKLeo was hardly the region’s only top level threat. By early 2017, you had players like Chag & Javi upsetting top players in bracket, with players like Regi having that uncanny ability to place well on a pretty consistent basis in spite of the character he runs.

Hyuga – who may never attend U.S. events again, is one of the 7 ranked, though I still consider the potential here A+ based on what we saw of him in 2016 and based on the fact that a player of his caliber is grinding out experience with a number of other players who may soon become similar threats in terms of skill.

Chag could be one of many realizations of this, and Serge is often seen as one of the best players to not yet travel, meaning the region likely has a ton of yet-unseen potential moving forward. Rox and Wonf are commonly brought up as examples of potential breakouts, but this list could expand further.

Their crowned prince, MKLeo, sports a somewhat lower-than expected score in large part due to two 65ths at Category 6 events (EVO & Civil War) but he still scores below a ten and is one of the most key factors to the region breaking the top 10.

#6 – FLORIDA

Final Score: 14.8099

Highest Scored Player: Salem (5.703)

Lowest Scored Player: Rideae (35.8733)

Players used in final ranking: Salem, ESAM, MVD, Manny, Dyr, Myran, Cashmere

Best Placement: 1st, EVO 2017 (Salem)

Worst Placement: 129th, GENESIS 4 (Rideae)

Potential Rating: A+

Florida has made an undeniable leap this year that defies the pessimistic expectations many were left with after 2016. Beyond Salem moving to the region, giving it an immediate and significant boost, classic 2015 players – ESAM, MVD, and Manny – all started to perform exceptionally well at various events.

With Salem’s victory at EVO and gradual move into the upper echelon that previews from late 2016 seemingly promised, the region walks away relatively triumphant, albeit it slips a slight bit in performances among the region’s lower ranked players.

Hardly comparable to regions near the bottom of this list, though, as a sub-40 as a region’s worst score after I picked 12 players to rummage through is very impressive and demonstrates that the occasional tournament busts players from the region have aren’t the norm.

Assuming it continues on its currently trajectory, I feel as though – with a large number of regional events, incredibly powerful players, and a seemingly steadfast will to improve, that Florida could be a top 3 region in 2018, especially if Salem can do the seemingly impossible – take the throne.

#5 – KANSAI

Final Score: 14.76028

Highest Scored Player: 9B (8.1)

Lowest Scored Player: ri-ma (53.028)

Players used in final ranking: komorikiri, 9B, Ranai, Edge, Rizeasu, HIKARU, Chanshu

Best Placement: 3rd, 2GGC: Fire Emblem Saga (komorikiri)

Worst Placement: 129th, Umebura Japan Major (ri-ma)

Potential Rating: A-

While no longer quite the rival to Kanto it once was, the region has had no shortage of incredible accomplishments across 2017. Komorikiri, for a time, was seen as the country’s best, and he had players like 9B and Ranai to back him.

Quick note, 9B manages to have that score that surpasses Komo’s even with a high attendance track record, meaning that it isn’t even a fluke score that can and has happened on rare occasion with the ranking.

Nonetheless, it’s understood that these three are the best in the region, meaning it might be painful for the region’s future prospects now that 9B and Ranai are Kanto residents.

Komo isn’t alone – he has the world’s best Donkey Kong, a firebrand Ryu that defeated Ally at EVO, a methodical Sheik/Diddy capable of taking the top level to the brink, and (potentially) the world’s best “Random” main, Rizeasu, who has a list of characters far to large to list here yet he does well at events anyway.

The region can’t reach much high in potential with 2 of its star players gone, but there’s a lot of depth to dig into, and they did get a big catch in Kome, Kyushu’s best Shulk, who moved to Kansai at some point during the year.

#4 – SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Final Score: 14.689

Highest Scored Player: VoiD (7.018)

Lowest Scored Player: Tyrant (28.4)

Players used in final ranking: VoiD, Larry Lurr, Elegant, Falln, Zenyou, K9sbruce, Eon

Best Placement: 3rd, EVO 2017 (Larry Lurr), 2nd, GameTyrant Expo 2017 (Elegant), & 2nd, DreamHack Atlanta (VoiD)

Worst Placement: 129th, EVO 2017 (Ac)

Potential Rating: A+

Well, it’s SoCal, after all. What would a top 5 region discussion be without them?

SoCal has always been – in every context of Melee Smash & beyond – a powerhouse region full of some of if not THE world’s best players. While SoCal lost ZeRo, they still had plenty to work with, and an overwhelming stream of daily smash tournaments combined with the region being the hub for majors across 2017 makes this region an experimental lab that that quickly crafts top players.

Elegant is one of the year’s biggest success stories in this regard, but players like Zenyou, Eon, Nicko, K9, Falln, Ac, & others can’t be ignored, as they all have notable accomplishments under their belt that proved the region had even more to show beyond its two kings, VoiD & Larry.

Speaking of, VoiD & Larry are pretty good – both scoring in the 7 range. Neither have won majors, but both are remarkably consistent at events, and demonstrate the ability to go toe-to-toe with any player. Their high scores help lift SoCal to the top of a very contested and cramped three spots.

The potential here, of course, is almost limitless. 2GG seems to be taking a step back in hosting home-field majors, but the region still has so many weeklies that your schedule should always be accommodated.

#3 – TRISTATE

Final Score: 12.569

Highest Scored Player: Dabuz (5.01)

Lowest Scored Player: The Great Gonzales (28.97)

Players used in final ranking: Dabuz, Nairo, ANTi, 6WX, Shoyo James, Mr. E, John Numbers

Best Placement: 1st, 2GGC: Civil War (Dabuz)

Worst Placement: 129th, Super Smash Con 2017 (The Great Gonzales)

Potential Rating: A-

Hosting two of the world’s most consistent players backed by multiple top 50-level players, Tristate’s gap isn’t that big of a shock, as it manages to be just a bit above SoCal with its current roster of top players. albeit with less potential for growth due to a lack of frequent in-region major events to really showcase regional talent.

This is a bit of a far cry from last year, or what could’ve been, as five of the six generally agreed upon to players all resided in Tristate at one point, where it would have very easily won any region ranking uncontested.

However, as months slip by, the region seems to be stripped one by one of its best players. Still, the presence of Nairo and Dabuz by themselves give it more credibility than most regions, especially when you stick the aforementioned crew of 5 joining them on top.

The potential here is limited, but it’s impossible to ignore how good the region is based on what it currently has. however, the biggest looming question for Tristate might be “How long?”, with Nebulous Primes & other various weekly events currently existing as the region’s best outlet to train off of one another.

#2 – KANTO

Final Score: 11.89435

Highest Scored Player: KEN (5.136)

Lowest Scored Player: Pichi (41.35)

Players used in final ranking: KEN, Abadango, Kirihara, choco, tsu, T, Nietono

Best Placement: 2nd, 2GGC: MKLeo Saga (KEN) & 1st, FPS2 (Kirihara)

Worst Placement: 65th, EVO 2017 (Kameme, Eim, Kirihara, Earth)

Potential Rating: S

Encompassing players who have had success story after success story, Kanto is an undeniably powerful region capable of just about anything. While Japan’s record of winning majors is limited, all are accredited to Kanto players, with their best performances representing some of Japan’s best.

Komo & Shuton aren’t to be underrated, of course, but this is the year where KEN proved his performances in mid-late 2016 were far from a fluke, and that he was indeed a top 10 player capable of contending with just about any player in the world. Choco, while still having not traveled to the U.S. since Apex 2015, seems to be quickly making a name for himself as the country’s second best.

Tsu, Kirihara and T are some notable backing players who all placed top 3 or better at major level events this year, while Nietono as the weak link of the region managed to stay more than consistent enough to score around 16 points with plenty of international travel under his belt.

Abadango, a region staple since 2015, struggled throughout the year, but ended on a fairly strong note and rarely ever dipped to truly poor placements, where his struggles related more to his roadblocks in getting into top 8s. Consistent 9ths are a significant boon for a player, but it was a step down for Aba.

A hypothetical (I will cover these in an upcoming series of analysis posts on the project) is that Kanto would score #1 if 9B & Ranai were included as they are now Kanto residents, but they were removed from Kanto due to their activity during 2017 largely being centered in Kansai as Kansai residents.

As a result, Kanto receives the sole S grade, representing its sheer depth as it seems to devour the best players from surrounding regions into its ever-growing maw.

#1 – MIDWEST

Final Score: 11.466

Highest Scored Player: ZeRo (5.51)

Lowest Scored Player: tyroy (19.05)

Players used in final ranking: ZeRo, Tweek, Ally, Zinoto, Ned, NAKAT, Cosmos

Best Placement: 1st, 2GGC: Nairo Saga, CEO 2017, & Shine 2017 (ZeRo)

Worst Placement: 65th, Super Smash Con 2017 (NAKAT) & 65th, 2GGC: Nairo Saga (Cosmos)

Potential Rating: A+

In a narrow victory, the exodus of players from across the U.S. to the Midwest has resulted in what can be defined as the strongest region in the world.

This is a stark contrast from 2015 where the region largely remained obscure, with limited but noteworthy accomplishments that may have supported the idea that it had potential, but simply didn’t get enough travel. Midwest Mayhem & the rise of Zinoto & other large Midwestern events, gave the scene a ton of exposure nationally.

The defining moment was 2017, where ZeRo, Tweek, NAKAT, and Cosmos all moved to the Midwest.

ZeRo, Tweek, and Ally round out the absolute upper echelon. backed by Zinoto & Cosmos as their midrange, and Ned and NAKAT as their lowest-level players used among the 7. Needless to say, none of these players are bad, and most have had significant breakout moments during 2017 and have all placed very consistently throughout the year, with very few bumps along the way.

ZeRo doesn’t quite get top average score – that honor goes to Dabuz, and this can be attributed to ZeRo’s 49th at 2GGC: Civil War, a placing that ultimately didn’t hold the Midwest back from the #1 spot.

The potential here is pretty limitless and extended beyond the seven used, as players like DarkShad & Tyroy have had phenomenal performances in their own right, while Ryuga, Mystearica, and BlazingSkie all sit on the backburner as future serious meta threats.

The sheer scale of the region may limit its potential due to lack of uniform weeklies that consistently bring together the region’s best, but the skill is spread out between the Great Lakes & the Ohio Valley enough that the only part of the region currently stagnating are the central plains area.

This is ultimately a minor point when the Chicago & Michigan scenes have churned out such titans at the game, and the region often comes together in large numbers for Midwest Mayhem, the region’s signature super regional series that is fast on the track to being major-level.

With a mass of top players moving and a rapidly improving playerbase, Midwest can officially call themselves the Midbest, at least with the metrics used for the ranking.

FINALE – CONCLUSION

It was a major time investment to do this, and it certainly wasn’t flawless or easy to make, but I hope you all enjoyed. I will likely be doing this bi-yearly, hopefully with better documentation going into things to prevent stat confusion and to also cut production times down.

Soon ™, I will be releasing an article thoroughly examining the ranking, decisions made over the course of the ranking, references and links to full player scores, insights as to how it was made, my own criticisms of it, and so on. No set date on this yet, as OrionRank 2017 Top 100 is the next big project to write for.

Thank you for reading.