- As VCT Pacific 2026 approaches, pro players across APAC continue to single out PRX as the team setting the competitive standard.
- Opponents cite PRX’s unpredictable style, meta awareness, and sustained success as the main reasons they remain difficult to prepare for.
- With more teams and a longer format this year, PRX enters the season not as a regular contender, but as a final boss everyone is chasing.
The VCT Pacific 2026 campaign is set to begin in a few days, and one theme emerged with striking consistency during the VCT Pacific Kickoff Press Conference. Like last year, a certain team is feared the most in the pro scene in the APAC region. When players were asked to identify the teams they expect to set the pace of VCT 2026, the answers repeatedly returned to the same name, “PRX.”
The respect (or fear) around Paper Rex was not framed as hype or bravado. Instead, it came through in measured language, grounded in recent experience and shot by the reality of a Pacific region that is deeper and more competitive than ever. With more teams and a longer season ahead, PRX enters VCT 2026 not as a contender, but as a known threat others are preparing to chase.
PRX Is One of the Favorites for VCT Santiago Masters 2026
In the online press conference of the first VCT 2026 season, the general question asked was, “Please pick one team that you think is a kickoff favorite, but you can’t pick yourself.“
Well, the answer was loud and clear. free1ng, the DRX’s rookie from last season, immediately said that PRX is definitely one of the favorites. The DRX pro further added that GenG and T1 are also heavy favorites to go to the Santiago Masters.
DRX, one of the most consistent teams in the Pacific region, has locked horns with Paper Rex many times in the last couple of years for the top spot in the APAC region. While free1ng was talking about the top three favorites, DFM star yatsuka confidently expressed,
“I think Paper Rex is kind of like a team that we need to watch out, because, like, current meta, I think Paper Rex is going to play well with it.”
This statement in itself shows the other pro players’ thoughts on the 2025 Masters Toronto winners. Across multiple responses, players pointed to the same challenge when discussing the Paper Rex – Preparation. While some players mentioned teams like DRX and RRQ as strong favorites for VCT 2026, their answers included one name, and that is PRX. But why so?
Paper Rex Is “Pretty Tricky to Play Against”
One of the common angles shared by the APAC pros was how unpredictable PRX is. Although teams like GenG or DRX have always been fundamentally strong, it is the unpredictable style of PRX and T1 that always impacted many teams.
Global Esports player Autumn talked about how Paper Rex dominated 2025 and even ended the year with a Radiant International Invitational trophy. He further said,
“I think they’re, like, pretty tricky to play against, and, like, yeah, they’re just Paper Rex.”
As all the Pacific Valorant pro teams enter VCT 2026 with a lesser burden of expectation, the competition is undeniable. Despite more teams being added to the competitive scene and a triple number format, players are confident that most of the playstyle will not change. However, the threat of Paper Rex is acknowledged by all the teams.
Those comments reflect a broader truth about PRX’s identity. The team has built a reputation around unpredictability, tempo, and confidence-driven decision-making. Even when opponents expect aggression, Paper Rex finds ways to apply pressure from new angles. And we all know who invented the ‘W’ key meta in the pro Valorant scene.
That double-or-nothing style is more than just a surprise. It requires trust, mechanical consistency, and a willingness to commit. And some desk slaps from Alex (who can forget). Maybe that is what can make PRX even more dangerous in the survive at all cost meta for VCT 2026.
Can Paper Rex Remain the Final Boss of VCT Pacific?
PRX’s 2025 Pacific and Global campaign reinforced that perception. Already dominating the region and winning the Masters, the majority of the Globe thought PRX might win the VCT. Yes, PRX is yet to cook at the Champions, but the way other teams fear them, you can never count them out.
Paper Rex remained a fixture near the top of the region throughout the year, consistently qualifying and staying competitive as rosters around them changed. While other teams cycled through players and identity crises, PRX largely stayed true to its approach and continued to find success against an evolving field. That consistency is what opponents appear to respect most heading into 2026.
As VCT Pacific 2026 prepares for its most crowded and competitive year yet, PRX enters the season as a reference point (or perhaps a feared final boss). Not because others doubt themselves, but because they understand what it takes to beat the best in their region.
