The Sentinels' 2026
VALORANT season didn’t start as they had hoped in the VCT Americas Kickoff, with the team falling against FURIA in their opening match. However, Marshall
"N4RRATE" Massey made it clear that the loss also brought immediate clarity. After the series, he spoke to
Sheep Esports about the team’s initial difficulties, his transition into the duelist role, and how the new roster, led by a new in-game leader, plans to improve quickly as the
Kickoff continues.
How are you feeling, and what are your impressions after your first match of the season with this new Sentinels roster?
Marshall "N4RRATE" Massey: "Our first match didn’t go how we wanted. We expected to come out with a win, and we didn’t. It exposed a lot of our weaknesses, but now we know exactly what we need to work on.
We’ve seen you switch to the Duelist role. What does that change for you mentally and in terms of responsibility?
N4RRATE: Duelist is a big responsibility. It’s a different role than what I played before. I’m very comfortable on it, very confident in my ability to play it, and I’m happy to be on Duelist.
You previously said that at Karmine Corp the game plan was more centered around you and your teammate, while on SEN it’s more structured. Now that you’re on Duelist, do you feel you have more freedom to make plays?
N4RRATE: I definitely have more freedom. Duelist is a very open role; you can do a lot individually, and you have Initiators behind you setting you up with utility. That said, you’re only as free as the game lets you be. I’m not going to do stupid things just because I’m on Duelist. I still have to play smart, play with numbers, and if we have an advantage, we have to play it correctly. That doesn’t change based on my role.
Compared to your previous season, what’s the biggest adjustment going from a utility role to more of a playmaker role?
N4RRATE: It’s a lot of trial and error. On Duelist there are many different pathings you can take and many different scenarios the enemy can put you in. You’re going to take first contact a lot. Having scenarios in your head helps, but the biggest thing is reps. I need to know what teams can do against me when I’m playing my role.
A new Duelist agent, Waylay, recently came out. How hard is it to master an agent like that? And how is the chemistry with Yassin "reduxx" Aboulalazm as the second Duelist?
N4RRATE: Waylay has a bit of a mechanical curve, but she’s a very strong agent, probably the best Duelist in the game right now because of her abilities. Learning her hasn’t been very hard for me. It’s mostly about reps, and I’ve played her a lot, so I feel extremely comfortable. Playing double Duelist with Reduxxx has been good. We’ve been using him a lot on Yoru on maps like Split and Breeze. He’s very aggressive, and I think we complement each other well.
Sentinels take the stage for their first match in VCT Americas 2026. Credit: Stefan Wisnoski/Riot Games
If you had to pick one personal area to improve first, not team-related, what would it be and why?
N4RRATE: Communication and leadership. I think I have good ideas, and I’m smart about the game. My communication is good, but it’s still something I need to improve. If I get really good at putting what I’m thinking into words, these games become much easier.
We learned there was an IGL change, and Mirel "Kyu" Braco Hrustemovic is now the new in-game leader. What’s your first impression of his leadership and how he’s integrated?
N4RRATE: kyu has been really good for us. His calling style is very fluid, and he’s confident in his ability to call. His energy and communication are strong; he’s a natural IGL. He takes feedback well from the coaches, and he improves every day. Individually, he’s insanely good, too. Even in this match, he had really strong clutches and rounds. As a team, we didn’t play well enough to beat FURIA, but watching him, you can tell he’s extremely talented.
You have two rookies coming from NA Tier 2. Do you see yourself as a “big brother”? What’s the main advice you give them to feel comfortable in Tier 1?
N4RRATE: It’s hard for me to answer because I don’t really see it that way. In my mindset, I’m one of them. I’m still grinding and competing to get better. They’re experienced in their own way, and their communication and ideas are strong. Reduxxx is more experienced than me in some ways, and kyu communicates very naturally. I do have more experience with stage stuff and VCT logistics, so if they ask questions about the setup, audio, or how things work here, I help them. But I wouldn’t call myself the big brother. We’re just five as one.
The league changed a lot this year and some teams look stronger. Do you feel more pressure coming into this season, and does it motivate you?
N4RRATE: There were a lot of roster changes, some expected, some not. The level of competition has definitely gone up. As for pressure, there’s always pressure in VCT. Competition creates pressure, and that’s part of what makes it great: high stakes, high rewards. Personally, I don’t feel overwhelmed by it. This season I’m in a new role, and as a team we have to learn from mistakes and keep improving. In this Kickoff we still have two lives, and we’ll keep getting better day by day and see where it goes."
