Hello, all. You may have noticed I took last week off from writing your beloved UGC Platinum Power Rankings. I can only say after scrimming hard for multiple custom maps, casting each week, and playing in the NA vs EU showmatch, I simply needed a break. Noticing my absence, my dear friend PenguinNinja1408, of BFL fame, has taken it upon himself to right this terrible wrong. This week may you all be blessed with PenguinNinja’s brilliantly written, terrifically analytical, and entirely unbiased views on the top teams in UGC Platinum this season.

I'm at Huey's place. Right now. Well maybe not right as you read this since it's possible they’ve caught me by then, but at least while I am typing this, I'm here. Huey is, uhhhhhhhh, in the basement. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU ONLY MENTION ME IN ONE POWER RANKING ALL SEASON, HUEY. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU … er … ahem. Don't worry about Huey. I let him out of the basement from time to time so he can play Euro Trucker or whatever with his girlfriend, and that’s all the sustenance he needs.

So, with Huey unavailable at the moment, I'm taking it upon myself to write a proper power rankings for the final week of the UGC regular season. I'm going to warn regular readers of these power rankings – I intend to hold nothing back, and to only give you the cold hard United Gaming Clans facts. With playoffs only a week away and with the majority of the teams in a separated by only a small margin in the rankings, this week of matches can impact final seeding for the playoffs quite significantly. It’s time for teams to nut up, or shut up.

Oh, I’m also gonna do a “Player to Watch” thing for each team, since I’ve always wanted to do that. Here goes.

5. Gangsta Gang

This is GGs first season back after a long hiatus, and it did not start on the best foot for these veterans. Recently however, GG has appeared quite strong, especially after beating the Syndicate 2-0 on Barnblitz. GG has been the recipient of 3 forfeit victories this season, though I’m not sure anyone would have expected GG to lose any of those matches. Regardless, GG should prove a challenging opponent for any team, particularly on koth or 5cp maps. A win this week could get them a strong seed for the first week of playoffs.

Player to Watch: Moonchild. No one else in the league taunts as well from the sniper position, though maybe there will be a late season challenger to his taunting dominance.

4. The Syndicate

Early indications are that The Syndicate’s recent roster adjustments have improved the team’s play. I honestly think the biggest difference from an opponent’s perspective is Sigafoo’s play on engineer. He simply does work. Of course, The Syndicate is a solid team at pretty much every position, but I think the roster adjustment will have them all working on the same page and refocus their efforts for a late season run. If The Syndicate gets hot, they can take on any team in the league, on any type of map. Also, gonna shout out to my boy Hil”Drama Queen”dreth – stay wonderful, you charmer.

The player to watch for The Syndicate is Arthur. This was definitely not an arbitrary decision.

3. Menace to Society

mTs is the only team on this list that my team has not played this season in a match or scrim. Last season’s runner up, mTs showed that it could turn its “A game” on during the playoffs. I expect the same this season. Despite losses to Ginyu and Quality Control, mTs remains one of the best teams in platinum and could easily contend for the coveted United Gaming Clans First Place Medal.

Harbleu is definitely the player to watch on mTs. He is virtually the only medic in Highlander whose POV is shown in casted matches, as opposed to the pov of pretty much any other medic which is skipped past without a second thought. Of course, there is a good reason for this. Harbleu’s brand of medic is both exciting to watch, and very effective. Harbleu is amazing at this game, and I’m not just saying that so he will mentor me. Really. (But if you are reading this Harbleu, feel free to add me on steam, or email me, or call me. I was a medic for you once. In a lobby. Last summer. On ctf_vitalism. I’m pretty sure there was a bond between us. Seriously, I saved the screenshot.) I think Xalox is probably pretty good to watch too though.

2. Baby Punching Marathon

BPM’s only loss came in their first match of the season – a highly contested affair with mTs on lakeside. Since then, BPM has taken on all challengers, and remained standing strong. In its most recent match BPM demonstrated its dominance in a brutal performance against Blunderful. I get the sense that some may consider other teams as favorites to win it all come playoffs, but right now BPM is firmly in the driver’s seat.

Is BPM’s player to watch Cyg”Reserve Shooter”nus? No, but I love that guy, so I wanted to put a shoutout to him here. <3 YA CYGNUS, YOU’RE SO MUCH COOLER THAN THAT HUEY GUY. Anyway, BPM’s player to watch is definitely Kapow. Or Boink. Or Pulse. Or Cozen. Or Bronze. Or Quartz. Or Mouse. Or whoever it is that plays heavy for them. Just kidding, I know who you are Sharpshot. But seriously, any of these players is capable of having a dominating performance at any time. Even Cozen. So watch ‘em all. You’ll be glad you did.

1. Blunderful

Despite big losses throughout the season to The Syndicate, Ginyu Force, and Baby Punching Marathon, Blunderful is a lock for the #1 spot in the power rankings for reasons I cannot explain.

You remember that bit at the beginning where I said I would bring the “the cold hard United Gaming Clans facts?” Here is one hard hitting fact: when you write about Blunderful, you pretty much copy/paste, “Watch out for useoftoaster and Satan on the flank, and Noko can go big.” WELL GUESS WHAT. THERE ARE MORE THAN 3 PLAYERS ON THE BFL ROSTER AND OCCASSIONALLY ONE OF THE OTHER 6 OF US DO SOMETHING NOT COMPLETELY AWFUL. Let’s start with a look at Penguin”Big Drops”Ninja1408. This talented medic is an up-and-comer in the UGC world and with a bit of mentoring from a top medic could really make it big. He has already been named wills5445’s “Medic of the Week” one time for a performance on ctf_haunt that included a failed strategy involving the vaccinator. Until he makes it big, he will have to settle for being carried in every game by Enryu and Squid, who are in all likelihood tired of putting up with his s**t. Shoutouts to Digresser, Napalm, Someone, Frank, and Pluttergub.

The player to watch on Blunderful, other than PenguinNinja”Big Fourteen-O-Eight”1408, is definitely Satan. Satan does more with less help than any other pyro in the league. I’m not biased.

Maybe next time:

Ginyu Force: This up-and-coming team has managed to string together a few good performances despite a ragtag roster. I have high hopes for them in the upcoming playoffs, where they may prove a dark horse contender. DO YOU FEEL THAT HUEY? DO YOU FEEL THE DISMISSAL? THIS IS WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO BE IN THE “MAYBE NEXT TIME” PART OF THE POWER RANKINGS. IT DOESN'T FEEL GOOD, DOES IT? MAYBE NEXT TIME YOU’LL THINK BEFORE YOU HURT SOMEBODY’S FEELINGS LIKE THAT. I'M ACTUALLY MAKING ANGRY FACES AT YOUR MONITOR WHILE I WRITE THIS. But seriously, watch out for Ginyu in the playoffs. You heard it here first.

There are no players to watch on Ginyu Force. Sorry.

Alright, it’s almost Euro Trucker time for Huey.

PenguinNinja1408 out.