What was learned from the LA Guerrillas Home Series

The LA Guerrillas Home Series has concluded and now the Call of Duty League Stage 2 Major is up next on the schedule. As the homestand was the last event before the major, all 12 teams were vying for seeding, making the matches some of the best that 2021 has seen.

While the beginning of the event was somewhat slow, it picked up in intensity as the weekend went on. Upsets were around every corner and marquee matchups were everything fans could have hoped for. However, there were a few takeaways from the homestand that could play a huge role in the Stage 2 Major.

1. Atlanta FaZe are human after all

The Atlanta FaZe hadn’t lost a series prior to this event; they completely dominated Stage 1 and most of Stage 2. However, all good things must come to an end.

PUT THE 1 IN 11-1.

RISE UP, LA.#LAG | #CDL2021 pic.twitter.com/AJ3tIzqwkh

— Los Angeles Guerrillas (@LAGuerrillas) April 2, 2021

FaZe were finally defeated at the hands of, arguably, the most unlikely opponent: the LA Guerrillas. While the series went to a map five, the home team stopped Atlanta’s win streak at 11, proving that they can be beaten. It remains to be seen whether or not this loss is foreshadowing another upset at the Stage 2 Major.

2. LA Guerrillas no longer look like the league’s worst team

Coming into their home series, the LA Guerrillas looked to be, far and away, the CDL’s worst team. They had the worst record in the league and couldn’t seem to buy a map at times.

However, the roster put on for the theoretical home crowd. They began their event with the aforementioned 3-2 upset win against the Atlanta FaZe, which shocked pretty much every member of the community. However, they followed that performance with a clean 3-0 sweep of the LA Thieves, showing that their win against FaZe wasn’t a fluke after all.

Undefeated at home.

Doing it for LA.#LAG | #CDL2021 pic.twitter.com/BXNCX9cZdI

— Los Angeles Guerrillas (@LAGuerrillas) April 4, 2021

If the Guerrillas can continue this level of play at the Stage 2 Major, they could make some noise in the loser’s bracket.

3. Dallas Empire are more vulnerable than ever

The consensus number two team in the CDL going into the LA Guerrillas Home Series was the Dallas Empire. While teams like the Minnesota Rokkr and New York Subliners looked strong, Dallas still had rightful claim to the number two spot.

However, heading into the Stage 2 Major, that’s no longer the case. The Empire lost to OpTic Chicago at the latest home series and showed some real weaknesses in the process. The team’s Search and Destroy deficiencies were specifically alarming. The Empire only managed to win three rounds against OpTic in Search, looking downright lost at times. Ian “Crimsix” Porter even jokingly stated that the team needs lessons in the game mode following the loss.

GG’s Optic! Empire PSA here, we will pay for SND lessons!

If you think I shot Optic players bodies, you are mistaken. It’s was most likely pre-firing and I have more respect for them as individuals than any of you wannabe dickwads who roast your own team to a pulp when they lose

— FaZe Crimsix (@Crimsix) April 5, 2021

While Dallas is still a top-five team in the CDL, their struggles in Search and Destroy could prove disastrous at the major. A team like the New York Subliners, which Dallas plays in the opening round of the major, could give the Empire serious trouble if they don’t improve in Search.

The CDL Stage 2 Major takes place from April 7-11.