The 2025 VALORANT Challengers Oceania season is done, and it was the most competitive year the region has ever produced. Not by a small margin either. The level of play across the circuit improved noticeably, roster moves actually mattered for once, and a couple of teams that nobody expected to contend ended up in the conversation.

Here’s the full rundown of what happened and why it matters heading into 2026.

The top of the table

ORDER came into the year as favourites and largely delivered. Their roster stability paid off — while other teams were shuffling players between splits, ORDER kept their core together and refined their approach. Their mid-round calling improved dramatically, and their Ascent was basically unbeatable in the Oceanic circuit.

But they didn’t have it easy. The Dire Wolves rebuilt around two young players from the amateur scene, and by Split 2 they were genuinely scary. Their aggressive defaults on Bind and Lotus caught more experienced teams off guard, and their duelist — a 17-year-old from Perth who goes by “Kayo” (unfortunate name clash with the agent, yes) — was putting up numbers that got international scouts interested.

Chiefs also had a strong year. They invested in a coaching staff that included a former Korean semi-pro analyst, and the difference showed in their preparation. Their anti-strats against ORDER in the Split 2 final were some of the best tactical VALORANT I’ve seen in the region.

The surprises

The biggest storyline nobody predicted was Mindfreak’s resurgence. They’d been irrelevant for most of 2024, but a complete roster overhaul in the off-season paid off. They finished top four in both splits and pushed ORDER to overtime in the upper bracket.

On the other end, Ground Zero had a year to forget. After promising results in late 2024, internal issues derailed their season. Two roster changes mid-split is never a good sign, and their results reflected the instability.

The tactical evolution

What made 2025 different from previous years was the tactical depth. Oceanic VALORANT has historically been aim-heavy and strat-light — teams relying on individual firepower rather than structured play. That’s shifting.

More teams are using utility combinations that mirror what we see in EMEA and Americas. The sentinel role is being used more creatively. Chamber fell off, Cypher came back, and Deadlock started showing up in specific site holds that actually worked.

Map pool knowledge also improved. In previous years, you’d see Oceanic teams with clear map weaknesses that international opponents would target immediately. The gap is narrowing, even if it’s still there.

Player performances worth noting

A few individual campaigns stood out. Aside from the obvious names, I want to highlight three players who don’t always get the recognition:

“Vast” (ORDER) — consistently the most impactful controller player in the region. His smoke timing and post-plant positioning won rounds that had no business being won.

“Flick” (Dire Wolves) — came out of nowhere as an initiator player and immediately became one of the best Sova/Fade players in OCE. His dart lineups were studied by teams across the region.

“Nyx” (Chiefs) — a sentinel player who redefined how the role is played in Oceanic VALORANT. Her Killjoy setups on Haven were a masterclass in site denial.

What it means for 2026

The big question is always the same: can Oceanic teams compete internationally? The honest answer is still “not consistently,” but the gap is closing. The best Oceanic teams would be competitive in tier-two Americas or EMEA leagues, which is progress from where we were two years ago.

For 2026, I’m watching three things. First, whether ORDER can maintain their dominance with what feels like an aging roster by esports standards. Second, whether the Dire Wolves’ young guns can take the next step. Third, whether Riot expands the pathway for Oceanic teams into international competition.

The talent is here. The infrastructure is getting better. The region just needs more opportunities to prove itself on the international stage.