Full Steam ahead for OWL after yesterday's phenomenal feats of magic & sport! Here's the Daily Horoscope's take on each team, a recap of their season so far, and their chances of making it to the post-season, starting with Angel Group.
Angel Group
Blackpool Bruxa (LORE)
2 - 4
After a strong start to the season, Blackpool has struggled to maintain momentum. Nevertheless they remain a decent, if not strong team. 5-star Druid Hong Seong-hyun leads the well-rounded team supported by the fluid Petal Jilette, Rogue Witch Ami Evans, and shall we say, charismatic, Mickie Dobbins.
But while the Blackpool splashzone may be purchasing Bruxarade in bulk, there's a growing sense that the team can't compete. Overall, the team boasts the league median of 39 stars in total which makes them competitive with the other two teams in Angel group, who they also happen to be playing next! Blackpool needs to bring home both Ws to secure the Angel Group spot in the final. It won't be easy as both are away games.
Roxas City Magic (MCRM)
3 - 3
Roxas City games have come down to the wire a surprising number of times this season. However, last weeks especially crushing 5-5 loss to the Delft at home (Delft's first win of the season) shows the stars aren't always in RCM's favor. What was predicted to be an easy win put the Angel Goup post-season spot back into play.
The team of 37-stars total (lowest in Angel Group) hosts not only one but two 5-star magicians (Witch Doris Takayama and Druid Randy "Bo'bandy" Ribay). The back-bench is a little more lackluster. Sorcerer Jay Robert-Village has made the highlight real multiple times this season but the team overall lacks specialized magicians, which could make their strategies inflexible. Keep an eye on their upcoming game against Blackpool as it may determine who secures their spot in the finals.
Worcester Ravens (DATE)
4 - 2
The hype-train has stopped at Worcester and it is all aboard! After a tough schedule at the beginning of the season, the Ravens have consistently gained momentum. Their highly-publicized upset against the Alexandria Sirens cemented in the minds of some of the murder that their team is a shoo-in for the finals.
It's easy to see the optimism of their fans. They have two 5-star magicians, Witch Zhin Zhivaogo, brother of the rebellious 5-star ranked new magician for Quebec, GIles Zhivago, and the Ephemeral Druid Ophélie Alisdair. That's right, ephemeral! With 42-stars in total, the team is tied for the third most in the league. The Ravens are the Daily Horoscope's favorite for Angel Group.
Beast Group
Alexandria Sirens (LORE)
4 - 2
The Sirens blew everyone away on Stellar Saturday with their upset over Busan, turning what had been a middling season into a potentially great season. The surprise deployment of magicians on unsuspecting paths secured the win for Sirens and reignited post-season hopes for the Splashzone. But the Siren's road to the post-season is tenuous. While the last two games are at home, they are by no means easy victories as both the Liches and the Lumière are 40+ star teams.
The Sirens rock an egalitarian lineup of zero 5-star magicians but a record nine 4-star magicians, including Druid Guillermo Mars and Sorcerer Jang Se-yeon, who including the all 3-star back bench combine to form a 45-star team, highest in the League. The wide team though is unfortunately unspecialized and therefore vulnerable to niche exploits. We'll see if the Real Magicians of the Alexandria Sirens can bring home the gold!
Busan Metropolitan Magicians (MRCM)
4 - 2
Busan's Hand and notable beer critic, Mike, has assembled a motley crew of witches and warlocks with remarkable coordination with the Head Sage Michelle (known among the Busan magicians as 'Chu Chu') from the Train King himself, President Ben. It appears the legacy of logistics and thinking en masse have generated a resilient and overall tough team! While a critical loss to Beast Group contender, the Alexandria Sirens, may have knocked them down - the Metropolitan Magicians are by no means out! It will take crucial victories in the upcoming matches to secure either the Beast Group seat or a wild card seat in the upcoming finals as Busan (not favored by the stars, clearly) has accumulated points well below OWL League average- seemingly only due to the fact that the gems up for grabs in BMM matches were too few.
Headlined by 5-star Witch Peter Wildes, the 35-star team is weak in raw power but diverse and specialized - best exemplified by B-list heart-breaker and Busan Water Sorcerer Nicola Thrace. It will take a strong performance and either the garnering of many points or the downfall of the Alexandria Sirens to secure Busan's tenuous position in the finals.
Salem Liches (LORE)
2 - 4
Salem has put up a good fight against arguably the most difficult schedule of OWL League this season. Likely out of contention for the highly competitive Beast Group seat, Salem will have to mobilize and win it's next to games if it wishes to lock down a wildcard spot in the postseason - much to the disappointment of Salem's Coddish residents.
The unspecialized team totals a healthy 40 stars but has no individual 5-star magicians. Overall they are balanced but may potentially miss some niche gem opportunities. Zora River Cod spokesman and 3-star Salem Sorcerer Declan Etheria rallies consistently but the goings are tough. There upcoming game against the Sirens will be one to watch!
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Celestial Group
Cardiff Dragons (UFOD)
5 - 1
The Dragons are in a safe position, still likely to qualify for the wildcard slot even if they miss the Celestial Group playoff spot to Queens. With the last two games of the season in Cardiff, they're a shoo-in to finish strong. Beyond the regular season, concerns about the endurance of the top-heavy team dominate the short-wave omni-casts. With a team seemingly built to dominate mountains, the dragons may have trouble adapting to the games into the post-season.
The 37-star team (below OWL League average) is led by the 5-star Sorcerer WInny Sanderson and Chidi Medici, while a supporting crew of specialized witches bring up the rear column. Ably piloted a world-class Head Sage R.D.T. the III, and seemingly blessed by the Cardiff elder dragon, I suspect Cardiff's team makeup and deployment may start to shift in the pursuit of post-season goals.
Le Havre Arcana Club (UFOD)
0 - 6
It appears that Le Havre Arcana Club is focusing more on their charity work then their sport. The 0 - 6 team owned and operated by Lefty, McKane, and Associate have prioritized keeping their salary costs low, notably being the only team with below a $100M total team salary. They claim to be passing those savings not onto the fans but onto their Charity, Outreach Underserved International (OUI). Although they may be a Harbor to the World, the are no OWL League Champion.
The 3-star-max team amounts to only 21 stars in total, the lowest in the league. Perennial underdogs, the team has one of the highest twitter follower counts, listing several certified A-list celebs including the 3-star Druid Rusty of Mountainview and 2-star druid and social media influencer, Tabitha Nutters.
Stay tuned for coverage on the OUI charity.
Queens 35ers (DATE)
5 - 1
The 5 and 1 Queens 35ers may not look great on paper, but they're early victory over LC Verona and the shocking upset over the Kyoto Foxes LC shows that the post season looks bright for the 35ers. Fashionable both on and off the field, Lady Elina has led the team to prosperity and fame with the help of possibly the best sage in OWL League, Spaceman Spiff. Literally, no one suspected a man with no legal name and such tiny arms could be capable of such cunning coaching and path allocation - truly one of the surprises for this season. If the team and clinch the remaining two games against the Ravens and Mexico City, which won't be easy, they'll lock Cardiff out of the Cesetial Group playoff spot.
Headlined by the uniquely specialized 5-star Astral Druid Christina Pekkala, the team hosts a fierce 39-stars in total. However, the team is highly specialized and contains one of the two ephemeral magicians in the League, Jinx Brandybuck. Nobody knows quite yet how the introduction of the ephemeral wizardry into the sport will effect the meta but mighty miners are already making travel arrangements for the post season.
Demon Group
Delft Wandsmiths (MCRM)
2 - 4
Delft is on a hot streak but they're largely blocked out of the post season by a competitive qualifying group and tough schedule. After finally #FreeingDirkFootstomper and seemingly finding their footing in their back-to-back victories over the Dueling Dragons and Roxas City Magic, they remain the underdogs in their upcoming matches against the Demon Group contenders of Paris Lumière and LC Verona.
A core of 4-star rated magicians hold up the 37-star team. Only two specialized magicians and one witch could make the team predictable in its path allocation. Overall, it seems Delfts drive to apply the magical power of spreadsheets to the sport may have led them to think only inside the box. Lucky for the Co-Lieges de Nocht & de Ligt, it seems the McGalleons Award for most profitable franchise is still well up for grabs.
LC Verona (DATE)
5 - 1
Despite flying under-the-radar relative to the fashionable 35ers and the charitable Kyoto Foxes LC, Daily Horoscope's favorite for Demon Group and overall OWL League point leader, LC Verona, is NOT MESSING AROUND! The 5 - 1 team has only lost so far to the equally phenomenal Queen's 35ers, and that was still at the early end of the season. The Daily Horoscope is eagerly awaiting their upcoming game against the mighty Kyoto Foxes LC.
LCV is tied with the Worcester Ravens for third most stars on a team (42 stars in total). The high star, high heart team is led by 5-star Druid Jasper Cabrera and supported by a healthy, if unspecialized, 4-star back bench. Verona's biggest weakness may be its shortage of witches which would prove critical in their upcoming match at Kyoto.
Paris Lumière (FOCL)
2 - 4
Paris may be the best team in OWL League to not qualify for the post season. The team stumbled early in the season against other healthy teams like Busan and Worcester, Just as the Lumière was looking like it was hitting its stride, a lose to LC Verona locked the team out of the Demon Group playoff slot. Yet if the Paris can maintain their medium-high total point score and secure a wildcard entry, the team may be able to take it all the way!
5-star Druids John Latynina and Agnes Bird led the impressive 44-star team (second highest in OWL League). However, despite the raw talent, the team only has two specialized magicians (both luminous) and one sorcerer, the 3-star Robata DuBauer. If and how far the Lumière get into the postseason may depend on the rest of the post season makeup.
Elf Group
Caylus Spellcasters (MRCM)
3 - 3
The Spellcasters' have had a tough season. Hopes for a slot in the post season may have waned since their victory over Elf Group contender, the Quebec City Nine Stars. While only one win beyond Elf Group leader, the Hollywood Starlight, the Spellcasters' recent loss to them would mean that they either have to not only tie but beat Hollywood's win record or qualify for a wildcard slot. Expect to see many Caylus fans rooting on the Nine Stars in their upcoming match against the Starlight at Hollywood.
Lead by the charismatic Wild Sorcerer Wanda Morrison, the team sports a healthy 40-stars in total (above the league median), but with only two druids and a general lack of specialization, the Spellcasters may fail to capitalize on niche situations to secure the randomly allocated gems.
Hollywood Starlight (FOCL)
4 - 2
The Hollywood Starlight has been notorious in its fervent acquisition of good magicians "whatever the price". Big Money, as they've become to be called by some, have pushed the go-deeply-into-debt-to-play strategy to the point where its garnered attention among the OWL Parliament. With a 4 - 2 record, highest in Elf Group, they've established themselves as the front-runner of the Elf League, and are favored in their upcoming games against 1 - 5 Quebec City and 0 - 6 Guangzhou. While the Starlight are the Daily Horoscope's pick for Elf Group, we'll see if the momentum continues into the finals.
The 5-star Aleksandra Copperfield captains a record seven 4-star magician, including Astral Sorcerer Brian Feverfew and City Sorcerer Park Dong-Min. Yet, despite the ruthless acquisition of OWL League's best and brightest, the team totals only 41-Stars, sixth in the overall league and notably less than Elf Group competitor, the Quebec City Nine Stars, whom they play next week! We'll see just how far Starlight's acquisition strategy will take it.
Quebec City Nine Stars (LORE)
1 - 5
The Nine Stars have had a tough season with no easy wins on the schedule. Their lose to fellow Elf Group contender, Caylus Spellcasters, further cements their place outside the post season. Compounding their misfortune is the relatively low number of point gems they've been able to compete for. It will be quite a feat for the Nine Stars to make it to the post season now - yet Quebec is not completely out of the running!
The recent acquisition of League Bad Boy and 5-star Witch Giles Zhivago, notable lover of spiders and brother of 5-star Witch Shin Zhivago of the Worcester Ravens, has drastically made the 42-star team more competitive. Backing Giles is a solid core of 4-star magicians and some specialization in the back bench. However, the specialized magicians seemed geared to Quebec's home turf while the last two games of the season are away. Their upcoming game against the Hollywood Starlight will be Quebec's litmus test for the season.
Fey Group
Guangzhou Dueling Dragons (UFOD)
0 - 6
It's a long way to the top for the ever-hopeful Dueling Dragons. It will take luck and just some high-point gambles to secure a wild card spot.While it appears they won't make the post season this year, they may squeeze out a win against the out a win against the only other 0 - 6 team of the League, Le Havre Arcana Club.
4-star Draconic Druid Jamison Kirk headlines the team with support from a healthy lineup of other 4-star magicians, but it appears Kirk's game has been off since his highly publicized split with Busan Metro Water Witch Nicola Thrace and subsequent trade to the DD. With 38 stars in total, the team has enough raw talent to through around but lacks the specialization of other teams.
Kyoto Foxes LC (FOCL)
5 - 1
The until-recently-undefeated Kyoto Foxes LC are the Fey Group favorite as well as contenders for the Championship. And although the nail-biting 3 - 4 loss to the Q35ers proved the Foxes fallible, they're still prone for the postseason and beyond. The Foxtrot is enthused to say the least.
Anchored by 5-star magicians, Druid Denna the Powerful and Witch Marina Pukicho, the team is the most specialized in the league with three temporal, two luminous, one water, and one astral magicians. However, in total the Foxes amount to a below League median of 37 stars in total, and, as the loss to the the 35ers is indicative, potentially lacking in Druids. Luckily, the Foxes last two games of the regular season are home games in the triple-mountain arena.
Mexico City Moonlight (FOCL)
3 - 3
After some easy victories against Delft and Guangzhou, Mexico City has a tough road ahead. Calyus is no team to gawk at and the 35ers are out for blood after their victory over Kyoto. Mexico City still has a chance to finals if they win their final two games and 5 - 1 Kyoto loses both of there's. If Kyoto wins either of its games, Mexico City will have to cross its fingers for a wildcard slot.
Spearheaded by 5-star Witch Yoo Jin-Ho, the team has a solid suite of 4-stars and sports 37 stars in total (one star below OWL League median). The team is relatively unspecialized and uniquely sorcerer-heavy, which may help them beat the Q35ers at their home paths but will also complicate their long-term strategies.
To close out, here's the Astorlogical Favor Rankings for the upcoming games!
1 | Pisces (Most Favored)
2 | Sagittarius
3 | Libra
4 | Virgo
5 | Leo
6 | Taurus
7 | Cancer
8 | Scorpio
9 | Aquarius
10 | Aries
11 | Gemini
12 | Capricorn
High Astrologers note that that Virgo favors Foxes over Time Agents.
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