Today marked the first appearance of Waylay in professional play, with XLG’s Rarga testing the agent against BLG on Icebox. XLG also used Waylay on Fracture, but the results were far from ideal—they lost both maps where Waylay was played and secured victory only on the map where the agent was absent. This performance suggests that teams may face a steep learning curve when integrating Waylay into competitive play.
A common trend with newly released agents is inefficiency in execution, and Waylay is no exception. In one particular round on Icebox, BLG executed a push towards site A, using Harbor’s utility to cut off angles. Rarga, playing Waylay, repositioned to the back of the site but quickly exhausted his E ability. By the time the retake was in progress, that crucial ability was unavailable, highlighting a classic issue—players initially approach new agents as if they were familiar ones.
Rarga’s positioning and ability usage mirrored that of Jett, a mistake that cost XLG valuable utility. If he had anticipated a retake situation earlier, a more experienced Waylay player would have repositioned accordingly, keeping key abilities available for re-entry. These inefficiencies are expected as teams experiment, but they significantly impact early results.
Risky Teleportation and Tactical Missteps
Another example of early struggles came in the following round when Rarga attempted an aggressive play using Waylay’s teleportation. The placement of the teleport point was precarious, as it left him vulnerable to an early engagement. Although Cascade provided minor protection, there was a clear risk of elimination before he could fully utilize the ability.
This highlights one of Waylay’s potential pitfalls—teleport placement is crucial, and improper positioning can leave players exposed. Timing, map control, and an understanding of enemy rotations will play an essential role in maximizing the agent’s potential.
Skipping ahead to round seven, XLG attempted an innovative play that, while creative, ultimately failed due to timing issues. The play involved a Gecko pairing, using Dizzy’s flash in conjunction with Waylay’s dash. However, the flash’s travel time caused a fatal delay—by the time the opponent was blinded, they had already located and eliminated Rarga.
This showcases another challenge of integrating Waylay into team compositions. Agents like KO, with near-instant flash activation, might be a better pairing. However, Waylay’s mechanics complicate things—when dashing forward, the player must face in that direction, making it impossible to avoid self-flashing with a KO pop flash.
Finding Success: A Breakthrough Moment for Waylay
Despite early struggles, Waylay’s potential shone through in round nine, marking the first instance where the agent significantly impacted a round. During a retake, Rarga efficiently utilized Waylay’s abilities, stunning an opponent with TA and securing an easy elimination. The teleport ability wasn’t needed in this instance, but its presence provided an additional escape option.
Waylay’s ultimate also played a pivotal role in this round, ensuring site control and securing the spike defuse. This demonstrated how, in coordinated scenarios, Waylay’s utility can turn engagements in favor of the user.
Attack Strats: Surprise Tactics and Map Control
Switching to the attack side, XLG showcased a few innovative tactics that could make Waylay a dangerous pick under the right circumstances. In round 15, during an eco round, XLG executed a surprise maneuver by dashing over Viper’s Orb while using Gecko’s flash. This unexpected playstyle caught the opponent off guard, creating opportunities for quick eliminations.
Such tactics highlight one of Waylay’s strengths—unpredictability. Early adoption of the agent allows teams to leverage novelty, catching opponents unaware. However, the long-term effectiveness of these strategies remains in question, as players will eventually adapt.
A similar creative execution followed in the first full-buy round on attack. XLG correctly identified multiple defenders holding mid and countered with a well-coordinated utility combo. Tail Missiles and Waylay’s teleportation forced defenders into uncomfortable positions, leading to a kill. This type of synergy illustrates how, when properly executed, Waylay’s abilities can be maximized for space creation and pressure.
