“We had to get back on top of our game” – An Interview With Atlanta FaZe’s Priestahh

Recently we got to speak with Preston “Priestahh” Greiner from the Atlanta FaZe ahead of the 2020 Call of Duty League Playoffs and Championship Weekend.

ESTNN sat down with Atlanta FaZe's Priestahh to talk about his team, the upcoming playoffs and Championship weekend, his hopes for CoD 2020, and even his predictions for the upcoming CDL games.

An Insight on Atlanta FaZe

You’re known for being one of the most versatile players in the Call of Duty League and have recently changed your role within the team. What was the reason behind your role change and do you enjoy the new role which you’re now playing?

“We kept coming up short in tournaments. We kept getting second place and we felt like we had to switch something up. It was actually my idea, I pitched the idea and asked the team if they would try with me running an AR and having Cellium run the Submachine gun. We tried it out and we were playing well with it. Basically what we were talking about when we were switching was ‘we don't want to be switching back and forth so if we do this we should stick it out', we’ve been playing really well with it and I enjoy my role. I think it helps the team and helps our pacing.”

Keeping up with the meta

With the slight change in the meta, how do you feel the change has affected the Atlanta FaZe as a whole?

“I think we’re starting to benefit from it. Now that I’m running an AR and Cellium can run around with the sub especially with Dead Silence. I know at some point he had a trophy on and I think he should always have Dead Silence. We have Mike (MajorManiak) and I as AR’s and I think it makes more sense to have the three young guns run around and fry everyone while Mike and I sit back and look over them.”

Over the Minnesota and Paris Home Series’ you played 8 matches and won 6 of them. However, all of your wins came in a game five and you won the series 3-2. What changes have you made to ensure that you can close out matches more convincingly or was it just the meta shift which allowed you to pull off more 3-0 and 3-1 wins?

“The meta switch kind of helped but it was more of a respawn thing. Our respawns were lacking a little bit and we had to get back on top of our game. We were focusing a lot on Search and Destroy and weren’t focusing on other things so we started focusing on everything overall and started to make sure we were on top of our game in every single game mode.”

Looking ahead to the 2020 CDL Playoffs and Championship Weekend

Going into the playoffs and championship weekend, what does your practice schedule look like?

“For the team, we’re trying to scrim two to three sets often only taking a day off here and there to make sure we’re not overdoing it. But for me I’ll do scrims and then afterward I’ve been trying to play every single pro 10’s I can possibly play but if not I’m in the CDL playlist just grinding and putting in that extra push.”

Unfortunately, you feel short at last year's World Championships with 100 Thieves, but how different do you think it might feel this year if you were to win the 2020 World Championships compared to previous years with it being played online?

“Yeah I mean I’ve thought about that before like if it's going to feel different and honestly it is going to feel different obviously you're not in front of a crowd. But at the same time, it's a lot of money and everyone’s grinding right now and everyone wants to win the tournament. It sucks that it’s online but it is what it is and I just want to win no matter what.”

While you fell short last year, you have two reigning World Champions in Simp and aBeZy on your team. Do you feel more confident knowing you’re playing with last year's world champs?

“Yeah, of course, I’m just super confident in the team overall. This is the most talented roster I’ve been on and if we keep staying on top of our game and focusing on the right things then I’m super confident in winning.”

High expectations

Atlanta FaZe are favorites to win the Call of Duty League Championships, do you feel more pressure knowing that you’re the favorites?

“I get asked this question a lot and I feel like we’ve been the favorites in a lot of these tournaments so I think that pressure has kind of gone. We’ve been through so much quote on quote pressure already that we’re just playing and want to win every tournament now. I don't think the pressure is a big thing anymore.”

What are your thoughts on the switch to a best-of-nine format for the Grand Finals?

“It’s definitely interesting. We haven't seen it before normally it would be two best of fives in the finals. I think it will be a little bit less “flukey” I suppose you could say and I think we just want to make sure that we are good at every map really to ensure that we secure finals. It’s definitely a cool thing for sure.”

Priestahh’s Predictions

We asked Priestahh to pick the winners of the first four Call of Duty League 2020 Playoff matches.

New York Subliners vs Minnesota Rokkr

“I think New York will beat Minnesota unless Minnesota turns things around. I know last time we played them they weren't looking too hot, but at the same time, they've had a while to prepare so they could bounce back.”

London Royal Ravens vs Toronto Ultra

“London vs Toronto could go either way. Toronto has been playing really well, obviously, they won the last tournament so I’m going to have to take Toronto on that one.”

OpTic Gaming Los Angeles vs Los Angeles Guerrillas

“I think OpTic takes this one. I know SlasheR and the rest of OpTic have been grinding and playing a lot of 10’s so I think they'll come out on top.”

Paris Legion vs Seattle Surge

“Honestly this could go either way. I’m going to take Seattle though I think they'll clutch up and I think they'll take it.”

Preparing for Call of Duty 2020

Following the conclusion of the 2020 Call of Duty League Championships we should get some more info about this year's Call of Duty. What are one or two things on your wishlist for the game either casually or from a competitive standpoint?

“I would love to see vibrant colors on the maps on the guns on the characters, I’m a big fan of having good visuals, kind of almost like Fortnite in a way, just a game which you can stare at all day. I’d also like to see team skins again or even how our signatures are on our guns this year, I would love to have that off the rip of next season.”

Atlanta FaZe is looking to be the first team to win the Call of Duty League Championships, and it sounds like they are more motivated than ever to do so.