Lec Teams 2019
The first season of the franchised LEC is upon us. Just like we saw in NA last year, the shift to franchising led to a massive upheaval in rosters. And in just a couple weeks, we’ll finally get to see what all those shiny new EU teams look like on the Rift.
The best place to watch LoL Esports and earn rewards! Starting in 2019, teams that participate in the EU LCS will be there as permanent partners of the league. Teams will be selected from an application process and no longer have to face relegation or the promotion tournament. Also, the EU LCS will rebrand into the League of Legends European Championship (LEC). See EU LCS Franchising for further details.
We know which players everyone’s most excited to see—even non-G2 fans want to see exactly how Luka “Perkz” Perković fares in the bot lane. And the haters who are incensed over the poaching allegations that have dogged him will undoubtedly want to see him fail.
Including Perkz, we assembled a list of players who could have a breakout season in 2019. Here are five players to watch once the LEC kicks off on Jan. 18.
- G2 bot laner Perkz
- Misfits mid laner Fabian “Febiven” Diepstraten
- Splyce mid laner Marek “Humanoid” Brázda
- Vitality jungler Lee “Mowgli” Jae-ha
- Origen bot laner Patrik “Patrik” Jírů
Perkz
Of course this list has to start and end with Perkz. G2 took their best player and swapped him in the bot lane to take care of what was their weakest position last year. And they did it while adding the only other mid laner in the region that could really compete, Fnatic’s Rasmus “Caps” Winther.
But the player that will be most key to Perkz’s success is support Mihael “Mikyx” Mehle. Mikyx helped Steven “Hans Sama” Liv turn into a star for Misfits before getting kicked to the curb. Now he gets to help smooth Perkz’s transition while getting a shot to take down his old team.
We saw Perkz succeed in a duo lane in 2018 when the funnel meta had him teaming up with jungler Marcin “Jankos” Jankowski and playing scaling marksmen. Next year will be his chance to prove that he not only has the skills to play multiple positions, but that his ability to recruit and attract other talented players is truly legendary.
Febiven
Another mid laner we’re dying to see is Febiven. Instead of changing positions, Febiven is swapping regions. Having started in Europe, he went to North America as part of its huge franchising boom last year, and is now back in his home region with Misfits.
Lots of people are calling Misfits a super team in Europe because of the amount of talent they’ve assembled. Keeping only their jungler and bot laner from last year, Misfits added a bunch of veterans players who are used to making deep runs at international tournaments. The hope is that this squad will go far at Worlds.
One of those players is Febiven, who is famous for making deep runs at Worlds with EU teams like Fnatic and H2k. But he secretly had a pretty mediocre season last year with Clutch. Sure, the team made the playoffs in the Spring Split and won a series with Febiven carrying a suspect roster. But then the wheels fell off in the summer, and part of it was Febiven’s fault. He played too aggressively and made his teammates look bad.
Misfit are hoping they get European Febiven, not North American Febiven. Which one we see in competition this year will be a big factor in whether they go on the Worlds run they’ve prepared for.
Humanoid
Keeping our focus on mid lane for one more player, we have Splyce’s rookie, Humanoid. Humanoid’s played for a number for well-known regional teams in his bid to make the big leagues. Now he’s here and the time for preparation is past.
There will be a lot of pressure on his shoulders this year. Splyce had issues adapting to the meta for what seemed like all of 2018, but they still made playoffs in both splits. Now, they’ve reloaded with veteran talent—except for Humanoid.
Lec Teams 2019 Nba
The other challenge for the rookie will be to fill the shoes of departed mid Yasin “Nisqy” Dinçer, who was the guy that held Spylce together for their playoff runs last year. Even with the lanes falling apart around him, Nisqy played even and gave his team a chance.
The good news is he has experience with that. Playing for a Turkish team last year, he showed great proficiency on safe mages and holding his lane. The problem was the collapse of the side lanes around him, which on paper, should not happen with Splyce. If their lanes can win and give jungler Andrei “Xerxe” Dragomir some room, Splyce could do better than just make the playoffs in 2019.
Mowgli
When Afreeca Freecs finally made it to Worlds in 2018, a major factor was their ability to field two junglers. From the more farm-heavy Lee “Spirit” Da-yoon to the supportive Mowgli, they should have been able to adapt to multiple styles. Instead, Spirit got the bulk of the work. Mowgli did make an appearance in the team’s 0-3 loss to Cloud9 in the quarterfinals, but the team picked Xin Zhao for him, not a typical champion for the tank-loving Mowgli.
A lot of the time, when teams develop younger junglers, they have to take players used to carrying in solo queue and teach them how to play tanks and contest vision. That wasn’t really the case with Mowgli. He’s always played to his lanes. That’s something that should be great for a Vitality team that likes to press all lanes.
Vitality really took off as a team last summer when they added jungler Mateusz “Kikis” Szkudlarek partway through the split. It’s interesting that now they’ve chosen to move on from him. If Mowgli can help push them back to Worlds, it would be a big validation on the risk they’ve chosen. Importing Korean junglers hasn’t always worked out for Western teams, especially when they don’t have Korean teammates. Vitality and Mowgli will look to break the mold in 2019.
Patrik
Patrik, who used to go by Sheriff, was supposed to be a star last year. H2k built their entire team around him, and in some weeks, it worked. They brought back the old CLG.EU strategy of stalling until Patrik had enough items and could carry big fights, and for several games, it worked.
Of course, a big part of that run was a bizarre series of games in which teams would just throw in the late game against H2k. That’s not a strategy that can be relied on. By picking him up, Origen are hoping that Patrik is more than just a good luck charm.
Like Humanoid with Splyce and Mowgli with Vitality, Patrik joins a resurrected Origen squad that is built to win now. Whether they can make a big splash in 2019 will likely count on the efforts of the young Czech bot laner.
by Petar Vukobrat in General Jun, 15th 2019
We are just days into the second half of the competitive season, making it the perfect time to take a closer look at the top LEC teams to watch during the 2019 LEC Summer Split. These are three teams that either have a lot to prove, or have shown immense improvement in their first week of play.
Some of them have already tasted victory over their year-long careers, while others still haven’t reached the biggest of stages that the world of competitive League of Legends has to offer. Either way, they’re all fighting amongst each other in order to earn a chance to challenge the reigning, defending LEC champions, the “kings of Europe” — G2 Esports.
The G2 Factor
Just clashing against the most recent Mid-Season Invitational champions carries prestige, and overtaking them would be a seismic achievement in and of itself. Furthermore, everyone wants to test their might against the best team in the world. They want to know just how strong and flexible they are against such a momentous behemoth, but they also want to learn. Just a single game against G2 is often a masterclass in all elements of play: individual mechanical prowess, team play, target selection, creativity, level one strats, rotations and macro. They’re incredibly well-rounded, and they’re showing no signs of stopping.
So it is only natural that you should tune in every time they play if you’re in the mood for some top-tier League of Legends. Only G2 can do G2 things, so if you want to spectate the very best, there’s no alternative at this point. Instead, we’ll focus on teams that have the potential to challenge them in specific and highly distinct ways.
Fortunately, even though G2 Esports is a giant without measure, there are more than enough idiosyncratic challengers that are brimming with potential just waiting for their chance to take “a shot at the king.” This time around, we will highlight five teams you should follow closely throughout the split because they have the potential to mature into bona fide contenders. Perhaps most interestingly, they all pose different threats and seeing how every spot below G2 Esports is up for grabs, we’re bound to witness one of the most intense and chaotic fights for the playoffs yet!
So without any further ado, let’s focus on our top LEC teams to watch in the 2019 Summer Split, listed in no particular order.
Origen (Finished Second in Spring)
First up, we simply have to highlight Origen. Coming into 2019, they had quite a fair bit of hype. The Astralis-led organization decided to field a roster filled with grizzled veterans, and basically each and every one of them was universally loved and respected by many fans across the globe.
Even though many thought they were past their prime (or at the very least on the decline), the Origen team proved everyone wrong. Their second-place finish left no one indifferent, and even though they eventually succumbed to G2’s immense talent in the finals, their stock rose considerably, even in defeat.
So coming into the Summer Split, they had all the right tools within their arsenal to manage a repeat if nothing else. Even if they fell a bit in the standings, they would still be considered a top-tier contender with plenty of resilience.
But the level of play they displayed at the beginning of this split was downright spectacular. They were still the Origen we all became accustomed to. They were on point with their macro, they were rotating at the best possible times and were playing some high level League of Legends from the very get-go. They were constantly pushing the pace of the game and had a concrete plan on where to be and what to fight for. There was no wasted time whenever Origen played, and it was a sight for sore eyes.
But there was one huge change. They were aggressive.
The difference between Origen’s play is night and day
Back in Spring, even when Origen won their lanes they would rarely (if ever) push their advantages further on an individual level. They didn’t want to fight if they didn’t need to, and it showed in their play on the Rift as well. They were unwilling to throw down when it was required, and as a result, they lost to G2 Esports in the Spring Split finals in less than seventy-five minutes. That was the fastest finals in LEC history, and even though Origen faced the best and most capable team Europe ever fostered, many expected a much more even fight.
The first week of competitive LEC play showed us a completely different Origen. They fully adapted to the current meta and showed no evident signs of weakness. They always had the mechanical skill, but they lacked in aggression, in confidence, and in bravado.
By the looks of it, this is no longer the case. Not even close.
Such a change allowed them to push G2 Esports far beyond what anyone expected. They not only went blow-for-blow in all stages of the game, but they even came ahead in multiple facets of play. Whenever G2 engaged or escalated the tempo, Origen was up to the task.
It was a refreshing sight, and seeing them challenge G2 to such a degree should be a sign of the great things to come. If they traded heavy blows with the defending champs so early on into the split, one has to wonder just how high they will eventually climb.
Either way, a great champion is defined by a great challenger. G2 Esports need Origen. They need a Joe Frazier, otherwise they’re bound to get complacent.
Schalke 04 (Finished Seventh in Spring)
Back in Spring, Schalke was rightfully considered the biggest threat to G2 Esports’ throne. Team Vitality always stayed close in the race but were incredibly volatile — as always. Fnatic lost their key player, Misfits Gaming imploded, and Splyce were still developing as a five-man unit.
Amidst all the chaos, Schalke emerged as an immediate threat. They were aggressive and basically started playing the 2019 meta before it really existed. They were proactive and unhinged back when it wasn’t the norm — and it was quite the sight! Jonas “Memento” Elmarghichi, Elias “Upset” Lipp, Andrei “Odoamne” Pascu and Lee “IgNar” Dong-geun are always looking to skirmish and go all-in. They’re not the ones to stall things out. Instead, they’d rather throw down and hope for the best.
Fortunately, they had the mechanical skill and team fight prowess in order to emerge victorious more often than not.
Lec Teams 2019 Standings
We won’t go into detail regarding their eventual fall from grace — we all know what happened at this point, and we should let bygones be bygones. Instead, let’s focus on the future, and the immensely positive growth Schalke recently displayed.
After they started dropping games left and right, it was evident that they lacked mental fortitude, resiliency, but perhaps most importantly guidance. Being a veteran is one thing, being a leader is another. And there wasn’t one within their line-up. Now, with Kim “Trick” Gang-yun in the starting line-up, they’ve already shown exceptional improvement in all facets of play.
So let’s give them the benefit of the doubt. Let’s treat them as a top-tier competitor who will once again be capable of challenging the LEC status quo. Will they be as strong as we think? Could they really challenge the top of the region? All signs are pointing towards the positive, and watching Schalke further develop and climb the ranks will be incredibly exciting.
Fnatic (Finished Third in Spring)
Fnatic is in a very peculiar position right now. Even though they were unable to ultimately defend their throne back in Spring, they were at least able to finish third. That’s an admirable result regardless of the way you look at it, especially considering the fact that they lost their star mid laner. And Rasmus “Caps” Winther wasn’t just any mid laner — he’s the best and most accomplished Western mid laner of all time. Not too shabby for a guy that still hasn’t hit his peak. They had to rebuild themselves and find a completely new identity. For the first time in a long while, they were no longer a team with a spectacular mid laner. Instead, they opted for Tim “Nemesis” Lipovšek, a young mid lane talent who proved his worth on multiple occasions, albeit in lower leagues.
That said, he wasn’t exactly a mechanical deity, nor did he blow anyone away with his flashy play. He was more of a control type of player; someone who focused more on his laning and late game team fighting rather than unhinged creativity and proactive play. Even if he did win lane every single time, he rarely translated his leads over to the rest of his team — and that’s not something Fnatic were used to.
Finally, the current meta favors solo lane dominance, whereas Fnatic always played through bottom lane or through Caps, back when he was in the line-up. They will have to adapt more than ever before, and judging by their recent play they’re definitely making some headway. The problem is, they’re simply not strong enough in the top and mid lane right now in order to challenge the upper echelon of the LEC. So they’ll have to find an alternative; they’ll have to find a different avenue towards success.
Either way, they’re thriving in an unfavorable meta, and that’s commendable, to say the least. They’re making it work, even though the odds are stacked against them. Whether or not they’ll be able to bend the meta to their playstyle remains to be seen, but if there was ever a team that actually stood a chance of doing so, it has to be Fnatic.
They might not reach their former glory in the foreseeable future, but they’re at least going to make things incredibly competitive.
Honorable Mention — Rogue & Excel Esports
A very interesting thing happened between Spring and Summer: Rogue and Excel Esports improved beyond measure. These two teams are no longer the laughing stock of the region, and they’re both deceptively strong. Perhaps most importantly, they’re willing to throw down and aren’t scared of fighting their heart’s out in the Summoner’s Rift. It doesn’t matter if they’re up against G2 Esports or against one another — they’re playing with the name tags off, and it’s showing in their play as well.
Excel improved in the mid and bottom lane, whereas Rogue brought in three of their Ultraliga Academy team players. They’re not as experienced or proven, but they’re playing like they have nothing to lose and are looking to make a name for themselves sooner rather than later. You wouldn’t be able to tell that they weren’t LEC mainstays judging solely off of their play, and that’s highly commendable.
And while they won’t win anything (or come close to winning), they’re going to challenge every team above them in the standings, and might even be able to fight for a playoff spot. Whether or not that’s an optimistic stretch still remains to be seen, but it is a possibility and it makes every game going forward a must-watch. Don’t be surprised if either of these two teams upsets the established order on more than one occasion throughout the split.
That’s it for our list of top LEC teams to watch in the 2019 Summer Split! Generally speaking, Europe has never been this strong and competitive (in fact, it’s considered as the strongest region in the world right now), so it should come as no surprise that it has to many capable teams and rosters that are stacked with immense talent.
Lastly, you can click here if you want to see our list of five teams you should keep an eye on that are playing across the pond in North America!