Dignitas? How?

Fair or not, this was the lingering question in the public’s mind at the end of this Super Week. It is surely a sign of Cloud 9’s strength that a 3-1 record and first place tie is considered a disappointment, but the nature of the single loss raised concerns. The most optimistic Dignitas fans could not have predicted a 19-3, 16k gold lead blowout of the reigning kings of NA LCS - a result that had even the Dignitas players screaming in disbelief. However, that game seems to be more a case of DIG (namely scarra, whose 1v1 handling of Hai set him up to roam and snowball imaqtpie, who also put on a strong performance) stepping up to the occasion, rather than C9 stumbling badly. While Hai bears some blame for losing lane as Riven against Gragas, the team as a whole kept within 3k until the 25th minute while being 10-3 down in kills, demonstrating the solid fundamentals that are the cornerstone of any top team’s success. C9 still looked like region beaters even in defeat, so this occasion merits praise of Dignitas rather than harsh criticism of Meteos & Co.

Apart from that one loss, C9 showcased their consistently strong form in a set of three methodical wins over TSM, CLG, and XDG, leading in gold throughout each of the games. Similarly to the Dignitas match, C9 fell behind in early kills to TSM but stayed even or ahead in gold with dragons and towers, relying on their superior game control when being outplayed individually. Given the parity of mechanical skill between most pros, this ability to win based on objectives rather than kills is a valuable ability that has taken the likes of C9 and the KT “PvE” Bullets to the heights of the pro scene. In keeping with this objective-centric playstyle, Hai’s AP Teemo pick against TSM littered the map with Mushrooms to secure the river and set up counter engagements, playing to C9’s map control advantages despite having minimal lane impact against Bjergsen’s Gragas. C9 can confidently draft to form cohesive compositions thanks to their knack for playing around poor lane matchups or early fights. This gives them more options in pick/ban, such as Balls’ vaunted Rumble, than many of their NA peers.

C9 is looking strong, and their sole loss to Dignitas should be taken not as a sign of a lasting slump, but rather evidence of their peers rising to their level. While Hai’s laning appears somewhat suspect, he has a history of doing very well on comfort picks while being less reliable on the rest. This is an issue for every player, but it is especially prominent for players like Hai and scarra. C9 has historically been able to play around this flaw, however, and Hai’s laning should only improve as the metagame settles and his comfort picks adjust accordingly. Cloud 9 remains the heavy favorite to lead the North American scene, and the first week’s games give hope that the rest of the NA LCS can make them work harder for the wins.



Going into their first game of Super Week against last season's champions Cloud 9, TSM's 0-7 record against their nemesis surely was on their minds. Unfortunately, a surprise Teemo pick for C9's midlaner Hai thwarted any hope of TSM sticking to their original game plan. Despite their early game usually being a comparatively weak point, Cloud 9 dominated the early game by taking two Bottom towers in under 5 minutes. From here, Teemo's mushrooms contained TheOddOne's jungle paths and TSM could only look on in confusion as their lanes were constantly pressured. The highlight play of the game was Sneaky's blind Dragon steal using Piltover Peacemaker to continue Cloud 9 snowballing to victory when TSM looked to pull even in the midgame. TSM suffered a crushing 17-9 defeat, down 12k gold, 6 Dragons and 3 Barons in the end, failing again to notch their first victory against C9.

However, with their toughest matchup out of the way, TSM annihilated the next 3 opponents in convincing fashion. By sticking with team compositions that allowed for fast pushes and highly mobile rotations, TSM was able to outmaneuver their opponents and secure objectives. As the weekend progressed, TSM would rely heavily on Bjergsen, their replacement for Reginald, to fill the former captain’s role as their ace and main shotcaller to carry the team to victory. There was a lot of back and forth action with EG, but Bjergsen’s Zed, coupled with great team initiation from Xpecial, would secure teamfights and consequently their win. TSM would have much of the same style of play against Team Dignitas and Team Curse as Bjergsen played LeBlanc in explosive fashion, taking out champions in 2-3 burst combos while both other teams were hapless to contain his roaming. If Bjergsen can continue the confidence and aggression he shows in lane and the synergy of the team stands, TSM’s future games looks very bright and they’ll be a strong contender for the Spring Split Playoffs.



After major roster changes during the off-season, the newest iteration of Curse finally made their proper LCS debut. Although there have been various chances to catch this roster in action, including the Spring Promotion Tournament, this was our first chance to see how they stacked up against LCS caliber competition. Arguably, the 2-2 result for the week surpassed expectations for the new roster’s debut.

There has been a fair amount of criticism levied at Curse for their new roster. Some fans were even apprehensive of the new roster and prepared for the worst when it came to Week 1. Most agree Quas is a solid pickup for Top lane, but is sending their veteran star Voyboy to Mid worth the trade off? Others question the strength of the Cop and Zekent lane, or if IWillDominate is really better than Saintvicious. Luckily for them, Curse decided to put up a fight.

Curse started off 2-0, taking down Coast and XDG. The game against Coast was close until a clutch Baron steal from IWD allowed Curse to blow the game open and take a commanding lead. In their game against XDG, Curse made a huge gamble during the Pick/Ban phase by choosing Akali (Mid), Karthus (Top), and Pantheon (Jungle). If Curse fell even the slightest bit behind their team would useless. Luckily for them, they managed to gain the early lead and simply pushed this further and further – winning multiple fights to the point where XDG just couldn't deal with their damage.

Unfortunately for Curse, their next two games did not go so well. Losing to both CLG and TSM, Curse simply looked outclassed. This was particularly the case against CLG who played their best game of the week against Curse. These loses went a long way to highlighting a lot of the issues Curse needs to fix if they want to be competitive in the upcoming weeks.

Voyboy's play Mid was particularly suspect as he got destroyed by Bjergsen in lane. With his game on Akali, Voyboy showed he might have been a force to be reckoned with in the assassin meta, but the current popular picks just don't mesh with his play style. Voyboy was an asset to Curse for the immense amount of pressure he applied Top lane and he needs to find a way to refine his play and do the same Mid. Overall this version of Curse may very well be weaker than their Season 3 iteration, but if they refine their play it's possible they could be a thorn in the side of some of the top teams.



Legend has it that one of League of Legends’ most storied franchises will one day return to dominant form with the triumphant return of a former star. For now, CLG continues its history of awkward roster situations by bringing Hotshot back as a mid lane sub, shuffling Link into the jungle until Dexter is able to resolve his visa issues. Doublelift and Nien are the only members retaining their roles from the previous split, although Aphromoo has reunited 'Rush Hour' by returning to support Doublelift in the bottom lane.

In a surprise to no one, CLG posted a middling 2-2 record this week, indicating a team suffering from a chronic case of potential. HotshotGG was focused in the pick/ban phase, with Dignitas and C9 both banning three mid laners against him and Leblanc being banned in all three games. This limited his likely picks to Nidalee in CLG’s season opener against Dignitas, in which HotshotGG’s inaccuracy with Javelins was such that the crowd would cheer for successful hits. CLG nevertheless managed to slog to a win in an otherwise unremarkable game. In their next game against C9, Hotshot again commanded attention with a Cassiopeia pick and again failed to deliver, dying twice to Hai’s Zed before level 6. Despite the former captain’s clear discomfort, CLG acquitted themselves reasonably well in the game overall, with a 5-2 Doublelift Jinx keeping them within 2k gold of C9 until the 26th minute, when a successful bot inhibitor push by Hai’s fed Zed combined with a 4:1 trade at Baron to give C9 the baron and eventual win. A more underwhelming CLG was on display in their third game against EG, where a horrendous early Dragon fight effectively lost them the game 5 minutes in. The frantic engages that threw close games against C9 and EG are CLG’s most apparent flaw, and improved decision making around baron and dragon would do much to bolster the team’s chances heading into week 2.

On a more positive note, CLG’s most impressive play of the week was further notable for who pulled it off. Aphromoo’s support skills had been dismissed by many observers after his previous stint on CLG, but his level 1 Blue Buff steal against CRS’ Jungle Gragas removed IWDominate from the early game. Looking every bit the team they could be, CLG took that edge and methodically closed out CRS from there, putting on a clinic in objective control and accumulating a 7k gold lead before taking first blood at 23:00. While the CLG that dismantled CRS could feasibly fight for the top of the standings, the bumbling squad that gifted EG their sole victory could just as readily win a race to the bottom. As with the numerous rosters it has fielded before, the current CLG needs to find consistency in its play. If they can do so, then Counter Logic Gaming may yet defy expectations and live up to the prophecy.


Considering Dignitas’ long history and notable performances in the NA scene, it’s always difficult to count them out. Not a year ago they had reached their zenith, leading the 2013 Spring Split. Since then Dignitas has stagnated, wallowing in the middle of the NA pack and falling below .500 before losing to the younger and less experienced Vulcun in the playoffs. Coming into this season, the team seemed better known for their Baron throws, parody Twitter accounts, and ADC’s hair than their performance, and the future seemed murky. Pre-season roster changes brought further skepticism about the team’s chances in 2014 as long-time support patoy departed, leaving the support role to KiWiKiD and top to the newcomer, Cruzerthebruzer. Losing 0-2 in the Battle of the Atlantic to a new team, even one with Alliance's hype, was a disappointment then. With the retrospection of Alliance's putrid start in the EU LCS, the loss looks even worse now. Yet despite the many bad omens leading to Dignitas’ first week in 2014, they managed once again to defy the doubters. Yes, they fell to long-time rivals TSM and CLG (and one by way of a poor Baron decision, sadly), but they murdered Team Coast and creamed Cloud 9, handing the Summer Split Champions their only loss of the weekend. Dignitas may remain in the middle of the pack for now, but their tenacity proves that there’s always a surprise in store from Dignitas.

Dignitas’ strength appears to be connected to comfortable and constant Champion picks and strategies. Each member of Dignitas showed particular predilections in their Champion pools and performances during this initial week. Scarra has long been known for his Gragas and Katarina, and he played well on both in the Super Week games.



Karthus, another old-school pick, also served him well in one of Dignitas’ wins. In comparison, scarra’s Yasuo was completely stomped by Bjergsen, implying a lack of familiarity with the League’s newest Champion. Imaqtpie appears to have settled on Jinx as his Season 4 ADC of choice, enlisting the hypercarry in three of the four games despite a former preference towards mid-game carries such as Graves and Ezreal. Dignitas’ top lane appears to be the most comfortable with change since Cruzerthebruzer cycled through several of the top-tier top laners over the weekend: Shyvana, Dr. Mundo, and Trundle, though the team only found victory with Mundo. Last but not least, KiWiKiD still seems to be searching for the “comfort” in his support role. He played all of the current support triumvirate this weekend (Thresh, Annie, and Leona), but a tendency towards missed skillshots and unfortunate kill steals suggest he’s still settling into his new position. A set of safe, comfortable picks might give other teams good ban candidates against Dignitas, but if Dignitas’ comfort in their picks improves throughout the Split, so will their record.



Few NA LCS teams can claim that they are truly capable of anything. In a tournament of relatively safe bets, Team Coast remains one team that’s difficult to anticipate. On one hand, Coast looked awful in their Summer Split performance, ending the season in seventh place with an unfortunate record of 9-19. On the other hand is the Coast of the North American Challenger League, where they were 24-2 in their division and placed first with only one loss each to their opponents. Even their qualifier series was back and forth, going to game 5 before defeating The Walking Zed. Now, in the first week of the NA LCS, Coast’s games still vary widely, from dominating victories to crushing defeats to even games up to the last critical decision. They even employ a range of strategies, from spear and arrow-centric poke to split-push-and-pick-off compositions, with equal aptitude.

This diversity in play makes Coast’s consistencies interesting to analyze. Team Coast’s primary focus in game is on their two steadiest carries: Shiphtur and ZionSpartan. When these two are performing well, Coast tends to dominate their opponents. This trend was most evident in their game against EG where, in less than three minutes, WizFujin died three times, but Coast still took a one-sided victory on the back of Shiphtur’s deadly LeBlanc and ZionSpartan’s unstoppable Nasus. Zion also proved himself a skilled Yasuo player, one able to make some incredible plays even when his team faltered. This dynamic puts WizFujin into more of a utility role, as shown by Coast’s three Varus picks during the weekend. Even on Jinx, who typically is a hypercarry, Coast used WizFujin to set up Shiphtur’s Nidalee spears with both Zap! and Flame Chompers. Coast’s most common ban, Renekton, shows that the team wants to avoid the croc at all costs. They might see Renekton’s strong early game as a counter to Zion’s strong Yasuo and ban him to give Zion a chance to play the Unforgiven. Finally, Coast showed a predisposition towards early Dragons over the weekend to varying degrees of success. As unexpected as this strategy may be for Coast’s opponents, one must wonder if the danger of such an early objective are matched by its decreased reward in Season 4.



Unfortunately for Team Coast, their play from the Super Week will not be enough to sustain them in the LCS to come. With their only two victories coming over the teams who are tied for last in the standings, Coast will need to refine their playstyles before challenging the big bruisers in TSM and Cloud9. If they can’t, it’ll be the former Season 3 Split Champions that coast to victory while Coast’s lineup will be crushed under the tidal wave of NA’s current forerunners.


Ex Duris Gloria Gaming, previously Vulcun, has always been an interesting beast. They never got the recognition they deserved despite being a solid team that won many games. Even after going 2-2 last season with the rising stars of Cloud 9, the champions of North America overshadowed XDG and XDG were often perceived as a much weaker team despite their solid play and 20-8 Summer record. In order to fix the lack of shot calling that was one of their major issues they had during the last split, XDG swapped the roles of former ADC Zuna and Jungler Xmithie. The Week 1 Super Week would be the first test to see if this swap would pay off.

In their first game against Evil Geniuses, it certainly looked as though XDG had made the right choice. Xmithie looked incredibly comfortable as ADC and Zuna applied a ton of pressure around the map as Olaf, hitting with Axe after Axe. XDG was in complete control of that first game and it was definitely how all teams would want to start off the season. Unfortunately, it was all downhill after that...

XDG went 0-3 in their remaining games and just looked off their game. Zuna's potent Olaf was target banned in all three games, so he was forced to play different champions. In these games he chose Elise and Vi, but he did not have nearly the dominating performance that he did on Olaf. This was not the only problem for XDG, however. A recurring theme in these three losses was letting one player on the enemy team get out of control, such as Voyboy's Akali against Curse and ZionSpartan's Yasuo against Team Coast. Both of these players got too fed for XDG to come back against and dominated the games.

It is quite possible that XDG could bounce back in the upcoming weeks. If they tone down the early mistakes, they can prevent their opponents from snowballing early advantages and win games through superior team fighting and objective control. The X Factor in the equation is still Zuna. He has proved that he is worthy of a target ban with his Olaf, but he needs to step up his game with other champions in order to influence future games. If he continues to have minimal impact, XDG will find it difficult to duplicate their success from previous seasons.


There was a lot of hype coming into Super Week surrounding Team Evil Geniuses, their move from the EU LCS, and their new team roster that included North American additions Innox and Pobelter. Fans of EG had high hopes and expectations with public opinion usually showing in their favor. However, they would be extremely disappointed as EG’s inexperience playing together as a cohesive unit showed throughout their matches. EG’s inability to reduce early game pressure throughout the weekend resulted in never being able to play towards their strengths of mid-to-late game. After Pobelter’s Kassadin was shut down early by jungle pressure, the game snowballed out of EG’s control and poor decision making helped factor into the loss. Much of the other games went the same way. Perhaps the biggest surprise for fans of EG and perhaps EG themselves, was Team Coast’s ability to carry a victory with ZionSpartan’s Nasus and Shiphtur’s LeBlanc after WizFujiiN’s Varus was completely shut down, dying 3 times in less than 3 minutes. Team Coast’s burst damage and pushing power ended up being too much for EG to handle.

Their one consolation for the weekend was their victory over former sister team Counter Logic Gaming. EG seemingly had the better team composition with a beefier front line and an aggressive style of play in the early game to create pressure for CLG. Because of EG’s familiarity with CLG’s predictable style of play they were able to get to objectives faster and rotate better to catch CLG off guard, including a critical play where InnoX teleported in and wrecked CLG at the first Dragon fight. Going forward, EG will have to regroup and consolidate a game plan in order to deal with early game pressure and not being baited by poor decisions and overly aggressive plays if they hope to have any chance at a shot at the Spring Split playoffs and turning around their poor start.

The first games may be completed, but the NA LCS Spring Split is far from over. Week 2 brings us a Dignitas triple-header, while frontrunners Cloud9 emerge only once to battle Voyboy and Cop's Team Curse. Other highlights include a showdown between XDG and EG looking to shake off their 1-3 starts in the leadoff of Sunday's games, as well as another chance for TSM and CLG to put their classic rivalry on Riot's stage. If even the Super Week hasn’t satisfied your love for NA's premiere League of Legends competition, don't worry. Week 2 is only a day away.