With the Summer Split for the NA LCS fast approaching, take some time to familiarize yourself with the various changes teams have made during the break, and learn where the strengths and weaknesses of each team lie.
Cloud 9
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Roster remains the same since promoted to LCS in S3 Summer split
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Time off practice as full roster during Allstars with Hai being replaced due to injury
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Still look to be a strong team with the full roster
Finishing 1st place in the spring split, Cloud 9 continued their strong performance to secure the number 1 spot in North America and proved their worth as the best team in the region. During Allstars, Cloud 9 performed against the best teams from across the world, however with Hai absent due to medical reasons, they were playing without a full roster, and this definitely showed. Although Link is without a doubt a highly skilled player, the team seemed lost without their main shot caller and long term captain. Although going 3-1 in the group stages, C9 failed to get past the semifinals, showing some glaring issues in team cohesion and shot calling.
Despite the performance at Allstars, Cloud 9 are still looking like the extremely strong team that they have shown us throughout their time in the LCS, with the full roster that has remained unchanged since their entry to the league. They continue to show strong performances individually, and as a team, and with Hai back to full health there is no reason as to why this would be any different coming into the upcoming split with their main shotcaller and captain back.
Curse
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Acquisition of Xpecial from TSM
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Xpecial arguably a better and more experienced player than those before him
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Looking stronger than previously
Team Curse finished in the middle of the pack during the 2014 seasons spring split, at 5th place, with close performances to Team Dignitas and Team Coast. Following many roster changes in the support role, Team Curse have picked up TSM’s former support Xpecial, which looks to be the solid support laner that they need. With Xpecial in the support lane, this should show improvements over former supports, as he brings a high skill level in his role and has a long experience in the competitive LoL scene and live events, aspects that previous players only possessed one of. Xpecial’s departure from TSM also beckons the hints at his negative attitude however, which is said to include passive aggression, which could be problematic from a team that have already proven the possibility to tilt primarily in the form of Voyboy in the mid lane.
Overall, Curse are looking like an improved team, gaining what should be a positive change in roster, added to a team that already perform well individually and as a team, while also facing teams that have made more radical changes that include bringing on less experienced players in some cases.
Team Solomid
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Pickup of German jungler Amazing of Copenhagen Wolves and former C9T Support Gleebglarbu
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Amazing more mechanically proficient than OddOne
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Gleebglarbu still yet to prove himself, however TSM are known to make positive roster changes
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Could take time for team to adapt and bond however provides a better roster for international competition
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OddOne moving to coaching provides better team infrastructure
Veteran team, TSM, finished with a second place spot in the 2014 spring split, following closely behind league leaders Cloud 9. In what was a surprising turn of events, TSM announced major roster changes, picking up Copenhagen Wolves jungler Amazing, and Cloud 9 Tempest support Gleebglarbu, with TheOddOne moving into a more coaching orientated role, and Xpecial moving over to Team Curse. The addition to bring over EU jungler Amazing follows the decision to sign European mid laner Bjergsen, a signing that brought a younger, highly skilled player with competitive experience to the team. The addition of former Cloud 9 Tempest support Gleebglarbu however is less straight forward, as he is replacing long term team member, and experienced player Xpecial. Gleeb already shows good synergy with TSM Marksman Wildturtle, doing well against most other bot lanes in the NA solo queue, however obviously lacks the experience in live events that Xpecial had, and his impact on the team can only be revealed through his performance in the upcoming split.
Overall, the changes that TSM have made make a lot of sense. Bringing in a more mechanically proficient player in Amazing will increase the presence of the role that OddOne began to lose in recent times, and Oddone’s relationships with the players and experience as a professional player are qualities that make a great coach.
Although the changes may take some time to settle in, TSM are looking like a stronger team and judging from former roster changes, they will most likely have a positive effect on the team’s performance both in the LCS and internationally.
Counter Logic Gaming
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Picking up of Korean top laner Seraph
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Seraph doing extremely well in solo queue, and shows motivation and a positive attitude
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Providing team meshing goes well could be a stronger team, however could take time to build up
Following CLG’s dominant performance as a top 3 team, finishing 3rd in the 2014 spring split, Nien decided to step down from the roster due to a personal lack in performance as their top laner. With CLG’s search for a replacement, and aid of coach MonteCristo, Korean player Seraph (Former sub for Najin White Shield) was chosen to try out for the position, and flew out to live in the CLG house and appear on the starting roster for the summer split. Seraph’s appearance in the NA scene has already shown good results, with great performances in solo queue, a brilliant work ethic, adequate English for in game communication and positive bonding with the members of the team.
The acquisition of Seraph adds a great player to an already strongly performing roster, with the change from Nien providing a top laner with experience in the role and a higher skill level, and providing that he meshes with the team well, could show a very strong CLG in the upcoming split leading up to worlds.
LMQ
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No roster changes
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Undeniably strong individual and team play, however not looking as strong as the top solid NA teams
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Could climb the rankings early due to many other teams making changes that may require time to build up
Chinese powerhouse LMQ are an undeniably strong team, taking the challenger scene by storm and crushing XDG 3-0 to secure their place in the summer split. LMQ show a very high level of individual skill, and also a high level of teamwork between their members, making them a very strong team to face. LMQ although strong, look like they could come into trouble when facing the top LCS teams, however with a lot of the top teams making changes, this could be what the team needs to take an early lead in the standings while other teams are still adjusting and meshing with their new players.
Evil Geniuses
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EG roster remains the same despite talks of the possibility of new players
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Not much looks to change in terms of possible results
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Pobelter finishing education and moving into house provides a better environment to improve personally and as a team
Although the EG roster looked solid, featuring young talent meshing with experienced veterans, they only managed a disappointing 7th place finish in the spring split, narrowly missing out on the 8th place spot and facing the powerhouse LMQ. Although the team managed to retain their LCS position against Cloud 9 Tempest, the state of EG is looking worrying. Even though talks of the jungle and bottom lane positions having tryouts for new players, the roster seems to remain the same, however with no changes to the roster, and jungler Snoopeh taking a vacation just before the spring split begins, a similar performance can be expected going into the summer split.
While they did look weak, especially compared to the majority of arguably better teams in the summer split, a positive can be found in the factor that mid laner Pobelter has finished his high school activity, and will be living with the team in their house. This will allow a better focus on improving for him, and will also allow the team to have a more regimented and convenient structure. Despite this however, EG look like one of the worse off teams in the split, and may well find themselves fighting for the last positions once again.
Team Dignitas
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Joining of former Coast players Zion and Shiphtur
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Shiphtur highly skilled mid player to replace Scarra after Goldenglue failed to perform while other star player Zion replaces Cruzer
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Arguably very strong lineup however problems such as shot calling still remain
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With a solid skilled mid laner Scarra can focus full time onto coaching and solving the problems the team has
Dignitas had a reasonable performance during the spring split landing a 4th position place below the top 3 teams, placing them in the middle of the pack. Dig showed some problems in their mid lane, with Scarra underperforming. Although they tried to improve their roster with the shifting of mid laner Goldenglue onto the main roster, this brought negative results, and Scarra returned to the main lineup.
With the relegation of Team Coast, the opportunity of picking up some star players showed itself, with members of the team having high individual skill but arguably being on a team where these skills could not come to fruition. With Scarra wanting to move onto the coaching and player support role, the choice was made to pick up the highly skilled Shiphtur for the midlane, who showed a brilliant performance during his time in the LCS, although being on a team that was underperforming. Zionspartan, the top laner for Coast was also picked up, replacing Dig’s top laner Cruzer, which will likely bring a lot more presence to the top lane due to Zion’s signature splitpushing and high pressure laning style.
With the signing of these players, Dignitas is looking like a very strong team coming into the spring split, with very solid and strong lanes with high individual skill. The main hurdle Dignitas must overcome to place well, however, is the quality of shotcalling and who should make the calls, but with Scarra as full time coach, this should make the process of finding this element a lot easier.
Complexity
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Lineup remains same
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Highly motivated team with some experienced players, however look arguably weaker than some of the other more experienced powerhouses with higher skilled players
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Likely to be a contender at the bottom of the pack
Complexity fought hard in the challenger scene to earn their place in the LCS promotion games, and showed their hunger to qualify by beating out Team Coast 3-1 and qualifying for the spring split of the LCS. As a team, Complexity are strong, with great players and good teamwork, with lots of experience in some of the players. With this in mind, the team still looks like one of the weaker of the bunch, and although determined, may well find themselves at the lower end of the standings, however they should not be counted out, and could provide problems for some of the lower placing teams in the split.