Week 6: Power Rankings and Thoughts at the Half Way Mark

Well, we are officially at the halfway mark! Congratulations to each team in every region as there have been a ton of phenomenal games of League of Legends. As fans, the bitterest pill to swallow and the biggest sigh of relief is that we’re half way to Worlds. However, as players, each team is just now hitting their stride and really beginning to figure out what they need to do to make it to…where is worlds again? It is in…three different countries or something? I digress.

Fans can sense the anticipation in the air. You can see each player and each team sitting a little bit farther forward in their chairs doing everything they can to secure those last few wins.  Some teams are studying and rehearsing mistakes to make sure they’re not relegated and removed from the pro circuit. Still others are celebrating the fact that they’ve already made finals in their region; sharpening their skills to be as prepared as possible for their upcoming runs at titles. Regardless, we are half way through Summer Season 4 and that calls for the most controversial article any writer will ever write (so why would I want to right?) Power Rankings.

1. Samsung Blue (4/0)
2. Samsung White (3/1)
3. CJ Entus Blaze (2/0)
4. Najin Black Sword (3/1)
5. SK Telecom T1 K (2/2)
6. CJ Entus Frost ( 3/1)
7. Najin White Shield (2/2)
8. SK Telecom T1 S (1/1)
9. OMG (6/2)
10.  Alliance (12/2)
11. LMQ (9/5)
12.  Dignitas (9/5)
13.  Counter Logic Gaming (9/5)
14.  KT Rollster Arrows (1/1)
15.  Jin Air Stealth’s (3/1)
16.  Edward Gaming (6/2)
17.  Team WE (6/2)
18.  Royal Club (6/2)
19.  Azubu Taipei Assassins (5/0)
20.  SK Gaming (9/5)

1. Samsung Blue (4/0)

Samsung is again showing their power being the only team, currently, with 6 points in the strongest region for League of Legends. Korea is looked up to by each of the other regions and many times sets the stage for what is strong and how team compositions should be played. Samsung Blue has showed their top ranking by obtaining not only a perfect record in their group, but taking down the defending World Champion and All Star 2014 winners in SKTelecom T1 K. These honors, however, pale in comparison to their decisive 3-1 win over Najin White Shield in Champions Spring. Their movement and team fights are extremely coordinated and flawless behind their world class mid laner dade. Samsung Blue will easily be the favorite to repeat their victory Champions Summer as well as taking the top prize at Worlds.

2. Samsung White (3/1)

The sister team to Samsung Blue, Samsung White has to be seen as the number 2 overall. Showing just as much coordination and team play as their sister team, Samsung White helped to secure the Samsung organization a decisive 3 to 0 win over SKTelecom in OGN Masters. While Samsung White has not had as much success only showing a 3-1 record, splitting with SKT T1 S in groups, they are showing very consistent picks and plays behind their talent-packed lineup of: Looper, DanDy, Pawn, imp, and Mata. Samsung White will easily be a favorite against any team they play in finals and be a heavy favorite to join their sister organization at Worlds. It would not even be a surprise to see all-Samsung finals for Champions Summer.

3. CJ Entus Blaze (2/0)

On the back of their ‘Pilot’ in Flame, CJ Entus Blaze comes in at number 3 despite only having played two games, crushing KT Rollster Arrows in group. CJ Blaze looks strong as ever coming off their 4^th place loss in OGN Spring to Samsung Galaxy Ozone (Now Samsung White) and should easily be looking to make it out of their group in first place. The sheer carry-ability of Flame with the supporting cast of Daydream, Ambition, Emperor, and Gunza; CJ Blaze are looking to correct their early departure in Champions Spring and make it to worlds. This will mark a return to the finals stage and the Worlds stage for the CJ organization and a renewed vigor for one of the most storied and beloved organizations in Korea.

4. Najin Black Sword (3/1)

Seeming to have switched places with their sister team, Najin White Shield, Najin Black Sword put up two stellar performances: splitting with Najin Shield and destroying the pre-season-top-10 KT Rollster Bullets. Sword seems to have a renewed vigor with their new lineup which consists of: Leopard, Hojin, kurO, Ohq, and Cain and have done a phenomenal job in groups. While it is unusual to see a new team (unless you’re named SKT T1 K) do exceptionally well right away in OGN Champions, it is hard to deny that Najin Sword have put up two amazing performances. With only the struggling Jin Air Falcons left on their schedule it is hard to think that Sword will not be looking at a solid run into the playoffs.

5. SK Telecom T1 K (2/2)

Despite only having a 2 and 2 record in their group stage it is hard to not give the defending World Champions and All-Star 2014 winners an extremely high ranking at number 5. Even in their two losses, SKT T1 K looked really solid and have seemingly been on a roll steadily improving since their dominating performance at All Stars. With PoohManDo returning as their full-time support and shot caller and with the, arguably, #1 ranked player in the world in Faker; if SKT keeps improving at the rate we know they can, they too, will be looking at a deep run in playoffs. Also, don’t forget, SKT did suffer their losses to the #1 ranked (by most people/writers) team in the world, in Samsung Galaxy Blue. If a few additional plays were made by SKT we would be looking at a 1-1 split and SKT T1 K and Samsung Blue would be tied in group A. SKT T1 K have a title to defend and they will be working hard to make it back to Worlds to do so.

6. CJ Entus Frost (3/1)

The ever-steady and much beloved CJ Entus Frost comes in at number 6 after splitting 1-1 with second ranked Samsung Galaxy White in group stages. Despite a few questionable plays it is hard to count out on of the best known League of Legends players world-wide in Madlife and the accompanying crew of: Shy, Swift, CoCo, and Space. Despite rough patches and many, many changes in the CJ organization; both teams are looking very strong and seem to be focused on the prize. If their All-Star support Madlife has anything to say about it, it will be a return to the Worlds Stage for CJ Frost.

7. Najin White Shield (2/2)

Apparently switching places with their sister team, Najin Black Sword, Najin White shield has had a slower-than-expected start to their season tying both their first 2 matches against Najin Black Sword and Jin Air Falcons. While Shield is expected to come back with their, rather soft, remaining game against a struggling KT Rollster Bullets it is questionable how far into finals they will get seeing as they have not yet put up an exciting performance. However, being in the strongest region in the world it is hard to think they wouldn’t have an easier time against teams with less play time together. We will have to keep an eye on Najin White Shield and see if they can make a run for Worlds.

8. SK Telecom T1 S (1/1)

After their amazing run during OGN Masters, keeping the SKTelecom organization in the tournament in a few cases, SKT T1 S are coming in at number 8. Though they are in what seems to be a rather hard group with: Samsung White, CJ Frost, and Bigfile Miracle it is still questionable whether or not they will get out of groups. However, this is not to say they are still not one of the top teams in Korea. While this is going to be where many people start to disagree with my list, having them at 8 is the correct spot as if SKT T1 S were in any other group we would be saying they will easily be making finals and moving on. Coach Koma has even talked about how he is personally invested in SKT S and he will want to prove that his expertise can translate into wins. SKT T1 S has been extremely consistent and can easily make a giant splash in Champions Summer if they can improve their lane phase and keep an eye on their wild-card top laner in MaRin.

9. OMG (6/2)

Behind their All-Start support in Allen and their super-aggressive, dominating mid-laner in xiyang it is hard to think that OMG would not be one of the top contenders in LPL. With Gogoing, pomelo, and San rounding out the lineup, OMG are anxiously looking at making another good run at Worlds. After a stellar showing at All-Stars only losing to Cloud9 once and SKT T1 K overall, OMG seems to be in top form and playing well. It is OMG’s international experience that sets them higher in the rankings as they will, simply, be more comfortable fighting on the international stage. While there is some controversy around if Allen and San are truly back in form, it stands to reason that the international experience of the team will carry them to a deep finals run in LPL and a re-appearance at Worlds.

10. Alliance (12/2)

The story of “A Boy and his Bird”, Alliance come in at number 10 being the highest western team on the list. Alliance is dominating the European seen behind their team-captain Froggen and his amazing Anivia play, among other champions. Seeming to really be making the most of their very public coaching pickups including: Locodoco for a while, now, Araneae (formerly of Millennium), and the addition of 2 analysts; Alliance has shown poise and composure moving towards their 86% win rate in EU. Alliance seems positioned to easily win the EU LCS and make a good run during Worlds. The only downside is that Alliance has 0 international games played as a team, as they have only been together for 2 seasons. However, if they keep improving at the rate they are now Alliance will definitely be a force to be reckoned with.

11.  LMQ (9/5)
12.  Dignitas (9/5)
13.  Counter Logic Gaming (9/5)

In reality, the next three picks can be re-arranged as the reader wishes with LMQ, Dignitas, and CLG coming in at 11, 12 and 13. The top three NA teams have proved that: coaches, analysts, and rotations are the way to get wins and stay ahead of your region. While the biggest surprise here is Dignitas and it is questionable that LMQ and CLG might be getting “figured out” it is hard to discount any of these three teams as contenders for winning NA and making a good run at worlds. While NA has two weeks of no teams changing ranks it is shaping up to be the most competitive NA split ever and it is still anyone’s split to win. Even the 4^th and 5^th place Team Solo Mid and Cloud 9 are on the brink of breaking the region wide open and returning to the Worlds stage.

14. KT Rollster Arrows (1/1)

Falling the farthest in my list, KT Rollster Arrows come in at number 14, not looking as strong as they did in Champions Spring and splitting their only match with the Jin Air Stealth’s. While KT Arrows has the highest upside looking to fire back up the ranks with a win on Wednesday, currently, the Arrows look quite shaky and may not appear capable of making finals. With a solid showing against CJ Blaze and proving they can take care of business with a 2-0 victory over MKZ they could easily bounce back and make finals, but the slow start makes me weary of their Worlds chances.

15.  Jin Air Stealths (3/1)

Looking surprisingly strong the Jin Air Stealth’s come in at number 15 holding a 3-1 record in the group beating MKZ and tying with the early-favorite KT Rollster Arrows. It will need to be seen if they can take on the likes of CJ Blaze and see if they can make it out of group D, but beyond that their prospects for going to Worlds and taking on the likes of Samsung and SKT look very bleak. With the amount of communication problems and roster changes the Jin Air organization is facing, it is hard to say whether the Stealths and their sister team, Jin Air Falcons, will ever see the Worlds stage. Regardless, they are putting up a good fight and are trying their hardest to get some attention for the Jin Air organization.

16.  Edward Gaming (6/2)
17.  Team WE (6/2)
18.  Royal Club (6/2)

Edward Gaming, Team WE, and Royal Club can also be interchangeably placed at 16, 17 and 18^th places. All three of these top teams (and OMG) have been beating-up on each other and all are sitting at 6-2 records in LPL. While none of these teams has the recent international experience of OMG, any of the 4 top LPL teams is a good contender for Worlds. China has strong history of international competition with Royal Club taking 2^nd place overall at Season 3 Worlds. Each of the LPL teams will be looking to give another stellar performance and show they are the real kings of League of Legends.

19. Azubu Taipei Assassins (5/0)

Azubu Taipei Assassins comes in at number 19 being the top team in GPL and seeming to easily be the strongest team in their region. Again, with their recent international experience it is hard to think that anyone other than TPA will be the favorite to make Worlds for the GPL. While it is still to be seen how they will perform on an international level and on the back of their less-than-stellar performance at All-Stars, we will need to keep a close eye on how Taipei Assassins will do at the highest level. It is entirely possible that the Southeast Asian teams will shoot up the rankings as their League of Legends scene gets older but alas, the young region will face some struggles against the top teams in Korea, China, EU and NA.

20. SK Gaming (9/5)

Rounding out the top 20 we have SK gaming who are well off the pace of the dominating Alliance but still looking good in EU. SK has been putting up some solid performances but really struggles to get going in the early game. They will need to keep working with their coaches and analysis staff to see if they can figure out how to get better presence in lane and really make sure they know how to close out games before they can be looking at taking on the top-ranked Korean teams at Worlds.

While I know there will be a lot of backlash and the results of this will change later today/tomorrow I did as much research as I could on my own.  While it is hard, sometimes, to compare regions I feel like my choices are reasonable and justified and hope that you will remember the heart of this blog: The Fan’s Perspective.

With the upcoming super week for NA and EU and the knockout stage coming up for Korea and GPL it is going to get interesting fast. The world will be watching as the World Cup dies down and the League of Legends World Championship fires up! (Or at least, we hope so right?!?!) Keep watching, and keep supporting your favorite as this is just a small snapshot of what might be just around the horizon at Worlds. It is going to be the best year yet, and with the amount of coverage each of the regions, now, has of their performances teams will be better prepared than ever before. We are only half-way, but the last few weeks of the season will be the true test of each teams meddle. Again, it is a curse and a blessing: we’re only half way.