Hi Everyone!
LPL starts tomorrow so I thought I’d give you my 2 cents on how the rosters panned out in the off-season and how I reckon the rankings will pan out:
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#17 - LGD
Top: XiaoXu
Jungle: Meteor
Mid: xqw / Haichao
ADC: LPC
Sup: Jinjiao
- This probably has some of the most rookie/untested talent on one team: Xiaoxu up from RNG’s LDL team & xqw up from LGD’s. LPC has also played sparingly in the LPL on JDG so worth mentioning he’s still fresh in my eyes. Not the hottest prospects from the LDL either.
- Meteor is back which to me is the one shining light in this team; the Jungler who played alongside both Kingen & Zeka on BLG over the years who has finally come back after 3 splits off. It’s definitely going to be a hard carry from him due to the lack of standout roles on the team.
- This team’s lineup just pales in comparison to every other team so naturally I think it’s a developmental split/year for LGD.
#16 - Invictus Gaming
Top: YSKM / Neny
Jungle: GIDEON
Mid: Dove
ADC: Ahn
Sup: Wink
- This team is only above LGD due to having some established/more experienced names in key roles. Dove has come over from the LCK and from what I’ve heard he was kind of ok which doesn’t give me much faith in a league filled with great midlaners.
- GIDEON hasn’t had enough play time for me to be super excited about him either
- The bottom lane is concerning because they either int the 2v2 or go par for the course so no real big hope.
- Finally, YSKM (You should know me, such a sick name) has come over from the PCS from Frank Esports after being a GIGACHAD first pick Fiora/Camille player even before we got into this meta. He would pick these champs blind and just all in constantly, making him one of the most fun players in the region last year. I would say that this team has an amazing opportunity to play towards topside and build on the confidence that I hope YSKM will be bringing into the LPL; he is perfect for this region. We called him TheShy Juniour because he started in IG Young in the LDL and has just echoed that amazing way of life.
#15 - Team WE
Top: BiuBiu / Demon
Jungle: Heng
Mid: Shanks
ADC: Hope
Support: Iwandy
- While this team has obviously had a big upgrade with their bot lane roles, I think where the current meta stands will effect this team as BiuBiu was pretty sub par in the last year and Shanks is still not where I think he could be. They’ve brought Heng up from Young Miracles in the LDL (After 2 years being on the team) and Beishang is now nowhere to be found. It’s going to be hard to find strength in those solo lanes compared to the rest of the teams above them in this list with Heng being completely foreign to me.
- Having said that though, the strength of bot that should come out of the Worlds Semi Final ADC & the famous constantly-benched support of LNG could be a real strength. I just hope the rest of the map isn’t burning by the time Hope & Iwandy get to actually play. Here’s hoping this experienced bot lane gives strong direction to an otherwise meddling roster.
#14 - Ultra Prime
Top: Hery / Zs
Jungle: Ning
Mid: Qing
ADC: Doggo
Support: Baolan
- I think this has to be the most random team I’ve seen in the LPL in a long time; We literally have 2 World Champions returning together on the same team after a very very long break. On top of that, one of the better mids from FPX Blaze in the LDL has slotted in and just so happens to rhyme with his jungler. What is this team?
- On a more serious note, I have zero clue how this team will play but I can only imagine our focus will be mid/jungle, despite big names being bot as well. Qing’s champion pool works quite well with the current meta and Ning has always been a flashy player, whether for the right or wrong reasons. Also, Qing was on the LDL Champion team last split in FPX Blaze & is one of the best up and coming midlaners in the region.
- The reason that I’m putting them out of playoffs for Spring and towards the bottom is due to me being sus on Baolan & Ning’s quality of play returning to the LPL. I think Doggo also had a “ruff” time on BLG so I wonder how he will look transitioning to UP. Top doesn’t have much power to me either so it’s a wait and see roster with some very exciting potential come Summer if it all fits.
#13 - Anyone’s Legend
Top: Zdz
Jungle: Xiaohao
Mid: Pinz
ADC: Betty
Support: SwordArt
- Betty & SwordArt reunited YAY!As exciting as this is, I’m also really sad that QiuQiu is now gone after a ripper of a split they had in Summer. This team was so close to making playoffs & were just these crazy teamfighters out of nowhere. Betty & QiuQiu became a really hazardous duo in the 2v2 and it gave quite a lot of hope to AL fans that they could make their first playoffs. Due to a hard final schedule AL missed out by a single series so it’s a shame that the same roster couldn’t run it back to try and get it over the line this split.
- Yes SwordArt is still a support with a high ceiling and a massive voice (one that carred Suning to Worlds), but the dynamic on this team has changed quite a bit with Forge even leaving mid as well. While I’m still optimistic about this team getting close towards playoffs, I think it will reflect similarly to Suning where it takes the year to work SwordArt in with the roster and strengthen their dynamic. Especially with an LDL midlaner who has come from BLG Juniour and will have to settle into the league.
- Team with massive potential but with more questions since their previous roster started working so well, here’s hoping the new additions keep the bloodthirsty nature that was AL.
#12 - OMG
Top: Shanji / Munian
Jungle: Aki
Mid: Creme
ADC: Able
Sup: ppgod / Jerry
- This team hasn’t really changed much bar the addition of ppgod and Munian (plus Cold leaving after 8 years of playing in only OMG). However, I feel like the teams above them have made better additions and/or leveled up enough in Summer to believe in their progress over OMG in Spring.
- The Colour casters on the team have brought up issues like Creme being short of a champion pool & meta reliant, something I agree with whole heartedly.
- I think this team can be a bit flippy, Able can have insane performances and then galeforce forward into a whole team. Creme can 1v5 on Akali but then play the same champ and be mediocre. Aki might have a solid jungle game but then play Zed/Bel Veth and show us one of the worst games on record. You just don’t know with OMG.
- Shanji & ppgod are my biggest highlights with their Summer performances being the highlights of their team. They are how this team makes playoffs for Spring imo (but I’m pretty doubtful they’ll make playoffs at all).
#11 - Rare Atom
Top: Cube
Jungle: Leyan
Mid: Strive
ADC: Assum
Sup: bkr / Southwind
- This is a “hear me out” kind of situation with RA being over OMG and near playoffs for Spring. At first I would have put this team down in the bottom 4 but something that Aux reminded me of changed my mind. He made me remember the carrying that Assum did on that LGD roster last split and how he at times literally 1v5’d. With how iBoy played last year I’m happy we have an upgrade in the bot lane that will not burn the house of RA before they have a chance to fight.
- Topside is still solid and I honestly believe in Leyan & Cube with how the meta is going + their insane ceilings they’ve showed before.
- This is a riskier call because Support/Mid are my main concerns with this roster and I think are some of the weakest in their roles, let’s hope they fly straight!
#10 - ThunderTalk Gaming
Top: Hoya
Jungle: Beichuan
Mid: ucal
ADC: Huanfeng
Support: Xinliu / Yaoyao
- This is the highest I think I’ve ever had TT, ever. In Summer, they were actually so close to making it to playoffs from just the built up consistency coming out of ucal & Beichuan. I think it was telling that ucal finally found his stride and even Hoya showed us some cool moments. With this confidence from Summer you then add Huanfeng who despite being quiet over the last year and a bit, is still a top tier ADC in the right meta. Well, JHINS META BABY!
- The reason I’m confident that TT can make playoffs is the flat out consistency shown as well as the roster relatively staying the same. I love when teams build on the existing foundation and strengthen their core where it was at its weakest; botlane was definitely the right way to go in the off season. All we need now is Suning Huanfeng and Summer ucal and I think we have TT’s first every playoffs.
#9 - FPX
Top: Xiaolaohu / Fearness
Jungle: H4cker / haoye
Mid: Care
ADC: Lwx / Xingye
Support: Lele
- The more I look at the new FPX, the more I’m actually quite excited for the potential of this team. They’ve brought up 3 of the 2022 Summer LDL Champions from FPX Blaze in Haoye, Xingye & Lele. You now have some of the best up and coming players staying on the same team together so I expect some beautiful synergy to remain intact on this squad.
- I personally hope they stick to using haoye in the jungle as H4cker had a bit of a rough year, I think haoye is the better jungler at the moment by far.
- Overall you have a mid range team in terms of each role with the potential of Lwx who in the past was the core carry of FPX. I’m hoping now that Lele fills those shoes Hang left and the dynamic of FPX being a botside focus continues with how well it developed when Clid was on the squad.
#8 - NIP
Top: Rich / Invincible
Jungle: XLB
Mid: Dream
ADC: Photic
Support: Zhuo
- V5 have finally become NIP!!! Holy moly finally!
- In the off season however, they lost the players that made them iconic and almost pushed them to Worlds. I’m referring mainly to Rookie & ppgod but Karsa is gone as well.
- Without the strong stability in the mid lane I’m concerned about the power of the solo lanes in total, as Rich had a really rough Summer. Dream covering for Rookie at the start of Summer was a huge suprise with big victories against some of the best but he’s obviously not going to be on Rookie level just yet. Still, NIP are kept in playoffs because of this guys potential but also because of how well he synergised with the roster from the start.
- Losing ppgod as well was part of why that bot lane was able to handle some of the top tier botlanes so well. 2v2 kills constantly showing up with some sick outplays on their senna x tahm were some of the few moments that brought the triple P lads into a conversation about top bot lanes in the league. Photic now has Zhuo who hasnt played since 2022 Spring on TES.
- Overall, you’re looking at a much weaker NIP that doesn’t have its big father in the mid to rely on anymore. It will be a good look in this split to see if NIP can course correct with the massive changes that happened in the off season. It’s still a good roster, just not as good as it was.
#7 - LNG
Top: Zika
Jungle: Tarzan
Mid: Scout
ADC: LP
Sup: Hang
- This team is incredibly hard to place due to some insane standouts and some lingering question marks. Zika is the biggest one, coming over from IG with one of the biggest buyouts in the offseason. Now, I didn’t think this guy was that incredible but apparently LNG do so who am I to say otherwise?
- Tarzan and Scout playing together is something I’m really excited about this split. Scout is super Solid and I think Tarzan has a really good lane to play through. On top of that, Hang has joined the roster and has been a really fun roamer to watch in the past. This should be a beautiful 3 man that carried LNG to victories in Spring.
- Only concern is the value of their AD since LP made a short appearance last year and hasn’t really had his fill in the main league yet. Hangs direction will be great for him but outside of that I’m not sure what to expect
#6 - EDG
Top: Ale
Jungle: JieJie
Mid: Fofo / Fisher
ADC: Leave
Support: Meiko
- Losing Flandre and replacing him with Ale is a side grade so that doesn’t effect EDG being outside the top 4 imo, it’s the Scout & Viper loss that hurts them the most.
- Scout was such a solid player and honestly quite reliable for his early lanes/skirmishes, especially around end of season & playoffs. Fofo has been underwhelming as of late and had a really bad read on the meta in Spring especially. He’s a good laner (has been top tier in the past based on that too), but I’m thinking he will be outclassed by the better quality mids in the league.
- As for Viper, he was their late game win condition and just an overall teamfighting gun. One of the best AD’s in the league gone means that Leave had to stay (kek). This AD comes from EDG Youth who made it to the LDL Finals and honestly probably should have won the championship overall. He’s an aggressive teamfighter and does indeed feel like Viper fever at the best of times so here’s hoping he grows to become on of the best.
- It’s natural after losing two elites of the league that you don’t look like an MSI/Worlds Contender with what you see on the rest of this list.
#5 - RNG
Top: Breathe
Jungle: Wei
Mid: Angel / Tangyuan
ADC: Gala
Support: Bunny / Ming (STILL NEGOTIATING)
- Really important distinction to note with RNG: Ming is currently still negotiating his contract with the team and is not on the roster for the first game. He is apparently rumoured to be there after the lunar new year but who can say?
- With Ming being on the fence and Xiaohu gone I can easily put this team outside of the top 4, not only have they lost strong voices but the entire dynamic was based around the player that is definitely not coming back: Xiaohu.
- Xiaohu was RNG, the way they played in the early to mid was based around his presence in fog of war and his ability to impact side lanes with Wei. This being the meta it is as well hurts that idea considering the way it’s shaping up with Ryze, Kass etc moving back into the game. I think RNG may retain a strong position within the LPL but may not have that crystal clear gameplan that Xiaohu brought to the table. I expect RNG to fall to the Top 4 as they will have to develop with Angel/Tangyuan & a late arrival of Ming returning.
#4 - BLG
Top: Bin
Jungle: Xun / Can
Mid: Yagao
ADC: Elk
Support: On / Jwei
- The reason this team is above RNG is not just because they won Demacia Cup as well as making it to finals in the Weibo Cup, it’s because the dynamic works so well and the roster pieces make sense. Think about it: Bin requires an attentive jungler with a flexible mid laner. Xun is a carry jungler who played alongside TheShy at one point who understands volitile top laners well. He is also a brutal jungler who trys to push the advantage at every turn. Then comes Yagao who had the split of his life last Summer, the Yagao who is great at roaming and utilising semi globals on champs like TF, Galio and the like. It all makes sense to utilise Bin and control the topside of the map
- Don’t forget as well that Bin had the best performance out of anyone in BLG last split so having your start player uplifted even further is a recipe for success
- The only thing we’ve seen that has made me wonder has been Elk at points in Weibo Cup just randomly taking minion agro in lane or over pushing trades in the 2v2, it’s funny but also a concern for how he stands up to the other top tier AD’s in the league
- ON has improved a lot and I’m sure a lot of you have a sour taste in your mouth from his debut on Suning a couple of years ago. He’s definitely a lot better now and his recent play will make you feel a little more confident in how this team is coming together
#3 - Weibo Gaming
Top: TheShy
Jungle: Karsa / KennyChan
Mid: Xiaohu
ADC: Light
Support: Crisp
- This is where the rosters look giga stacked. Just take a gander at that lineup. You have some of the key players from other rosters coming over and making what I’d say is a GIGACHAD team. Crisp as a known voice from BLG, playing almost as well as Bin last split, then you have Xiaohu who WAS RNG and you mix it in with TheShy who is literally the raid boss of the top lane
- The biggest thing about this roster is how it all works together, much like BLG it has a very strong identity and a play pattern that I honestly think is the best in the league based purely on direction: TheShy is a known lane kingdom player, Karsa has been called a dog to his laners many many times and Xiaohu plays his sidelanes so well in the early stages that this just sets me up to highlight how this team can elevate TheShy. There is no doubt in my mind that they will be setting up this top lane to succeed and giving WBG a clear win con.
- The one thing people who watched WBG Cup will say is how this team are a bunch of crazy people flipping coins and while I partially agree I think you need to remember that in the LPL some of the best teams have been the same but have gone on to rig the coins in their favour. This team will continue to press and should honestly be aiming for MSI/Worlds this year if it all lines up (it better)
- Btw: MSI Champs in Karsa & Xiaohu reunite - I honestly believe that this could be their year and that Karsa will be back to playing like a god. He was jaded on that V5 Roster with some of the things I was hearing behind the scenes, this sounds like a fresh start back with his legendary mid.
#2 - Top Esports
Top: Wayward / Qingtian
Jungle: Tian
Mid: Rookie
ADC: Jackeylove
Support: Mark
- Im sure people could interchange TES and JDG but I think the difference in topside & support is what sealed this team to #2. How good is this team though, let’s be real. Rookie is scary as anything while we have kept the roster that made it to Worlds last year. Yes, it was a dissapointing worlds result but we know domestically this team still destroys almost everyone
- I’m even more hyped for this squad because Rookie is one of the best laners in the world and he’s always quite reliable. With his old IG brother in Jackeylove I think this team is going to be more lane focused then ever and possible a small rehash of IG 2018 in some way. I can’t wait to see this team brutalise the majority of the league >:D
#1 - JDG
Top: 369
Jungle: Kanavi
Mid: Knight / Lzq
ADC: Ruler
Support: Missing
- I cannot believe JDG got Ruler in from Gen.G in the offseason. It’s just insane the level of talent it has now added to an already stacked roster.
- JDG have also put in Knight over Yagao and while Yagao had an insane last split, I think it’s fair to mention the domestic consistency of someone like Knight. He is an overall upgrade however you want to frame it.
- Does this team have a top 2 in each role? Yes:369 probably the best toplaner in the leagueKanavi one of the best junglers in the leagueKnight top 2 Mid laner in the league most splitsRuler is a World Champion and has had an insane career so probably incoming Top 2/3Missing’s last year & split were superb and put him in a place for Top 2 Support after his performance
- Overall, this team has a purely stacked talent lineup that was impossible for me not to put as Number 1; This team should already be looking at MSI & Worlds with how BASED these players are.
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This really is the split of reunions with the whole of IG 2018 back in the LPL. How crazy is it that so many players have joined back up with the remainders banding together to create little mixes of strange lineups themselves. There’s some really cool stories going into 2023 and I hope you guys enjoy the ride!
Don’t forget to let me know how I went below, as well as what you’d change with your rankings >:D
We will have a couple of new faces on the LPL English broadcast so I hope the flavourful additions give you guys a nice intro back into competitive league. If anyone has any feedback or wants to reach out please just give me a bell over on my twitter HystericsCasts - want to make the broadcast as enjoyable as possible!
LPL Starts Saturday 14th at 3PM China Time | 7AM UK Time | 11PM on Thursday LA TimeSee you all then for another great season!
