Three weeks into the 2023 LCS Summer season Cut up in North America, the League of Legends meta for the season forward is trying very set. Two prime lane champions specifically have emerged as heavy picks, so some groups are exploring choices to counter them—and Dignitas may need discovered the very resolution.
Within the 45 video games performed within the LCS Summer season Cut up thus far, solely 10 prime lane champions have been contested greater than as soon as, in response to League Fandom, with Ok’Sante and Renekton accounting for 45 p.c of these prime picks.
Of the 2, Ok’Sante is dominating the head-to-head matchup, whereas the majority of Renekton’s losses got here in opposition to the Delight of Nazumah. Solely Golden Guardian’s Licorice is yet to try his hand on Ok’Sante, with all 10 taking part in Renekton at the least as soon as.
It was an analogous story in Spring too, with Ok’Sante picked almost twice as often because the next-most-picked Sion. However groups are starting to department out and discover options to the dominant prime laner, and Dignitas’ Wealthy may need discovered the reply.
In his debut LCS season, Ex-Heroes of the Storm star Wealthy is taking Summoner’s Rift by storm with a myriad of prime lane picks. He has performed six different champions in 9 matches thus far, and whereas Ok’Sante has been one among his regulars, he’s begun exploring the likes of Poppy, Jax, and Quinn—with various levels of success.
It was his Illaoi sport in opposition to NRG on June 30 that caught the eye of friends and followers alike, proving there have been choices on the market that would brawl with Ok’Sante while additionally displaying off a substitute for the usual Illaoi construct.
In most matchups, you’d full your Iceborn Gauntlet Mythic merchandise then proceed to tier two boots and Black Cleaver. However as Wealthy demonstrated, going straight for the Black Cleaver allowed him to tear down Ok’Sante’s armor. The bonus motion pace from attacking additionally allowed the Illaoi to maintain inside hanging distance of the bruiser.
It’s best to make the most of the Black Cleaver rush when paired in opposition to related tanky League champs within the prime lane, notably melee opponents like Sion or Darius. With these champions needing to be inside melee vary to safe farm or hit again, Black Cleaver permits you as Illaoi to maintain up ought to they start to again out.
With Illaoi’s Take a look at of Spirit some of the efficient poke skills, and the enhancements given to you through Black Cleaver, most bruisers can not afford to stay inside vary of your tentacles for too lengthy, providing you with lane precedence. Ought to they teleport to the bottom to reset, press the assault on the constructions and punish the transfer by taking map management.
Wealthy then returned to selecting up boots and his Iceborn Gauntlet, earlier than buying a Stopwatch and instantly dashing a Gargoyle Stoneplate for the large energetic protect and magic resistance. Between the Stoneplate energetic, the Stopwatch, and the life gained from her Tentacle’s Slam, Illaoi has unbelievable maintain.
Within the late sport, it was all about positioning for Wealthy, who regarded for the proper Leap of Religion to counteract the burst harm he acquired from frontlining. Within the last struggle above, Santorin discovered the catch and imaginative and prescient for Wealthy to leap into the pack, who then slammed down a number of Tentacles and all however wiped NRG instantly.
Associated: 2023 LCS Summer Split: Scores, standings, and schedule
As Ok’Sante stays a prime decide amongst each skilled League and the ranked queue, Wealthy has offered one various choice to shut down the dominant champion however remember positioning is vital. And not using a prior Tentacle setup or a multi-hit Leap of Religion, there may be little maintain for Illaoi to remain alive in a bigger teamfight.
Wealthy and Dignitas return to the Rift for his or her subsequent LCS match in opposition to Evil Geniuses on July 5 as they push for a Summer season Cut up playoffs spot, and we’re certain to see a lot extra alternate champion picks from him because the season progresses.
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