Panel: Zack “Rusty” Pye, Jake “Spawn” Tiberi, Indiana “Froskurinn” Black, Barento “Raz” Mohammed

The below list was created by averaging secret ballots from each of the panel members and then debating the final edit. It is the collective rankings of all of the above and not reflective of any one person.

Despite certain results, it is assumed that given 100 games to play between teams, the higher placed team would win a majority — hence a higher ranking.

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1. Edward Gaming | 8–0

Currently sitting undefeated at the top of the LPL, EDG have returned from their Spring Final failure to join the elite ranks of TSM and Flash Wolves as “perfect” kings of their domestic region. Any doubt that the premier LPL team had acclaimed after RNG defeated them was quickly forgotten in the two titans cross-conference clash, where EDG handedly smashed RNG in two games out their series; particularly off the back of Deft’s performance that included killing Uzi and Mata in a straight 2v2.

Even more astonishing is that in a meta dominated by control and presence of the top side of the map, EDG continue to carry from the marksmen position. The solo lane replacements in Scout and Mouse have only highlighted the core of EDG and their style of control through the Jungle that alleviates pressure on Deft and allows him to be prepped for teamfight dominance.

However, despite boasting the unrivaled talent of Deft, the team’s solo laners come under much scrutiny in comparison to the legacies of PawN and Koro1. But what the new solo laners lack in individual ability is circumvented by a clear-cut responsibility in the team dynamic. Scout doesn’t need the repertoire of PawN — instead, much like U from the 2014 EDG — Scout doesn’t carry teamfights, he controls them.

Although not as stable as Scout in performance, Mouse has diversified his champion pool and even stepped up to carry in impromptu moments. Projected as liabilities, the newest additions of EDG soundly prove that the organisations success isn’t dependent on talent but on execution, and they continue to execute better than their competition on and off the Rift.

2. Royal Never Gives Up | 7–1

RNG, in any iteration, are designed for Uzi.

Looper, criticised as sub-par outside his Teleport timings, finds most of his reputation and success dependent on those clutch cross-map plays to swing bottom. Xiaohu, newly adjusting to his identity as a map threat, has long been an established control mage player, even before the meta popularized the picks. MLXG, helmed by Mata, is at his best when working alongside the Samsung mastermind in deep bot-side skirmishes. And Mata, playmaking support that can turn any good partner into a great partner.

And we’ll see what he can do with a legendary one.

After a meteoric rise to the Mid-Season Invitational, RNG road back into the LPL in even better form by upgrading their Marksmen with the acquisition of Uzi over Wuxx. Armed with the two-times World Finalist, RNG wouldn’t have to adjust a thing — they seemed untouchable.

And then EDG smashed them in two out of their three games.

Where RNG falter is in their decision making on an individual level. Their strengths reliant on reactionary play or brute forcing advantages on the back of their superior roster. Against a more experienced opponent, RNG get outmaneuvered. The addition of Uzi to the roster has defined a clear point of power and attack, making MLXG’s jungle pathing obvious at times. Likewise, Uzi showed some self-absorbed tendencies in the Series, sticking to his coveted Caitlyn pick instead of branching out to the more utility based Ashe or Jhin.

This has since been absolved. What’s surprising is that Uzi doesn’t have to be the center of attention for his teams — since his 2015 run with OMG, the all-star Marksmen has executed on the shift to a role-player and acted on this again in RNG’s most recent series with him picking up Jhin for the first time. RNG will continue to threaten EDG’s throne, but need to start utilizing every facet of their talented roster.

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3. Team WE | 5–3

WE are kindly referenced as the “Elder Dragon team”, and it has nothing to do with any sort of reliance on the buff. Instead, it references their seemingly inability to close games before 35 minutes. What gets interesting, and why they sit so highly in the Power Rankings, is that this playstyle is intentional and not indicative of failed drafts or inherent weaknesses. WE simply know the intimacy of scaling compositions and how to consistently execute them in the late game.

They beat teams once, in a single punch where death timers can be maximised for abuse.

Early game victories are rare because pound-for-pound, WE don’t have the talent to compete with the elite of RNG and EDG in lanes. And if any fault can be applied to the team, it’s the suspect skill ceiling of the roster.

But WE’s practiced ability to minimise early loses and neutralise leads compensate for the roster’s hardships in lane and highlight their real genius. WE know where and what they’re good at: team-fighting, particularly off the back of 957 and Zero. And even then, it’s difficult to point to any standout on the roster, not because they lack talent, but because WE are the assembly of teamwork for results.

WE are truly the combined efforts of 5 B-Rate players to form an A-Grade team, but will sit behind their LPL counterparts until they can consistently diversify their win conditions.

4. Snake Esports | 5–3

On a good day, SS have the skill ceiling to easily outpace WE, especially under the early game pressure of SofM. Unfortunately, the young Jungler’s aggression acts as a double-edge sword and his inexperience has purposed questions about his ability to play from behind. SS are also limited by their mid laners effective champion pool, which seems to cripple the entire team — not surprising as the current meta places a reliance over mid/jungle control due to the increased importance of monster objectives like Dragon.

Unlike WE, who win through patience and preparation of a single, game-changing, moment, SS find victory in their arsenal of playmakers and setting a breakneck pace that the opposition struggles to keep up with. But it’s also this strength that punishes them as their over-eagerness can leave them exposed.

The roster is still new, considering both Martin and SofM have recently rotated to their starting positions, and the team may simply be shedding their skin before assuming the rightful position of 3rd.

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5. Game Talents | 5–3

A Frankenstein combination of two relegation teams have joined forces to create a solid gate-keeper to the mid tier section of the LPL. GT don’t particularly thrive in any one area, but like their potpourri of talent, accomplish everything to a serviceable level. The most surprising being their level-headed decisions late game that have decided victories over elite teams like WE.

Standouts on the roster include the stable GimGoon, peaking WuShaung, and playmaking Savoki. Republic and PentaQ can be upgraded by majority of the talent in the LPL, but share the only responsibility of executing on the plays the other three set up instead of being play makers themselves.

The defining reason of their placement on the list over the rest of the mid tier is the idea that GT can take games of the elite teams, but they’ll never rise without the consistency to not drop to teams beneath them.

6. Vici Gaming | 4–4

VG have a solid base in super-stars, DanDy and Easyhoon, in tandem with the role-player Loong, the top side of the map is a point of power for the cerebral team — it’s when looking bottom between the rotating XuanXuanPi and Endless that things begin detract from VG’s success.

Despite any argument for or against a rotating roster, the general consensus is that the identities of the exchanging players will somehow alter the playstyle of the team — something Easyhoon should be familiar with. The issue for VG is that they seemingly don’t understand the difference between their two marksmen.

XuanXuanPi has demonstrated the ability to hard carry through his Twitch play, while Endless seems more janitorial or utility based, but VG continue to show no favoritism or priority for specific champions in draft to either. Constantly having them play against their natural tendencies.

VG are fortunate that the meta plays to their natural strengths in control, but in a region dominated by team-fighting and carry marksmen, they struggle to keep up. They prove a clear understanding of their win conditions and are one the smarter teams in terms of map play and objective identification, but fail to consistently put themselves in positions to act upon their information.

7. I May | 5–3

If VG only have three performing members, then IM only have two: Road and Avoidless. Athena/Baeme are interchangeable control mage players, JinJiao is a utility marksmen (most played Sivir), and AmazingJ is at best entertaining and — at worst — a liability. It’s a toothless roster that relies heavily on snowball roam support from Jungle/Support to make any ground.

But this is also IM’s greatest strength: their clear cut win conditions.

Road is the absolute standout and his coveted Bard gives him all the tools to carry the passive JinJiao through lane and also empower his team with a massive, golden, go-button. In fact, IM are so reliant on Road that plenty of plays have dissolved in one swift missed skill shot, everyone else seemingly not trusted enough to take on the responsibility of initiation.

Ahead, IM lack the experience to accurately put themselves in the correct spot, but even or behind, they showcase a phenomenal scrappy fighting ability to pick off leads. In short, they close off the mid tier of the LPL due to the fact that they’ll always beat the teams below them, but don’t have enough tools like GT or VG to take down anyone above.

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8. NewBee | 3–5

Speaking of one-dimensional win conditions, NB are the worst offenders. Undoubtedly, Dade is a strict upgrade over Doinb in terms of individual performance, but not in a team dynamic for NB. With the loss of their Marksmen and Mid Laner, NB have sacrificed their only winning lanes and are now entirely dependent on late game 5v5. Unlike WE, they lack any early game bridge power — like Condi or Xiye — to get them there and instead fight every game from a gold defecit and simply brute force wins on their raw talent.

At the height of the rosters ability at IEM Cologne, NB (then QG) would circumvent their lacklustre lane phase by putting Swift on an early game power pick, and allow him to be that bridge through heavy ganking and pressure. Nowadays, Swift seems more invested in farming his own Jungle power rather than fighting uphill counter matchups in his lanes.

9. Invictus Gaming | 2–6

Let’s be real, we’re also surprised they made it this high.

And this low.

10. LGD Gaming | 3–5

With the return of PYL and the evening out of Punished and Eimy, LGD seemed to have staunched the bleeding. The same problems still exist with constant overextension of the side lanes and unstable Jungle support, but to a lesser extent. And more importantly, answers actually happen cross-map when LGD get punished in one of these lanes.

Outside the return of their reflexes, LGD still thrive in their ability to skirmish due to the high skill cap of their Korean players. It’s about the ability to balance who is participating, with emphasis on PYL, Imp, and Marin — making Teleport plays a crucial crux.

With Imp and Marin performing to expectations, LGD victory is dependent on two of the other three pieces showing up. With the continued improvement of Punished, and the renewal of PYL — LGD look to be on the rise and could scrape into playoffs for another miracle run.

11. Oh My God | 1–7

Despite a strong recent showing against EDG, the biggest issue for OMG still looms ahead: the roster. With Lovelin and Cool on the bench, the overwhelming fear is that Icon and JueJue will be rotated for another experiment, and OMG will continue to lose valuable time developing any synergy.

The secret formula has been discovered for OMG: time. But the team fails to give any one player enough to prove themselves.

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12. Saint | 0–8

Individually, this roster has plenty of hallmarks for success with experience and — at their career heights — mechanical talent. Unfortunately, the roster is either past its prime, or unable to work cohesively as a unit. The longer SAT can stay in standard lanes, the better their odds become, but they’re constantly manipulated on the map, or beaten down in one of their weaker positions: mid.

The two salvageable parts of the team appear to be Acron and Styz, but both seem limited in their effective champion pools — Styz especially with his reliance on Caitlyn — and teammates to work with.

It should be noted that this roster is the “youngest” in terms of time spent working together as the qualifying spot was won by Hyper Youth Gaming who not only rebranded, but completely gutted the roster. SAT have only been together for the duration of the current LPL Split.