LCS EU Week 3: MVPs and Top Plays

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Note: These aren't necessarily the top players statistically, but those who had the biggest impact for their team.

Top Lane

1ST: Mimer

Supa Hot Crew is a team which certainly struggled during the first two weeks of the LCS, but they finally found their form in Week 3, and Mimer was a big reason why. He played excellently, consistently winning lane and providing a strong tanky presence in teamfights.

While a lot of praise has been directed at the SHC bot-lane (and rightfully so), it is important to acknowledge the impact that a top-laner who is experienced enough to win lane at a top level and skilled enough to provide exactly what his team needs every fight – Mimer is both for SHC. He has clearly moved beyond his solo-queue habits and become a true team player, meaning that his second chance at the LCS is going much better than his first. His Mundo is one of the best in Europe, and his Shyvana was also excellent all weekend.

Picking up two wins surely means a lot to the Supa Hot Crew, and Mimer should be able to carry this momentum forward and continue his stellar play.

Stats:

Total Score: 5-1-12       KDA: 17        Average Cs: 305      Best Champion: Dr. Mundo

2nd: Fredy122

Much like Mimer, fredy122’s consistency is what makes him so valuable to SK Gaming, and a big reason why they were able to pick up a pair of wins. His Dr. Mundo is scary, and his Renekton can compete with the best in Europe.

3rd: Darien

Although his Mundo had 5 deaths, his late-game tankiness was instrumental in taking down the previously undefeated Fnatic, and his Trundle ran all over Alliance with smart roams.

Jungle

1ST: Cyanide

Occasionally overlooked but never completely forgotten, Cyanide deserves a lot of credit for what he does to help Fnatic win. He often sacrifices himself to win fights or save teammates, he goes without farm or gold to help snowball lanes, and he is the prince of Baron steals. The amount of work he can do without any items is staggering, and it must be said that his experience and quality of play are key factors for Fnatic’s impressive start to the season.

His Lee Sin versus Gambit and ROCCAT was dominant, snowballing lanes all across the map while his Olaf provided the disruption needed for xPeke to work his magic. Cyanide’s versatility and large champion pool make him hard to ban out, and his strong ganking and camping style lets Fnatic’s solo-laners shine.

Overall, Cyanide’s play during Week 3 was the kind of play people have come to expect from him: great ganks, strong objective control and brilliant team-fighting despite his low farm totals. It’s past time he gets a little recognition – Cyanide is jungle MVP for Week 3.

Stats:

Total Score: 11-10-29    KDA: 4       Average Cs: 103.6    Best Champion: Lee Sin

2nd: Svenskeren

SK wins when Sven does well seems to be a common theme throughout the season so far, and in both victories SK snagged this weekend Svenskeren was dominant. His Elise is a must ban and his Pantheon was strong, with great coordination with nRated and CandyPanda.

3rd: Impaler

Impaler has been receiving a lot of flak for his limited champion pool, but he was able to silence some criticsby pulling out a brilliant jungle Pantheon. Perhaps he has other surprises up his sleeve for next week.

Middle Lane

1ST: xPeke

While he struggled a bit during games against ROCCAT and Gambit, xPeke was still a force to be reckoned with this week. Especially versus the Copenhagen Wolves, he was instrumental in securing victory.

On Ziggs, he single handily stalled several Baron attempts and absolutely ripped the Wolves to pieces with well-placed Mega Inferno Bombs. He kept Fnatic afloat when they looked to be sinking, and capitalized one the Wolves’ risky Baron calls.

The thing about Fnatic is the ability of all their players to carry: when xPeke struggled against ROCCAT, Rekkles, Yellow and Cyanide were there to reel in the slack and allow xPeke to recover. Each and every member of the team responds to the call when they need to.

And that’s why Peke is this week’s MVP for mid: when Fnatic needed him to make the plays versus the Wolves, he did. He stalled out the Barons, secured kills, and made it look easy.

Stats: 

Total Score: 23-16-21    KDA: 2.75    Average Cs: 395.3     Best Champion: Ziggs 

2nd: Moopz

After a rough couple of weeks, Moopz really bounced back this week with strong play on Ziggs versus the Copenhagen Wolves and Gragas versus SK Gaming.

3rd: AlexIch

His Kha’Zix was beastly versus Alliance and his Zed shut down xPeke when Gambit played the undefeated Fnatic. What more could you ask for from one of Europe’s best?

Bot-Lane Duo

1ST: Mr Rallez and Migxa

Ladies and gentlemen, the kings of first blood! It seems as though every game, this bot-lane pairing manages to secure themselves a first blood, no gank required. How do they do it? Strong mechanics, great synergy and aggressive level 2 all-ins which work more often than not.

A lot of people have been praising the SHC bottom lane, and they are fully deserving of the praise they are receiving. Not only can they compete with the best Europe has to offer, they can win. Migxa’s champion pool is diverse, including Nami and Sona in the regular Thresh, Annie, Leona rotation. Mr. Rallez has proven he is one of the top Lucian players in the LCS, and the Purifier might even be considered as a ban with the incredible plays Rallez has been pulling off.

Their early laning, especially against ROCCAT, was as strong as it’s ever been, and I expect these two to only get better as time goes on. Their ability to dominate early lanes frees up Impaler to gank other elsewhere, which helps Moopz and Mimer gain a foothold.

Respect this duo – they will not only surprise you, but impress you.

Stats: 

Mr.RalleZ

Total Score: 12-4-14    KDA: 6.5    Average Cs: 309       Best Champion:  Caitlyn

Migxa

Total Score: 3-7-27     KDA: 4.2     Average Cs: 19         Best Champion: Sona

2nd: CandyPanda and nRated

CandyPanda continues to show that he’s a top level carry (especially on Vayne) and nRated’s Leona was excellent. Their communication and teamwork really seems to be developing with time, and the SK bottom lane looks really scary right now and in the future.

3rd: Rekkles and YelloWstAR

With Rekkles sitting comfortably on top of the KDA chart and Yellow not far behind, it’s impossible to deny the power of the Fnatic bot-lane. Even when facing down red-hot duos like ROCCAT’s Celevar and Vander, they are able to assert their strength and bully lanes into submission.

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Top Plays of the Week:

1) See Ya!: Genja Snipes xPeke

This play actually contains two great moments: first of all, xPeke on Fizz was able to perfectly time his Playful/Trickster to totally mitigate AlexIch’s Zed Death Mark and avoid going down in a tight scenario. Fortunately for Gambit and unfortunately for Fnatic, Genja’s Super Mega Death Rocket was perfectly placed, flying halfway across the map to smash into xPeke as he attempted to recall.

A great escape followed by an even better snipe makes this short but explosive moment a top play of the week.

(Click photo for VOD)

2) Breathe Your Last: The Copenhagen Wolves’ Wombo Combo

With the Supa Hot Crew pushing into their base, Unlimited on Annie managed to catch them in a poor rotation, landing a massive four man Tibbers stun, allowing CowTard to simultaneously launch them all into the air with a Yasuo Steel Tempest and combo with his Last Breath ultimate. The damage that followed was immense, with three members of the Crew dropping in the blink of an eye to the Wolves’ perfectly played wombo combo.

While it didn’t change the outcome of the game, this fight showed not only the power of Yasuo but of a well-organized and tenacious team like the Wolves – a 10k gold difference means nothing when a team synergises perfectly.

(Click photo for VOD)

3) The Deceivers: Jesiz and nRated Play Mind-games

A small moment but a brilliant one. With Mimer’s Shyvana hot on their tails, SK Jesiz and nRated pulled off a highlight reel mind-game. With their health dropping rapidly and escape seeming impossible, nRated and Jesiz split up right as Jesiz’s Leblanc passive was popped. Mimer decided to go for Jesiz, using everything to try and secure the kill. With nerves of steel despite the dragon chasing him down, Jesiz used the clone to fake-out Mimer and draw him away just far enough for to allow him to take nRated’s Thresh Lantern to safety.

This is a play much better seen for yourself – watch carefully or you might miss the deception.

(Click photo for VOD)