League of Legends: LEC Week 4 power rankings

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League of Legends. Courtesy of Riot Games. /

Two weekends without European League of Legends will have undoubtedly left fans desperate for some LEC action. Well, we’re in luck as G2, Fnatic, and the gang return to our screens this Friday! Here’s a look at the power rankings for Week 4:

North American fans may have enjoyed the break from schedule and entertainment provided by facing off against the best region in the world at Rift Rivals, but for Europe, defeating NA teams has simply become routine. Now, the top three LEC teams from Spring return to the higher quality competition and continue to fight for the all-important Worlds qualification places at the end of the season.

10 Excel Esports (0/6)

Unsurprisingly, the only team yet to put a win on the board sit in 10th place on the LEC power rankings. As it stands, Excel Esports look like the only team that have failed to improve after the Spring Split and look destined for a second successive split outside of the playoff places.

Not all hope is lost for the UK org though, as they showcased an excellent performance against Fnatic in Week 3, generating a 7k gold lead at 20 minutes and looking likely to secure their first win of the Summer. However, their lack of experience showed in the later stages as Fnatic were able to dispatch the 10th placed side despite the huge gold deficit.

It’s clear that Excel are the weakest team in the LEC at the moment but have shown small signs of improvement as the weeks have gone on. If they can maintain a consistent line-up and work on their late game shotcalling, then it will only be a matter of time before they start putting wins on the board.

9 Misfits Gaming (2/4)

Following a successful Week 2 with Kirei in the jungle, Misfits opted to ignore that starting roster for Week 3. Instead, Spring’s 8th place team reused Maxlore on Day 1, then LIDER on Day 2, losing both games and settling nicely into joint 7th. There is undoubtedly a tonne of star power and carry potential throughout this roster and its substitutes, but so far Misfits have failed to click in both Spring and so far in Summer.

Both losses in Week 3 were as a result of the same problem, Misfits’ inactivity in the early stages of the game. SK Gaming and Schalke 04 created opportunities in the first 15 minutes of the game and went ahead, while Misfits seemed to sit back and watch, unlike their Week 2 triumphs that revolved around the early game monster Kirei.

Ultimately Misfits aren’t in the worst position at present and could still easily turn it around to clinch a playoffs spot, but it could be argued that right now is not the time to sub in unproven academy talent and instead stick to a consistent five-man unit. Use what worked in victories against Rogue and Excel – early game proactivity and a strong mid lane 2v2 to get Hans Sama ahead and play around the bottom side of the map.

8 Rogue (2/4)

Excel Esports and Team Vitality. The only two teams Rogue have bested so far this split on the LEC stage. By no means does that make this new-look roster less impressive, but it at least allows us to manage expectations around the 10th placed team from Spring.

The mid-jungle duo of Inspired and Larssen had an explosive start to their debut split, but have slowed down since, much like the rest of the Rogue team. Facing off against Schalke 04 and a struggling Origen in Week 4 presents an opportunity for Rogue to stamp their authority on the teams around them and possibly climb into the top six. However its more likely that we’ll see the team linger around the bottom three for a little while longer.

7 Team Vitality (2/4)

Like buses, Vitality were waiting a long time for their first win of the Summer Split, then two came along at once. Week 3 Day 1 saw an easy victory against Excel Esports, then on Day 2 the Vitality roster unconvincingly took down 4th place SK Gaming.

Currently, VIT look like an accomplished early game team (when they’re not inting) but a clueless late game team. In order to put wins on the board and climb the table, they must continue to play around Mowgli early on, then work on their later game shotcalling. Week 4 offers the perfect opportunity to gain some ground on the teams around them as they face off against Misfits Gaming on Saturday, a must-win game if Vitality want to challenge for the playoffs at the end of the season.

6 Schalke 04 (3/3)

Schalke have been extremely impressive so far in the Summer Split and they cemented that fact with another clean victory against Misfits Gaming in Week 3. The German org have only missed out on a place in the top five of the LEC power rankings by virtue of their Week 1 loss to SK Gaming.

Otherwise, Schalke have been stellar performers in the LEC, and look likely to secure a place in the top six at the end of the season, potentially challenging for a place at the 2019 World Championship. W3D2’s Player of the Game performance from Abbedagge on Akali will have S04 fans itching with excitement as the rookie is finally showing signs of competing against the best mid laners in Europe in Schalke’s push for the top two.

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