League of Legends: How European teams have used unique drafts to succeed
By Shay Coleman
G2 Esports, New and Old.
While we all know Season 9 G2 Esports for causing chaos on the rift, Season 8 G2 Esports caused a little chaos of their own, particularly at Worlds 2018, and I’ll explain why.
At Worlds 2018, G2 Esports made a surprisingly deep run all the way to the semi-finals after they dumped tournament favorites Royal Never Give Up out in the quarter-finals. G2 showed why playing in the play-in stage of Worlds might have been beneficial to them.
Heimerdinger. “The Donger” was a big power-pick for G2 Esports in the play-in stage, but not in the top or mid lanes. In fact, G2 played Heimerdinger in the bottom lane, with former bot laner Petter “Hjarnan” Freyschuss employing the scientist Yordle.
Now you might be thinking, “Why not just ban it?”, and that’s exactly what teams did, but it doesn’t completely get rid of the problem. While you have taken Hjarnan off of Heimerdinger, you have given up a precious ban, and with Wadid playing the tournament of his life, mostly on Tahm Kench, and the sheer consistency and flexibility of the likes of Wunder, Jankos, and Perkz, it made draft-phase a nightmare for any opponent.
Season 9 G2 Esports is a whole other kettle of fish. They will literally play anything, no exceptions. They pioneered the use of Pyke top during the Mid Season Invitational 2019, not to mention the fact that every member of G2 Esports starting lineup has played Pyke at least once this season.
While not all of G2’s picks go without a hitch (*cough* Garen *cough*), they have been able to make the craziest picks work. They made Soraka top with smite work. They made a funnel comp in Season 9 work. These guys are without a doubt the single most inventive team we have ever seen in League of Legends.
This team is considered by many to be the favorites to hoist the Summoner’s Cup this year at Worlds, and that has a lot to do with their unrivaled flexibility in draft.