LCK Power Rankings: 2022 Summer Split Week 6

Week 5 of the LCK Summer 2022 Split has just finished, marking the halfway point of the split. With the matches this week, all teams now at least have one win to their names. Each team has one direct rival contesting their spot in the standings, making the remaining games more important than ever. Here are the LCK Power Rankings for Week 6 of the 2022 Summer Split.

[Related: LCK Power Rankings: 2022 Summer Split Week 5]

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The Bottom Half

10.) Nongshim RedForce (2-9)
Last Week: 9 (-1)
0-2 Loss vs BRO; 0-2 Loss vs GEN

Nongshim RedForce look utterly defeated this week, going 0-2 once more for the third week in a row. Unable to get a lead in any of their four games, NS was never playing to win, only playing to not lose. And despite their best efforts, NS lost anyways, with no proactivity in the map or efforts to make plays that can put them back in the game. NS still sits at eighth place in the standings, one win over BRO and HLE, but share no redeeming qualities from their contemporaries. They now fall to the bottom spot of the LCK Summer 2022 Power Rankings for the first time this split.

9.) Fredit Brion (1-9)
Last Week: 10 (+1)
2-0 Win vs NS; 0-2 loss vs DK

BRO got their first win against NS, and in a clean, execute-heavy fashion. Early leads translated to snowballs in both games, as they found their advantages and constantly acted on it. Even though BRO lost to DK, they showed major signs of life in their early game proactivity and willingness to fight. Game 1 even opened with one kill and two drakes in their favor, before DK took over the map and match. BRO found their footing, but now it comes down to see if they can keep themselves propped up.

8.) Hanwha Life Esports (1-9)
Last Week: 8 (0)
1-2 Loss vs T1; 0-2 Loss vs HLE

HLE, although dropping both of their matches this week, continue to be the only bottom tier team to consistently take games off of the top. Not only did they continue to supplement their early game with first bloods against T1, but they took another game off the giants. Although HLE still gets strung wide by their weak map control leading to bad midgame fights, they know their limits and fight accordingly to their strengths. It’s just a struggle to find more favorable fights for HLE, then they will climb.

7.) Kwangdong Freecs (4-6)
Last Week: 6 (-1)
0-2 Loss vs DK; 0-2 Loss vs KT

KDF found themselves completely flipped in terms of success and game plan last week. What was a strength of dragon stacking and objective clearing became an exposed weakness. Both DK and KT shut down KDF’s win condition, leaving them without a solid backup to fall on and exposing just how fragile KDF’s spirit is. Against DK, they scored zero kills in Game 1 and two dragons, and only 4 kills in Game 2 with no dragons. With KDF’s future schedule against T1 and LSB, they will have to readjust or risk falling lower and lower.

6.) KT Rolster (5-5)
Last Week: 7 (+1)
2-1 Win vs DRX; 2-0 Win vs KDF

KT earn their first 2-0 week this split, and in convincing fashion. Their victory over KDF showed study over their opponents in controlling the dragons and other objectives to steer the win. Against DRX, they matched the tempo and aggression set at their feet, constantly angling for player picks and objective steals. Each kill that DRX got, KT mirrored, and earned more with each trade. These qualities show a level of preparation and adaptation before and during the matches, and bodes well for KT to finally break into the top half of the table.

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The top of the Pack

5.) DRX (5-5)
Last Week: 4 (-1)
1-2 Loss vs KT; 0-2 Loss vs T1

DRX finds their own playstyle of grinding out games at their own macro and pace to be struggling as teams learn to play against them. DRX consistently finds themselves making leads out of fantastic early games, but struggle to break the base and put pressure on their opponents, leading to choked up team fights. This story held true for each and every loss they suffered this week, all owed to disappointing late game decisions and losses. DRX has the die cast at their feet with their 5-5 record, and must clean up their acts to stay in the top five.

4.) DAMWON Gaming (7-3)
Last Week: 4 (+1)
2-0 Win vs KDF; 2-0 Win vs BRO

DK pulled themselves up with two more clean wins to get a clean sweep for the week. Never losing the lead once in any of their matches, DK played to their lanes and extended their plans from there. Against BRO, smart draft picks like Taliyah Mid and Sejuani Top drove the pace of the game, giving objective control and the lead. DK then effectively shut out KDF with aggressive map crunches and smart disengages, never giving up anything for free without disproportionate retribution. DK maintain their spot at the top of the LCK Summer 2022 Split Power Rankings, but stay as the gatekeepers, still lacking wins over the top two.

3.) Liiv SANDBOX (7-3)
Last Week: 3 (0)
0-2 Loss vs GEN; 2-0 Win vs HLE

LSB continued to push their blazing fast pace and tried some new strategies and game plans, specifically in breaking the base against HLE. Winning with total control of the map and its resources seemed to be their idea, but it fell flat against GEN, who shut them out completely. Game 1 went in total control without LSB able to claim more than one kill, while Game 2 fell due to a desperation Baron call. Despite the loss, LSB continue to try and innovate in their play, even holding it close against the top of the league.

2.) T1 (7-1)
Last Week: 2 (-1)
2-1 Win vs HLE; 2-0 Win vs DRX

T1 still won both of their games this week, but found some cramps against HLE, showcasing potential weaknesses. Desync in crucial objective fights and lane picks left them losing one game, despite taking the series. T1 still showcased their total dominance against DRX however, effectively shutting them out and choking the map of all of its resources without a single struggle. With a notice on their individual calls on engagements, T1 should be able to patch the dent in their armor for the weeks ahead.

1.) Gen.G (9-1)
Last Week: 1 (+1)
2-0 Win vs LSB; 2-0 Win vs NS

Gen.G take back the number one spot in the LCK Summer 2022 Split Power Rankings with the fastest game of the season at 19:35. Not only was this against LSB, but a complete stomping with only one kill given away to their opposition. All players of GEN consistently play their roles to near-perfection, and never seem out of sync with each other. No teams have found any answers to GEN’s tight laning phase or their team fight strategies, and it clearly shows. GEN sit solidly at the top of the table, a clear tier above more than half of the league.

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