LoL: LEC 2022 Spring Split Power Ranking – Week Three Update

With the LEC back in action, ESTNN continues our look at how our teams stack up.

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Latest Update; Jan 23

The League of Legends European Championship (LEC) is back, and we’ve got a Power Rankings to maintain. Check-in with this list every week for our updated look at the league. We’ll be updating this list after every week of matches, with new insight based on the week before. But don’t worry, we’ll keep our week one prediction under each new update, so we can remain humble when someone makes us look stupid (probably Vitality).

Week one recaps – Day One, Two, Three

Week two recaps – Day One, Two

Week three recaps – Day One, Two

10 – Astralis

Original placement 8th – Non-mover from last week

We knew it was going to be a hard week for Astralis, and it was.  Astralis lost to both BDS and XL and continues to sit bottom of the LEC with 0-7. They face Vitality and SK next week, and it’s safe to say already that the SK game is a must-win. Astralis are only three weeks into the LEC and already look completely cut adrift from the rest.

What we said in pre-season

Astralis finished the 2021 Summer Split in joint-seventh place alongside Excel. Having added Kobbe and Dajor to the roster, it doesn’t appear to have moved on much from 2021 with both players likely to be side-grades at best. Look at a lot of the teams at the bottom end of the table, providing they’re building a roster it’s fine, if they’re just mearing looking to exist within the LEC, it’s less than ideal.

9 – SK Gaming

Original placement 10th – Non-mover from last week

A bad week for SK Gaming, failing to pick up a win in either match. The loss to BDS will hurt them even more, however, with CDS now moving away from them in the table. It’s only been two weeks, but it looks like SK, BDS, Astralis, and XL are going to be fighting it out for the bottom four spots.

What we said in pre-season

Someone has to come 10th in a Power Ranking, and while it could be one of three sides, SK Gaming was chosen. SK Gaming added Sertuss and Gilius joined the roster, while former jungler Treatz swapped to support for 2022. While Gilius has the experience, he left Schalke 04 after the side was purchased by Team BDS. Ultimately, SK Gaming doesn’t look like a roster that will challenge, and while they could end up placing higher than 10th, it’s unlikely they’ll challenge for anything in Spring.

8 – Excel Esports

 Original placement 9th – non-mover from last week

Coming into week three, Excel looked like a side who were on the way up, and their 1-1 week at least showed they’ve got potential. Excel will probably feel they should have gone 2-0, with a win against MAD looking possible. They picked up an expected win against Astralis, so for now they remain in 8th. Another 1-1 week or more, however, and Excel will move up.

What we said in pre-season

After failing with their goal of making playoffs in their first three years, Excel needs a new drive for 2022. Having retained four of its roster, adding just Finn in the top lane, Excel are at least looking to build on 2021. Sadly, they’ve retained a roster that ended 2021 outside the playoffs once again, while Finn is likely to be an upgrade, it could be yet another challenging LEC split for Excel Esports.

7 – Team BDS

Original placement 7th – Non-mover from last week

A crucial 2-0 week for BDS, saw them climb out of the lower places of the LEC and move up the table. It’s enough to keep them in 7th on our list, despite being joint in the LEC table with Excel. Both BDS and Excel face two matches against four of the best LEC sides, so wins in those would be a huge upset.

What we said in pre-season

Team BDS are the newest side to enter the LEC, buying the spot off FC Schalke 04. As a new side, BDS has decided to build an entirely fresh roster for 2022, and on paper, it looks like a good start. They’ve picked up the former G2 head coach GrabbZ, and added some new faces, three of whom hail from the side’s native France. Top laner Adam, jungler Cinkrof, mid laner Jaylink, ADC x Matty, and support LIMIT will lead the line for BDS in 2022. While BDS are unlikely to finish in the top three, they have a massive fan base, and their potential to be a success in the LEC is huge.

6 – Misfits

Original placement 6th – Mon-mover from last week

Misfits ended their week with a good win against MAD, sadly they lost on day one to G2 Esports. That said, Misfits put in a solid showing once again in the LEC, and they put their name in the mix. Vitality and SK are their opponents in week four and a 2-0 week would secure their credentials as a contender.

What we said in pre-season

It might be a case of “best-of-the-rest” for Misfits in 2022. Having lost Kobbe and Razork, they’ve added Mersa at support, with Neom rejoining in the ADC role, and Shlatan moving up from the academy roster. Sadly, the Misfits roster doesn’t scream quality, and even sixth might be generous.

5 – Team Vitality

Original placement 1st – Down 1 from last week

A 1-1 week for Vitality, picking a win against SK but a loss to Rogue. Vitality goes up against Misfits and Astralis next week, so they’ll be needing to pick up 2-0 if they intend to prove anyone that doubts them wrong. Currently sitting at 3-4, they’re joint-6th with three other sides, and they’ll be desperate to climb up the table and into the play-off contention.

What we said in pre-season

For Vitality, they’re the closest Europe has to a super team right now, and with it, they’ll be looking to win their first title. They’ve retained 2021 jungler Selfmade, and support Labrove, while adding top laner Alphari, mid-laner Perkz, and ADC Carzzy. While it might be too early to pin a favourite to the LEC title, you’d be mad not to consider Vitality as one of the favourites. With talent and experience across the roster, Vitality has gone from a sixth-placed side in 2021, to one of the most hyped rosters in League of Legends.

4 – G2 Esports

Original placement 4th – Up 1 from last week

Up one on last week, G2 Esports had a perfect week three. With that, we’ve moved G2 up one space, and with a series against Rogue on the second day it could be a massive week for G2. If they can beat Rogue, they’ll likely be the first to do it, and it would certainly put them in the race for the title. G2 has shown signs that the roster is gelling already, and if they can keep this up, their ceiling could be a lot higher than they are now.

What we said in pre-season

Having formed a “dream team” at the start of 2021, that roster has been ripped apart for 2022. G2 has made three new signings, with top lane Broken Blade, and bot lane duo Flakked (ADC), Targamas (Support). Just caPs and Jankos remain in the active roster. Mikyx will remain with G2 Esports as a sub, with no team looking to trigger his buyout. Now, the big worry for G2 is how well these new players can gel together, and how quickly they can do it. It’s certainly safe to say that, on paper, G2 are a weaker side than 2021, but that’s with the caveat that MAD has also been downgraded.

3 – MAD Lions

Original placement 2nd – Non-mover from last week

While a 1-1 week looks good on paper, MAD is quickly falling out of pace with the top two, which as of this week was a top one. They won against Excel, but lost to Misfits as they now close the gap. MAD face off against BDS and Fnatic next week, and given Fnatic’s struggle in week three, MAD should look to get a win against them. They still sit in 4th, though with Misfits now on joint-4th place with them, MAD needs to pick up wins.

What we said in pre-season

After a double title-winning year in 2021, MAD Lions are looking to build on that for 2022. Surprisingly for some, MAD replaced two of their double-title winning players as new mid laner Reeker, and ADC Unforgiven joined the roster. The pair replaced outgoing players Humanoid (now at Fnatic) and Carzzy (now at Vitality). It’s easy to look at MAD as favorites due to their performances in 2021, however, MAD has lost two of their best players to rival teams, so it might not be so simple this time. Plus, with the emergence of a new “super team”, MAD might face a new challenger to their throne.

2 – Fnatic

Original placement 3rd – Non-mover from last week

Fnatic needed to at least get a 1-1 last week, ideally, they wanted to beat Rogue. Sadly for Fnatic, they went 0-2 in week three, as G2 Esports has caught up to them within a week. Fnatic go up against MAD and Excel next week, which could be a tricky set of matches for them. They need to bounce back fast before they slip down the standings. For now, we’re keeping Fnatic in second place, but that could easily change next week depending on their results.

What we said in pre-season

It’s safe to say that Fnatic had a turbulent off-season/Worlds. Putting aside all the drama between players, and leadership fallouts, Fnatic has somehow managed to come into 2022 with a deadly-looking roster. With Upset and Hylissang staying (Nisqy has also remained as a sub) – Fnatic has added Wunder (former G2) in the top lane, Razork (former Misfits) jungler, and mid-laner Humanoid (MAD). Fnatic might not be favorites, but they’ll be up there with the best, providing they can work together as a team quickly.

1 – Rogue

Original placement 5th – Non-mover from last week

Well, it’s safe to say that Rogue has fully come online in the LEC. The team, often dubbed the Kings of the regular season, are now well ahead of the rest of the LEC. A victory against Fnatic made them the only unbeaten side in the LEC, and a victory against Vitality secured it. Rogue, just three weeks in, already looks like a side that can go unbeaten, with strong laners across the Rift they’re the team to beat.

What we said in pre-season

Having managed to finish the 2021 regular season in first place, it’s a weird 2022 for Rogue. Having lost Inspired and Hans sama, they’ve added Comp and Malrang to their roster. Crucially they’ve retained Odoamne, Larssen, and Trymbi, so the roster should at least be able to grow over the course of 2022. For now, we’ve put them in fifth place, but if the roster can gel fast, we might see Rogue challenge sooner rather than later.

Check back next week to see if we’ve got it right, or if someone else decides to have a 0-2 week and throw the list into chaos!

Source: https://estnn.com/lol-lec-2022-spring-split-power-ranking/