Occupation? I won’t even hit a dog!

Members of the EDG and KT teams checked their peripherals and entered the custom room created by the official OB.

Meiko, Scout and Deft, old teammates, simply greeted each other, confirmed with the referee, and entered the Ban/Pick phase.

KT is on the blue side.

The first one to be banned was Akali.

"Akali is Tian Ge's unique signature. After the rework, Akali's operation requirements are very, very high. Few people can use her well. She has become the hero with the largest difference in win rate in different segments - Akali's win rate in the Korean server Master and above is 45%, and the win rate in all segments is only 33%."

"In the play-in stage, Akali was played six times in total, and only G2's top laner Wunder won the game with Akali. In that game, Wunder's performance was not particularly outstanding, and his KDA was the lowest in the team."

Ze Yuan made thorough preparations before the game, and he knew a series of statistics like the back of his hand: "EDG banned Tam in the support position. Mata picked Tam 11 times in the LCK Summer Season and twice in the Asia Challenge. The protection and transition support capabilities of using Tam cannot be ignored. Their self-banning of Tam in the first two group matches should be a smokescreen."

"That's right." Wang Duoduo agreed: "EDG is a team centered around the top laner, and KT is a team centered around the double Cs. The former must target the latter's protective heroes."

The second class.

KT gave Caitlyn to Piltover and seemed to be thinking of taking Xayah and Rakan.

Xayah's output ability in the current version is not as good as Kaisa's, but she has the integrated self-protection + counter-attack combo of R and E. If she chooses to equip Storm Blade and Cannon, she also has good combat power in mid-term team battles and is more suitable for fighting against EDG.

Simultaneously.

KT also made follow-up designs.

If EDG gives up a ban slot for Xia, KT will hold down Aatrox as the third ban.

EDG doesn't care about Irelia, KT can grab it first on the first floor.

EDG controls Irelia, forming a ban between Irelia and Aatrox. KT can then grab Galio first, and then take heroes of this version like Urgot and Kaisa depending on the situation.

Kaisa was taken away by EDG, so KT used Varus to fight in the opposite lane.

Xia Luo...

Limited by Meiko's mastery of Rakan, Iboy only used Xayah three times in the entire summer season. KT was not really afraid that EDG would grab Xayah and Rakan, a combination with little proficiency.

As for Xayah and Rakan, will they be EDG's hidden cards?
Yes, that would be great!
For weak teams, the group stage is about trying their best to fight for a chance to advance by surprise, but for LCK's No. 1 seed KT, the biggest significance of the group stage is to train their troops and understand the hero pool and tactical layout of their main opponents. If EDG really has a Xayah and Rakan hidden in secret, it would be much more comfortable to test it out now than to test it out in the finals.

Things like group stage rankings are important. Theoretically, it would be easier for the first in a group to be drawn into the second in another group, provided that - reaching the semi-finals would be considered a success.

It is not necessarily a bad thing for a team determined to win the championship to draw a strong team in advance.

"Ye Tian, ​​which hero do you think we should ban?"

"How about holding Xia down?"

Maokai didn't think too much about it, only considering the player ID: "Deft's win rate with Xayah in the summer season is 100%, which is worth targeting appropriately, especially since we can't get Caitlyn now."

"No need." Ye Tian gave a simple explanation: "Ban Xia in the first round of the group stage. She will be very passive later. Ban Gragas first."

The Gragas portrait appears in the banned seat in the lower right corner.

This is where things get interesting.

The reworked Aatrox and Irelia, the old powerful hero Galio and the recently developed Urgot, four heroes that are must-haves are all put out. Even if two of them are banned in the third game, there are still two to choose from. The confrontation in this game will definitely be very intense.

"KT banned Irelia on the third floor, and EDG banned Aatrox."

"On the first floor, KT goes for Galio first."

Su Xiaoyan read out the decisions of both sides: "KT was testing the waters by giving EDG the Xayah and Rakan combination to see if EDG would choose it... EDG first got Rakan and then Tristana."

It looks weird.

EDG has no problem taking down Xayah and Rakan.

Even if Xayah and Rakan's W's mutual bonus is nerfed and they drop from T0.5, the two heroes can still maintain the T1 rank when put together.

Taking the cannon, something is not right.

As a traditional crit AD, Tristana herself has been affected by the rework of Infinity Blade, and her output has been greatly weakened. Her combat capability of doing Storm Rider + Cannon is far inferior to that of Xayah. EDG's own style is fast attack in the early and mid-term, and they don't need Tristana's late-term range. The only reason is that Tristana's tower pushing speed under ideal conditions is no less than that of Miss Fortune.

Based on this analysis, KT should get a support that is suitable for confrontation, so as to prevent Tristana from having the space to push the line and touch the tower.

but.

If you think about it a little more, you will feel that EDG is deliberately luring KT to pick a confrontational support.

Because the support focuses on confrontation, its protection ability will be relatively weak, especially when KT has already got Galio and it is clear that Deft is the only output point. The best way for EDG to win the team is to get rid of Deft.

So, KT chose the two heroes, Alistar and Xia.

"Mata's guardian bull!"

Ze Yuan combined the location: "Let's see whether Mata's Lao Niu will live up to his name in Korea. EDG's third floor got the mechanical pioneer-Victor, which is really rare."

"Tristana + Viktor don't really fit EDG's style." Wang Duoduo has a deep impression of last year's EDG: "When Tian Ge came on the court, EDG always played fast attack. Does this year, EDG have to practice mid-to-late game?"

"Uh... maybe." Su Xiaoyan thought about it again and again, but still didn't utter the three words "not necessary".

EDG's fast break in the early and mid-game was extremely strong. Even the small IG, which claimed to never work overtime this season, could not compare to EDG with Ye Tian on the field.

When fast breaks alone are enough to defeat all opponents, EDG inexplicably started to practice late-game lineups, which inevitably gives people a feeling that they are not doing their job properly.

But speaking objectively, Viktor has sufficient AOE, and his R and E skills can penetrate the front wall, directly threatening Xia's safety. The hero's attributes can restrain KT's single-core lineup.

"Let's play fast break."

KT support Mata suggested: "If the game drags on until the late game, Xia will have no room to attack. We should ban the top laner and pick a more aggressive jungler."

"That makes sense." KT coach agreed.

The second round of banning.

KT held down Fiora and Shen.

EDG holds down Kindred and Scorpion.

On the fourth floor, EDG picked Taliyah. Seeing this, KT locked up Urgot and Xin Zhao.

The last hero attracted everyone's attention.

In the EDG team, the player who is most qualified to take the counter position is always the "Tiantiandai" level top laner. When Fiora was banned, everyone from the commentators to the audience and professional players on and off the field were looking forward to what Ye Tian would use to bully Urgot.

A few seconds later.

In the center of the big screen appeared a figure with scarlet eyes and a huge axe in hand...

"Sean?"

"Confirmed directly?"

Su Xiaoyan's voice was filled with surprise: "Why would EDG give Tian Ge a hero like Sion?"

"If you really want to practice late-game play, there's no need to use Sion." Wang Duoduo didn't understand: "Tian Ge's laning and split-pushing abilities are so strong that he can defeat Smeb head-on. Why should we limit Tian Ge's personal abilities?"

【? ? ? ? ? ? ? 】

[What is EDG doing? ]

[Why don't you let Tiange carry? Who can't play Sion? 】

[EDG doesn’t really think they are a strong team without Tian Ge, right? No way? 】

[I vomited. What a mysterious operation]

[If you like to stir up trouble, why not bring Mingkai up to play Lee Sin?]

Starch and the piglets couldn't bear it anymore.

The members of GSL and RNG were even more gloating, thinking that EDG had made an unprecedented stupid move.

however.

When the countdown jumped to the last 5 seconds, which was the moment when the official regulations required the heroes to be exchanged to the corresponding floors, the situation suddenly changed.

Sion was moved to the middle.

Viktor became a top lane hero.

"what?"

"Is it the top laner Victor?"

Ze Yuan suddenly realized: "Brother Tian is indeed Brother Tian, ​​his hero pool is unfathomable, and he even has a trick of using Viktor as a top laner... From the laning perspective, Viktor is indeed good at beating Urgot, and his role in team battles is also quite sufficient."

"It's true." Wang Duoduo simulated it in his mind: "Urgot is basically unable to fight back in front of Viktor, and EDG has a routine of switching lanes between the top and mid lanes. If Galio buys armor equipment first, he will be suppressed by Viktor and feel very uncomfortable." KT's position.

Seeing Viktor being switched to the top lane, Smeb, who was under pressure, looked a little gloomy.

The reason why mage heroes became so popular and occupied the living space of traditional AD for a time was that in addition to the rework of Infinity Blade, after the rune and talent systems were merged into one, the designers increased the attack power and armor of all heroes, but did not increase the magic resistance, which significantly improved the initial damage of mage heroes.

In the S7 season, the mid-lane mage switched to the top lane. In the first few levels, even if he used up all the blue, he would not be able to drain all the health of the melee top laner. If he was not careful, he would be chased and killed.

In the S8 season, if the mid-lane mage switches to the top lane, it will be easy for him to bully the melee top laner who does not have enough burst.

"It's okay, don't panic."

"Wait till I get on the road and help you catch it."

The veteran captain Score stepped forward to stabilize the morale of the troops: "In this game, all of you should watch me. Wherever I go, you should be ready to support me. As long as you arrive not too slowly, Taliyah will not be qualified to fight me. I have the upper hand. It will be easy to gank any lane with Galio."

"understand!"

"no problem!"

"Listen to Dongbin!"

The KT players echoed this.

When the countdown jumps to the last second, the screen switches to the loading interface.

Blue side: KT
Red square: EDG
Top Lane: Urgot vs Viktor

Jungle: Xin Zhao vs Taliyah
Mid: Galio vs Sion
AD: Xia vs. Tristana
Support: Lao Niu vs Luo

"From the lineup point of view, EDG is more comfortable."

Ze Yuan made an analysis: "With Viktor in the mid lane and Sion in the top lane, EDG's situation is rather awkward - Viktor can't do anything to Galio, let alone support Galio. But when Tian Ge uses Viktor in the top lane, I think it is easy to establish an advantage."

"It's easy to gain an advantage in the early stages, and the further you drag it on, the more advantageous it will be." Su Xiaoyan continued: "When Rock Sparrow uses his R to block the road, the AOE of Viktor's E and R skills can be maximized. Sion and Rakan's crowd control further strengthen Viktor's teamfighting ability."

"We need to be careful in the jungle, especially when Galio reaches level 6." Wang Duoduo prepared for the rainy day: "Xin Zhao is taking Galio to catch Taliyah in the jungle. It will be difficult for EDG to respond effectively, but we all know that Karsa is known as a radar jungler who can always accurately capture the opponent's position. I believe he can use this to avoid confrontation with Xin Zhao and prevent KT's mid and jungle from playing well."

While talking.

The camera turns to Summoner's Rift.

The summoner skills and keystone runes of ten heroes were presented to the audience.

"Brother Tian chose Sprint + Flash, and Kleptomancy as the keystone rune."

“It’s all about laning.”

Ze Yuan looked at the match: "Smeb felt a lot of pressure, with Flash + Teleport, and the keystone rune chose Swift Footwork that focuses on endurance, but no matter what Smeb brought, Tian Ge could steal it comfortably."

The other four points.

Jungle Xin Zhao and Taliyah both used Phase Charge, which shows that they had the same idea.

The mid-lane Galio is Aftershock, Sion is Arcane Comet, and their summoner skills are all Flash and Teleport.

In the bottom lane, KT's Xayah and Agni have Lethal Tempo and Aftershock respectively, while EDG's Tristana and Rakan have Power Attack and Guardian, AD has Flash + Heal, and the support has Flash + Ignite.

"Xiao Zhao, Tian Ye, you two should be careful."

"The other side should be ambushing."

Ye Tian bought the Corruption Potion and walked out of the fountain, heading for the triangle bush. On the way, he reminded his teammates: "Zhao Xin wants to fight, and he will definitely not let us figure out how he starts the game. KT's bottom lane will not help Zhao Xin jungle, so the probability of ambushing you is very high."

Iboy and Meiko followed suit and placed a ward in the river bush over the wall in advance. They turned around and circled around the blue buff area, creating the illusion of helping Taliyah to clear the jungle, and then headed towards the line step by step.

Iboy stood close to the river, and Meiko physically entered the bushes at the bottom of the Summoner's Rift.

The view suddenly brightened.

As expected, the two heroes, Lao Niu and Xia, were discovered.

Meiko and Lao Niu attacked each other, triggered each other's bone plating, and then pulled them out of the grass.

After Lao Niu used his W [Wild Charge] to push Tristana to the wall and attacked Tristana together with Xayah, Meiko went up and used his Q [Glimmering Feathers] at Xayah to gain delayed health recovery, while attacking Lao Niu and coming to Tristana.

【Glimmering Feathers】Send back a mouthful.

【Guardian】Add a shield.

The blood recovery and shield offset a large part of the damage. Iboy and Meiko's continuous movement towards the river forced Deft and Mata to consider whether they would be killed by Taliyah who appeared halfway if they chased forward. They did not dare to push the opponent too far, which resulted in Deft and Mata only being able to fight against a stronger combination at level 1 to a 50-50 result.

1 minutes 54 seconds.

While Deft was last-hitting, Meiko hid in the bush and used AQ to deal damage twice, restoring Iboy's health.

"Pretty!"

"As expected of an old teammate!"

Wang Duoduo praised: "Meiko knows Deft's habits very well and helped Iboy gain a status advantage... Lao Niu used W to rush up and forcibly trade Iboy's health, but he went too deep and attracted the hatred of the minions, and was killed by Iboy's [Explosion Spark]."

"One, two, three times, I forced Lao Niu to flash, and Xia's healing was also given out. This wave is very profitable!" Su Xiaoyan was cheered up.

There is no need to question EDG's top lane.

Using Sion as the mid laner isn’t too bad.

The only ones at risk are the bottom lane and the jungler.

In pure confrontation in the bottom lane, EDG was ahead by two summoner skills, and the early advantage was firmly in the hands of EDG.

but.

What was unexpected was that at 2 minutes and 16 seconds, which was the time when EDG's trinket eye inserted through the wall into the river grass disappeared, Zhao Xin rushed out from the flank with a spear!
"what?"

"No, how did Xin Zhao farm?"

Iboy and Meiko were both a little confused.

During the level one confrontation, Iboy and Meiko walked towards the river. In addition to making fake moves, they also wanted to test Xin Zhao's position - if Xin Zhao opened the red buff alone, Xayah and Lao Niu would most likely chase forward and surround Xin Zhao and Galio together.

Unthinkable.

The two old Yin Bs in KT's bottom lane didn't chase anyone at level 1, but deliberately sold out their broken butts and called Zhao Xin over!
Iboy was attacking Lao Niu in the front and was trapped in a desperate situation with no way to retreat. Even though Meiko tried hard to seduce him with his body, the KT duo and jungler ignored them and just focused on Iboy.

Xia Kai uses [Death Feather Robe] to increase her attack speed, and shoots out feathers as hard as steel.

Lao Niu waits for Xin Zhao to enter the skill range, uses W [Wild Charge] to push Iboy to the wall, and puts on Ignite. Xin Zhao follows up simultaneously, using EAQ to burst out three stages of damage, and cooperates with Xayah and Lao Niu's normal attacks to kill the healer and flash Tristana!

KT got the first blood.

The big and small Koreans at the scene responded with warm cheers.

"oops!"

Ze Yuan shouted, "Iboy is not calm. He used two death skills and the kill went to Xin Zhao. This will make Karsa's life in the jungle very difficult."

"EDG's bottom lane was a bit over the top." Wang Duoduo commented: "They gained the advantage and should have gone all out to get level 2. If Tristana had been level 2 just now, this gank could have been resolved naturally."

EDG player seats.

Iboy's face turned a little blue.

He used both skills in a fatal situation, which was a huge mistake. The troops still advanced towards KT's half. While Iboy had no flash or treatment, Zhao Xin could come to the bottom lane and take action at any time!

Ye Tian frowned slightly.

be cheated.

KT's old captain Score is famous for his stability, so much so that Ye Tian felt that Score would adopt a conventional style of play - hiding his starting position, looking for Taliyah to fight against, and bringing Galio to work after level 6.

Unexpectedly, Score, the guy with thick eyebrows and big eyes, also came up with an unconventional move.

It took Zhao Xin about 1 minute and 45 seconds to kill the red buff alone without using punishment. It took Score 2 minutes and 16 seconds to catch it, with a -second interval in between. This means that after Score got the red buff, he did not develop according to the normal process, but went into the river to wait for the Rift Scuttler to refresh. After killing the crab, he went to the bottom lane to do some work.

Compared to the experience lost by Taliyah... the first blood is enough to make up for it. Even if he can't get the first blood, Zhao Xin, who is a little behind in level and equipment, can also beat Taliyah.

Well handled.

not bad.

But don't rush.

There will be more fun things later. (End of this chapter)