CJ Entus: A Burning Kingdom
Riot·7/25/2014, 11:12:59 PM·0 votes·13,206 views
It isn't always easy being a fan of a League of Legends team. There are of course the good times -- the prolific victories, epic rivalries and if you're lucky, a chance to see your favorite team contend for the World Championship.
But with every team, there will come the bad -- tough stretches where you think they'll never win another game and the realization that the only way for them to improve is to see one of your favorite players leave the team.
The two CJ Entus teams, Blaze and Frost, have been two of the most popular and successful teams in Korea since their inception.
Frost made it to the finals of the World Championship in Season 2 as well as three OGN Champions finals. Madlife and Shy, through sheer fan support, have gone to the past two All-Star games, illustrating the immense devotion Frost fans have for their team.
Blaze, who were the inaugural winners of Champions, have an equally impressive resume as their brother team. They've made two OGN Champions finals and field Flame and Ambition, one of the most popular solo lane duos in the entire world. The team went on a 13 game win streak during the 2013 Champions Spring season, accomplishing one of the greatest runs in League of Legends history.
Neither team had ever failed to make the knockout rounds of Champions -- until now. Frost have been officially eliminated from making it into the Korean Qualifiers, and Blaze need a miracle to even have a shot at making the Korean Regional into Worlds. Their lackluster play in this season's Champions group stage have left CJ at a loss. They've fallen behind the times through stagnation and inability to change, both showcasing holes in their once unbreakable strategies and line-ups.
With Samsung's Galaxy in full force, SKT's Empire holding steady, and teams like NaJin White Shield and the KT Arrows improving at a rapid rate, is this the end for the Kingdom of Ice and Fire? It's time to ask the question every CJ fan wants to know: How do we get back?
The rest is history. BaeMe watched from the bench as Neo Blaze went on to win WCG, and never got a shot to play again for Blaze during the 2013-14 Champions Winter season. He was quietly removed from the roster the following season, and the question that we thought was answered lingered on. Who is the future of CJ Entus: Ambition or Flame?
Neo Blaze worked for a while. Daydream, the Jungler they brought in to cause more assertiveness in the early game, gave Blaze a new, less predictable style. Instead of always leaving Flame and Ambition the empty lane farm and looking toward the forty minute mark. They jumped out early on teams. They no longer needed the late game heroics from their two alpha star players.
But, like clockwork, Blaze fell back into their old habits. Daydream became nothing more than an extra hand for Flame to use, making him camp top lane instead of roaming early across the map. Their new ADC Emperor, who was their MVP during the WCG tournament, fell into an utility role behind Flame and Ambition. Their games lengthened in time, and before you knew it Blaze were back to feeding Flame empty lane farm and hoping Ambition became relevant in the late game.
Helios is gone. CptJack is gone. Lustboy is gone. Only two are left firm the team that had the historic thirteen game winning streak and made it to the Champions finals. They could bench Daydream, trade Emperor, or put all the blame on new recruit Gunza, but the answer to Blaze's problem comes down to one decision: Ambition or Flame?
It's easy to say a team consisting of Flame, KakAO, Faker, Imp, and Mata would never be beaten and win twelve straight Champions titles, but League doesn't always work that way. When you have four different guys on a team that excel in carrying a game, it is going to lead to players not utilized in their best roles and losing to a more well rounded team. While a star might be brighter, you need an Impact or Spirit, a player that does the dirty work and will put beside their ego to sacrifice the limelight and pretty stat lines to win. A team can have all the best players in the world, but if there is no synergy they will go nowhere.
For Blaze to truly have a chance at a rebirth, management needs to pick a side. Ambition and Flame are two of the most popular and hard working players in Korea, but one can't reach their potential ceiling if the other remains. Both are at their best when they can be a focal point of the team, given the go ahead to take most of the farm and take the No. 1 option position.
Ambition has taken the back seat the past few seasons, relenting to Flame, playing more utility champions like Orianna and Lulu and grouping with the other three members. Their former 1-3-1 strategy with both Ambition and Flame taking empty lane farm has become obsolete in today’s metagame.
With Blaze's chances at Worlds hanging by a thread and a long offseason staring them directly in the face, every other position on has been changed in the last year. The only solo lane duo not to change since Champions Winter 12-13, it might finally be time for change. The decision that will shape the future of CJ Entus Blaze has to be made this offseason:
Who would you rather build your team around -- Ambition or Flame?
Unlike Blaze, Frost doesn't have two players vying for a chance to be the hero. Shy, the All Star Top for Korea two seasons in a row will play anything or any style to help Frost win. Coco, while heavy on the aggression and usually the No. 1 option for Frost, can still play utility champions well in lane and take a backseat if need be. Their biggest problem is not knowing how to utilize one of their biggest strengths -- Madlife.
Woong, the former ADC of Frost, is rarely praised. His lasting image in League will unfortunately be him sheepishly looking behind his shoulder during the Season 2 World Championships, taking a peek at the map in their game against TSM. For all his shortcomings and bad press, Woong was a leader and one of the best eyes for talent. He was the last player to bring out the full potential in Madlife.
He and Madlife worked as a strong tandem and led Frost to countless titles and top finishes. Since his departure, Frost has been endlessly searching for someone to create a bottom lane that can let Madlife shine with his forward, playmaking style. Woong was never to the level of an Imp or Deft on his own, but the synergy between him and Madlife was world-class -- something Frost hasn't had since he left.
They brought in Hermes, a player with a high skill ceiling and good results in practice, but who had nerves during professional matches. His lackluster results in Champions left the team no choice but to move on. Frost would then promote their back-up ADC Space to the starting line-up, hoping he could transfer his skills that got him to the top of the Challenger ladder to the big stage.
It has been four straight seasons since Space was promoted, and we are still waiting for Space and Madlife to synergize into one of the stronger bot lanes in Korea. It isn't that Space is bad, and he might very well be the best mechanical ADC they've ever had, but just because a Carry is stronger mechanically doesn't mean a bot lane will flourish.
While it is unfair to blame all Frost's troubles on Space, it is unlikely you will see Frost bench or trade the most popular player in Korean League history with Madlife or Shy. That means, for better or for worse, the answer is finding a player that can match Madlife's play style and create a bot lane that other teams need to fear in lane.
Have Frost become too enamored with experience and building through a system that they've become stuck in the past? Solo queue has a wealth of talent, but Frost have only ever started two players that were true rookies: Shy and GankedByMom. Everyone else has been seasoned on a different team or been a substitute before climbing into the starting role. You will hear the cries for PraY, Madlife's partner during the 2013 All Stars tournament, but he fell off during his last few seasons and could possibly result in another Maknoon and Helios situation.
There are some interesting options like Paragon, BetKyo or even Core from BigFile Miracle, but with Frost's track record you'd expect a name you've seen before in Champions instead of a complete unknown.
It hasn't been easy to be a Frost fan for the past year. They’ve fallen from grace and been eliminated in the group stage. However even with their faults, there are still positives to build on. Coco has proven he is capable of being an ace player, and Swift and Shy work together well to get him into a carry position. If they could finally find a partner to go along with their God and bring him back to his former glory, Frost might return to it as well.
Neither team had ever failed to make the knockout rounds of Champions -- until now. Frost have been officially eliminated from making it into the Korean Qualifiers, and Blaze need a miracle to even have a shot at making the Korean Regional into Worlds. Their lackluster play in this season's Champions group stage have left CJ at a loss. They've fallen behind the times through stagnation and inability to change, both showcasing holes in their once unbreakable strategies and line-ups.
With Samsung's Galaxy in full force, SKT's Empire holding steady, and teams like NaJin White Shield and the KT Arrows improving at a rapid rate, is this the end for the Kingdom of Ice and Fire? It's time to ask the question every CJ fan wants to know: How do we get back?
Blaze: The Decision
The nickname "Neo Blaze" was supposed to represent change. When it was announced that Emperor and BaeMe signed with Blaze, I thought the golden days were ahead. They were two of the top amateur talents in the Challenger scene. The tough decision that had to be made was finally decided by management: Flame over Ambition. With BaeMe coming in to replace Ambition at Mid, "Neo Blaze" could finally move forward with Flame as the center piece. If you've never heard of BaeMe, that's because he only played for one night as a member of Blaze. The team beat a decent amateur squad in the first round of WCG Korea qualifiers, but were steamrolled in their next match against Frost, a team built around veterans against Blaze's untested rookies. Blaze fell into the wild card round, they decided to give Ambition possibly his last game as a starting player, and he didn't let the opportunity slip him by. He dominated the KT Bullets, a team that have been a thorn in Blaze's side since they formed. Ambition's stellar Nidalee and leadership led his team through the qualifiers and into the main WCG Korea tournament.
The rest is history. BaeMe watched from the bench as Neo Blaze went on to win WCG, and never got a shot to play again for Blaze during the 2013-14 Champions Winter season. He was quietly removed from the roster the following season, and the question that we thought was answered lingered on. Who is the future of CJ Entus: Ambition or Flame?
Neo Blaze worked for a while. Daydream, the Jungler they brought in to cause more assertiveness in the early game, gave Blaze a new, less predictable style. Instead of always leaving Flame and Ambition the empty lane farm and looking toward the forty minute mark. They jumped out early on teams. They no longer needed the late game heroics from their two alpha star players.
But, like clockwork, Blaze fell back into their old habits. Daydream became nothing more than an extra hand for Flame to use, making him camp top lane instead of roaming early across the map. Their new ADC Emperor, who was their MVP during the WCG tournament, fell into an utility role behind Flame and Ambition. Their games lengthened in time, and before you knew it Blaze were back to feeding Flame empty lane farm and hoping Ambition became relevant in the late game.
Helios is gone. CptJack is gone. Lustboy is gone. Only two are left firm the team that had the historic thirteen game winning streak and made it to the Champions finals. They could bench Daydream, trade Emperor, or put all the blame on new recruit Gunza, but the answer to Blaze's problem comes down to one decision: Ambition or Flame?
It's easy to say a team consisting of Flame, KakAO, Faker, Imp, and Mata would never be beaten and win twelve straight Champions titles, but League doesn't always work that way. When you have four different guys on a team that excel in carrying a game, it is going to lead to players not utilized in their best roles and losing to a more well rounded team. While a star might be brighter, you need an Impact or Spirit, a player that does the dirty work and will put beside their ego to sacrifice the limelight and pretty stat lines to win. A team can have all the best players in the world, but if there is no synergy they will go nowhere.
For Blaze to truly have a chance at a rebirth, management needs to pick a side. Ambition and Flame are two of the most popular and hard working players in Korea, but one can't reach their potential ceiling if the other remains. Both are at their best when they can be a focal point of the team, given the go ahead to take most of the farm and take the No. 1 option position.
Ambition has taken the back seat the past few seasons, relenting to Flame, playing more utility champions like Orianna and Lulu and grouping with the other three members. Their former 1-3-1 strategy with both Ambition and Flame taking empty lane farm has become obsolete in today’s metagame.
With Blaze's chances at Worlds hanging by a thread and a long offseason staring them directly in the face, every other position on has been changed in the last year. The only solo lane duo not to change since Champions Winter 12-13, it might finally be time for change. The decision that will shape the future of CJ Entus Blaze has to be made this offseason:
Who would you rather build your team around -- Ambition or Flame?
Frost: A Partner for God
Frost, a polar opposite to Blaze's picking up relative unknowns, prided themselves on veteran leadership. They brought in new members over the past few years, but relied on older talent to take them to the top. When faced with switching out RapidStar and CloudTemplar, Frost looked for experience and signed Helios and Maknoon, two players who had been playing professionally since Champions began. Maknoon nor Helios panned out, both leaving the team after an unsuccessful single season and making way for bigger change. Frost would eventually look for new talent, but poaching talent from Xenics Storm instead of solo queue like most teams. Replacing the two veterans with Coco and Swift, players with only a few seasons experience combined, Frost believed their aggressive, in your face style would lead them back to the promise land.
Unlike Blaze, Frost doesn't have two players vying for a chance to be the hero. Shy, the All Star Top for Korea two seasons in a row will play anything or any style to help Frost win. Coco, while heavy on the aggression and usually the No. 1 option for Frost, can still play utility champions well in lane and take a backseat if need be. Their biggest problem is not knowing how to utilize one of their biggest strengths -- Madlife.
Woong, the former ADC of Frost, is rarely praised. His lasting image in League will unfortunately be him sheepishly looking behind his shoulder during the Season 2 World Championships, taking a peek at the map in their game against TSM. For all his shortcomings and bad press, Woong was a leader and one of the best eyes for talent. He was the last player to bring out the full potential in Madlife.
He and Madlife worked as a strong tandem and led Frost to countless titles and top finishes. Since his departure, Frost has been endlessly searching for someone to create a bottom lane that can let Madlife shine with his forward, playmaking style. Woong was never to the level of an Imp or Deft on his own, but the synergy between him and Madlife was world-class -- something Frost hasn't had since he left.
They brought in Hermes, a player with a high skill ceiling and good results in practice, but who had nerves during professional matches. His lackluster results in Champions left the team no choice but to move on. Frost would then promote their back-up ADC Space to the starting line-up, hoping he could transfer his skills that got him to the top of the Challenger ladder to the big stage.
It has been four straight seasons since Space was promoted, and we are still waiting for Space and Madlife to synergize into one of the stronger bot lanes in Korea. It isn't that Space is bad, and he might very well be the best mechanical ADC they've ever had, but just because a Carry is stronger mechanically doesn't mean a bot lane will flourish.
While it is unfair to blame all Frost's troubles on Space, it is unlikely you will see Frost bench or trade the most popular player in Korean League history with Madlife or Shy. That means, for better or for worse, the answer is finding a player that can match Madlife's play style and create a bot lane that other teams need to fear in lane.
Have Frost become too enamored with experience and building through a system that they've become stuck in the past? Solo queue has a wealth of talent, but Frost have only ever started two players that were true rookies: Shy and GankedByMom. Everyone else has been seasoned on a different team or been a substitute before climbing into the starting role. You will hear the cries for PraY, Madlife's partner during the 2013 All Stars tournament, but he fell off during his last few seasons and could possibly result in another Maknoon and Helios situation.
There are some interesting options like Paragon, BetKyo or even Core from BigFile Miracle, but with Frost's track record you'd expect a name you've seen before in Champions instead of a complete unknown.
It hasn't been easy to be a Frost fan for the past year. They’ve fallen from grace and been eliminated in the group stage. However even with their faults, there are still positives to build on. Coco has proven he is capable of being an ace player, and Swift and Shy work together well to get him into a carry position. If they could finally find a partner to go along with their God and bring him back to his former glory, Frost might return to it as well.
