MSI Power Rankings

Riot·May 5, 2015·2 votes·62,352 views

Of the elite teams in the world, who is the best? It's this question we will see answered over the next week as the No. 1 teams from each major region, along with the winner of IWCI, will compete in the Mid-Season Invitational. We've shown you what you can expect from the event in our event primer, but how will the teams match up against one another? Each team displayed regional domination, but in premier international competition, who has the inside track for taking the tournament? Who will win the Mid-Season Invitational? Read on for our take...

1) SKTelecom T1

While SKT started 2015 on shaky ground, they have since become the most complete team in the world. After placing second in the LCK regular season, SKT was able to defeat CJ Entus 3-2 in the Semifinals and then 3-0 GE Tigers in the Final to win Champions and advance to MSI.

In the past, SKT has lived and died by Sang-hyeok "Faker" Lee, but in the final against GE, he didn't play a single game. Instead it was Ji-hoon "Easyhoon" Lee and his Cassiopeia play that completely dominated and carried games. The team is also benefiting from a massive improvement at both ADC and Jungle. Veteran jungler Seong-ung "Bengi" Bae has adapted to the Cinderhulk changes faster than most other Korean junglers, and new jungler Jae-hyeon "Tom" Im and veteran AD Jun-sik "Bang" Bae have greatly augmented the team's snowball and carry potential.

2) Edward Gaming

Edward Gaming looked like the best team in the world after GE Tigers lost at IEM Katowice. However, in the wake of SKT's dominance in Korea, we have to give SKT the nod. While EDG almost had a misstep of their own against Team WE in the Quarterfinals, it was without star mid laner Won-seok "Pawn" Heo. It took another herculean effort by LPL Spring Split MVP Hyuk-kyu "Deft" Kim to win EDG the championship, narrowly defeating LGD in five well-played games.

At MSI, EDG matches up fairly well against its international competition. They have great team-fighting and objective control, as well as hard carries from every lane. If they have a weakness, it's their early game. If SKT or others hope to beat EDG, they'll need to come out of laning phase ahead to keep EDG from rebounding in the mid game.

3) Team SoloMid

Despite winning the IEM World Championship, TSM still has to prove its prowess against a first-class international team. After all, TSM went relatively unchallenged in the NA LCS Playoffs, handily defeating its closest competition -- Team Impulse and Cloud9 -- in 3-1 routs.

TSM doesn't have many weaknesses to exploit, though their strengths are fewer than EDG. For instance, Marcus "Dyrus" Hill hasn't shown the ability to carry a game by himself -- granted so far he hasn't had to. If teams are able to shut down Soren "Bjergsen" Bjerg in the early game, it would then fall to Lustboy and Jason "WildTurtle" Tran to make plays in the mid game.

4) Fnatic

While Fnatic didn't have the strongest split, they came through when it mattered most. Fnatic is the most tested team coming out of their Playoffs, after going the distance against H2K and Unicorns of Love in full Best of 5s. Though they have a lack of international experience across their roster, veteran support Bora "Yellowstar" Kim can be the rock to weather the storm of nerves.

Fnatic is very similar to TSM in that two of their players, in this case Seung-hoon "Huni" Heo and Fabian "Febiven" Diepstraten, are capable of winning the game by themselves. However, at this event, despite being among the elite mid laners in the world, Febiven finds himself outclassed. Among a lineup that consists of Shu-Wei "Westdoor" Liu, Bjergsen, Pawn, and Faker, Fnatic's innate advantages that come from Febiven's lane dominance might be absent. Yellowstar and Yeu-jin "Reignover" Kim will both have to step up huge to ensure Fnatic make the Bracket Stage or the Final.

5) ahq e-sports Club

Of all the teams at MSI, ahq seemed the least likely to get here. After finishing fourth in the LMS regular season, ahq had to weather the entire LMS gauntlet. In their run they defeated Hong Kong Esports 3-0, Taipei Assassins 3-0, and yoe Flash Wolves 3-1. It is one of the more astonishing playoff runs we've seen, and they did it with a new roster.

Much of ahq's success has revolved around mid laner Westdoor. But in the past, the solution was simply to ban him out, something that's no longer possible. In addition, ADC Chun-An "An" Chou stepped up hugely in the playoffs, largely because of the supportive and defensive playstyle of new jungler Zhao-Hong "Mountain" Xue and Chia-Wei "Albis" Kang. If ahq succeeds, it is because their teamwork is firing on all cylinders and they are able to come together as a unit.

6) Beşiktaş

At the beginning of IWCI, there were only two front runners for the spot to MSI -- Beşiktaş and INTZ. Despite slow starts in the Group Stage, it was these two teams in the final. In front of the home Turkish crowd, Beşiktaş won out over INTZ 3-1 to win IWCI and advance to MSI. Now that they are no longer a big fish in a small pond, Beşiktaş has a lot of work to do.

Mid laner Isak "Energy" Pettersen Fjell was key to their success, making aggressive engages on Ahri throughout the Group Stage and Playoffs. If he is able to set the tone early for the team, and take pressure off the rest of the map, it might give Beşiktaş the breathing room they need. On the bot side, support Mustafa Kemeal "Dumbledoge" Gokseloglu needs to get Tomas "Nardeus" Marsalek ahead or they'll find themselves far behind very quickly. What do you all think? Which team will prove their region's supremacy at the Mid-Season Invitational? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, and make sure to tune into the start of the MSI Group Stage, May 7 right here on lolesports.com. Frank Fields is a Senior Editor for Riot Games' Esports Web Content team. You'll find him joining the Glorious Evolution in Diamond... or on Twitter where he'd love to talk to you about esports.

MSI event primer

217 Comments

ShadowLord300May 5, 201551 votes

I honestly think that Fnatic will beat TSM. Huni will beat Dyrus top no matter what champion he plays, and Febiven will be able to hold his own against Bjergson(Who is the best mid in the west). I think the bot lanes are equal, both have mediocre ADCs who are carried by their supports. The only way Fnatic loses is if Santorin is able to out pressure the lanes early, which is a real possibility. However, so much of the TSM strategy revolves around Bjergson doing well, and i dont see him beating Febiven in lane without considerable help from Santorin. (Which will allow Huni to snowball out of control.)

SAFFATLOLMay 5, 201510 votes

I think still think Turtle is better than Steeelback in lane and has better positioning in team-fights overall, plus I think TSM have better objective control and control tempo better, but Fnatic could turn it into a constant brawl match and win by gaining a gold lead that way. Regardless I think it will be close until somebody makes an unforgivable mistake late on

PoochineMay 5, 20157 votes

Turtle is better than Steeelback, no question. Lustboy may be the better player of the two, but I don't understand how someone could watch both Steeelback and WT this split and think they're the same. WT's biggest weakness has always been team fight positioning but he's improved immensely. No one has ever questioned his mechanical ability, which has always been near the best of NA ADCs (IMO). His decision-making and positioning improving have a good part to do with why TSM is so strong right now too.

EyepatchouliMay 5, 20154 votes

WildTurtle Mechanical

choose :^)

TSM B0B R0SSMay 6, 20157 votes

You must be new here... WildTurtle's mechanics are top-notch. It's his decision making that usually screws him over (and recently he's been a lot smarter).

MasalarMay 5, 201569 votes

I disagree. You're trying to make it all about lane match-ups, but professional LoL is much more than that now. Fnatic is a very sloppy team. They're all really good players, but they make a lot of mistakes on a map wide level (and even on an individual level). This makes for some fantastic games to watch...but the better the teams they go against, the more these mistakes will be punished. TSM doesn't make many mistakes. I think that, even if TSM loses in the lane phase, they continually outplay Fnatic on a map wide level, and thus win the game.

God, I never thought the day would come that I would defend TSM...

SquollaMay 5, 201521 votes

Totally agree. I also think that TSM has a way better early game and should come out on top if they just lane swap.

AcuMay 5, 201524 votes

I lost it when you said "TSM doesn't make many mistakes." We all know that's bullshit. The thing is, in NA, there aren't any good teams to punish TSM for some of the poor individual play and in some cases in team fights.

MasalarMay 5, 201536 votes

I can easily revamp my statement a little, if it will appease you. While I hold that TSM doesn't make many mistakes, I am ok changing it to "TSM doesn't make many mistakes...in comparison to Fnatic."

Divinicus1stMay 6, 20157 votes

The only games from Fnatic you watched were those against UOL right? Because if you compare those games, might as well compare it to TSM vs UOL, would be appropriate.

MasalarMay 6, 201513 votes

I watched most of the EU games, and the Fnatic vs UoL was just the most obvious example (and was also fresh in my mind as I actually rewatched the week 8 (or was it 7?) game last night).

iiiDystopiaMay 5, 201517 votes

EU sucks, stay mad XD

MasalarMay 6, 201514 votes

I don't think EU sucks (even if they do make many mistakes), and actually, the fact that they make more mistakes makes for, in my opinion, a more exciting viewing experience. My friend was lauding the, I think it was SKT vs GE game 4. SKT Semis game 4. And that was, indeed, probably the most impressive game I've ever seen, from a technical level. But it was boring. UoL Vs Fnatic was a sloppy mess of a game. But it was SO MUCH FUN to watch.

As a viewer, I'd honestly rather watch the EU style play over the other regions's...but I also know that the other regions are much more likely to beat EU because of the very things that make them fun to watch. :-/

BoinksMay 6, 20153 votes

The real tipping point in TSM vs Fnatic will be if TSM decides to actually help Dyrus for once.. If Huni gets going in top lane we've seen what happens. He will carry those matches. The ball is in TSM's court whether or not they're going to ensure Dyrus gets the help he'll need to hold off the non stop ganks coming his way.

MasalarMay 6, 20158 votes

Maybe. Huni can indeed carry from the top lane, but part of that is that, once he gets going, he shuts down the other top laner...and that just doesn't happen with Dyrus (Most of the time). So it will be interesting to see if Huni DOES get ahead, is that enough to carry if he doesn't ALSO stop his opponent? I'm excited.

bleeditroughMay 6, 20153 votes

I like the way you explain these match ups. it makes me more hyped for the matches

I JUST CANT WAIT

RedBravoRubenMay 7, 20152 votes

Hehe Dyrus isnt snowballed because look at the NA top laners. They all bad with like 2 other top laners being okay.

MasalarMay 7, 20153 votes

Not sure I follow. You're saying Dyrus doesn't snowball because all the other top laners are bad? Doesn't that mean Dyrus WOULD snowball, since they're bad?

I think there are 2 reasons Dyrus doesn't snowball. 1: He doesn't play snowbally champs. And this because 2: That's not the role he plays on the team. He picks solid, support/cc heavy/tank champs so that Bjergson and Turtle have what they need to suceed. He's also frequently allowed to get camped so that Santorin can focus his efforts on, again, Bjerg and Turtle.

The fact that Dyrus is able to be camped and still keep even in gold is an astounding talent, and one that lets them do this playstyle and have it work.

SalrusMay 6, 20155 votes

I don't think people understand that TSM WANTS Dyrus to get camped, and if he loses lane so be it. He maybe one of the best at playing from behind currently in the LCS and so they let him draw attention top lane and pressure other lanes and objectives. It sucks for Dyrus, but its a fantastic strategy overall because teams know that if they ignore Dyrus and just let top laners farm, he tends to out CS and is a great team fighter.

Heatblazer413May 7, 20153 votes

Thing is the leaving Cyrus alone on an island is good for TSM because dyrus while does get caught out, he offers tons of pressure and if the jungler just Ganks dyrus all day, that allows for the rest of TSM to get ahead and dyrus will still do well from behind

Blind MinionMay 7, 20153 votes

True, but it's not like shutting down a Nasus. It's like shutting down a support. Supports don't care and support anyway. If they focus top lane, TSM will just send their jungle to snowball another.

AFK SamMay 6, 20153 votes

For Many people, it comes down to faker vs pawn. However, I think the major problem here is: EDG at least as a regional Champion, is not getting enough attention that they deserves to get. How could riot even publish a powder ranking without fully introduction about all the participants??? Where is the introduction article about EDG????????? You want to say "riot accidently forgot EDG on purpose"? China is the 2nd best in terms LPL for crying out loud, yet this is the respect they received..

If you realize this, then of course you will understand for pawn fans, they definitely want pawn to beat up faker like a kid, with whatever reason they believe. Because the discrimination here is so obvious.....

In addition, if you cares about EDG at all, you will find out pawn is suffering a serious injury with his back. That is why U played as a substitute in the first 4 games against Team WE in LPL regional semi finals. On fifth game, pawn quit medical treatment, took a taxi from hospital to the playground, so that he could play. For a player like this, I personally cant say anything bad about him. But I guess for some people, they just simply don't care pawn can't play at his best level due to the injury...

Dan BraumMay 6, 20159 votes

Oh boy, what u did to me?

Malasar, you made me, a massive Fnatic fanboy, precarious about Fnatic's win over TSM. Everything you wrote make so much sense, it's logical and sophisticated, and even if it is as hard for me as you can only imagine, I have to admit that everything you wrote down, not just the long comment but the subsequent replies too, are true, and TSM clearly have the advantage over Fnatic.

However, I still want to and will believe that Fnatic will beat TSM, not because they are better, but only because I cheer for them!

But it was a plesaure for me to read such a well-written opinion about someone from NA, after the never ending "NA>EU" and "EU>NA" stupid comment wars.

MasalarMay 6, 20154 votes

I will say this, I want Fnatic to win because I know that a game where Fnatic wins will probably be much more exciting than a game where TSM wins. It's also possible that UoL just cause the other teams to make more mistakes since they have such a unique playstyle, and Fnatic will rise to the occasion. They are a very good team, and I really hope they get a chance to prove this at MSI.

I may also be slightly biased because I had Huni on my fantasy team and he did so much good stuff for me.

Dan BraumMay 9, 20153 votes

That's how all our wishes should be fulfilled! :D

punaletMay 6, 20152 votes

The good thing in sports is that all can happen even if it´s unexpected. GO FNATC!!!

Cheesed BaeMay 7, 20155 votes

i diagree i think fanatic has more advantage i believe that tsm's issue is dyrus and fanatic's top lane is really good in just individual skills i still doubt santorin i think amazing is better jungler than him

Euijin SongMay 8, 20153 votes

guess you were wrong

NicknameMyMay 8, 201510 votes

So, TSM got wiped out by FNC :D.

BoboteMay 8, 20156 votes

"they continually outplay Fnatic on a map wide level, and thus win the game"

Well that didn't happen did it?

MasalarMay 8, 20154 votes

Nope. Not even remotely.

FieryDuskMay 5, 201514 votes

NA>EU

SAFFATLOLMay 5, 201527 votes

Please don't start this crap

DodgyrMay 5, 201512 votes

The reason skt is above edg is because whether you like it or not both edg and the rest of the world believes that Korea is still the strongest. All this "you're just faker fanboys" "pawn>faker" crap is all you have to say about it because he solo killed him. Good job. He did. He's great. Faker however has the worlds best records on champions win/loss than any player to ever play the game professionally. All you're basing your opinion on is some hyped video of pawn solo killing him. Look at the numbers. Pawn generally does much better in 1v1 and in lane. Faker however is harder to ban out because he is proficient on anything and godlike on others (leblanc plz) and don't even start with the whole, pawn leblanc > faker leblanc. Again look at the numbers. Don't be salty just cuz skt is gonna have two worlds :P To be real though Edg and pawn/deft are great (hence my name, deft is god).

Gem1niMay 5, 20152 votes

I agree that the rest of the world believes that korea is still the strongest, however i think u overrated skt a bit. I kinda disspointed about the passive play style when they have a lead. For example, game 3 against ge tiger. Their lack of mid-late game decision almost cause them the game. Ge almost made a comeback although skt had a 10k gold lead. I'm pretty sure that if they do this shit again, teams like tsm/edg can make a comeback from those mistakes.

EyepatchouliMay 5, 20155 votes

uhm that was simply because of their comp? try sieging with a fcking urgot.

Sycksh1tMay 5, 201511 votes

What facts, what reasoning...What in the world places SKT above EDG? Is it how bad cj entus and ge tigers did at IEM? Is it the fact that EDG mid pawn has shown he is better then faker repeatedly? Is it Monte Cristo pride? Is he upset that his region is no longer strongest?

The only reason I can see you have for this ranking is Pawn has been sick and might not be able to play his best at MSI. That was not mentioned in this article though. I guess we just assume because SKT beat Ge tigers so easily that they are ...the best in the world? WTF u talkin about GE tigers couldn't even beat team we. If anything that shows how much power Korea lost this year with the exodus of talent.

EDG has been at the top of power rankings for the past month or two. Sighs anyways I hope pawn can play his best at MSI and if he does SKT will lose. Maybe then people will get off the Korean Faker hype train and give credit where it is due. Best player in the world faker? Heh wonder if he will even play at MSI cause apparently hes not the best Mid on his team. Monte Cristo Reasoning is oo faker is on the bench cause they don't need to play there best mid atm. lol Yea im sure that's the teams reasoning. They are gonna put in whoever is there best chance to win period. That has been easyhoon a lot of the time.

EDG SKT TSM Fnatic AHQ ....might surprise some people Beskitas

u44kHL7hifMay 5, 201516 votes

If Pawn solokilling Faker is what makes him, in your book, the better midlaner, then TSM should seriously consider benching Bjergsen for PowerOfEvil. If you didn't get that, then let me tell you it is sarcasm, because regardless of the solokills, people who have watched the scene without bias know that Faker and Bjergsen are the better midlaners compared to the ones that solokilled them.

Pawn is a great midlaner, however, he has not proven himself as a dominant carry. His perofrmence in the LPL was inconsistent during periods of that split and Deft is without any doubt the primary carry in the EDG lineup, likewise how Samsung White had Mata and Dandy as the team's primary carrying force.

By the time you startto resonate that SKT fields Easyhoon because he is the better midlaner, I started to lose faith that you have even watched LCK. Yes, Faker is overrated, however, your post is nothing but a bash on SKT and Faker supported by shallow arguemnts.

SAFFATLOLMay 5, 201511 votes

Read your summoner name and got excited then realized you're not the Chinese WeiXiao we all miss from WE

Sycksh1tMay 5, 20157 votes

Yea I know pawn is inconsistent and faker is consistent...really makes sense considering faker didn't play in half or more of SKT games this split. Hard to judge who is more consistent when one of the two is not even in half the games. Its pretty consistent tho to win worlds join a new team with none of the same players as ssw and Still be the most dominant team in the strongest region....So inconsistent.

There are a lot of things that make a great mid player. Im sorry if I didn't write a 2 page article on everything that EDG does better then SKT or Pawn better then Faker. All I gotta say is wait till MSI and when SKT gets rolled...might even finish third after TSM....U can come back on here and correct your post cause u and a lot of otherpeople are delusional

ShadowFiend812May 5, 20152 votes

I'm just going to wait and see who wins I have no opinion on who is better i didn't watch either team that much but from finals of either region skt looked better to me but who cares what I think

VixanysMay 6, 20153 votes

Its a forum, everyone's voice should be heard. Opinions told and shared. Some people may troll you for it but don't be afraid to spill it out, our friend Sycsh1t sure isn't.

Are you going to be at MSI?

ShadowFiend812May 6, 20152 votes

As much as I would love to be I can't go :/ got school and parents probs wouldn't allow me any way even if I didn't. To much money to go down to Florida for an event that I'm only interested in

VixanysMay 6, 20152 votes

Well have fun watching!

idreamofdoucheMay 5, 201511 votes

Wow this comment might be the most stupid one ive read in quite a while. The reason SKT is ranked nr 1 is beacuse they have shown that they understand this patch better than anyone. I think its even between EDG and SKT but to shit talk SKT beacuse GE Tigers underperformed and CJ was bad at that point in time(they are great at this patch tho). Meanwhile EDG looked shaky in the final and you can say that it was beacuse of lack of training with Pawn but power rankings are based on the current form of teams.

And no Pawn has not shown to be better than Faker thats stupid as hell. That fact that one player might be unuasally weak vs another can be beacuse of playstayle or the fact that Faker HAD to hard carry vs White to have a chance to win so he picked into bad maychups which he got punished for. Pawn was at best the third best player on his team so this argument is soooo retarded . Almost everyone agree that the best player in the world currently is either Faker or Deft.

Sycksh1tMay 5, 20154 votes

Yea we will see how stupid it is after MSI when EDG rolls SKT if pawn is able to play. Regardless I know with half of you morons I cant say anything without saying everything. Yes I used a few examples but there are a lot more. Im definatly not saying Pawn is better then faker just because he has solo killed him. Im saying it because Pawn is all around a better Mid then faker in all ways. Hes a better team leader. Hes a better team fighter. Hes better then faker period. When SKT lose to EDG at MSI I hope you come back to this forum and tell me how stupid you are.

The reason I mentioned ge tigers and CJ entus is because that is SKT competition and if you don't think that factors in on how to rate there performance this split...then idk what to say? Simple put im saying that you cant judge how good skt and faker is against EDG by saying how well they preformed in there region really, because Chinas region is stronger then korea now. So yes EDG has Dominated a stronger region.

The only international results we had this year so far. IEM Showed us what? Im not saying IEM ment everything but what are people basing there arguments for SKT off of? There is nothing? So at the end of there split they pulled it together and beat some teams that weren't all that good anyways? Wow they are the best ever.

GhØst ProjectMay 5, 201513 votes

The lack of international competition thus far makes any argument weak and poorly founded, including yours, so maybe just state your opinion and wait it out.

Despite the fact that you're trying to say things that you can't back up, people might react less dismissively towards you if you learned English. It's hard to tell where the poor language ends and the poor argument begins.

twiggertoMay 6, 20158 votes

I am sure that I am going to receive some hate for this, but here it goes... 1.SKT 2.EDG 3.TSM 4.AHQ 5. FNTC 6.Besiktas

Now you are probably wondering why i have AHQ over fnatic... well sports in general favor the teams that are hot at the right time. They beat the top 3 LMS teams 9-1... but so few people give them credit for that because people think the LMS is such a weak region.
Lets look at fnatic. Huni is good, febiven is good, reignover is good, yellowstar is fantastic, steelback is good. but these good players are often inconsistent and are VERY liable to tilt. They play very sloppily on occasion, and loose games where they have a better pick/ban phase than their opponents. They are very reliant on set game plans and when things tend to go wrong for fnatic it seems like they have a hard time being able to adjust and come back.

TL;DR i feel as though AHQ has the highest potential to surprise people, and i think that fntic has the highest potential to disappoint people

Cheryl ColeMay 6, 20154 votes

Your last statement is incorrect. TSM is the team with the highest potential to disappoint. Nobody here has a high opinion about Fnatic. Its just as simple as it sounds. If Fnatic lose we just get another half year of NA>EU (nothing new) and everything would be ok. But if TSM lose hard and Fnatic gets to semi... You would be pretty much doomed in NA. Its just like Elements in Worlds. The strongest western team fails hard and in the end let EU falls so bellow. So no.. its TSM and whole NA who has so much to lose.