NA LCS 2014 Spring Split Retrospective

As the spring split comes to a close, we take a look back at the NA LCS's five biggest stories in the culmination of the past thirteen weeks.

5 - Fall of XDG

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XDG was a premiere team last season. They finished 20-8 and No. 2 overall in North America, and were the only team to avoid a negative head-to-head record against Cloud 9. Sitting with the top North American teams at the time, XDG was one of three NA representatives at the World Championships. Fans expected the team to perform as well, if not better, than last split but then a drastic change occurred at the end of the 2013 season. In a questionable move during the off season, XDG decided to have Xmithie and Zuna swap positions from jungler to AD carry and vice versa. For weeks, the team bumbled as they tried in avail to work out the role swap. However, it wasn't until Weeks 6 and 7 that Bloodwater retired, the Xmithie/Zuna swap was reversed, and XDG finally decided to sign on a new support player, Sheep. But needless to say, the damage had already been done. Finishing the spring split at No. 8 with a record of 7-21, almost a reverse of their summer split record, XDG is now facing relegation. Try as they must, if XDG wants to return in the upcoming summer split, they need to find a way back to their former and more successful ways. But in their way is the Chinese juggernaut LMQ.

4 - Team Coast Potential Unfulfilled

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As Scarra commented about Coast at the analyst desk during the last Super Week, "Up until they lose the game, they're winning." Having to play for their LCS lives once already during the summer promotion last year, Coast almost escaped the same fate this split. But when it came down to it, Dignitas clutched on to the No. 5 spot in a close 2-1 series against Coast, putting Coast at No. 6 and back into the same predicament as last split. However having gone through the trials of promotion once before, Coast have some consolation in the fact that they face the No. 3 Challenger team this time, compLexity.Black.

3 - Cocoons and Hooks

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For a second consecutive split, Elise and Thresh remain the most popular champions in the NA LCS with the highest ban and pick rate of all champions (93% and 84% respectively). At third place, LeBlanc has usurped Twisted Fate as the most popular mid lane champion with a ban and pick rate of 82%. All three of these champions share a common trait in their ability to find picks for their teams whether it be early, mid, or late game. All LCS teams agree, judging from their actions during champion select, that these three champions have the biggest impact in the game currently when given the opportunity. It remains to be seen if their popularity will continue into the summer.

2 - European Imports

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While EDward may have been first European trailblazer to enter the LCS on a North American team, there were two even bigger splashes this split in the form of Bjergsen for TSM and dexter for CLG. As the mid lane and jungler for their respective teams, Bjergsen and dexter have brought new life to TSM and CLG and the improvement in their teams' end of the regular season standings from summer to spring has indicated as much. Sharing Reginald's aggressive playstyle, Bjergsen's versatility of champions has allowed TSM greater flexibility in the mid lane. As the team's primary playmaker, he has shined with an array of champions like Gragas, LeBlanc, and Nidalee. Meanwhile dexter joined the ranks of CLG as a fully practiced jungler with EU LCS experience behind him. With Lee Sin, Evelynn, and Elise, dexter has been nonstop in his efforts in helping CLG's carries get ahead at all points during the game.

1 - Cloud 9 heads to Paris

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Lastly, to wrap up the spring split, we have the indomitable Cloud 9. After shutting out TSM 3-0 in the playoff finals, C9 extends their record against TSM to an impressive 13-1. Ready to represent the NA region as they jet off to All-Star next week, C9 has already displayed an uncanny grasp of Patch 4.5; demonstrating superb rotations, apt reactions to counter jungling, and their ever expanding champion pools as a team. Eagerly awaiting their first opportunity to play against the reigning World Champions SKT T1 K, C9 is as prepared as they can be after their stellar performance at the spring split playoffs.

Jack is a freelance writer for Riot Games and he wants to know what you think was the biggest surprise of NA LCS spring split. You can tweet him your thoughts @NeoIllusions.