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Is anyone else getting bored of the same few champions in pro play?

NotAnADC··10 votes·4,140 views

I have only recently begun watching the NA LCS. So I understand that my opinion may not be shared amongst the community. In my brief time, I have realized that currently, only 20% of the the champion pool is being played consistently. Every so often there is an interesting pick like Kennen that makes his way into play.

The point is that most of the time we are seeing the same few champions battling the same other few champions. While amazing plays are made, they still get old after the 4th or 5th time.

I don't know an effective way to change this. The problem I see is that we get bored. The solution I see is to have a more diverse champion pool.

My suggestion would be to add a restriction on which champions can be picked. Not a heavy one. Just one where you can not pick a champion that was played in your last matchup. This would force teams to plan their games way in advance and think a lot more about their compositions.

I agree that this would change the LCS but in the end, aren't they playing for our entertainment?

TL;DR: The same champions are being picked every game and it's getting boring.

28 Comments

TurquoiseYoshi6 votes

That's why people were cheering for TDK. Because they brought Elise, Syndra, and Bard. I've seen Syndra like, once ever. In bots. One option I see is adding more bans, so that more top-tier picks can be banned off, while still being able to target ban. One thing you can do if you like more champion pools is watch other regions. In Europe, AD poke (Varus, Jayce) is a lot more valued, and players like Huni and Cabochard bring out some crazy picks. I've seen very little of Chinese play, but I saw a jungle Ekko and a midlane Nautilus. Different regions have very different champion pools.

NotAnADC3 votes

I actually just added in that I've have been watching NA. A friend of mine told me to check out other regions. Only problem is that I can't stand the EU casters haha.

TurquoiseYoshi4 votes

I enjoy listening to the EU casters more than the NA casters sometimes. Especially when they don't know how many presidents there have been (44). But seriously, Krepo is cool. Most of the other EU casters are meh.

DrCyanide1 votes

Deficio is the caster I like the best.

Earl Eulrich1 votes

for entertainment value you should try watching LPL. The Casters are great and most games are a lot faster paced then in other regions (not to mention mechanically on a much higher lvl).

PoisonedTea1 votes

{quoted}

That's why people were cheering for TDK. Because they brought Elise, Syndra, and Bard. I've seen Syndra like, once ever. In bots. One option I see is adding more bans, so that more top-tier picks can be banned off, while still being able to target ban. One thing you can do if you like more champion pools is watch other regions. In Europe, AD poke (Varus, Jayce) is a lot more valued, and players like Huni and Cabochard bring out some crazy picks. I've seen very little of Chinese play, but I saw a jungle Ekko and a midlane Nautilus. Different regions have very different champion pools.

TDK has nothing to lose or win at this point

Ouroborous HD4 votes

since the lcs meta becomes the meta for everyone else, cuz people are too brainless to actually come up with something on their own, yes im tired of seeing the same champions in the lcs. stop worshiping the lcs people.

Catastrop2 votes

LCS meta is what the "cool kids" play so when someone wants to try something strange and out of meta they get flamed for not using the one of the same 20 champions you always see in the LCS. Although that doesn't stop them from using the same off meta thing that was flamed the moment it's used in the LCS because it worked for them. Basically this game would be so much better if people would take a chill pill, and let people have fun the way they want to and not worship the LCS.

rjdude312 votes

This is actually kind of funny to me because the people that have been watching the lcs for a long time (including myself) have known a time period where it was much worse. I think probably the worst time was when top would always be shyv and renekton with stuff like lee in the jungle. Considering the fact that there is always going to be a best champion and that pros are always going to pick that champion there is really no solution to this problem. I also don't like the idea of banning certain champs as I am interested in seeing an lcs game where teams can prepare ahead of time and actaully get what they want.

PoisonedTea1 votes

{quoted}

This is actually kind of funny to me because the people that have been watching the lcs for a long time (including myself) have known a time period where it was much worse. I think probably the worst time was when top would always be shyv and renekton with stuff like lee in the jungle. Considering the fact that there is always going to be a best champion and that pros are always going to pick that champion there is really no solution to this problem. I also don't like the idea of banning certain champs as I am interested in seeing an lcs game where teams can prepare ahead of time and actaully get what they want.

season 2 was so bad. and when thresh came in, 100% pick or ban

Gaxx D1 votes

I don't think you remember season 2 at all. In season 2 there were no power picks, people were banning champions depending on who they play against, because pro players had such mastery of those champions. Like Misaya's TF, Froggen's Anivia, Ambiton's Lux or Mknoon's Shen.

Garlyle Wilds1 votes

Yeah, I have to admit. Right now the picks are actually more varied than they have been in the last couple seasons. I forget if it was season 3 or 4 that someone sat down and analyzed the numbers of data, and there were basically a trio of champions for each lane. 3/4 the games being played were one of those champs against another; almost every single other game still had one of those three being played.

There's absolutely always room for them to get more variety out there, of course; but yeah. We're in a better spot now than we used to be. Then again, I make that last observation as someone who mostly watches the EU LCS because the NA is famously stale and uninventive.

rockdalian1 votes

You are right it's stale and with the devourer buff and the handful of champs it made op I'm lost why there's only one shyvanna played all weekend i was very disappointed in the lcs this week you get broken items and still won't use em. I watch to see awesome plays not 5 games go the exact same way only difference being sivir and kalista ban or Gragas rek'sai ban they haven't even taken advantage of ap changes except kog'ma I feel like they are scared to lose their "job" so they play too safe now it's getting lame

NotAnADC1 votes

Interesting point about it being their "job" and that they can lose it.

I guess its the same problem i have with some pro-sports, only worse. In that, these people make money to be entertainers. When they lose sight of that things get worse.

In LCS, these people are out of jobs if they lose consistently, so they will try and pick the same OP every time.

OverpoweredSoap1 votes

I don't watch the LCS a whole lot, but correct me if I'm wrong on this, some people were saying that this was one more the diverse champion picks since the lcs started?

I dunno, I'm problem wrong.

rockdalian1 votes

{quoted}

I don't watch the LCS a whole lot, but correct me if I'm wrong on this, some people were saying that this was one more the diverse champion picks since the lcs started?

I dunno, I'm problem wrong.

They throw in a few here n there mainly mid and top. Jungle support and adc are always the same

Silents4291 votes

Which is why I never got hooked on LCS, bored the shit out of me after only watching a couple games.

Announcer guys weren't entertaining enough to help, the games were all the same, and I didn't know who the hell any of the players were.

Linthe1 votes

I got the impression that TDK was basically saying.. "We are getting auto-relegated anyway... Let's do whatever the F we want"..

However... this IS the reason why UOL was so popular in Spring. They pulled out wild hair picks.. and WON with them.

So the answer to OP is: yes.

BeatzBoyFTW1 votes

Day 215......

Still waiting for that Darius pick :'(

8th Espada1 votes

I totally agree with this. All I see are Alistar Corki Nidalee Nautilus Shen Sivir Janna and about 10 other champions on CONSTANT repetition. Only once will I see a refreshing change like a Kennen, Karthus or Karma . Every team has the same composition every game and it's really irritating. Only 10-15 champions out of like 126 are being played. I don't know if Riot can try to change this but some diversity would be really good. (NA LCS)

Gaxx D1 votes

160? At least do your math before you start spewing bs like that. First of all, there are 126 champions released. Moreover across 5 major regions, about 70% champions have been picked in s5. If you're watching only NA LCS it's obvious, that you'll see only OMFGPOWERPICKS, because NA's been always trailing behind other regions and all they do is try to adapt, to what they think are most OP picks.

8th Espada2 votes

Thank you for correcting my numbers, my apologies. Yes I was speaking of NA. I edited my comment to change the figure and clarify that it's NA

Gaxx D1 votes

Then, like I said, you should watch other regions. Especially LPL and LMS, you'll find some unexpected picks there quite often.

Jungle Lux God1 votes

The problem is that you started too late to watch pro play to understand that there has always been a good 20% of champions that are ever picked in pro League of Legends play.

The pros are going to play in pro-level play what they know how to play. What do they learn how to play? They either learn how to play the strongest picks in the current meta or learn "surprise" picks that aren't in the current meta or aren't used in a particular lane and take them there to take their opponents off guard.

And League of Legends actually does balance better than some other games, particularly fighting games where you may be lucky to see more than 10% of a game's character roster in a tournament and more than 5% in the top 8 at the tournament.

Gaxx D1 votes

{quoted}

I have only recently begun watching the NA LCS. So I understand that my opinion may not be shared amongst the community. In my brief time, I have realized that currently, only 20% of the the champion pool is being played consistently. Every so often there is an interesting pick like Kennen that makes his way into play.

The point is that most of the time we are seeing the same few champions battling the same other few champions. While amazing plays are made, they still get old after the 4th or 5th time.

I don't know an effective way to change this. The problem I see is that we get bored. The solution I see is to have a more diverse champion pool.

My suggestion would be to add a restriction on which champions can be picked. Not a heavy one. Just one where you can not pick a champion that was played in your last matchup. This would force teams to plan their games way in advance and think a lot more about their compositions.

I agree that this would change the LCS but in the end, aren't they playing for our entertainment?

TL;DR: The same champions are being picked every game and it's getting boring.

This is probably a milionth topic like that, where someone complains about lack of diversity in pro play. To answer your question - no. They don't play for your entertainment, they play for money and to win.

NotAnADC2 votes

Thats just not true. Think about pro sports. Why do they play? They play to win and get money, fine. But why do they get money? Because people pay to watch it. Without the viewer-base, the sport is nothing. So in a sense, they are entertainers. I guarantee that if people stopped watching the LCS, it would cease to be a thing because there would be no money for the competitors.

Point is that they are playing because people are watching.

There is the added caviot that, unlike pro sports, their livelihood is tied to doing well. And that is just an unfortunate circumstance that is created by competitive gaming.

Gaxx D2 votes

What is just not true? That pro players play to win? Oh please. Riot gets more money from sponsors, logos and rp buyers in one day, than they get in a month's sale of LCS tickets. They play what works, because they want to win and go to worlds. Also if you think, that people will pay to watch a team that's constantly losing, then you're so wrong. Even if they're "entertaining". And one more thing. Just like you pointed out, in pro sports people play to win and earn they paycheck. They're not entertainers, they're athletes. And people pay money, because watching what professional athletes do entertains them. It's the same with pro players. They are NOT entertainers. To viewers watching pro players and their game is entertaining, that's all.

Earl Eulrich1 votes

I agree that this would change the LCS but in the end, aren't they playing for our entertainment?

well, they mostly play to win - or at least to what they think will win them the game. So most of them cling to proven "meta-champs" that are save to play no matter the circumstances. More bans could maybe increase diversity a tad, but as it is currently there´s just not much place in professional league for Champs without an escape. It´s easy enough to shut down mobile champs for a coordinated team already - especially on the longer lanes, as turrets just don´t do a good job offering any protection early on. Thus many Champs that would seem somewhat viable would relay to heavily on specific teamcomps built specifically around them to get them savly through laning and then make them work in teamfights.

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