The good, the bad and the G2: An LEC 2020 Power Ranking

With rebrands, roster swaps and new organisations galore, this split of the LEC, the West’s best League of Legends (yes LCS fans, I said it) should be some of the most contentious League we’ve seen yet.

There seems to be a focus on cultivating fresh talent for EU’s organisations this year- with teams like MAD Lions and Misfits Gaming fielding almost exclusively players new to the LEC stage, pulling young rookies straight from EU’s thriving and expansive regional circuit.

However, industry giants G2 and Fnatic have chosen to stick with their previously successful rosters of classic names- with only one roster alteration between both of EU’s top teams. It seems as though this year will be a true test of the strength of Europe’s rookie circuit, and an opportunity for these players to roll with the big dogs. That being said, here is an unofficial power ranking of the LEC 2020 teams.

1. G2 Esports

Honestly? It would seem unfair not to put G2 at the top of this list. The only way this team falls apart is either a severe case of mental boom, or if their infamous role swaps backfire in horrific fashion. I’m talking top laner to AD Carry, jungler to support - maybe even star player Luka "Perkz" Perkoviç taking on the role of coach and substituting in Felix "Grabbz" Lohmann as ADC/mid lane/whatever on earth G2’s mad scientist coaching staff see fit.

(Credit: LoL Esports)

Jokes aside, it doesn’t seem as though any team other Fnatic has been able to touch G2’s stellar performance in the past year, and this number one spot is wholeheartedly deserved- now we will just have to wait and see whether they can maintain it.

2. Fnatic

With the loss of jungler Mads "Broxah" Brock-Peterson coming after a lackluster World Championship performance by the squad, the acquisition of ex-SK gaming jungler (and mid laner  Tim ‘Nemesis’ LipovÅ¡ek’s long-suffering duo queue partner/ex-MAD Lions teammate) Oskar ‘Selfmade’ Boderek comes as an exciting addition to the team’s already star-studded lineup.

3. Origen

Origen’s place on this list comes almost exclusively from the team’s acquisition of ex-Splyce jungler Andrei "Xerxe" Dragomir. Not only does he have one of the best names in esports (Dragomir? The narratives just write themselves), but he put on a masterclass the likes of which have never been seen before in the team’s quarterfinals match against SKT at the 2019 World Championship; rumour has it that the name ‘Xerxe’ is now whispered in hushed tones throughout the LCK.

4. Schalke 04 Esports

The story around Schalke is all about one man- the return of EU’s prodigal son, Konstantinos-Napoleon "Forg1ven" Tzortziou. The infamous AD Carry, known for his pocket pick Caitlyn (in a current meta that very much favours the Sheriff of Piltover) made waves in the European community with his return from mandatory military service, ready to take on the young upstarts of the LEC bottom laners.

5. Rogue

Rogue made a surge to glory at the end of 2020 Summer, with a fifth place playoffs spot that nobody was really expecting them to get. Their roster’s improvements come with the addition of Steven "Hans Sama" Liv, the LEC’s most adorable AD Carry famed for his Draven and his aptitude for drawing manga. Hopefully the power of both God and anime will be on Rogue’s side coming into 2020, and they can be a little more successful in their next playoffs run.

6. SK Gaming

SK Gaming’s roster remains remarkably similar to last year, hence their position in this ranking; narrowly missing out on a playoffs spot in Summer 2019, SK will hope that the addition of Kim "Trick" Gangyun to this roster can elevate them beyond the often mediocre gameplay they displayed last year

7. Excel Esports

Despite a struggle throughout 2019 that saw them flagging in 10th place at the end of the LEC Summer split, the pickup of ex-Splyce support Tore "Tore" Hoel Eilertsen and ex-Origen AD Carry Patrik "Patrik" Jírů in the bottom lane is looking promising for the squad- here’s hoping that Tore’s World Championship experience can carry the team a little higher than 10th place in the upcoming split.

8. Misfits Gaming

The jewel in the crown of Misfits’ almost completely revamped 2020 roster comes in the form of Fabian "Febiven" Deipstraten, the only remaining player of a roster that was only beaten to 10th place by Excel. With so many unknowns in the form of a team comprised almost entirely of rookies, Misfits can at least take comfort in the fact that this year, they can only get better. Small comfort, but hey- you’ve gotta take what you can get.

9. Team Vitality

Vitality is another of the EU teams trusting in the power of rookie talent. The roster is relying on the experience of top laner Lucas "Cabochard" Simon-Meslet and support Jakub "Jactroll" Skurzyński. Despite the fame of Jactroll’s Tahm Kench, you can unfortunately only swallow one player at a time on the catfish- not enough to save all three of his more inexperienced teammates from the inevitable LEC growing pains that have plagued so many newcomers to the Berlin studio stage.

10. MAD Lions

This name may be unfamiliar to some- having bought their LEC spot from former Worlds quarterfinalists Splyce, the SuperLiga Orange organisation fields a newbie team headed by ex-Splyce mid laner Marek "Humanoid" Brázda. Without his star jungler Xerxe, it will be interesting to see if Humanoid can be the experienced rock of such a young team- before he can prove his worth, they will remain at 10th in this power ranking.