Cho’Gath has spiked in popularity in the EU LCS, following Riot’s implementation of patch 7.14. He was played in six games as a jungler and three games as a top laner in week seven. Cho’Gath was also banned in eight games, maintaining an 89.5 percent overall presence. All three top lane performances resulted in wins, while only three of the six jungle games were wins. This champion’s lack of reliable crowd control hinders his ability to affect the game early from the jungle.
Prior to this patch, Cho had not been on the EU LCS stage for quite a while. The most recent memory of a professional Cho’Gath was Immortal’s Huni in the 2016 NA LCS Spring Split. Other than that, the Terror of the Void has remained out of the hands of LCS pros since at least the 2015 Mid-Season Invitational. Week seven has shown his resurgence into the EU LCS.
Played in the top lane or in the jungle, Cho’Gath acts as an AP-scaling tank with huge nuking potential. As a juggernaut, Cho’Gath’s main weakness is his mobility, as squishy targets can easily kite away from him. The ability to stack Feast has a huge synergy with Gargoyle Stoneplate, due to interactions surrounding bonus health. Patch 7.14 buffed his ability to slow and knock up his enemies, which is the main catalyst for Cho’Gath’s jump in play rate.
In week seven, eight different EU LCS players locked in the Terror of the Void on stage. They generally built items such as Gargoyle Stoneplate, Enchantment: Cinderhulk, Righteous Glory and Warmog’s Armor, and they upgraded boots to Mercury Treads or Ninja Tabi. Many players chose the Bond of Stone keystone mastery, while others chose Grasp of the Undying.
These builds attempt to cover up Cho’s weaknesses. The items provide high amounts of health and mana, increased movement speed and damage resistances. Notice that two major items built on Cho’Gath come with “Active” abilities that go on cooldowns after being used. This further pushes Cho’Gath’s do-or-die playstyle. Once the Gargoyle Stoneplate, Righteous Glory, crowd control and Feast abilities are blown, there is little recourse. A failed engage is a failed fight.
Image from GamesofLegends.com
Cho’Gath also synergizes best with champions possessing heavy engage, movement speed increases and healing or immunity. Players draft Jarvan IV top lane or Maokai jungle to provide reliable crowd control. Syndra or Orianna mid brings damage and zoning. Ashe and Taric, Rakan or Thresh support compliment him, as well. All of these champions have some way to enable Cho’Gath to enter a fight and do a ton of damage.
His team looks to lock down targets with knock-ups or stuns. Cho’Gath activates Righteous Glory and blows his knock-up and silence for area-of-effect damage. Vorpal Spikes continues to slow the target. Finally, he looks to Feast on a low health victim to finish the fight. Even if enemies limp away from a lost fight, Cho’Gath’s team will generally remain healthy and pressure objectives to snowball the game.
While applying proper response damage, if the enemy is able to survive all of this through kiting and peeling, then Cho’Gath is in trouble. He has no way to escape or run away. His teammates have blown all of their crowd control for the engage, and there is no turning back.
Image from GamesofLegends.com
Most EU LCS teams answer by drafting Kalista or Xayah, AD carries that can kite well and have an escape tool built into their kit. While throwing Threaded Volleys, Taliyah in the mid lane is good at kiting away, as well. By isolating enemy squishies from Cho’Gath, zoning him away, and soaking crowd control and damage for their carries, Thresh, Braum and Alistar help keep allies alive. Games played around Cho’Gath present clear objectives and win conditions for both teams, which result in five-versus-five team fights.
Some highlights of Cho’s entrance into the 2017 EU LCS Summer Split are below. H2K’s Jankos, Splyce’s Wunder, Vitality’s Cabochard, Unicorns of Love’s Vizicsacsi and Fnatic’s Broxah are featured. These are all clips from Cho’Gath wins, showing how his current state allows him to succeed. Enjoy it while it lasts, as Riot promises nerfs to the champion in patch 7.15. It may be years before he is on stage professionally again.
Featured Image: Surrenderat20.net
Other Images: Games of Legends
Video Highlights: Game Haus Vibby
Champion Statistics: Games of Legends
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