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Returning to Basics: Counter Logic Gaming’s Focus on Fundamentals In Week 3 and 4

Publish Date: June 29, 2021

Jesper “Zven” Svenningsen called it a “Bronze-odia strategy“. Counter Logic Gaming’s usage of hard engage champions surprised most of the region. With upset victories over 100 Thieves and Evil Geniuses in week 3, analysts and commenters were looking to see how teams would respond.

Both Immortals and Cloud9 were able to hold their own against the strategy, securing the victory. And while they were both losses, they weren’t necessarily convincing victories. Counter Logic Gaming is doing something right.

A Basic Idea

The current state of competitive League of Legends is rewarding skirmish compositions. Teams that have been able to secure early advantages through slaying their opposition are able to turn it into objective or laning leads. Counter Logic Gaming understand this and look to accomplish it through their jungle and mid lane influencing the map early in the game.

Bringing in a champion with a global presence in the mid lane like Galio has been critical in this aspect. His ability to roam around the map with his ultimate while taking teleport has allowed for Eugene “Pobelter” Park to not only make an impact but also do so without sacrificing resources as a result.

Mads “Broxah” Brock-Pedersen’s usage of Vi has also been a great piece to the puzzle. By prioritizing “Vault Breaker,” he’s able to move across the map quicker and also able to get onto the enemy team in a timely manner. While the champion is limited until she reaches level six, Counter Logic Gaming do an excellent job at understanding what they’re able to accomplish in the early game. In the past two weeks, they’re second among LCS team in first dragon (67%) and fourth in first blood (50%).

And the core composition has been rounded out with a playmaking support in the hands of Andy “Smoothie” Ta. His experience as an in-game leader pairs well with a champion like Rakan, a champion that requires decisive commitment to engages.

Jason “WildTurtle” Tran and Finn “Finn” Wiestål are also playing.

This isn’t to diminish their contributions. Its more to focus on what the other three members of CLG are doing in this respective system. Because without these three members being on the same page, the concept fails.

Why It Worked

100 Thieves’ dominance was halted for a brief period of time by the simple concept. While it did come out of left field, 100 Thieves were outplayed in almost every facet of the game. The opening of the match saw 100 Thieves surprised by CLG. Reacting to aggression from the 100 Thieves top-laner, Pobelter and Broxah are quick to look to collapse, nearly catching two enemies out of position. It wouldn’t lead to kills but CLG would have control of the tempo of the match. It would allow for Finn to make an aggressive teleport in the bottom lane where CLG would secure first blood onto Victor “FBI” Huang.

Being able to control the pace of the play was huge — not only for their composition but for the team’s style. Having relatively sound shot-calling along with a lead kept the game somewhat easy for them.

It also helped with their team-fighting. Prior to introducing the strategy, CLG were relatively good at single target focus in team-fighting. Now with a champion whose sole purpose is to ultimate the champion of choice, it played into their strength.Against Evil Geniuses in a relatively close match, CLG were able to remove Rell quickly from the fight. What could have been seen as overkill was instead a critical kill in opening up the rest of the fight. Before Evil Geniuses’ carries were able to even join the fray, it was a 5v3 in CLG’s favor.

The simple composition created simple, streamlined ways of winning the game. The team didn’t have to wonder what they weren’t going to do, it was relatively laid out in front of them.

Why It Doesn’t

Because something is simple, it can be figured out relatively quickly. It doesn’t mean that the strategy is bad. It just means teams are able to prepare. Cloud9 built on the strategy Evil Geniuses’ put out there but executed at a higher level. Taking Xayah and Rakan into their bottom lane would not only remove a key engage tool from Counter Logic Gaming but allow for Zven to buy just enough time in team-fights.

The game would start off well for CLG after Broxah would look to attack C9’s bottom lane early. The gank would give CLG control over the bottom side of the rift — which Cloud9 have been fine with their focus top side for most of 2021.

But Cloud9 also have an excellent understanding of team-fighting. At 12 minutes into the game, they collapsed on a 3 versus 4 situation around the dragon pit. CLG attempted to lockdown the mid-laner of C9, however, C9 were able to buy just enough time to get out with their lives. As a result, they were able to secure a crucial second dragon and more importantly, regain control of the game.

While CLG would find small wins to keep the game somewhat close, they no longer had the luxury of determining the pace of play. Every moment it felt as if they would get the pick needed, Cloud9 were able to respond.

The same thing could be said with their loss against Immortals. A critical error from WildTurtle turned the game on its head. Prior to that, CLG had been in a position to win the game thanks to excellent early-to-mid game skirmishing.

A Foundation to Grow From

Labeling a draft as “simple” comes with a negative connotation. In reality, it should be respected for being a foundation for a team to grow from. The strategy isn’t bad and CLG were able to snag two wins off of the basic foundation and another one with a similar variation against Dignitas.

Galen Holgate is a first-time LCS coach and has done a great job at reacting week-to-week. His work with veteran members of the scene and having them buy into playing a basic foundation speaks to their belief in him as a coach.

A team that has struggled for most of the season are trying to regain their legs. Doing so in the manner they chose shouldn’t be laughed at or mocked, it should be something understood. Not many teams would be willing to try to build their team’s fundamentals from the ground up. CLG are doing that and haven’t looked bad in the process.

The perspective also matters. This is one of the worst teams in North America at the moment, fighting to not be last and potentially steal a bottom playoff spot. Putting together performances that they can improve on is a refreshing take rather than blindly operating or attempting to compete against better teams at their respective games.


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