G2 Esports and Misfits Gaming are currently the only two EULCS teams that are undefeated. Both currently sit at 6-0 and will be facing off on Friday, July 13 as the last game of Day 1. What this preview will cover is how the teams got to their current record, the strategies the teams have been using successfully and how their opponent might best them in the game. For the EULCS schedule and starting rosters, click here.
G2 Esports
Entering the Summer Split
G2 has been one of the strongest teams in Europe since they arrived in the EULCS. After their departure from Worlds 2017 in the group stages, only one player stayed on the team, Luka “Perkz” Perkovic. The team needed to bring in some large talent to keep the organization at the top levels, and picked up players from around the league. Top laner Martin “Wunder” Hansen came from Splyce, jungler Marcin “Jankos” Jankowski came from H2K and duo lane Petter “Hjarnan” Freyschuss and Kim “Wadid” Bae-in came from ROCCAT.
The new lineup was able to secure a second place finish in the regular season and a record of 11-7. G2 beat out Splyce in a tiebreaker for the bye to the semifinals. Facing Splyce again in the semifinals, G2 were able to beat Splyce 3-1. The hardest best-of-5 G2 faced and the only one they have lost was against Fnatic. G2 were 3-0’d by FNC and stopped the run of G2’s fifth consecutive finals victory.
G2 did not make any roster changes going into the summer split, but the meta had shifted greatly and away from marksman. The “funnel” composition with Perkz running a marksman with Jankos on a support was played by G2 in four out of the six regular season games.
Rift Rivals 2018
Securing the second place finish also guaranteed G2 a spot at Rift Rivals 2018. The team headed to Los Angeles along with Fnatic and Splyce to take on Team Liquid, Echo Fox, and 100 Thieves. Continuing their win streak, G2 went undefeated during the group stage, and helped give EU the 5-4 overall record to secure the advantage going into the knockout stage.
G2 was handed their first loss since the spring finals by Echo Fox in the group stage. Running another funnel comp, G2 were outpaced by the constant aggression Fox were able to take the victory in under 24 minutes.
What G2 have been playing
G2 have mostly used funnel strategies to hyper-scale Perkz on Kai’sa or Xayah. Jankos usually plays Braum or Tahm Kench. Hjarnan and Wadid have been taking mages into the bottom lane. Wadid has mostly been playing engage supports like Rakan and Alistar. Hjarnan has played picks from Karma to Heimerdinger. If you want to know why Heimerdinger has been so powerful, check out The Game Haus’ Pro Pick Breakdown. Wunder has been playing different types of picks, from tanks like Ornn, Poppy and Dr. Mundo, to carries, like pre-rework and post-rework Aatrox.
G2 likes to rapidly scale and use their compositions to beat teams quickly. Out of the 10 games G2 played, only three went over the 30 minute mark. G2, during their six games played in the EULCS, have only given up an average of four kills per game. During Rift Rivals, that number increased to giving up an average of 10 kills in the four G2 played. The increase in deaths could be explained by the clash of regions, as teams like Echo Fox have both a lot of kills and deaths.
How Misfits beat G2
G2 is going to be a difficult team to beat. Should G2 elect to use another funnel strategy, Misfits will need to put pressure onto G2. Echo Fox used Lulu and Kindred to repeatedly push in mid lane and take jungle camps away from Perkz, and denying cs in the mid lane. What is going to be really important is having more than one carry to rely on. When Perkz is the only damage threat on G2, Echo Fox had Huni’s Vladimir on a side lane, and when G2 would rotate to kill him, Fox engaged with their damage advantage.
Should G2 elect to not use a funnel composition, and elect to put Perkz on Zoe or Yasuo, Misfits might have a harder time. Hjarnan’s Heimerdinger has wreaked havoc and Wunder’s Aatrox was strong, both pre-rework and post-rework. Misfits will need to spread G2 thin, because together, G2 might have the strongest teamfight in the west. Relying on unique picks like Aurelion Sol and Draven will assist Misfits in getting through picks-and-bans, but in game mechanics will determine who comes out on top.
Misfits Gaming
Entering the Summer Split
Misfits were able to make it out of the Group Stage in a tiebreaker against TSM. When SK Telecom T1 were placed against Misfits, most people were expecting a quick 3-0, but Misfits had other plans. Taking SKT to a game five, Misfits were close to taking down a Korean team in a best-of-three, but lost in game five. During the off-season, only support Ignar left the team and was replaced by Mihael “Mikyx” Mehle.
The remaining roster of Barney “Alphari” Morris, Nubar “Maxlore” Sarafian, Chres “Sencux” Laursen, and Steven “Hans Sama” Liv entered the spring looking to at the top again. Unfortunately for the organization, the team did not make it into playoffs. With an 8-10 record, Misfits were tied with ROCCAT and H2k for the last two spots. Because of the head-to-head records of the teams, Misfits were on the bottom and were eliminated from playoff contention.
What Misfits have been playing
With the meta shifting away from marksman, Misfits have actually been finding success running standard compositions. Hans Sama has played Lucian, Draven and Varus twice each and has accumulated four deaths in six games. Alphari has been playing mostly tanks, with only three deaths, and played Dr. Mundo four times, with an a game on Shen and Ornn. Sencux has played 5 different champions so far: Aurelion Sol, Swain, Irelia, Lulu and Yasuo twice. Maxlore has played half his games on Camille, with other games on Taliyah twice and Trundle. Mikyx has played Braum and Morgana twice, and single games on Gragas and Tahm Kench.
Misfits, much like G2, have given up an average of 4.8 kills, and half their wins have come over 30 minutes. Misfits have been using their standard compositions to pressure teams all over the map. In every game, Hans Sama and Mikyx have taken teleport in order to influence all lanes. Misfits have only played against a funnel strategy on stage once against Fnatic, and also used Lulu to beat it.
How G2 beats Misfits
Misfits have yet to experiment with Hans Sama on mages, but banning enough marksman will be difficult because of Hans Sama’s champion pool. Many teams have been electing to ban out Maxlore’s jungle pool like Taliyah and Nocturne. G2 might just be able to use a funnel strategy and try to take the game over with Perkz. The important matchup will be the top lane between Alphari and Wunder. If Wunder can keep Alphari down, Misfits will have a much weaker front line and give Perkz another opportunity to out fight Misfits. Keeping tabs on Maxlore will help G2 secure the funnel strat safety until Perkz is online.
Conclusion
Both teams have a lot of work to prepare for this match. With G2 having lost the last game they played, they will be looking to redeem themselves. Misfits have seen from Echo Fox that G2’s funnel can be beaten, and have used similar picks to beat FNC when they tried to funnel. Both teams will need to bring something new to get an advantage, but from looking at how the teams play, it is likely that G2 will be winning the match.
Perkz doesn’t need to be on a marksman to carry, and it looks like Hans Sama does. Hjarnan also has many new picks to the bot lane that Misfits hasn’t tried, so picks-and-bans will probably go in favor of G2. As long as G2 keep together and keep Alphari down, Misfits will be missing a front line. Without a front-line, Misfits might not be able to keep up.
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