LCK Power Rankings: 2022 Summer Split Week 5

Week 4 of the LCK Summer Split has come to a close, and with it, no team now stands undefeated. The top teams are now clearly defined, with each team finding its position in the rankings. With almost half of the season over, the time to reflect and improve upon past mistakes is now to make the playoffs. Here are the LCK Power Rankings for Week 5 of the 2022 Summer Split.

[Related: LCK Power Rankings: 2022 Summer Split Week 3]

The Bottom Half

10.) Brion Esports (0-8)
Last Week: 10 (0)
0-2 Loss vs KDF; 0-2 Loss vs T1

Another week, and another winless week for Brion. There is signs of life in the roster, shown through their attempts to make plays in the early game, but nothing converts to the mid game. Dragon stacking is a clear game plan in mind for BRO, but continued failed team fights and lack of coordination leaves them in the dust. BRO continues to get outmatched without a way to open up games, something that has to be sorely addressed.

9.) Nongshim RedForce (2-6)
Last Week: 8 (-1)
1-2 Loss vs KT; 0-2 Loss vs LSB

NS kept themselves in contention against their opponents this week, but were utterly unable to strike the finishing blows. Struggles against LSB showcased a wide gap in awareness and timing, such as the failed Baron steal and constant mispositioning in game 2. These weaknesses keep getting seen and exploited by the rest of the league, and NS, although fighting back, looks weaker by the week. Their record may be better than HLE, but NS fall further in the 2022 LCK Summer Split Power Rankings.

8.) Hanwha Life Esports (1-7)
Last Week: 9 (+1)
1-2 Loss vs LSB; 0-2 Loss vs DK

HLE found themselves against the top of the table this week, but put up a valiant fight. Taking a game off of LSB was impressive, alongside keeping one of their matches competitive against DK as well. The early game is translating better into mid game proactivity, but the team cohesion is still the biggest sticking issue at large. HLE can certainly take more series than where they stand, but their development stays super slow.

7.) KT Rolster (3-5)
Last Week: 7 (0)
1-2 Win vs NS; 1-2 Loss vs KDF

KT found themselves a clear strength that they play to this week, but also a glaring weakness. The bottom lane duo of Bot Kin “Aiming” Ha-ram and Support Kin “Life” Jeyong-min are the clear win conditions for KT. Consistent early game plays, ganks and aggression are what earn so many leads, but picks and objective control lose that lead just as quick. The team also finds themselves struggling against Senna and fast team fights, with the same Bot lane needing lots of time and resources to effectively work. KT has their star player potential, but need to recognize what enables them and what shuts them down not just as a lane, but as a team.

6.) Kwangdong Freecs (4-4)
Last Week: 6 (0)
2-1 Win vs T1; 0-2 vs GEN

KDF secure a 2-0 week, taking their momentum from last week and translating it to effective and controlled victories. The plan of fighting at every objective opportunity and dragon stacking is clear as day for KDF, and they always follow up in challenging for space and fights. This aggression and proactivity is what lets them build leads against BRO, and outmatch KT this week, only dropping one game. However, messy team fights must be cleaned up more effectively, or else KDF themselves will be outmatched by the top of the table’s individual power.

The top of the Pack

5.) DAMWON KIA
Last Week: 4 (-1)
1-2 Loss vs DRX; 2-0 Win vs HLE

DK find themselves consistently dropping games against the top teams, while crushing the bottom half. Although DK took game 2 with an early lead in their first matchup, the grindy and consistently pushed pace of DRX proved to be too much, as DK struggled to find picks or openings into team fights. Against HLE, DK was able to really shine, with each member individually capable of being the carrying force in each fight. However, without the killer instinct to effectively find targets and open up engagements, DK are lacking in execution on their star power.

4.) DRX (5-3)
Last Week: 3 (-1)
2-1 Win vs DK; 0-2 Loss vs GEN

DRX found themselves trying new compositions and mixing up their pace to varying success this week. Against DK, a stride was found in their consistent map awareness and pushing, able to poke and seize advantages over time without too much risk. Two Corki performances form Mid laner Kim “Zeka” Geon-woo led to their 2-1 victory over DK. Against GEN however, DRX would choke up, unable to find the crucial fights or picks, even if they stayed close in gold and objectives. DRX has shown their capacity to develop, and with a little more experimentation and confidence in their style, they can recoup their losses and climb back up to the top.

3.) Liiv SANDBOX (6-2)
Last Week: 5 (+2)
2-1 Win vs HLE; 2-0 Win vs NS

LSB took a blazing fast pace in their victories, with three out of four games lasting underneath thirty minutes. The conversion rate from each pick to another pick, a tower or a neutral objective is what really makes the team shine, and what enables their leads. A little bit of cleaning up the map and reigning in the aggression would be the next improvements, but LSB shine brighter than their mistakes. These lead to HLE’s Game 1 victory against them due to a Baron coin flip, but all other aspects of LSB’s game are at full steam and force, and they look to stay at the top.

2.) Gen.G (7-1)
Last Week: 1 (-1)
1-2 Loss vs T1; 2-0 Win vs DRX

Although they lost against T1, Gen.G still showcases why they stand at the top of the table in a close three game series. Jeong “Chovy” Ji-hoon found himself at the center of the team with MVP performances, but not enough to pull GEN across the finish line. However, in their series against DRX, GEN showed again why they are a tier above the rest of the league. A 44:03 Game 1 was upended by a 29:50 Game 2, where GEN fully exposed their opponent’s weaknesses to drive home a 2-0 series. GEN drop in the standings, but still sit as the gatekeepers to the exclusive top tier of the LCK.

1.) T1 (7-1)
Last Week: 2 (+1)
2-1 Win vs GEN; 2-0 Win vs BRO

T1 now ties Gen.G’s current record at the top of the table and hold the head-to-head record against them. Heroics like a Baron steal from Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok in Game 2, and better team fights lead to their 2-1 victory this week. Their games against BRO only helped to reinforce T1’s dominance, ending with the fastest game of the week at 23:36, showing immense flexibility in all of their compositions. T1 shows their ability to outpace their contemporaries and crush the lower end of the table. They sit tied with Gen.G in the rankings, but at the top of the 2022 LCK Summer Split Power Rankings for Week 5.

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