Week 6 of the LCK Summer 2022 Split has just finished, with just three weeks left in the Split. With six games left for each team, each match matters more than ever. Of the ten teams, only six will make it to the post-season playoffs. In Week 6, two teams have now locked their playoff spots with elimination dangerously close for the bottom three. Here are the LCK Power Rankings for Week 7 of the 2022 Summer Split.
[Related: LCK Power Rankings: 2022 Summer Split Week 6]
Nongshim RedForce tried to make some map plays compared to last week, and it showed a glimmer of hope for the roster. In their matchup against DK, the same story prevailed of an utter lack of map awareness and control, with DK taking all resources. NS were able to take one game off of KT by capitalizing on their opponent’s mistakes, but the other two games still showcases how utterly outmatched NS is in map pressure. No ability to control the map leads to team fight losses, and then another 0-2 week.
HLE’s past struggles of map control and lack of ability to take favorable fights bites them hard this week with two losses. Failed fights for first blood and rift heralds in both series calls to attention a lack of clear targets in team fights and individual execution. HLE’s early game win conditions seem to have been studied and eclipsed by their competition this week, and the team struggles with the game in a neutral map state. They have to clean up all aspects of their play if they wish to claim more than just first blood.
BRO lose both their series this week, but take two convincing games against two top teams. A massive amount of patience and understanding the win conditions of their competition showed great growth from last week. With a focus on Kim “Lava” Tae-hoon in the Mid Lane, BRO found a game plan and stuck to it, earning small victories. This growth late in the season might be too little too late, but shows a bright possibility for momentum to build for the roster. BRO sit at eighth place for Week 7, the highest in the LCK 2022 Summer Split Power Rankings that they’ve ever placed.
KDF buffered their dragon stacking strategy through a heavy emphasis on Top Laner Kim “Kiin” Gi-in, to mixed success. They showed the potential to take more than just one game off their opponents, but struggle and tunnel hard on the objectives, unable to convert to fight angles and map control. Each game held close despite their competition of T1 and LSB, but the inability to take a stable fight is what holds KDF back.
KT continued to show their massive map awareness and willingness to make plays with another 2-0 week. Cross-map plays on individual lanes or global objectives put KT in the driver’s seat, as they refused to let go of control. Although they dropped a game against NS, their victories in map, macro and fights shined more dominantly than their single defeat. KT looks to widen the gap for the playoffs bubble, and with three wins ahead of direct competition KDF. One more success can even send KT past DRX’s standing in the LCK 2022 Summer Split.
DRX recovered from their shaky past weeks, with wins claimed by massive comebacks and an iron grip on leads that they can find. Each game was played more to traditional DRX tempo, with a big emphasis on the willingness to fight for all corners of the map. Their losses were founded on lost fight after fight, but their wins found a steady pace with their lead firmly cemented. DRX looks to contest the top of the table again, but need to back it up with more visible results than just one week.
DK continues to pummel the bottom half of the table, controlling the pace and lead of lanes, objectives and the entire map against NS. With smart executes and decisions post-fights, hearlds, drakes and barons would be their constant rewards for each small advantage. Against DRX however, their confidence shook and waivered, owed to a coin flip of an early game. Whoever gains first blood and capitalizes on the advantage opens wide a Canyon of a lead, and DK fell prey to it in their 1-2 loss. The same macro game and map control seems to evaporate when they lose the lead and must be addressed. DK will stay a gatekeeper team until they can claim a win on the top half of the table.
LSB learned a good bit from their previous week’s loss to GEN, and although they dropped again 0-2, the improvement was very visible. Both games stood hotly contested with constant kills and map pressure, with LSB only dropping the most important game-ending fights. Against KDF, their fast-paced skirmish-heavy tempo worked wonders, being able to rush dragon stacks and press the attack. Game 2 showed their tenacity to overcome a 1-3 drake difference and control their enemy for favorable fights. LSB is on the brink of breaking the top teams, it’s just a matter of time.
Current Standings for Week 6 of the LCK Summer 2022 Split (Photo Credit: Riot Games)
T1 dropped two individual games this week, and looked very weak and vulnerable during them. In looking for solo fights, each lane successfully found angles and picks. However, when objective skirmishes started popping up, T1 found themselves constantly mispositioned and picked, leading to their losses. Losing their initial games in both series this week incensed T1, but it still shows a very shaky look for one of the top teams. Fans and management alike will look worriedly for the future of T1’s position, despite locking a playoffs spot.
Gen.G continue to stay as dominant as ever, showing complete prowess in all states of the game, even while experimenting with picks and strategies. Morgana Jungle against LSB and Akshan Top against HLE found GEN on the backfoot, but able to readjust and succeed in the late game. GEN is able to out-macro and out-muscle their opponents on all facets, with no clear weakness and a willingness to continue developing strategies. They will be a force to be reckoned with in the postseason, having locked their guaranteed spot in the playoffs.
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