Week 7 of the LCK Summer 2022 Split has wrapped up, leaving two games left in the Summer season before playoffs. Teams now race to determine their post-split fates, and if they will participate in the LCK playoffs. With three Worlds spots on the line, now is the most important time for each organization to step up. Two teams have already confirmed their playoffs spots, while two have been eliminated entirely from contention entirely. Here are the Week 8 Power Rankings for the LCK 2022 Summer Split.
[Related: LCK Power Rankings: 2022 Summer Split Week 7]
HLE found signs of life with a hero play from Lee “DuDu” Dong-ju and his Gwen against DK and a strong dominant lane against KDF, but struggled otherwise. In their losses, HLE looked utterly defeated, with only two kills in Games 2 and 3 against DK. The lack of any proactive plays from any lanes and the inability to take even a single kill draws massive criticism. HLE continue to be so close to clutching their second victory, but each loss shows why expectations have them solidly at the bottom.
BRO delivers on their improvement with another win this week, and a closer series against KDF. With a clear plan in mind of dragon stacking and converting fights afterwards, BRO held their heads high. Even though they were able to claim soul in Game 2 versus KDF, a failed Baron take cost them the game and later the series. Still, this planning came to fruition against NS, who they handily took out. BRO still has a chance to make playoffs, and looks the best ever this split to make a miraculous comeback.
Nongshim RedForce entered this week hungry, taking skirmishes and early fights to dictate the pace against LSB. Trading kills back and forth, NS showed a newfound power in their tenacity and map awareness to find angles and picks for engaging in endless fights. This earned them a win over LSB, but the same strategy was exposed heavily against BRO. A steady defense and better map control for objectives spelled NS’ downfall, but they show promising signs of improvement after so many weeks of drought.
KDF takes two wins this weekend, capitalizing on early game leads that slowly grind games in their favor. Their losses still showed signs of life with traded kills, but gold and item differences still proved too much for KDF. Creative plays like Taliyah walls to block objective fights show a level of creativity on KDF, but they lack the ability to take direct fights. Each attempt at picks or even engagements found KDF consistently losing, bringing attention a clear weakness in cohesion on the roster.
DRX fail to perform at their expected caliber, unable to play their signature grindy playstyle. LSB takes each engagement’s terms, forcing DRX to reply to middling success, with a win in Game 2. However, against GEN, DRX found themselves consistently outmatched and out-rotated, left at a complete loss for what to do. DRX have steadily lost their identity as the split has gone on, and must refocus or potentially drop out of playoff contention.
KT’s rise to the top half has been nothing short of impressive, with close games across the biggest competition. Although they fall short in the Telecom War against T1, each and every game was a slugfest that stayed close until the end. KT’s team cohesion is at its peak, with great positioning and calls for what fights they’re looking for. This was best exemplified against DK, where a hard-fought comeback amounted from better map control and team macro. KT continues to swing upwards, and could easily take a top three position with their constant growth. They now break into the top half of the LCK 2022 Summer Split Power Rankings at Week 8.
DK finds themselves being challenged a lot more in their individual lanes, with games potentially snowballing from early lane dominance. The star power of each solo lane really shows well when they succeed, but the team itself continues to have its biggest growing pains when coordinating together. Game 1 against KT showed this the best with a backdoor and separated fight tearing them completely apart. DK needs to stand firm in their calls and stick closer together, lest they fall further down the standings.
LSB fell asleep at the wheel this week, with their usual trademark aggression having a slow and slurred start. A lack of focus in team fights and objective calls lead to many picks and unnecessary deaths, leading to NS’ victory over them. The series against DRX had LSB fighting for their lives, as they struggled many times to break DRX’s gold lead or maintain their own. However, LSB was able to take firm control and go 1-1 in Week 7, waking up to their original skirmish-heavy form on time for one of their matches.
T1 found themselves in a struggle against a rapidly rising KT and the ever-dominant GEN, ending their total games at 2-3 this weekend. The Telecom War found T1 battling tooth and nail against KT, with each match decided by crucial objective fights that snowballed the games. KT almost took the series until ADC Lee “Gumayusi” Min-hyeong scored a Zeri Pentakill to seal the game. Against GEN, however, T1 found themselves unable to convert any early game advantages that they found, having their map control ripped from their hands again and again. Each time they went looking for an advantage, GEN would already be there to dismantle T1. A need for better preparation and warding of the map is what would benefit T1 to clean up their games.
Gen.G shows the LCK once again why they stand alone at the top, with a solid core for both pushing every advantage gained and buckling down for defense. Against DRX, GEN took each inch given and spread it to a mile, with one kill cascading to another and an objective each time. T1’s games started with GEN on the backfoot, but they were able to withstand the storm that T1 brought. The mid-game decisions centered around objective control are what gave Gen.G another 2-0 weekend. They continue to sit as the undisputed #1 spot on the Week 8 Power Rankings for the LCK 2022 Summer Split.
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