The Sophomore Slump: Karmine Corp’s Slow Start to Their Second Year

I don’t speak French. I can’t read French. Virginia public schools required students to take three years of a foreign language and I took German because my middle school allowed students to sell chocolate bars if you were a member of the German club. I’m not kidding.

Yet for the past year, the Ligue Française de League of Legends has been a must-watch. Unable to understand a word of what they’re saying, there is still this beauty to it. The commentators deliver passion in a way that is universally understood, young players deliver on the rift. And more importantly, there is a Karmine Corp.

The brain child of content creators Kamel “Kameto” Kebir and Zouhair “Kotei” Darji, the organization has taken esports by storm. In competitive League of Legends, their fans known as the “Blue Wall” dramatically changed the perception of what is possible from a “second-tier” esports organization. Viewership numbers were out of this world for the LFL — and most of the credit is given to the influence of Karmine Corp.

The team also had an incredible 2021 on the rift. Not only are they the first two-time winner of EU Masters, they did it back-to-back. No other organization has even made it to the finals twice. They were revolutionary.

But after a slow start to the LFL spring season, a season where their expectations were astronomical given the transfer of Martin “Rekkles” Larsson, there are some serious concerns.

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After securing the spot for the 2021 season, we witnessed the front office thinking of Karmine Corp. They placed their faith in a young top laner with potential in Adam “Adam” Maanane. Surrounding him with reputable names from the European regional leagues, the hype was there. The team lived up to expectations — especially Raphaël “Targamas” Crabbé who commanded the attention of LEC organizations.

What made the team special was how complete they looked. They weren’t without flaws, they weren’t perfect. But they were organized. Cinkrof and Targamas were exceptional when it came to their movement around the map. One of the most impressive things about Karmine Corp was their ability to team-fight.

In their summer finals match-up against Fnatic Rising, they would average a gold deficit of -373 at fifteen minutes. They would not secure a single first dragon. But with their fighting ability, it didn’t matter. At any moment, they could find themselves back into the game.

Once Adam departed from the team in the summer split, there was a clear difference in the early game. Adam was not only important as a face for the franchise, he was important to the dynamic of the team. Karmine Corp could play through him — and they would. In the LFL, he would rank first among top laners in gold difference at ten minutes (+243) and first blood percentage (37%). He would also rank third among top-laners in damage per minute. At EU Masters, he averaged a +443 gold lead at ten minutes — best among all top laners. His Darius and Olaf would make the highlight reels but his 8-1 record on Renekton between LFL and EU Masters was the real terror.

He would leave the team for Fnatic and the team would look for a viable replacement. They would turn to fellow Frenchmen Lucas “Cabochard” Simon-Meslet — last seen in 2020 on Team Vitality. A respectable and reputable player in his own right, he offered professional experience. Karmine Corp would play through him and he wouldn’t commit the same mistakes as Adam.

In theory, it was a dream scenario.

But surprisingly, the team would see some regression.

Jakub “Cinkrof” Rokicki first blood percentage would drop from 58% to 28% in the LFL. Mid laner Lucas “Saken” Fayard would go from averaging solid laning leads to becoming one of the weakest laning mid-laners in France.

But again, we know the story. Karmine Corp the team was far and away the best team in the regional leagues. However, it did set the foundation that something was up with the team.

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Targamas and Cinkrof leaving was critical. Not only are they great players, but they were also important in executing vision of the Karmine Corp coaching staff. Targamas’ departure was a tougher hit given just how incredible he was and how special it was to have that type of player on the second league. It was sort of like having a Zion Williamson on a Duke Blue Devils team. I mean — he even managed to get Matthew “xMatty” Coombs a LEC spot probably when other marksmen were more worthy.

They would bring in Doğukan “113” Balci from Turkey and Jules “Hantera” Bourgeois from UCAM Esports Club. This was much greener group in relatively core positions on the team. There would also be the signing of Rekkles after verbally committing to Jakob “Jackspektra” Kepple — adding additional attention onto the organization to perform.

Unfortunately, It feels like another situation for Rekkles where he gets himself involved with the wrong situation.

All of the spotlight was on his signing yet strategically speaking, Karmine Corp hasn’t been a “marksman first” team. He goes relatively even in lane — currently averaging a -68 gold difference at ten minutes with a -0.2 creep score difference at the same point in time. While not producing outstanding damage per minutes numbers, he has looked good individually.

The team as a whole just doesn’t really work — yet.

113 has turned to power-farming. He tops LFL junglers in gold difference at ten minutes (+165), creep score difference at ten minutes (+12.5) and creeps per minute (6.0). And while he has the fifth-highest percentage of team kills participated in(67.9%), his 53 kills participated in are the third-lowest among active junglers. The team weren’t necessarily objective powerhouses to begin with but have regressed in herald and dragon control.

Cabochard continues to be one of the best laning top laners — having a +669 average gold lead at ten minutes, a +466 experience lead at ten minutes and a +16.2 creep score difference at ten minutes. But he ranks seventh among top laners in damage per minute (402) and fifth among in kill participation (23.2%). But unlike their previous iteration, Karmine Corp is struggling in the mid to late game. In losses, they’re averaging a +101 gold difference at fifteen minutes a dragon control rate of 52%.

In their week three match-up against LDLC, they would lose a tightly contested game where LDLC did an excellent job at picking up out the members of Karmine Corp. When the game would come down to one final team fight where they simply got out team fought.

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Given KC’s recent notoriety, fans are calling for heads — specifically that of Hantera or their coaching staff for their questionable drafts. In reality, it feels like a setback resulting from a large change in team direction. Despite keeping a similar system to 2021, the talent on this turret line-up lacks the same skillset. It is difficult to replace an outstanding jungler and support.

It doesn’t necessarily mean that a change may not help– given the news that former starting support for Excel Henk “Advienne” Reijenga is available. Karmine Corp’s exponential growth as an organization still needs some time.

While great for the LFL and on a path to be an incredible partner to the LEC, the organization still has a lot of things to work through. As the region continues to grow, fandom only gets you so far. It is the much-needed reality check that will help turn this team and organization into a future representative of the LEC and help protect their legacy as one of the best and most influential European regional league team to exist. But for now, we’re seeing the growing pains.

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