LCS All-Pro Picks & 2024 Spring Playoffs Preview | The Dive

The Dive
13 Mar 202493:59

TLDRIn this episode of The Dive, the hosts discuss the League of Legends esports scene, focusing on the performance of various teams and players. They delve into the strengths and weaknesses of teams like 100 Thieves, Cloud9, and Team Liquid, and analyze the potential outcomes of upcoming matches. The conversation also touches on the importance of team dynamics and the impact of player mentality on game performance, highlighting the competitive nature of the league.

Takeaways

  • The conversation revolves around the League of Legends (LoL) esports scene, specifically the LCS (League Championship Series).
  • The hosts discuss various Champions in LoL, expressing their opinions on the strengths and weaknesses of each.
  • Smolder is a significant topic of discussion due to its recent performance and the community's mixed reactions to its abilities.
  • The hosts critique the perception of Smolder's abilities, particularly its pentakill mechanic and how it may not accurately reflect a player's skill.
  • The conversation touches on the importance of all-pro voting in the LCS and the difficulty in choosing deserving players for each role.
  • The hosts express their views on the potential of various LCS teams in the upcoming playoffs, with a focus on 100 Thieves vs. Cloud9 match.
  • The atmosphere and team dynamics of 100 Thieves are highlighted as potential advantages in their matches.
  • Team Liquid's (TL) performance and the potential challenges they may face in the playoffs are discussed, with concerns about their recent struggles.
  • The hosts also discuss the lower bracket teams, Energy and Dignitas, and their chances in the playoffs.
  • The conversation emphasizes the unpredictability of the playoffs and the potential for underdogs to surprise their opponents.
  • The hosts conclude with their predictions for the upcoming LCS playoffs matches and express hope for exciting games ahead.

Q & A

  • What was the general sentiment towards the champion Smolder in the community?

    -Smolder was considered a strong champion in the community, with discussions about its strength and the rate at which it achieved pentakills in professional play. It was seen as a pentakill machine, getting kills easily due to its kit, which led to concerns about its balance and potential over-powered nature.

  • How did the speaker feel about Smolder's gameplay and its impact on the perception of skill?

    -The speaker felt that Smolder's gameplay could make it seem stronger than it actually was. The ease with which it got pentakills might inflate a player's stats and make them appear more skilled, even if their damage output wasn't exceptionally high. The speaker also mentioned that it was not enjoyable to watch Smolder, despite finding it fun to play.

  • What was the significance of the stats related to Smolder's pentakills in professional play?

    -The stats showed that Smolder achieved 24 pentakills in about 22 games, which was three times faster than other champions like Zed. This rapid accumulation of pentakills led to discussions about whether Smolder was too strong and needed nerfing.

  • What was the speaker's opinion on Smolder's wave clear ability and its impact on professional play?

    -The speaker believed that Smolder's wave clear ability was problematic in professional play because it allowed the champion to bail itself out of difficult situations. This made it hard to punish Smolder for its weaknesses, especially when the wave was frozen or stacked against it.

  • What was the speaker's prediction or expectation for Smolder in the upcoming patch?

    -The speaker expected Smolder to receive nerfs in the next patch, as the development team had acknowledged the need for balance changes. However, these changes would not affect the playoffs, as the current patch would remain in use for the entire playoff season.

  • What was the speaker's view on the importance of drafting Smolder in the playoffs?

    -The speaker anticipated that teams would continue to draft Smolder in the playoffs due to its strength, despite the expected nerfs. However, the speaker also expressed surprise if Smolder was not banned in the playoffs, given its perceived strength.

  • What was the speaker's opinion on the design philosophy behind Smolder?

    -The speaker mentioned that Smolder was designed to be a hyperscaling champion that was easy to pick up and play, making it more accessible to new players. However, the speaker felt that if such a champion became too strong, it could lead to a negative experience, as it would be harder to counter and punish its mistakes.

  • What was the speaker's comment on the general mentality of League of Legends players when they die in a game?

    -The speaker observed that most players tend to feel salty or upset when they die, often blaming their defeat on factors like their teammates' performance or the strength of the opponent's champion, rather than acknowledging a well-played opponent.

  • What was the speaker's personal experience with a no-show for a movie date?

    -The speaker shared an anecdote about being stood up for a movie date to see 'Dune'. Despite buying the ticket for the no-show friend, the friend did not arrive at the theater, leading to a humorous and classic gamer moment.

  • What was the significance of the term 'super week' in the context of the script?

    -The term 'super week' referred to a particularly intense or eventful week in the context of the show 'The Dive' and the League of Legends competitive scene. It was described as being less than the superpower of Superman but more than the 'Supercalifragilistic' from Mary Poppins, indicating a significant but not overwhelming event.

  • What was the speaker's opinion on the term 'super' in relation to the show's content?

    -The speaker seemed to use the term 'super' in a humorous and somewhat sarcastic manner, often questioning how 'super' certain events or aspects of the show were, indicating a playful skepticism towards the夸大其词 or exaggerated nature of some claims.

Outlines

00:00

🎮 Gaming Disappointments and Super Week Recap

The paragraph discusses the disappointments in gaming, particularly focusing on the lack of acknowledgement for skillful plays that lead to the defeat of opponents. It highlights the anticipation for the dive season 8, episode 9, and reflects on the challenges of adjusting to new time changes. The speaker shares a personal anecdote about being stood up for a movie date, leading to humorous self-reflection on the 'classic gamer' behavior of assuming plans will fall through without confirmation.

05:00

🏆 Upcoming Playoffs and Championship Discussions

This segment delves into the anticipation for the upcoming playoffs, discussing the schedule and the importance of the matches. It also touches on the community's discussions about the champion Smolder, noting its rapid accumulation of pentakills in professional play and the implications for the game's balance. The conversation includes speculation about potential nerfs and the impact of Smolder's wave clear ability on professional gameplay.

10:02

🎭 Smolder's Impact on Gameplay and Perception

The focus of this paragraph is on the perception of Smolder as an overpowered champion, particularly in its ability to secure pentakills and its wave clear capabilities. The speaker shares personal opinions on the enjoyment of playing scaling champions like Smolder but expresses a dislike for watching such gameplay. The discussion also includes the impact of Smolder's design on the professional scene, where the champion's strength and ease of wave clear make it difficult to punish and can detract from the excitement of its kills.

15:04

🤔 All-Pro Voting Challenges and Roster Speculation

The speaker reflects on the difficulty of voting for the All-Pro team, especially in the bot lane category. The conversation highlights the lack of a standout bot lane throughout the season and the challenge of evaluating performances based on inconsistent games. The paragraph also touches on the influence of recency bias and the struggle to balance personal opinions of players with their in-game performances.

20:04

🏅 Mid-Lane and Top-Lane All-Pro Contenders

This section focuses on the potential candidates for the All-Pro awards in the mid and top lanes. The speaker discusses the strong performances of players like Quid and JoJo in the mid lane, and the potential for Sniper to be considered for top honors in the top lane. The conversation also includes a humorous anecdote about a player's reaction to a voting show and the difficulty of comparing players in different roles.

25:05

🌟 Snippet of Upcoming Matches and Team Dynamics

The speaker provides a preview of the upcoming LCS matches, highlighting the first match between 100 Thieves and Cloud9. The paragraph includes a discussion on the perception of the teams by professionals and the public, as well as the potential impact of the teams' draft strategies. The speaker also shares thoughts on the importance of the series for the teams' reputations and the potential for an upset.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Champion

In the context of the video, 'Champion' refers to the characters or heroes that players control in the game League of Legends. Champions have unique abilities and playstyles, and their performance can significantly impact the outcome of a match. The term is used to discuss the strengths, weaknesses, and strategies associated with different champions.

💡Pentakill

A 'Pentakill' is a term used in multiplayer online battle arena games like League of Legends to denote the achievement of a single player killing all five members of the opposing team within a short time frame. It is a rare and significant event that showcases a player's skill and often leads to high praise and recognition within the gaming community.

💡Draft

In the context of the video, 'Draft' refers to the selection process of champions during the beginning of a League of Legends match where each team chooses their champions strategically. The draft phase is critical as it sets the stage for the team's strategy and can influence the game's outcome.

💡All-Pro

The term 'All-Pro' in the context of the video refers to an accolade given to the best-performing players in the League of Legends Championship Series (LCS). It is a recognition of individual player excellence and is based on their performance throughout the season.

💡Smolder

Smolder is a champion in League of Legends that is discussed extensively in the video. The champion is noted for its ability to quickly secure pentakills and has become a topic of debate among players and professionals due to its perceived strength and the ease with which it can accumulate kills.

💡Meta

In gaming, 'Meta' refers to the most effective strategies, tactics, or styles of play that have been identified by the community through experience and competition. It is often influenced by the game's current patch, champion balance, and professional play.

💡Scrim

A 'Scrim' is short for scrimmage, which in the context of esports refers to practice matches between professional teams. These matches are used to test strategies, prepare for tournaments, and improve team coordination without the pressure of official competition.

💡Playoffs

In the context of the video, 'Playoffs' refers to the postseason tournament of the League of Legends Championship Series (LCS) where teams compete for the championship title. The playoffs are a best-of-five format, meaning the first team to win three games takes the series.

💡Trash Talk

In gaming and esports, 'Trash Talk' refers to the act of verbally challenging or mocking opponents in a competitive context, often intended to psyche them out or as a form of banter. It's a part of the gaming culture and is usually taken in good spirits, though it can sometimes cross into unsportsmanlike conduct.

💡Teamfight

A 'Teamfight' in MOBA games like League of Legends is a coordinated battle between both teams, where the objective is to eliminate the opposing team's members while preserving one's own. Team fights are crucial for securing objectives and turning the tide of the game.

Highlights

The discussion revolves around the gaming community's reactions to in-game deaths and the perception of skill in various champions.

The hosts share personal experiences of missed social engagements due to gaming, reflecting on the dedication and time commitment within the gaming community.

Anecdotes about scheduling and the anticipation of upcoming events highlight the social aspect of gaming and the importance of coordination.

The conversation touches on the excitement and anticipation for the upcoming playoff season, emphasizing the competitive nature of gaming events.

The hosts discuss the statistics and performance of the champion Smolder in professional play, indicating a potential balance issue.

The discussion delves into the strategic elements of Smolder's gameplay, including wave clear and the perception of strength versus actual performance.

The conversation highlights the importance of champion balance and the impact of game mechanics on player experience and professional play.

The hosts express their personal preferences for playing certain champions and the satisfaction derived from scaling and strategic gameplay.

The discussion includes speculation on potential balance changes and the anticipation of how these changes will affect gameplay and professional matches.

The hosts share their views on the All-Pro voting process, emphasizing the difficulty in evaluating player performance across different roles.

The conversation reflects on the challenges of recognizing and rewarding consistent performance versus standout moments in professional gaming.

The hosts discuss the impact of recency bias on voting and player perception, highlighting the influence of recent performances on community and professional opinions.

The discussion touches on the importance of adapting to new champions and the learning curve associated with them, reflecting the dynamic nature of gaming.

The hosts share their predictions for the upcoming LCS playoffs, showcasing their knowledge of team dynamics and performance.

The conversation concludes with a reflection on the importance of team atmosphere and mental preparation in professional gaming.