League of Legends news » Power Rankings 5/19/2015

After Taipei Assasins hoisted the Season 2 World Championship trophy, an era of Korean dominance was ushered in. While select international tournaments were not always won by Koreans, such as IPL5 or IEM Katowice 2015, marquee Worlds and All Star events have all been won by Korean teams. The streak was finally ended when Edward Gaming defeated SKTelecom T1 3-2 in the Finals of the Mid-Season Invitational.

The event and individual performances vastly exceeded expectations. Ahq e-Sports Club and Fnatic proved that their regions belonged among the world's elite with narrow defeats to the aforementioned Korean team, both reaching the Semifinals.

What can we learn from MSI and how will regional competition look going into the Summer Split?

Find out the favorites and big winners of the offseason...

Korea

1. SKTelecom T1
2. CJ Entus
3. KOO Tigers (formerly GE Tigers)
4. KT Rolster
5. Najin e-mFire
6. Incredible Miracle
7. Jin Air Green Wings
8. Samsung
9. Prime
10. Anarchy

SKT had an impressive performance at MSI, but it was still below the standards we've come to expect from dominant Korean teams. Afterall, the last time we saw SKT play in Korea, they were destroying the KOO Tigers (then GE Tigers) 3-0 in the LCK Finals. However, considering that SKT barely got by CJ Entus in the Semifinals after running the table to win 3-2, it's not that surprising that SKT struggled at MSI.

Given CJ Entus' impressive performance against SKT in the Champions Playoffs, we are giving them the No. 2 nod in Korea for now. However a host of challengers are rising through the ranks, especially KT Rolster and Najin e-mFire, who had great second halves of the Split.

Panel: Alex Manisier, Erik "DoA" Lonnquist, Christopher "MonteCristo" Mykles, and Mike "Noctt" Huh

China

1. Edward Gaming
2. LGD Gaming
3. Invictus Gaming
4. OMG
5. Vici Gaming
6. Snake
7. Team WE
8. Masters 3
9. Team King
10. Qiao Gu
11. Royal Never Give Up
12. Unlimited Potential

EDG returns to China as victors in one of the most intense international tournaments to date. However, after the sprint that was MSI, they return to the marathon of the LPL's 44-game schedule. MSI MVP Kai "Clearlove" Ming and company still remain the undisputed best team in China, but several teams are in the mix to contend for the LPL Championship. LGD and Invictus both had massive improvements in the second half of the Split and could challenge EDG's reign.

In the middle of the standings, OMG, Vici and Snake have some adjustments to make if they are going to make deep runs in the Playoffs.

Panel: Barento "Raz" Mohammed, Michale "Drexxin" Lalor, and Carlos "H0tsawce" Bravo.

North America

1. Team SoloMid
2. Cloud9
3. Team Liquid
4. Team Impulse
5. Counter Logic Gaming
6. Gravity
7. Team8
8. Enemy Esports
9. Team Dragon Knights
10. Team Dignitas

Expectations were high for TSM going into MSI after their dominance of IEM Katowice. However everything that could go wrong, did go wrong -- TSM suffered one of the worst underperformances in the modern League of Legends era. TSM isn't making any personnel changes after their performance, but they are adjusting based on their shortcomings. We fully expect them to bounce back in regional play in spite of their MSI troubles.

Most of the other North American teams are staying the course as well, with five teams in total choosing not to change rosters for Week 1 (though Team8 has stated they will be adding Nien to their roster for Week 2). The most notable acquisition in North America is that of Nicolaj "Incarnati0n" Jensen to Cloud9. With a vastly improved mechanical player, Cloud9 looks to challenge TSM for title of best in NA -- but we're not willing to make that declaration just yet.

At the bottom of the league, the newcomers have already made roster shakeups to improve their chances coming into the LCS, while Team Dignitas hasn't made personnel adjustments since barely qualifying back into the LCS.

Panel: Cameron Gilbert, Mattias "Gentleman Gustaf" Lehman, Taylor "Riot RoboTayCo" Cocke, Jason "Riot Jayway" Wai, Joshua "Riot Jatt" Leesman, and Frank "Riot Mirhi" Fields.

Europe

1. Fnatic
2. H2K
3. Unicorns of Love
4. Origen
5. Gambit Gaming
6. Elements
7. SK Gaming
8. Copenhagen Wolves
9. ROCCAT
10. Giants Gaming

If TSM had an underperformance at MSI, Fnatic had their magnum opus of 2015. Fnatic's play in MSI was something unlike anything we've seen out of the squad in a very long time. They were unable to defeat SKT, but still took them to the full five games. Coming off the tournament, they actually improved their roster with the addition of former team member and EU LCS MVP Martin "Rekkles" Larsson.

Many will notice the very high placement of new team Origen. With a roster that includes a number of LCS (and Worlds) veterans, we are pretty confident in their ability to perform. However we'd be dishonest if we didn't admit we're not certain on this placement -- they could end up anywhere between 3 and 7.

Additionally, Gambit made another marquee acquisition with Konstantinos "FORG1VEN" Tzortziou-Napoleon joining the squad after leaving SK Gaming.

We also feel pretty good with Elements' roster changes, but with an entirely new roster, it's impossible to tell how the team will synergize. They are at a very conservative 6th Place right now, but it's possible they could improve.

Panel: Devin "PiraTechnics" Young, Mattias "Gentleman Gustaf" Lehman, Taylor "Riot RoboTayCo" Cocke, Jason "Riot Jayway" Wai, and Frank "Riot Mirhi" Fields.

Taiwan

1. Ahq e-Sports Club
2. Yoe Flash Wolves
3. Hong Kong Esports
4. Taipei Assassins
5. Midnight Sun
6. Assassin Sniper
7. Logitech Snipers
8. Machi Esports

Ahq has proven that Taiwan is a force to be reckoned with. After defeating both Western teams at MSI, they nearly pulled a Group Stage upset over SKT before making key errors that allowed SKT to end the game. Ahq still performed admirably and look to be the class of Taiwan for the foreseeable future. Without many impactful changes from the other top teams, we can't see ahq falling behind unless a dramatic paradigm shift happens within the regional metagame.

One story to follow is the appearance of Assassin Sniper, a super team of veteran players lead by former Taipei Assassins captain and Season 2 World Champion Bo-Wei "Bebe" Cheng.

Panel: James "Obscurica" Chen and Chia "Reazony" Yu.

Brazil

1. Keyd Stars
2. paIN Gaming
3. INTZ e-Sports
4. KaBuM! Orange
5. CNB e-Sports Club
6. KaBuM! Black
7. INTZ e-Sports Red
8. g3nerationX

In a preseason ranking based primarily on offseason acquisitions, none ranks higher than Vivo Fibra Keyd Stars' signing of former INTZ e-Sports jungler, and First Split superstar, Gabriel "Revolta" Henud. Most teams in the first week of CBLoL 2015 Winter will be acclimating themselves to their new rosters, making it the easiest time for one or two players to carry a team to victory. Revolta is no stranger to former CNB 2014 teammate Murilo "takeshi" Alves, and Keyd should be able to bank on their mid and jungle synergy, along with consistent play from veteran support Caio "Loop" Almeida. Similarly, paiN Gaming is looking strong due to their signing of former Keyd carry top laner, Matheus "Mylon" Borges.

INTZ falls a bit comparatively, due to the loss of Revolta and their first split support player Luan "Jockster" Cardoso's return to the jungle position. This is still a strong meta for mid laner Gabriel "Tockers" Claumann and top laner Felipe "Yang" Zhao, and it will fall on Jockster to garner advantages for his solo laners. Meanwhile, veteran support Leonardo "Alocs" Belo joins AD carry Micael "micaO" Rodrigues in the bottom lane.

Also of note is KaBuM! e-Sports Orange, who reacquired AD carry Gustavo "Minerva" Alves, a player instrumental to their successful 2014 Wildcard run into Worlds.

Written by Emily Rand

Panel: Emily Rand

Japan

1. DetonatioN FocusMe
2. 7th Heaven
3. RabbitFive - Finalist
4. Ozone Rampage
5. Rascal Jester
6. ApeX R Gaming

DetonatioN FocusMe returns from Turkey to a whole new landscape to contend with. Every single LJL team made major roster changes during the offseason, and the last-place Salvage Javelin has been replaced with newcomers ApeX R Gaming. As every team besides FocusMe is a completely unknown quantity right now, this existing ranking is based mostly on last split performance and may shift dramatically after the matches begin this weekend.

The biggest wild cards are easily Ozone Rampage and 7th heaven, both of whom have brought in two Korean players and a Korean head coach. As 7th heaven have recently committed themselves to a full-time gaming house and already proved themselves very near RabbitFive's equal, I'm giving them the No. 2 nod. Meanwhile, several LJL veterans from Rascal Jester's Ryo "apaMEN" Odagiri to RF's Kentaro "Awaker" Hanaoka will be swapping roles for the new season, continuing to search for that winning formula. In spite of FocusMe's domestic domination, they were unable to come out strong internationally. If a Japanese team is going to have a chance at Worlds this year, it's time to raise the bar across the board.

Written by Cameron Gilbert

Panel: Cameron Gilbert

Turkey

1. Beşiktaş (2-0)
2. HWA.Gamesatış (2-0)
3. Oyun Hizmetleri  (2-0)
4. Dark Passage (1-1)
5. NumberOne eSports Club (1-1)
6. Crew (0-2)
7. Team Turquality (0-2)
8. Atlas (0-2)

After a successful IWCI appearance and international exposure at MSI by Winter Split Champions Beşiktaş, the TCL Summer Split started on May 16th, hoping to build the regions recent international success. BJK proved that they are not phased by their congested tournament schedule and are still hungry for success after defeating former Summer Split champions Dark Passage in their opening matches.

HWA.Gamesatış added former Gambit Gaming mid laner Sebastian "niQ" Robak to their roster, and they look increasingly strong after stomping both of the matches. Newcomers OHM also won two games thanks to their relatively light schedule. DP and NR1 are close followers to the leading pack, but since they have new players on their roster, they’ll have to improve on team chemistry and synergy.

TCL games will continue next week with HWA facing OHM & DP, and BJK with an easier time facing CREW & A. Don’t forget to tune in to http://www.lolespor.com Saturday and Sunday 14.00 UTC +1 to catch the matches and for more information about the TCL.

Written by Christopher Willekens

Panel: Kursad Demirer, Christopher Willekens

Oceania

1. Chiefs eSports Club
2. Dire Wolves
3. Avant Gaming
4. Legacy eSports
5. Team Immunity
6. Sin Gaming
7. Absolute
8. Sudden Fear

The Oceanic Pro League is just a few days away from starting, and Split 2 will welcome two new teams in Sin Gaming and Absolute. Additionally, every team has made some kind of roster change from the previous split, creating a lot of uncertainty -- especially among the lower-ranking teams.

Sudden Fear have barely held onto their OPL spot by the skin of their teeth, but do not inspire a lot of confidence in us due to their struggles against Challenger teams that Sin and Absolute have had an easier time against. The 3rd-5th bracket will be in contention, but Avant seem to be the only team on the rise out of the three due to their acquisition of the young but talented bot lane of Mitchell "Destiny" Shaw and Kieran "Warble" Brown.

At the top, it's business as usual as Chiefs and Dire Wolves have both changed up their rosters in the support and jungle position, respectively. The OPL might seem like a two-horse race at the moment, but with all the roster rotations that have been happening, Split 2 is still anyone's game.

Written by Alex Manisier

Panel: Alex Manisier

International

1. Edward Gaming
2. SKTelecom T1
3. LGD Gaming
4. CJ Entus
5. Invictus Gaming
6. Ahq e-Sports Club
7. Fnatic
8. KOO Tigers
9. KT Rolster
10. OMG
11. Najin e-mFire
12. Team SoloMid
13. yoe Flash Wolves
14. H2K
15. Vici Gaming
16. Snake
17. Cloud9
18. Unicorns of Love
19. Hong Kong Esports
20. Incredible Miracle

I'll need a deep breath for this one.

While ahq and Fnatic represented their regions well at MSI, there wasn't a huge trickle down effect for their entire regions being boosted up -- only a little bit. We knew the gap between Korean teams and the rest of the world was closing, and we can see that not only has it closed, but it's almost non-existent at the top. Yet, there is something to be said for depth.

Our first non-Chinese or Korean team comes in at ahq at No. 6, followed by Fnatic at No. 7. The differentiation is based largely on the head to head of the teams and how they played against SKT. Most of our panel agreed that EDG was a particularly bad matchup for both teams and likely both would have been 3-0'd by the MSI Champions.

TSM, and by extension North America, has a bit of work to do. However we are confident that Incarnati0n will eventually propel Cloud9 to be a legitimate international competitor again. Aside from the appearance of some of the top three NA and EU teams showing up, we mostly believe in that depth of China and Korea will eventually win out.

Images courtesy of Inven, Garena, SANKO, and paiN Gaming

Frank Fields is a Senior Editor for Riot Games' Esports Web Content team. You'll find him flash charming people in Diamond... or on Twitter where he'd love to talk to you about esports.