Buzz
The last match of the first leg of LCK Spring 2023 against DRX holds greater significance for T1 than a mere triumph.
Facing DRX in the match, T1 secured a 2-0 victory, not without some challenges. However, it's difficult to claim that T1 completely obliterated the 'Green Dragons.' In the first game, Faker and teammates encountered significant obstacles. If Zeus doesn't reach power thresholds early, the match could have extended further.
Nevertheless, the final match of T1 in the first leg of LCK Spring 2023 concluded flawlessly. Beyond just a win, T1 might have drawn valuable lessons and crucial formulas for this year's Spring championship journey.
Enabling Keria to unleash creativity.
In contrast to previous seasons where LCK teams tended to follow prevalent metas, the current scenario gathers innovative playstyles, notably represented by Keria and BeryL. Keria, in particular, holds an advantage over BeryL as T1's roster consists of outstanding players who synergize well. On the other hand, BeryL is the sole remaining member of DRX 2022 after the last year's offseason transfer.
Hence, forcing Keria into a conventional meta without fully leveraging this player's wide champion pool would be a regrettable missed opportunity. Moreover, common playstyles following each update are meticulously studied by teams. Therefore, genuinely innovative choices are the key to T1's victory.
Allocate resources for both Gumayusi and Zeus.
Current playstyles of most teams revolve around the Bottom Lane as Marksmen have gained strength in recent updates. However, T1 has a unique strength: they boast two extremely sharp attack points (which could be four if Faker and Oner use damage-dealing champions and are in top form). Hence, T1 needs to maximize their gameplay on both wings.
As seen in game 1, Zeus displayed exceptional form and the ability to carry the team with Fiora reaching power thresholds early. If T1 plays more boldly and innovatively, the match could end early, as within less than 20 minutes, Zeus had stats almost equal to game time, with 4 takedowns and over 2 items (excluding boots).
Prevent Oner from using tanky Jungle champions.
Despite the current focus on robust Jungle champions like Sejuani and Nocturne, it would be a significant setback for Oner and T1. In reality, Oner needs to use more proactive, damage-dealing champions rather than playing a supporting role for the team.
This is evident when he fails to maximize the effectiveness of Sejuani. However, when using Nidalee, Oner immediately earns himself an MVP title for game 2.
Conclusion
T1 has never been a team confined to the metas of the League of Legends world. It is their greatest strength and a formidable weapon that enables Faker and teammates to bring unexpected strategies to their opponents. Perhaps, if T1 continues to play effectively, they don't need to rigidly adhere to specific strategies, only to face undesired outcomes.
