Buzz
Keria shares unexpected revelations about the encounter with Gen.G.
After the first two matches in the Spring 2024 LCK, T1 secured one win and one loss. The loss to Gen.G, particularly in game 2, was regrettable. T1 had a substantial advantage, but Gen.G resiliently defended before counterattacking. The early season matches might not reveal much, and T1 seems to be finding their rhythm in professional play and adapting to the new meta.
However, T1 consistently seizes every opportunity to experiment with different strategies for the long journey ahead. Recently, T1 pioneered using the World Map meta with a Support going for two Support items. Gumayusi opted for Bloodward - an item providing health, regeneration, and 5 gold every 10 seconds. Additionally, it deals 150% bonus physical damage and applies the Weakness Revealed effect, causing the opponent to take extra damage for 6 seconds.
This strategy ensures both Support and Marksman gain significant resources during the laning phase. Yet, since it's a Support item, not a typical Marksman build, AD carries may lag behind in itemization compared to the usual pace. Clear evidence showed that Gumayusi didn't secure any kills in the first game against Gen.G. Towards the end, his damage noticeably declined.
According to Keria's post-match comments after defeating Kwangdong Freecs, using the World Map meta is simply T1's way of... 'testing the waters,' and Gen.G is the 'green army' in this experimental phase. Specifically, Keria mentioned: 'Before the first match (against Gen.G), Coach Tom suggested we try the World Map meta because on the LPL super server, they are playing like this. We played ranked with it, but we never used it in practice until the match against Gen.G—it was our first time using this meta in a professional setting.'
Clearly, T1 persists in a familiar 'habit' of experimenting with new ideas even in high-stakes matches. Even in the face of defeat, T1 can uncover strengths and weaknesses in their gameplay. A notable example is after the loss to Gen.G at Worlds 2023, they bounced back undefeated, marching straight to the championship. It's highly likely that this Spring 2024 season in LCK will be a similar journey for Faker and teammates as they delve into the competition.
