Buzz
While Nuguri's comeback is a source of joy for DK, the team's challenges extend beyond the Top Lane.
Recently, the League of Legends community, especially LCK fans and DWG KIA enthusiasts, celebrated as Korean media confirmed Nuguri's return to his 'old home' in the Summer of 2022. If this deal comes to fruition, it would be a highly valuable addition for both DK and the Korean LoL scene. For years, since the inception of the tournament, LCK has never faced a shortage of talented toplaners like it does now. Even past quality names like Doran and Rascal have somewhat lost their form in the recent Spring Split of 2022.
In the recent LCK Spring Split 2022, DK officially relinquished their crown in the second playoff match, suffering a 2-3 defeat against the runners-up, Gen.G Esports. Notably, the fifth game could be considered a bitter loss for DK, having led in kills, towers, gold, and much more for the majority of the match. With such a massive advantage, the DK of the past would undoubtedly secure victory. However, this time, ShowMaker and teammates faltered as Gen.G orchestrated a comeback.
Highlights GEN vs DK - Ván 5 _ Bán Kết 2 _ LCK Mùa Xuân 2022
With Nuguri's comeback, DK will have the top lane duo that led them to victory in the 2020 Worlds after defeating SofM's Suning. But at this moment, can Nuguri alone solve all of DK's problems?
Hoya/Burdol are just the smallest issues
It's evident that a major issue for DK this season, as with many other teams in the LCK, is the lack of a quality toplaner. In previous seasons, DK had Nuguri, a young player who demonstrated his talent in making breakthroughs and turning the tide of matches. With Nuguri gone, DK welcomed Khan from FunPlus Phoenix. Khan, an experienced and skilled player, stepped in to fill the void left by Nuguri.
After Khan's departure, neither Burdol nor Hoya proved capable replacements. Both players have never been considered of high quality. Burdol, a former T1 trainee, gained fame for his godly Akali. However, without those 'comfort' champions, Burdol struggled to support the team. Recall the period when Burdol and Rascal faced difficulties at Worlds 2021 against Team Liquid and LNG Esports.
As for Hoya, the former Griffin star has not been an outstanding player. His career has been somewhat turbulent, changing teams three times in just over two years. While with GRF, Hoya's team was no longer the 'Super Rookie' it once was, and with Fredit BRION, they remained a mid-tier team in the LCK.
But the truth is, Hoya and Burdol are essentially makeshift solutions for DK when they couldn't secure preferred players. In the grand scheme of things, these two names are just the smallest, most visible issues for DK in the Spring of 2022.
The champion's mentality and the worry named ShowMaker
However, DK's bigger concerns may be issues that Nuguri alone cannot resolve. It's about ShowMaker's form and the champion's mentality. As mentioned earlier, DK suffered a bitter defeat against Gen.G, falling 10k gold behind in the decisive game 5—something unprecedented during DK's dominant era. Even with T1 regaining form at Worlds 2021, DK did not allow Faker and team the opportunity for such a comeback. This indicates that DK's roster changes have affected not only their lineup but also their champion's mentality.
This Spring, DK faced reversals at least twice, both in significant battles. In the first-round match against T1, in game 3, Canyon's miraculous plays helped DK take a substantial lead, even pressuring T1's tier 4 turret. However, due to a hasty move, DK ended up losing the match. They no longer possess the calm, icy composure to finish off opponents as they did before.
Highlights DK vs T1 - Ván 3 _ Tuần 3 Ngày 5 _ LCK Mùa Xuân 2022
Next up is the most evident issue: ShowMaker's notable decline in form. It's challenging to attribute this to the roster change, as Canyon, the midlaner born in 2000, is still there and performing well. However, ShowMaker has shown a disadvantage against two other names—veteran Faker and the remaining one, Chovy. ShowMaker failing to win against Chovy not only impacts the lane but also has a significant influence on the game. Among the four midlaners present at Worlds 2021, ShowMaker is only ahead of Bdd, who has declined alongside the entire Nongshim RedForce team.
In the past, when DK played around the top lane, ShowMaker and Nuguri/Khan were the primary damage dealers. This Spring, despite the meta shift, ShowMaker still receives a considerable share of resources. However, he is no longer the same under the invisible pressure from the defeat at Worlds 2021, the obligation to retain the LCK crown in a new season, and the changes in DK's roster—all of which have had a profound impact on ShowMaker's form and competitive mentality.
And these two main weaknesses, Nuguri alone may not be enough to address. Other DK players, including ShowMaker himself, must self-improve from now until the start of the Summer 2022 season. If the issues persist, Nuguri, even if he regains his previous form, might just be another player sharing the nickname 'backbone' with Canyon.
