The summer season is well underway across the globe, and standings are finally beginning to settle within the major regions. With the road to Worlds heating up, Upcomer’s weekly League of Legends global power rankings will keep you in the loop on which teams are blazing their way through the competition and making their mark week to week.
Last week, China’s League of Legends Pro League saw a big shake-up. The result? Two new teams on our list. With Royal Never Give Up stuck in a slump after their victory at the 2021 Mid-Season Invitational, it may take time for them to fully recover and return to the form we’ve come to expect. In the meantime, LNG Esports and Team WE fought their way onto our rankings after strong starts to the summer split. In the League of Legends European Championship and League of Legends Champions Korea, G2 Esports and Gen.G are distinguishing themselves once again as top teams.
Remember, since we’re only a few weeks into Summer, there are still plenty of games to play and plenty of chances for upsets. With that said, here are the best performers, and our Top 10, from around the globe over the past week.
10. Team WE, LPL
Record: 3-0 (6-1)
Results this week: 1-0 (2-0)
Movement this week: New
Starting things off for this week’s League of Legends global power rankings is Team WE, who are currently the third place team in the LPL. WE have had a decent start to their summer but they also haven’t run into a particularly challenging schedule. They’ve only faced some of the middling and lower tier LPL teams at this point and will need to show strong performances against the upper half of the league to really impress.
WE is coming off a sixth place finish in the spring split regular season. Their spring playoffs, however, left a lot to be desired. WE’s spring run ended when Suning Gaming swept them out of the second round. They’ve definitely got a lot of improving to do if they want to find their way to Worlds. With FunPlus Phoenix and Rare Atom on their schedule this week, they’ve got their first real shot at proving this recent success is for real. If they fail, they’ll be outed as not quite Elite.
— Parkes Ousley
9. MAD Lions, LEC
Record: 3-2
Results this week: 1-1
Movement this week: -3
MAD Lions seem like they’re trying to keep their impressive Week 1 at arms’ length. In their first game of the week against Excel, MAD proved they weren’t prepared to beat the lower-ranked team. Excel’s teamfights were better, and their objective control stole MAD’s chances to win. MAD’s overall communication seemed a bit off, which led them to drop in this week’s League of Legends power rankings.
However, their second game against Schalke 04 left some hope for redemption, jungler Javier “Elyoya” Prades and bot laner Matyáš “Carzzy” Orság had the highest number of kills throughout the 32 minute game. Additionally, they managed to take every objective, with four dragons and nine towers, leading to success. If MAD keep playing like that, they may climb back up from where they’ve fallen.
— Carolynn Soba
8. T1, LCK
Record: 2-2 (5-4)
Results this week: 1-1 (2-2)
Movement this week: -1
T1 split their games yet again this week, beating Fredit BRION 2-0 and losing to Liiv SANDBOX. They maintain their top 10 spot because of the continued teamfight prowess, but did not impress enough this week to climb the ladder.
T1 dealt with Fredit’s upstart squad with ease this week. Ryu “Keria” Min-seok and Park “Teddy” Jin-seong continued to stomp their lane opponents and Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok’s control mages are now back in the meta. When the team is working together, and on simple compositions, they appear to be world class. But, when playing something outside their comfort zone or coming off of a game loss, they lose that luster.
Take their most recent series loss against Liiv SANDBOX. T1 attempted a Lee Sin bot lane pick, just the second time the champion has appeared in that role in the LCK this split. Just like the previous attempt, the bot lane Lee Sin did not work out as the game went on, despite Keria’s best efforts in going 5/3/2. T1 lost that game and came into the second one lethargic, losing in under 25 minutes and notching just one kill on the scoreboard.
T1 will be one of the more interesting stories to follow this split. Their duality in play has kept them low on our rankings, but their upside has kept them in the top 10. Let’s see where they go from here.
– Declan McLaughlin
7. G2 Esports, LEC
Record: 4-1
Results this week: 2-0
Movement this week: +3
G2 Esports’ performance in LEC Week 2 sees them jump into seventh place in our rankings. They ended the second week of the LEC with a 2-0 record after defeating both Astralis and Rogue. These wins ultimately moved them into a tie with Misfits Gaming atop the LEC standings. After two weeks of league action, G2 seem to be ahead of their counterparts.
Moreover, G2’s jungler, Marcin “Jankos” Jankowski’s performance has greatly improved in the last few games. His Rumble pick against Rogue all but ensured G2’s success in that game. He finished with three solo kills as well as a 10/4/15 KDA. Furthermore, G2’s bot lane duo continue to maintain their fine form, with Martin “Rekkles” Larsson currently holding the league’s lead in KDA.
While G2’s early game still leaves a lot to be desired, the team has also looked better overall in teamfighting and map control. They ended their match against Rogue with nearly a 10,000 gold lead and 30 kills. Lackluster early game aside, G2 look like the best team in Europe right now.
– Rashidat Jimoh
6. Royal Never Give Up, LPL
Record: 0-2 (1-4)
Results this week: 0-2 (1-4)
Movement this week: -5
Royal Never Give Up did the expected: They had a rough start to the summer split after going all the way at MSI. What’s important is they’re still the trophy holders, even after losing both of their opening matches. But what’s also important is their need to find their place in the new meta and piece together their style and synergy yet again. Their biggest pain points are mid and jungle, with both Yuan “Cryin” Cheng-Wei and Yan “Wei” Yang-Wei sitting near the bottom of the league in KDA and Earned Gold per Minute, according to Oracle’s Elixir.
In 2018, after winning their first MSI, RNG lost in the opening weekend and then swept three series the second week to jump right back on top of the league. The team hasn’t dropped off our rankings with these two losses, but if they don’t right the ship soon, there is plenty of talent across the league to kick them out of Worlds contention without a smidge of hesitation.
RNG are now in the hunt to do what they couldn’t in 2018 — complete the League of Legends Grand Slam by winning the LPL summer split and then the World Championship. But they can’t do that if they get eliminated from the playoffs before it even begins. With FunPlus Phoenix on their schedule this week, they have a chance to prove they’re still at the top. If they falter yet again, they may very well set themselves up for an incredibly difficult season.
— Ousley
5. DWG KIA, LCK
Record: 3-1 (6-3)
Results this week: 2-0 (4-0)
Movement this week: +1
DWG Kia made a few bold moves this week to improve their roster. Role swapping Heo “ShowMaker” Su to the bot lane, Kim “Canyon” Geon-bu to the mid lane and subbing in jungler Kim “Malrang” Geun-seong has brought some success to the team. They are undefeated since the changes and continue to teamfight exceptionally well. Malrang has stepped into his role well, replacing the LCK MVP with three good Rumble performances and a decent Volibear showing.
Canyon and ShowMaker seem unaffected by the changes, with both maintaining positive KDA’s and mid game presence despite middling laning statistics. While the team does not look to be back to its World Championship — or even spring split — form quite yet, they do seem to be innovating and enjoying their time on stage. There is no word on whether the changes are permanent, but other LCK and international-level teams should be wary of a DWG KIA that looks this good with their best two players competing outside their main roles. If their success continues, expect them to keep climbing, both in the LCK and on our League of Legends power rankings.
– McLaughlin
4. FunPlus Phoenix, LPL
Record: 3-1 (7-3)
Results this week: 1-1 (3-2)
Movement this week: -2
FunPlus Phoenix had an unexpected week. The 2019 World champions looked poised for another 2-0 performance, but somebody forgot to tell LNG Esports. And LNG came to play.
After going up 1-0 to start the best-of-three series, FPX was left humbled with back-to-back losses against LNG. The bright spot in their shocking loss was the play from the mid lane. Kim “Doinb” Tae-sang picked up player of the game honors in their lone win in the series for his dominating Akali play and looked just as dominant in game two on Viego. The team just couldn’t close the door in the close 35 minute battle.
Coming off their brutal loss to LNG, FPX luckily got to pick on last place ThunderTalk Gaming who have yet to take a single game in the LPL 2021 summer split. FPX added to that misery as they quickly dispatched TT in a 2-0 victory. Doinb was once again the main carry for FPX as he picked up both player of the game honors in the series, bringing his total to a league leading four after two weeks of play. FPX currently sits at 3-1 and are in a good position as they continue on their march to get back to Worlds after missing out last year.
– Warren Younger
3. LNG Esports, LPL
Record: 5-0 (10-3)
Results this week: 3-0 (6-2)
Movement this week: New
LNG Esports have skyrocketed up the standings to find themselves near the top of Upcomer’s League of Legends global power rankings and atop the LPL standings. They had by far the most impressive week of any team across the globe, winning against JD Gaming, FPX, and finally RNG. With their 3-0 week, they secured sole possession of first place at 5-0, with EDward Gaming right behind them at 4-0.
Despite the standings, LNG haven’t quite proven themselves enough yet to top the rankings. LNG finished 10th in the LPL spring split and lost in the first round of the playoffs. However, they subbed in a new top laner, Hu “Ale” Jia-Le, and haven’t lost with him since. Maybe that means they’ve found their Exodia roster.
Having already beaten many of the upper level teams, LNG have a pretty clear route to the top of the playoffs bracket. Now they just need to keep their head down, solidify their team identity and create a champion ocean for their players to secure a spot at Worlds. But they started the spring split off pretty hot, too, so they need to make sure they don’t repeat their late season slump this time around.
— Ousley
2. Gen.G, LCK
Record: 4-0 (8-3)
Results this week: 2-0 (4-2)
Movement this week: +1
Gen.G are well on their way to the very top of our standings after completing yet another 2-0 week in the LCK. They were tested a bit harder in their matches against Nongshim RedForce and KT Rolster. Despite each set going the full distance, Gen.G looked unshakable in game three against both teams; they demonstrated a much better understanding of how to close out games.
Slowly, but surely, Gen.G are separating themselves from the rest of the league and standing out as the best team in the LCK. They’ve demonstrated some of the strongest teamfighting in the LCK this split and are leaning into that strength in draft with priority on picks like Lulu and Kog’Maw bot lane and Diana jungle.
Bot laner Park “Ruler” Jae-hyuk remains the key factor to Gen.G’s success in this split. In a meta where hyper carries are prevalent, Ruler’s reliability in and out of lane opens up draft options for the team. Ruler leads the entire league in damage per minute at 670, according to Oracle’s Elixir.
Gen.G’s biggest test will be in their adaptation over the course of the split. The upcoming patch 11.13 brings a rework to Tahm Kench as well as multiple changes to mobility items like Strikebreaker and Galeforce. If Gen.G can pull out another 2-0 this week against Liiv SANDBOX and a surging Afreeca Freecs to maintain first place, they’ll be sitting comfortably in Upcomer’s League of Legends power rankings heading into the halfway point of the split.
— Nick Ray
1. Edward Gaming, LPL
Record: 4-0 (8-1)
Results this week: 2-0 (4-0)
Movement this week: +1
With Royal Never Give Up seemingly throwing in the towel during their first week back, it was Edward Gaming that benefited the most and by taking the top spot in this week’s League of Legends global power rankings. However, it wasn’t just RNG’s tumble that landed EDG on the throne. Their performance in their second week of games helped, too.
In their first series of the week, EDG made quick work of the then undefeated Rare Atom squad. Both games in EDG’s 2-0 victory were sub-30 minute stomps. Li “Flandre” Xuan-Jun picked up his third player of the game award of the summer split in game one of the RA series. The shot calling catalyst of EDG has been hot since the start of the summer split.
In their second series of the week, EDG defeated bottom feeders Rogue Warriors 2-0, as well. With the summer split showcasing upsets left and right globally, it’s EDG who have been the only top five team from last split to not falter yet in the summer.
— Younger
Regional Rankings
LCS
- TSM (TSM)
- 100 Thieves (100)
- Cloud9 (C9)
- Team Liquid (TL)
- Evil Geniuses (EG)
LEC
- G2 Esports (G2)
- MAD Lions (MAD)
- Rogue (RGE)
- Misfits Gaming (MSF)
- Fnatic (FNC)
LCK
- Gen.G (GEN)
- DWG KIA (DK)
- T1 (T1)
- NongShim REDFORCE (NS)
- Afreeca Freecs (AF)
LPL
- Edward Gaming (EDG)
- LNG Esports (LNG)
- FunPlus Phoenix (FPX)
- Royal Never Give Up (RNG)
- Team WE (WE)
