Recently, an article published on Inven Global made controversial remarks about the current state of LCK, addressing the shortage of talent in the region.
According to a journalist in South Korea, an LCK team lamented: “There are too few ‘smart’ (good-thinking) players – so few that offers are even sent to retired players.” Hearing this has made many Korean fans worry about the future of the LCK.
Looking back over the past 2-3 years, LCK teams have prioritized skill and age when selecting trainees. The reason is quite simple; these two factors are closely related – younger players tend to have better mechanics, while those with better mechanics are often younger. Older players often see their skills and reflexes decline over time.
As such, overcoming fierce competition, outstanding trainees will debut in the LCK. Many even become stars in their first competitive season. However, as the spotlight shines on these young stars, veteran players gradually lose their place and fade into the background. One by one, players from the older generation have had to retire because of this.
And thus, the LCK enters the “era of mechanics”
At this time, many young players lack the ability to “play as a team.” They may shine in the laning phase or in solo kills, but when it comes to 5v5 fights, it’s the opposite. Weakness in communication, team calling, macro play, and adhering to win conditions has caused the league to regress compared to before.
Not only is there a lack of “smart” players, but LCK also lacks analysts. The current state of the LCK is quite sad; there are very few players willing to learn and explore the game. Each new patch – whether large or small – has certain impacts on the meta. But disappointingly, some players do not even know what effects passive skills have, or their stats, because they don’t bother to read skill descriptions carefully.
Not every young player has these significant shortcomings, but most high-skilled young players are confident that their skills can solve any problems. Therefore, they invest in skill improvement rather than analysis and research of League of Legends. Some players have their own coaches and analysts providing them with “macro” insights, but they do not pay attention to “micro” aspects.
One of the solutions proposed by LCK teams is to balance between rookies and veterans. They pair veterans with rookies to balance skill and thinking elements within the team. Most importantly, LCK needs players with leadership qualities to guide the entire team. Unfortunately, many players like that retired after the 2020 season, making choices for LCK even rarer than before.
As a result, many teams are “in the same boat” to the point of having to recruit retired players, even though they left the professional stage due to age diminishing their skills. Some names that are even considered legends like Mata, Score, Ambition,…
In summary, what LCK currently lacks is not a shortage of high-skilled rookies, but a craving for “smart” rookies – those who truly understand League of Legends, not just simply “play” it.