It can be said that LCK Spring 2024 is currently taking place with some surprising results. Not only is T1 testing familiar strategies, but other teams like KT Rolster and Kwangdong Freecs are also making unexpected picks and bans, such as Pyosik using Rammus in the jungle or DuDu playing Garen in the top lane. Although these champions rarely appear, it is mainly because they do not fit the meta. Moreover, both Garen and Rammus have been around for a long time and have not received any significant changes in recent years.
In fact, there are two champions that are considered Riot’s true failures since their release. They are Bel’Veth and especially Akshan. The jungle champion Bel’Veth is a name that could become a quality source of damage in the mid to late game. However, on the downside, Bel’Veth struggles to initiate fights, and any team using this Void champion will have to sacrifice at least one lane. Not to mention, Bel’Veth is also a short-range champion. In the current meta, teams prioritize tanks who can initiate fights like Rell, Sejuani, or Maokai.
In the late game, it will be difficult to hold up against currently hot meta champions like Aatrox or K’Sante. Considering all regions and tournaments in the professional League of Legends scene from Summer 2022 until now (the time Bel’Veth was released), this champion has only been used 199 times in the jungle position (with a win rate of about 47%) and 18 times in the support position (with a win rate of about 55%).
As for Akshan, Riot even gave this champion a grand cinematic for his debut. But all that remains is disappointment. The most significant mark of Akshan might be the “around the world” moment followed by Doran being taken down in the LCK finals against T1. Notably, Akshan was released before Bel’Veth, but from Season 11 until now, Akshan has only made 96 appearances in the top lane (with a win rate of 49%) and 45 matches in the mid lane (with a win rate of about 53%).
If Garen and Rammus are old-generation champions that Riot has not paid much attention to, then Akshan and Bel’Veth are seen as representatives of the new generation. However, in the end, both of these champions have failed miserably. Not to mention the cases of Viego, Aphelios, and K’Sante who possess overwhelming power. Meanwhile, Zeri has had a record 12 consecutive adjustments just six months after her release.
Perhaps in the future, Riot will have some reworks or adjustments for these champions. But clearly, at this point in time, they are true failures and that is entirely Riot’s responsibility.