Currently, the “hype” surrounding Faker’s Hall of Legends skin is still simmering within the League of Legends community but has somewhat “cooled down.” The core issue lies in the pricing and design, which seem unlikely to influence Riot. Instead, what many League of Legends fans are concerned about is: Which player will follow Faker into the Hall of Legends. If Riot implements a policy of “one player per year,” the next player to receive a HoL skin will automatically be considered the “Vice G.O.A.T.” However, as of now, there has been no player truly convincing enough to be regarded as “second only to Faker.”
Throughout the history of League of Legends, two players have been seen as potential candidates to “rank just after Faker”: Uzi and Chovy. Regarding the LPL, there have been claims that Uzi is no different from Faker in the Chinese League of Legends scene. He has a significant influence, broad recognition, and, especially, talent. However, unlike Faker, Uzi has not been fortunate enough to win a Worlds championship, and his career has also been relatively short. He has not always maintained the same level of professionalism as Faker. Therefore, when considering the international stage, Uzi’s case remains controversial. In fact, in terms of titles, he has even fallen short compared to Meiko or Ruler.
The other player is, of course, Chovy. Currently, he is considered the best Mid Laner in the LCK. However, in reality, Chovy can be seen as a late bloomer, and even now, more than six years since his debut, he still does not have a Worlds trophy. Notably, since joining Gen.G, he has been surrounded by top players. However, Chovy has achieved the remarkable feat of four consecutive LCK championships. In terms of influence outside of gameplay, Chovy has yet to make a significant mark. In fact, people previously hoped that Chovy could become the “Vice G.O.A.T” after Faker. But as he continuously fails at Worlds, that belief has shaken significantly.
In fact, fans even pointed out a detail in the HoL Faker trailer. When returning, Ahri showcases the four Worlds trophies that Faker has won throughout his career. Immediately, a blunt comment emerged: “If Ahri’s return has four Worlds trophies, then what would appear for players who have no trophies?” This statement has even been interpreted as somewhat mocking towards the two players previously regarded as “Vice G.O.A.T.”
But in any case, everything will be determined by Riot and their selection committee. As of now, the question of “who is the Vice G.O.A.T” will likely remain an unending debate, especially since even the names put forward are far from reaching the perfect standard set by Faker.