After MAD Lions’ win against Astralis, we got to talk with the team’s newest midlaner, Reeker.
Hello Reeker, congratulations on the win! Reflecting on the game, could you talk about the match from your perspective?
Reeker: From my point of view, when it came to the early game or the first ten minutes it felt like we were making the right calls around what waves to play and when we wanted to play the river. There were a few issues in execution, as there was the time that we tried to get into the river but I got caught without Zilean. Then there was another time where we ran river but Unforgiven lost his flash because Astralis went in on him.
So, I think trying to get river control was a big issue in this game. Maybe we just did not know how to play with an enchanter support or how to read re-take with an enchanter support, but it just didn’t feel like we knew how to do it. We knew what to do because it’s a game concept, but the problem was that we just failed on execution.
On a positive note, it felt like MAD Lions were able to win almost every team fight regardless of the game state. What do you think the team has done to perform so well in these scenarios?
Reeker: To be honest it felt like the fights that we won were just the ones where Astralis overcommitted for me, but I had stopwatches and Zilean in my back pocket. It is kind of easy to win a fight from a point where people use multiple ultimates to try and kill me and in the end I survive, I think it was mostly Jarvan and Ornn. Yeah, it was kind of easy from there.
I think besides that, we just kited a bit better and knew how to play our composition better. I mean, it was probably easier as well. We had a hyper carry ADC with Zilean, we had a long range mid, and an Aatrox that was really far ahead. So, it was probably just easier for us to play then the other team. It’s harder these days for Jarvan to find ultimates, because if he’s committed once he has to go in. The same for Ornn and Vex, once they hit ultimates you know exactly what they’re going to do.
The only fight that seemingly didn’t go MAD Lions’ way was around the baron pit. What do you think went wrong here and how did the team respond?
Reeker: I mean honestly we felt so far ahead with our flashes up and control over their topside, as our Aatrox was so far ahead. I think we were just too uncoordinated, like Unforgiven probably stepped up too far, losing his flash then flashing downward as well so we couldn’t help him. I think we went for poke, which we didn’t have to do. If someone wanted to poke them, it probably should have been me.
We were kind of lucky that we managed to still kill Xayah. After that they had very little DPS and it took them a while to kill the baron. After that, we knew drake would be the win condition. Since it took so long for them to do the nashor, we ended up being able to do drake on spawn.
MAD Lions are typically one of the best early game teams in the LEC, leading in most differentials at 15 minutes. Why do you think the team has done so well in gaining early advantages on average?
Reeker: I think on average we are pretty good at getting the herald. I think our priority on herald is pretty good and that objective is what gives the most gold advantage in the early game. You have to defend the cross map after the herald though, like you have to be quick to give up some waves on botside maybe but in the worse case scenario we drop maybe one wave for herald, which is totally fine.
I think that this is probably where most of the gold leads come from. In mid lane these days you have Viktor, Corki, Vex. There’s not really much happening there, it’s usually just a scale-fest, so I don’t think there is an early game gold difference unless I died to that Jarvan level two gank.
MAD Lions are the reigning LEC Champions, winning both splits last year, how does it feel to come into a team on your rookie year that is defending the title?
Reeker: I feel like there is for sure more pressure than if I would have joined a more bottom tier team, but the environment is better for improving. I have Elyoya and Kaiser, I have these back-to-back LEC Champions who had experience in official games and we have an amazing staff. The way to the top is easier in an organization like MAD Lions, but of course I am still new and I am learning a lot everyday. It feels like there is a bit of pressure, but at the same time I would not have made a different choice. It is definitely the best shot at getting pretty far in the LEC.
You’ve already played against some of the LEC’s most accomplished midlaners so far, Caps, Perkz, ect. How do you feel about the mid lane competition in the LEC?
Reeker: The midlane competition so far has been kind of ‘whatever’ from everyone. I came to this league watching so many replays, and at some point you know exactly what your opponents want to do in lane specifically. For example, yesterday when we played against Rogue, Blitzcrank was on my ass all the time but in terms of the 1v1 in lane it didn’t really feel any different. There isn’t any midlaner who is really mechanically outstanding. Sometimes you feel like you’ve seen it all.
The biggest difference you can have these days is last hitting honestly. Play by the book or play by what you have seen so far, but just get every minion you see. This is probably the biggest thing that would make an exceptional midlaner right now. I would give this attribute most to Vetheo so far. I don’t think that he takes insane trades but he is very good at getting every last hit
Also read:
- RGE Comp: “Right now I could at least rate myself in the top three among ADCs. Like I would probably put alongside with me Upset and Unforgiven.”
- G2 Esports Targamas: “Winning Worlds has now also become my own personal goal, just like winning LEC”
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