Analyzing the Meta of the Worlds Play-in Stage

The 2018 World Championship is in full swing, and as we quickly approach the crowning of a new champion in competitive League of Legends, it’s important to look back on how we got here and how one of the most intense World Championships in the history of the game kicked off. In order to better understand our current position, it’s important to understand our beginnings; and for that, it’s time to take a look at the meta of the 2018 Worlds Play-in Stage.

At this year’s Play-in, the meta might have been more diverse than ever before, as a total of 81 champions were selected over the course of 42 games, averaging out for a guarantee of almost two completely new picks in every game. This mark is up in comparison to last year’s number of just 67 champions throughout 39 games. Additionally, with 59 individual champions receiving at least one ban throughout the six days of play, it showed that players were becoming more and more ambitious and experimental when it came to the drafting phase of the game.

However, in order to really understand the meta of the Play-in Stage, it would only make sense to narrow things down and take a look at the most significant power picks that were present at the tournament’s initial phase. And while there were plenty of champions that served in a significant role during the Play-ins, it was Urgot, Aatrox, Alistar, Akali, and Kai’Sa who were the five that defined the game during the first 42 games of this year’s Championship.

Let’s start in the top lane, as it has arguably been home to the most impactful position at Worlds this year and has most definitely been home to the game’s most prominent power picks. However, during the Play-in Stage, the top lane was a factory of strength, as Urgot and Aatrox towered over the rest of the field, each garnering 100% pick/ban presence during this year’s Play-in. Both characters were by miles the two most important picks throughout the course of the stage, as Urgot’s 17 picks and Aatrox’s 10 picks were both in the top 4 among top laners.

However, despite the unwavering presence of both champions on the Rift, they still were more present in the ban phase of the draft, as each of them were banned more than they were picked; with Aatrox receiving a tournament-high 31 bans, while Urgot placed 3rd in that same respect with 23 bans, just behind Akali, who garnered 25.

Additionally, the strengths of the two champions were used strategically at some points, as Aatrox was flexed into the mid lane by Kim "Candy" Seung-ju of G-Rex, while Urgot was utilized by two mid laners, as well: Luka "Perkz" Perković of G2 Esports and Sergio "Cotopaco" Silva of Infinity Esports.

With this in mind, it may be important to note that the game’s strongest champions were not only strong in their traditional roles, but they also showed strength in a flex position as well. This is what makes a champion truly stand out above the rest. It’s one thing for a character to be disruptive in just one position, but at least it’s manageable. They can be contained to their corner of the map and provide a headache for just their personal opponent, at most. However, once they have to potential to flex themselves all over the map, they pose a major threat to the entire team, as well as the head coach.

Capitalizing on the point of flex picks, it’s important to next speak of a champion we briefly mentioned earlier, Akali. At the Play-in Stage, the Rogue Assassin was one of the most contested picks throughout the course of the games. Needless to say, as one of the most popular picks on the board, she was most definitely the defining pick in the mid lane during the Play-ins.

With six picks in the mid lane (and two in the top lane), Akali ranked 4th overall in the picks department, just behind Syndra, LeBlanc, and Ryze. However, what made her really stand out during the Play-in Stage was the fact that she led the field of mid lane champions in bans with a whopping 25, just behind Aatrox’s mark of 31 for the most among the entire roster. And although Akali was only picked eight times throughout the stage, her massive mark in bans shot her pick/ban presence up to a total of nearly 79%.

With a recent rework setting the stage for Akali she was able to turn into one of the game’s strongest power picks. And now, it’s definitely safe to say that she has truly become a defining force in what seems like the blink of an eye. Even with significant nerfs to her ultimate ability, Perfect Execution, in Patch 8.18, Akali remained at the top of the table, solidifying her role as one of the strongest champions in all of competitive League.

And while the mid lane might have served as an incredibly strong pillar of the meta during the Worlds Play-in Stage, the bottom lane has served as one of the most pivotal points of the game throughout the World Championship. Needless to say, the lane’s impact on the Play-in Stage was incredibly significant, as well. And if there were any two champions who took the bottom lane by the reins and defined the meta during the stage, they would definitely be Kai’Sa and Alistar.

These two characters were at the forefront of the meta for the bottom lane, as carries and supports alike were foaming at the mouth to get them in their hands throughout the entirety of the Play-in Stage. With a 90% pick/ban presence for Alistar, and a mark of 76% for Kai’Sa, they were both at the top of the field for their respective positions by an extremely wide margin.

However, what contrasts Alistar and Kai’Sa from most of the aforementioned champions is the fact that the prominent bottom laners were able to back up their massive presence with some seriously impressive records. Whereas champions like Aatrox and Akali were only able to muster win-rates of 27% and 38%, respectively, Alistar and Kai’Sa held full dominion over the field at many points throughout the Play-ins.

Alistar would go on to win 13 of the 22 games he appeared in, good enough for a rate of 59%, while Kai’Sa would win 18 of her 26 appearances, only dropping eight games during the stage while posting a win-rate of 69.2%. This number would prove to be seriously impressive for Kai’Sa as she held the 2nd highest win-rate (Ryze holding the 1st) amongst champions who attracted at least 10 picks during the Play-ins. Together, however, the duo was picked by the same team in the same lane a total of seven times. They would go on to win five of those games as a unit.

And now, as the World Championship marches on, it’s obvious that the five champions mentioned previously have had a major impact on the tournament, as a whole. However, their mark was made on the Play-in Stage in significant fashion, as each and every one of them proved exactly why they belong at the forefront of competitive League of Legends.

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