Interview with Ego Ignaxio : "I'd rather be a pony with one really good trick than one with none at all"

Recently I had a chance to interview Ego Ignaxio, a man who has close to 4000 games played on Kennen alone, he is above 2000 Elo on the NA server, boasts the highest normal game elo and has been playing the game for over 2 years. I was able to pick his brain on many things Kennen and even his personal outlook on his playstyle and the game itself.

 

                                                

Just what is it about Kennen that makes you love playing him so much? Is it in the lore, the playstyle? Just what is it that attracts you to the champion?

Ego: Everything about him, the lore, his physical appearance, his strengths, his ninja energy system, mostly his gameplay. He's easily the most fun champion in my opinion and no other moba I've ever played has come close to providing a character as fun as Kennen.

 

I see, so its just every single thing about him. That's pretty sweet. I've never met somebody as enthusiastic about their favorite champion as you are!

Many professionals on some well known teams have started out grinding the ladder with one specific champion and then from there proceeded to branch out (such as Dyrus with Jax, and even Inverted Composer from solo queue) , play other champions and commit full time to League. Has there ever been a time where you tried to do this yourself? What was the result?

Ego: Well I literally ONLY play Kennen, he's the reason I continue to play this game. I wouldn't think about "branching out", because every time I play a champion that's not Kennen I end up feeling bad for it afterwards. But I can play other AP carries decently, and I've gone on a couple stints where I play mostly Ryze or Vlad for a day or two and then forget about it just to spice things up and make me remember how much and why I love Kennen.

Haha well people need to watch out for your Vlad and Ryze then! That's good though, at least it keeps you from being called a "one trick pony" as people sadly like to put it.

Ego: I'm proud of that title by the way, a one trick pony. I'd rather be a pony with one really good trick than one with none at all.

                                                            

                                                      

That's very interesting that you say that and that outlook seems to have been doing you well so far! Why change what isn't broken right?

That leads me to my next question though, do you feel that being perhaps that "one trick pony" has been your number one strength while climbing up the ladder in League? Strength in the sense that perhaps if you never picked up Kennen then you would have maybe not continued playing this game for as long as you have and progressed as much as you have?

Ego: Absolutely. I could have mastered other champions if I tried, but Kennen is the only one that can hold my interest for that long. He's too sexy.

 

Recently though we've seen Kennen being played a bunch in tournaments, ranging from players such as Dyrus to Reginald and to WingsofDeathx. How do you feel they are doing with Kennen and what is it like to watch them play your favorite champion with their different playstyles and outlooks on the champion?

Ego: I honestly don't pay attention to the competitive circuit anymore at all, so I couldn't tell you. I know that people seem to be fond of buying doran's blades which i'd disagree with, because if you wanted AD for some reason to win your lane easier I'd rather go for a pickaxe and turn your revolver into a gunblade because it's much more useful and actually turns into something that provides you with decent mid-game burst.

 

                                                       

                                      

Since we're on the subject of building Kennen, is there any advice you might have for somebody just starting out?

Ego: Don't spam your abilities on cooldown, time them out to conserve energy and stun enemies in the best positions that lead to allowing you to follow up on the stuns with more marks and abilities. basically space out your abilities and combo them like a fighting game, don't just jam buttons because that's not how it works.

 

Nice, nice. I'm sure there are many Kennen players who can take that advice to heart (myself included!).
I have two questions here from some members of the community if you wouldn't mind answering them before we wrap this up.

Ego:  Sure.

 

Who do you feel is the top AP Mid in the game at this moment. In your guide you mention Xerath and Cass, is that still the case today or have things changed a bit?

Ego: I've been a bit too busy lately with moving to keep up well, but cass and anivia are probably the best two in my opinion.

 

Great! And the last question is : Some of the professonal players with huge numbers on their streams sometimes criticize your Kennen play, how do you respond to that in general and does it affect you at all?

Ego: I've never heard of that happening, normally I'm complimented so I'm not sure how to respond. If they're referring to the being in love with Kennen thing, then screw it. Who cares, I love what I want. if they're criticizing my play then I don't care either, it's my playstyle and they can play how they want. it's just a video game.

 

Well thanks a bunch Ego! Do you have any shoutouts or last words?

Ego: Hmm not much to say other than learn from your mistakes and keep doing what you like doing.

 

I'd just like to take this time to once again thank Ego for the chance to interview him and thanks to all of you who have taken the time to read and (possibly) comment!