The Rise and Fall of EDward Gaming: Adapting to League of Legends Meta Shifts in 2024

0
EDward Gaming has been one of adaptation and recalibration

The competitive world of League of Legends (LoL) is a constantly evolving battlefield, where only the most adaptable survive. For EDward Gaming (EDG), a team with a storied history and a passionate fanbase, 2024 has proven to be a year of both opportunity and adversity. As Riot Games keeps altering the game with patches that shift the meta, EDG has faced the challenge of keeping up with these changes, redefining their strengths while contending with new weaknesses. This article delves into how EDG has tackled the twists and turns of this year’s patches and metas, assessing their current strategy and their journey in the 2024 season.

Adapting to the 2024 Meta: Struggles and Successes

The 2024 League of Legends season has been marked by some of the most transformative patches in recent memory. Riot Games has shifted the balance of power across multiple champions, roles, and strategies, leading to drastic changes in team compositions and in-game priorities. EDward Gaming, with its rich legacy and ability to innovate under pressure, has found itself navigating through uncharted waters, adapting its strategies to ensure competitive viability.

One of the defining elements of the 2024 meta has been the resurgence of a tank-heavy top lane combined with high-damage, utility-focused junglers. Champions like Sion, Ornn, and K’Sante have seen increased priority due to their ability to soak up damage and dictate late-game team fights. In the jungle, picks like Kindred and Kha’Zix have become popular due to their ability to provide both consistent damage and map pressure.

For EDG, this presented both an opportunity and a challenge. Top laner Li “Flandre” Xuan-Jun, known for his solid tank play and adaptability, found himself in a position to shine. His comfort on champions like Sion and Ornn has allowed EDG to draft a reliable frontline, essential for setting up team fights and giving the team a solid foundation. This played to Flandre’s strengths, making him a key piece of EDG’s strategy in the early parts of the 2024 season.

However, the jungle meta has been a point of contention for EDG. Zhao “JieJie” Li-Jie, EDG’s main jungler, has faced difficulties adjusting to the utility-based jungler picks that emphasize map control and assassination potential. JieJie, known for his proficiency on aggressive, carry-style champions like Lee Sin and Xin Zhao, struggled to consistently find the same level of impact on Kindred and other high-risk, high-reward champions. The patches that favored more calculated, objective-focused play often left him struggling to balance between aggression and calculated risk, which at times cost EDG control over key objectives.

In response to these changes, EDG’s coaching staff made visible efforts to tweak their game plan. They began leaning on mid laner Lee “Scout” Ye-chan, whose versatile champion pool allowed the team to pivot their strategies based on the needs of each match. Scout has been instrumental in bringing stability, often picking control mages like Azir and Orianna to make up for the team’s deficiencies in objective control. This shift, while somewhat effective, came at a cost—Scout was often put into roles that limited his potential to make explosive plays, which somewhat dampened EDG’s aggressive identity.

AD carry Park “Viper” Do-hyeon, the mechanical maestro, has also been a focal point of EDG’s adaptation strategy. In 2024, the bot lane meta has leaned towards late-game scaling champions like Aphelios, Jinx, and the ever-popular Zeri, making Viper’s role crucial for EDG’s success. Viper’s exceptional team fight positioning and his ability to carry games have kept EDG in contention in numerous matches. However, an increased emphasis on scaling carries has required the rest of EDG to provide adequate peel and protection, putting additional pressure on both Flandre and support Tian “Meiko” Ye. Meiko’s mastery of engage supports like Nautilus and Rakan has been essential in providing that safety net, yet this often forces EDG into predictable drafts that opponents could exploit.

Another key adaptation for EDG has been their increased emphasis on vision control and map awareness, especially in light of jungle changes. The recent patches have made early vision and control wards incredibly valuable, with significant adjustments to ward timers and the return of the Farsight Alteration to prominence. This has forced EDG to adapt by prioritizing vision-heavy playstyles, ensuring that Viper and Scout have the necessary information to navigate team fights safely. JieJie, while not always comfortable on the meta picks, has contributed heavily by focusing on deep warding and map awareness, providing opportunities for Viper to shine in late-game scenarios.

Despite these adaptations, EDG has faced notable cha lenges. Their somewhat rigid drafting strategies have made them susceptible to teams that are willing to exploit specific weaknesses. Teams like LNG and JDG have taken advantage of EDG’s reliance on specific champions and scaling setups, often drafting aggressive compositions that force EDG into uncomfortable early-game situations. The struggle to find consistency has been evident, especially in matches where EDG’s early game fell apart due to failed objective setups or when opponents successfully shut down Viper’s scaling potential.

Strengths and Weaknesses in the Current Season

EDG's biggest assets

The current 2024 season has showcased both the strengths and the glaring weaknesses of EDward Gaming. Their strength undeniably lies in their experience and their ability to play cohesively as a unit, particularly in the late game. Viper’s mechanical skill, combined with Meiko’s exceptional support play, makes EDG a force to be reckoned with when they are able to stall the game to the point where their scaling picks come online. Viper’s Aphelios and Zeri have been near-unstoppable when given the resources, consistently turning fights in EDG’s favor. Their coordination in 5v5 engagements often makes them a difficult team to deal with, especially for opponents that lack the discipline to execute clean engages or disengages.

Scout’s versatility also remains one of EDG’s biggest assets. Whether it’s on a control mage or a burst assassin, Scout’s impact is undeniable. His ability to adapt to different styles—from control to roaming and creating pressure around the map—gives EDG flexibility that many teams covet. Scout has often been the bridge between EDG’s struggling early game and their powerful late-game execution, providing stability when the team falters.

However, EDG’s weaknesses have also been apparent, particularly in adapting to the evolving meta with enough flexibility. JieJie’s inconsistency in the jungle has been a major concern. While he has shown flashes of brilliance on his comfort picks, his performance has been less reliable on champions that require patience and precise positioning. In a meta that heavily favors junglers who can flexibly balance between early aggression and late-game utility, JieJie’s struggles have, at times, put EDG at a disadvantage in securing early objectives like Dragon and Rift Herald.

Another significant weakness lies in EDG’s tendency to lean heavily into scaling compositions, often at the expense of early game tempo. This approach has left them vulnerable to aggressive teams that thrive on early skirmishes and rapid snowballing. In the LPL, where early aggression and explosive team fights are a hallmark of the region, EDG’s slower starts have put them in positions where they need to play catch-up—a dangerous proposition when facing top-tier teams with the mechanical prowess to capitalize on even the smallest lead.

Drafting has also been a mixed bag for EDG. Their somewhat predictable approach—often revolving around getting Viper on a hyper-carry and drafting a safe, tanky frontline—has made it easier for opponents to develop counter-strategies. While this predictability allows EDG to execute their preferred game plan with precision when it works, it also limits their ability to be versatile. Teams with strong drafting capabilities, like JD Gaming, have been able to exploit this by banning out key picks or forcing EDG into unfavorable matchups.

In terms of macro play, EDG’s reliance on vision control and late-game setups has also presented a double-edged sword. While they excel in vision-heavy scenarios and set up intricate late-game traps, their emphasis on these aspects often comes at the cost of losing early skirmishes or allowing the enemy jungler to dictate the pace of the game. Against teams that thrive on early aggression, EDG’s slower, methodical approach has sometimes resulted in them falling too far behind before they have a chance to scale.

Overall, the 2024 season for EDward Gaming has been one of adaptation and recalibration. The changing meta, with its focus on tanky top laners, high-damage junglers, and late-game ADCs, has played to some of EDG’s strengths while exposing certain limitations. Their reliance on late-game scaling and comfort picks has kept them competitive, but their inability to consistently adapt to faster-paced metas has left them vulnerable against teams willing to push the tempo.

For EDward Gaming to reclaim the form that once made them World Champions, they must find a way to blend their reliable late-game prowess with more dynamic early game strategies. JieJie’s growth in adapting to different jungle styles, Scout’s continued versatility, and Viper’s consistent brilliance will be key factors as they aim to navigate the complexities of the 2024 meta. It is clear that while EDG still possesses the tools to challenge the best, their rise or fall in 2024 will ultimately hinge on their ability to evolve with the game’s ever-changing landscape. The path forward may not be easy, but for a team with EDG’s history, the potential for resurgence is always within reach.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *