Mingkai, if you're this cowardly, you should just go home and raise pigs.

After initial communication with Flandre, the team's current dynamics were established.

Zhou Hanyang mainly chooses jungle heroes who can provide backup in the late game, and then focuses on the mid and bottom lane carries to create momentum. The top laner, Flandre, mainly contributes to the team by acting as the front line.

Without the Ardent Censer item, the AD carry in the bot lane is more inclined to be aggressive in the early game, which means that every team has to focus their play around the bot lane.

Amidst intensive training, the S8 Spring Split has officially begun.

The first match is RNG vs. IG!

This is the first best-of-three series in the S8 Spring Split, and the two teams' ADCs are arguably the top two ADCs in the LPL right now. It's a clash of titans, and a major battle is about to begin.

On January 15th, this best-of-three series officially began.

IG's starting top laner is Duke, not TheShy!

In the current version, the top lane is mainly dominated by tanky heroes, and TheShy's aggressive playstyle is too strong.

IG's bot lane is Uzi, and with Rookie and Uzi as their dual carries, as long as IG protects their mid and bot lane carries and gains an advantage, it's impossible for them to lose.

RNG employs a similar tactical system, also focusing their strategy around Iboy in the bottom lane.

Both sides made it clear that they wanted to dominate the bottom lane in this game; it was a true clash of titans.

Mala Xiangguo, as the jungler who knows Uzi best, camped in the bottom lane from the start.

However, Ning clearly did not have this awareness and focused on his own development.

Mala Xiangguo killed Uzi three times in a row, causing Uzi to disconnect in the first game.

IG lost the first game right away.

The comments in the official live stream were incredibly lively, with all sorts of opinions being expressed.

A champion AD is a champion AD!

Runner-up AD is just runner-up AD!

There's a reason why some people can't win championships!

……

The pace was completely one-sided.

However, in the second game, Ning knew he had secured the win.

Starting from the 4th minute of the game, the bottom lane is basically like 6 people playing mahjong.

The mid laner pushed the lane and moved down, and even the top laner was willing to lose lane gold to support the bottom lane.

The two sides traded blows in the bottom lane.

Although IG was still in a losing position in the early stages, it was only a slight disadvantage.

In the mid-to-late game team fights, it becomes clear that the two sides are not even in the same league.

Uzi played ADC and teamed up with IG's mid and jungle to aggressively deal damage, while Iboy played very steadily, leading to the team's advantage being reversed.

IG won the second game!

The third game was basically the same. IG was clearly outmaneuvered by RNG in the early game, and was at a disadvantage in terms of economy and kills. However, once it came to team fights, RNG was no match for IG.

The two sides' team battle capabilities are simply not on the same level.

The entire EDG team watched the match live!

Looking at the damage panel after the match, Nofe shook his head slightly: "Xiao Zhao has gotten used to Zhou Hanyang sharing the damage for him."

Furthermore, Li Ruican's teamfight damage output is stronger than Xiaohu's, and suddenly switching to the top or mid lane... especially in a team where the top lane lacks damage dealers, he wouldn't be able to adapt to this situation.

Zhou Hanyang nodded slightly upon hearing this. Iboy's current situation is actually somewhat similar to that of the future T1's Little Lu Bu.

When he first debuted, Lu Bu was also a damage king, but later, due to the overwhelming strength of the God King Zeus, Lu Bu's strategic goal changed from output to 'survival'!

Gradually, the output capacity becomes worse and worse.

If Iboy wants to achieve success with RNG, he must step out of his comfort zone.

"On the other hand, IG's team fights lacked any coordination; it was all about individual skill." Mingkai couldn't help but frown. "Their playstyle is somewhat effective against us."

EDG's team fight strategy revolves around positioning themselves in advance through coordination, then grouping up to seize vision, and, if they are not at a disadvantage in vision, setting up large-scale 5v5 team fights.

Why is S7 considered a custom version for the LPL by Riot Games? Besides the customized champion pools for the mid, bot, and jungle lanes, the most important aspect is vision control.

LCK teams rely on vision control for macro play, while EDG relies on vision control for team fights.

With the removal of vision control in S8, EDG faced even greater pressure in setting up vision.

If there's a gap in vision control, IG will rush in and initiate a team fight.

“Playing against IG is indeed very troublesome. You have to gain a significant advantage in the laning phase.” Zhou Hanyang took a swig of cola and nodded in agreement. “But don’t worry, that’s my problem. Just play well in the laning phase and then engage in team fights.”

……

That same evening, a popular post appeared on Baidu Tieba: "EDG is √!"

The number of replies to the post is increasing dramatically, with dozens more appearing every time the page is refreshed.

"I've said it a few times, Iboy is the fifth champion."

"It's all the fault of top laner A-dog, who gave Iboy the illusion that he was the one carrying the team."

"Can't even beat Uzi, and you want to win the Finals MVP?"

"Why did A-dog pick Lucian? Don't you really understand? Isn't it because the AD carry lacks damage output and needs the top lane to provide it?"

"I led you to a championship, so you should just lie there quietly. Why are you jumping around like that?"

"It has to be said that it's normal that they can't beat Uzbekistan."

"It's normal that we can't beat Uzbekistan? Other champions could have easily beaten Uzbekistan the year they won the championship."

"Why did EDG play top lane against the meta in the Ardent Censer version? Isn't it because their bot lane is weak?"

……

Zhou Hanyang himself didn't pay attention to this kind of situation, because EDG had a match to play on the second day of the Spring Split.

January 16th! EDG vs. FPX!

[Please send electricity!!! Please send electricity!!! Please send electricity!!! Please send electricity!!! Please send electricity!!! Please send electricity!!! Please send electricity!!! Please send electricity!!! Please send electricity!!! Please send electricity!!! Please send electricity!!!]