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esports
Take My NRG: Surging Forward for Summer
NRG is rolling into the Summer Split with big investors, a new roster and a new game plan.
NRG's roster is full of faces new and old
© NRG
When NRG first roared into the LCS, it looked like they (along with the Immortals), were going to crack into the top three of the league — an honor usually reserved for a few legacy rosters. The Immortals and NRG both enjoyed a strong start to spring, going undefeated in their first three games ... but while the Immortals raged on, NRG struggled. While the team continued to show signs of strength throughout the season, they finished with a 9-9 record and were knocked out of the first round of the Playoffs.
So, a new Split is fast approaching, and the wild off-season roster ride begins. There have already been some shockers: Yellowstar heading back to Fnatic, the rumors over his replacement and the Cloud9 switcharoo. One of the most interesting changes has definitely been NRG. It’s not a surprise that the team is looking to shake up their roster — and there are more changes to come, as their ADC spot is currently empty — but the direction they’re taking says a lot about their plan for the weeks to come. Add in the fact that they’re one of the few teams with investors more famous than their star talent (it’s not a surprise that Shaq, A-Rod and Jimmy Rollins all outshine even the top eSports talent), and NRG is fast becoming a fascinating look at how to handle managing an LCS spot.
Let’s take a look at the new talent gracing NRG. How will they stand up to the challenge of the Summer Roster, and why were they picked?
Mid laner GBM remains on the Summer roster
© [unknown]
Unlimited potential: Ohq takes Altec’s spot
While Altec is pursuing a new path on Cloud9’s new Challenger team, NRG has found a new ADC — and people are buzzing about what that means for their new roster. Oh "Ohq" Gyu-min has played on Renegades and Team Dragon Knights briefly, but has yet to have a solid spot on a roster in North America where he can settle in and get comfortable. NRG may just be the perfect spot for him to gain confidence, work with a team, and build synergy with his teammates.
Some critics claim the young Korean player is overhyped, but NRG will be a solid test of this claim — the infrastructure, veteran teammates (who we discuss in more detail below), and positive atmosphere may just be what he needs to thrive. While his ultimate skill ceiling remains a question mark, fans are no doubt going to be excited to see if Ohq is able to break past NRG’s spring results with his trademark mechanically intensive play. Of course, his synergy with the rest of the roster will be an important variable. Let’s take a look at the rest of the team.
Top lane shuffle: From Impact to Quas
Impact was, in a lot of ways, the muscle of NRG. The one time World Champion was always considered (along with mid laner GBM) to be one of the strongest parts of the roster. With Impact going to Cloud9, many people wondered who NRG could get to replace the gap. NRG came out with a surprising answer: Diego “Quas” Ruiz.
Quas was one of the veterans holding down the top lane for Liquid, and while Lourlo has been working hard to fill the gap, Quas left a legacy behind on Liquid that the rookie has yet to live up to. When he announced that he was taking a break for his mental health after a strange suspension, his fans mourned. Many people thought that he had retired, or would focus on some other aspect of eSports streaming, or coaching perhaps. His return has been heralded as a second coming of a fan favorite, and while his time off may cause him to stumble a little when he climbs back on the stage, the veteran will no doubt quickly adapt. While it’s hard to fill the shoes of a World Champ, NRG has made a smart swap by picking up Quas to field him in the summer.
19 yr. old Ohq may be able to settle down with NRG
© [unknown]
Back to NA: Santorin in the jungle
Lucas “Santorin” Larsen is a familiar face to most NA LCS fans; the jungler is a North American champion during his time on TSM, and unfortunately the subject of plenty of memes about his contribution to that victory (the joke is largely that his part in the win was minimal, hence he’s most often compared to a ward). Santorin made a run at European success on the ill-fated Team Huma, but the team failed to make it to the EU LCS admist management controversies and struggles. Santorin then jumped to Team Ember in the NA Challenger team just before its collapse.
Now, he’s replacing the shaky rookie Moon on NRG. While Moon had great moments, he was infamous for choking under pressure — unlike Impact to Quas, Santorin stepping up on the roster is generally considered an improvement. The question is whether he’ll be able to shake his reputation as a passive ward from his time on TSM.
Quas returns after a long hiatus
© [unknown]
The man, the legend, the KiWiKiD
Konkwon is stepping away from NRG, and no one expected his replacement: Alan “KiWiKiD” Nyugen. Kiwi is an interesting choice because even if he’s an upgrade or equal to Konkwon, he’s not a competitive choice. It’s not as though he’s a terrible player with no redeeming values — fans will remember his high points such as knocking Fusion not just out of the LCS, but out of existence with a five-man Alistar combo. However, he’s always been a lower-rated support, and when Dignitas finally failed the promotion tournament after losing to Team Dragon Knights, he was primed to retire and continue his education as an engineer.
Once an NA victor, Santorin is back
© [unknown]
If NRG won't pick up KiWiKiD to win tournaments, why would they want the former Dignitas support? The answer is simple, and it's the key to understanding NRG’s approach to the Summer Split.
Fans, fame and fortune? The NRG roster of fan favorites
Obviously, NRG wants to win — it’s a struggle for any team to succeed when they lose more than they win. Look at the Renegades, who entered the 2016 NA LCS Spring Split with a small but invested fan base after a clever marketing campaign, music video and roster bursting with personality. By the end of the Split, they struggled to garner any positive attention. Even after swapping out their roster to turn their record around, people simply weren’t interested in them.
By contrast, looking in on the NRG brand reveals players that seem to be relaxed. While it’s possible the tweets, snaps and photo shoots are a facade to hide a dystopian team environment, it doesn’t seem likely. While other teams tweet about scrims and records and practice sessions, NRG’s Twitter has been a refreshing oasis of fun. The players (especially GBM, who will be remaining on the roster for summer) wear bow ties, shades and grins. We see snaps from their time at the grocery store and yoga sessions. The Twitter account jokes with fans and just generally seems to be social media savvy in a very modern way that most other eSports teams can’t match.
Competitive viability
The pickups of Quas, KiWiKid and Santorin all seem focused towards pushing that identity as a fun League team that are a total blast to cheer for. Fans are already excited to see the return of Quas and the Kid, and Santorin has drawn his fair share of jokes but he’s a likable player who rarely draws any actual hatred. GBM is already a lovable mid-laner who’s rocking the bow tie swag and niche picks. Ohq may be the exception — a player who’s praised for potential over personality. So is the team focusing on commercial interest over competitive viability?
There are signs of real potential on this new roster. The team is full of veterans (even Ohq, a lesser known name, has a serious amount of experience on the professional stage in multiple regions since 2014), and the new format means that anti-tilt defenses are more important than ever. KiWiKiD, Quas and Santorin have all been on stage during long series and can come back from a lost first game to take the next two.
Quas and Santorin are both strong players who will be looking to prove themselves, and GBM remains a mechanically skilled player who occasionally goes in a little too hard. With KiWiKiD being a cooperative support who can take a backseat to let his team shine, GBM may be able to push harder than ever before. Ohq is another beast who has turned out huge numbers and made giant plays. GBM and Ohq may be an incredibly dangerous combo for other teams to play against, as long as KiWiKiD can keep up with the dynamo in bottom lane.
NRG have survived their first Split, and they have a lot to be proud of; the future holds so much potential. With their new roster’s massive amount of charm, they’ll definitely have an enormous fan base cheering for them to do their best ... and using their new array of veterans and investor-funded infrastructure, they may just be able to live up to those hopes. NRG will definitely be looking to make gains during their second Split in the NA LCS. Even if they don’t make first place, they stand a good chance of finding their own kind of victory —becoming one of the most popular teams, and wooing a horde of new fans who are ready to give their energy to their new favorite team.
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