You've only been playing for half a year, and you've already reached the finals?

The short break ended quickly, and both players returned to the stage.

The JDG players lay on their chairs, carefully observing the complexions of both teams' players.

However, disappointingly, after a break, GEN's condition has returned to normal.

This is reasonable; it's just one defeat, not enough to warrant a complete breakdown in relations and a total severance of ties.

Of course, it's probably not that different.
If they get humiliated like this again, the GEN members' mentality will probably collapse completely.

Both teams took their seats, and the draft phase quickly began.

"We can see that the positions of both sides have changed in this game. GEN, who lost the first game, chose the red side instead of the red side!"

It's relatively rare for the red side to actively choose the red side, since in this version the red side has to ban Aatrox and Yuumi, and if the bot lane is weak, they also have to ban Caitlyn, so there aren't enough ban slots.

However, in the current environment, GEN's thinking is not difficult to understand.

The main reason is that EDG relied entirely on their two carries to play the game today, which made things too easy for the red side.

It would be better to send EDG to the blue team.

Anyway, Dolan had figured out Flandre's strategy after the last game and was confident that he could handle Flandre's Aatrox, so the ban pressure wasn't actually that great.

Fortunately, Ming Jing has enough mental capacity and has prepared enough drafting plans for various situations, so even if he is temporarily placed on the blue side, he will not be caught off guard.

"The other side is definitely going to release Sword Demon," Ming Jing asked. "Should Li Xuanjun take it?"

Saint Gun did not respond immediately, clearly deep in thought.

After a long pause, he finally said, "The only way to ban them is by force."

The hero Aatrox is not difficult to operate, but he is very dependent on the timing of his entry into the fray, and the current Flandre clearly does not have that ability.

"Then let's ban it," Ming Jing said calmly. "We have enough ban slots."

The advantage of the blue side is less pressure in the draft phase, and Mingjing plans to pick the mid laner first, which saves the mid laner ban slot.

BP was activated shortly afterward.

Mingjing directly banned Aatrox, Karma, and Kalista. Except for Aatrox, the other two bans were based on the same strategy as the previous game: banning strong lane supports to relieve pressure on the bottom lane.

Furthermore, Mingjing's bans are extremely fast, almost always being picked instantly on the third ban, precisely to leave the opponent no room to react.

However, GEN was clearly well-prepared, methodically banning Galio, Caitlyn, and Yuumi before entering the champion selection phase.

"Then it's the blue side's first pick. Right now, there's Luna outside, so EDG will probably pick her directly."

And that's exactly what happened. After banning so many bot lane champions, Lucian was still a very high priority, and EDG locked him in as their first pick.

"First pick Lucian is still a bit risky, after all, GEN might cut Nami, but it shouldn't be a problem for EDG."

Remember laughed and said, "After all, EDG's Lucian can play mid lane."

As if in response to Ji De's words, GEN actually managed to cut Nami off!

This kind of Nami-breaking strategy is tantamount to hurting the enemy a thousand while also hurting yourself eight hundred, since this hero, when paired with other AD carries, doesn't have the same effect.

GEN's final solution was to pair EZ with Nami, which was barely adequate, but far from being a powerful combination.

Ming Jing was also slightly surprised by this choice.

Is this some kind of crazy thing to do?

"So what do you mean?" Viper asked over the voice chat, "Do you want to take Lucian?"

"It's up to you," Ming Jing laughed. "I'm fine with anything, it just depends on whether you want to play Bomberman."

Lucian can also be paired with Braum, which makes him somewhat difficult to deal with poke combos like Ezreal and Nami, but it's still a viable option.

However, if Lucian is moved to the mid lane, then Ziggs can be picked for the bot lane.

Firstly, it supplements AP output; secondly, Ziggs has excellent wave clear ability, making him a perfect counter to champions like Ezreal who struggle with wave clear.

Kill two birds with one stone.

“No problem,” Viper agreed immediately. “Let’s play Bomberman!”

The strategy of playing Ziggs in the bottom lane originated from Mingjing in Season 10. It was originally intended to counter JackeyLove's Draven and create a counter-push effect.

After two years of evolution, Ziggs has gradually become popular all over the world and has become a basic hero for AD players. However, the hero's role has also gradually changed, from the initial push and suppression hero to the current solo tanking and pressure hero.

Very few Bombers can execute a push-and-push strategy.

With the addition of Ivern as both Ziggs and jungler, it officially means that Lucian has been swapped into the mid lane by Phi.

The North American audience below the stage cheered loudly as they watched this scene.

Lucian Ivern's mid-jungle duo is back!
During last year's finals, EDG used a Lucian-Ivern mid-jungle combo to secure a crucial point against DK, which amazed countless viewers.

After all, in that version, the designers practically forced Lucian into the bot lane, and EDG's playstyle was tantamount to going against the designers.

It has to be said that EDG's draft picks today were really something.

Not only was his speed of action extremely fast, but his thinking was also incredibly clear, as if everything was planned.

This move actually caught GEN off guard.

Is this the same trick again after a year?
Lucian in the mid lane is a true lane bully, and there aren't many heroes who can beat him. After thinking for a long time, Chovy decided to take a look and picked Vi for Peanut first.

Against a Lucian + Ziggs double carry, Vi is a necessary pick, and Vi doesn't have much pressure against Ivern.

In the second round of the draft, EDG chose to ban Camille and Akali, two champions that pose a great threat to their two carries.

GEN banned Ornn and Leona, one being Flandre's go-to lane pick and the other being Ziggs' perfect partner.

At this point, SuperVee finally had an answer regarding hero selection, choosing Ahri to charge into battle with Vi, and then leaving the counter pick for Doran.

EDG's subsequent draft picks and bans were unremarkable, mainly involving finding alternatives to Ornn and Leona.

Sion and Nautilus were EDG's final answer.

Next, GEN picked Fiora, a champion known for her tankiness, as their final pick, thus finalizing the team compositions for both sides.

After Mingjing and the other side finished swapping heroes, he took one last look at the overall lineup.

Blue side EDG: Top lane Sion, Jungle Ivern, Mid lane Lucian, Bot lane Ziggs and Nautilus.

Red side GEN: Top lane Fiora, Jungle Vi, Mid lane Ahri, Bot lane Ezreal and Nami.

"Not bad." Ming Jing nodded. "The opponent's lineup is a bit weak this game."

To be honest, both teams' lineups in this game were a bit of a mismatch.

The root cause is that GEN went crazy in the draft phase, sacrificing their own strength to cut off Luna, which made it difficult for both sides to draft effectively.

In comparison, EDG's lineup is definitely better, since they have enough frontliners, enough damage output, and a support to protect them.

As long as there are no problems in the early stages, the intensity will be much higher in the later stages of team battles.

On the other hand, there's really nothing to say about GEN. Not only is their frontline strength insufficient, but their dual carries, Ahri and Ezreal, are also particularly weak.

Furthermore, in order to reliably pick Sion, the top laner also chose Fiora, making the lineup look like it was picked in a ranked game.

Of course, if it's a super late game, that's a different story. No one in EDG's lineup can compete with a fully-equipped Fiora. Sion, Lucian, and other champions are just toys.

"As long as we don't let the enemy mid and jungle get into a rhythm, it'll be easy to win," Ming Jing said. "Try to move closer to the mid lane as much as possible; the enemy will definitely gank mid."

Upon hearing this, both Nono and Nobu nodded in agreement.

After speaking, Ming Jing glanced at the center of the stage.

Since no coach from EDG was present, GEN coach Score simply bowed to the audience before turning and leaving.

On his way out, Score couldn't help but glance at the EDG players' bench, and his eyes met Mingjing's.

At this moment, Ming Jing could clearly see that Score's expression was rather unpleasant, and his brows were furrowed.

Seeing this expression, Ming Jing couldn't help but grin and nod slightly in acknowledgment.

It's understandable that he looked upset after making such a terrible draft. Regardless of the outcome, the coach will definitely be criticized.

Seeing Ming Jing's smile, Score's expression turned even uglier.

It can only be said that EDG's adaptability in the draft phase exceeded his expectations, resulting in his draft being terrible from start to finish.

The only consolation is that we're not at a disadvantage in this online game.

After all, it was a counter pick that was specifically chosen at the expense of the team's overall strength.

If we handle the laning phase well in the early game, we might not necessarily lose this match.

With Score gone, the match quickly resumed!
In the early stages, there weren't many ups and downs. Mingjing positioned himself to defend the jungle and then went to lane with the minions.

The moment the minion waves met, both mid laners began to sway and shake left and right in unison, as if they were having a spasm.

The reason is simple: Lucian's core laning phase poke revolves around his Q, which combines poke and wave clear.

The reason why Mingjing's Lucian is so strong in solo lane is because of his incredibly high accuracy Q through minions.

Therefore, Chovy must dodge that first Q, as it concerns the dignity of a top mid laner!

This is purely a contest of ability; it's about who has the better reaction and judgment.

But Mingjing will always teach every opponent a lesson in these micro-management techniques.

The fox's swaying movements may seem frequent, but with Ming Jing focused, it's no different from slow motion.

Seizing the opportunity to turn back, Lucian and his minions formed a three-point line, and [Piercing Light] was unleashed!

Chovy's reaction was equally brilliant, but with the perfect timing and angle, it was definitely not something that could be escaped by simply moving around. She was directly hit by this insidious Q that pierced through the enemy ranks!

Chovy couldn't help but purse her lips.

The laning phase has barely begun, and the pressure is already there.
Like Kassadin, Ahri has only 19 base armor points, which is the lowest in the entire league.

When Lucian used his Q, Ahri's health dropped visibly.

Of course, this is far from enough.

Following the AOE effect of his Q skill, Ming Jing continued to farm minions to reach level two.

As a long-range champion, Ahri is theoretically a match for Lucian.

But it's just theory.

Ming Jing did not believe he had any chance of losing in the laning phase.

How can someone with 19 armor fight me?
In the subsequent laning phase, Mingjing's gameplay remained precise and efficient.

Lucian's Q skill was frequently used with an extremely high hit rate. Chovy often had to take two or three hits before he could barely dodge it once, essentially trading his own health for Lucian's mana.

It's clearly impossible to make money from this kind of transaction.

And this is just the beginning.

As the third wave of minions spawned, Mingjing secured level three and then used his E skill to dash forward and close the distance.

The dual pistols followed by the newly learned level two Qs dealt a significant blow to Ahri's health!

Chovy's movements were quick; he retaliated with an E, and then landed a precise hit while Lucian was using his Q.

However, he was only level two at the moment, and Lucian was holding two guns, just one step away from launching a powerful attack. He dared not linger, so he could only use a QA combo to trigger Electrocute and then quickly retreat.

The two sides exchanged blows briefly, with roughly the same amount of health loss.

But at this moment, the three commentators in the LCK commentary booth, led by the Roaring Emperor, were all facepalming, simply unable to bear watching.

"Chovy still lost this round!" CT frowned: "The mage definitely can't trade blows with the marksman, the sustain can't keep up!"

Chovy was frequently hit by the Q from the minion wave, and his health was already low. Now, after being hit by another combo, he was forced to drink his second health potion.

In contrast, Lucian, with Doran's Blade, faced no pressure and didn't even need to use health potions.

The difference in lane matchup is already incredibly obvious!

Backstage at GEN, Coach Score's brow hasn't unfurrowed; in fact, it's furrowed even more deeply.
We can't let the mid lane get suppressed.
If the mid lane is at a disadvantage, won't the entire rhythm fall apart?
Fortunately, Peanut's ability to read the game situation is still not a problem.

At this moment, Nakano's voice could be heard communicating in the GEN lounge.

Seeing the mid lane in such a mess, Peanut decided to forgo rushing to level four and instead gank mid lane first at level three.

Anyway, Peanut was farming top lane in staggered shifts this game, so even if he ran to mid lane, he wouldn't lose any jungle monsters.

This attempt to catch him in the middle didn't have much effect. After all, Ming Jing wasn't stupid; his positioning was quite sophisticated. It was just that Chao Wei was using his position to his advantage, and he managed to take down some of his health, but it was insignificant.

But Peanut's plan to catch the middle is far from over.

After clearing out the jungle and reaching level four, Vi visited the mid lane again.

This time it was a bit of a blow. Taking advantage of the opportunity when Ahri forced out Lucian's E, Vi landed a solid Q, and then the two of them had a good fight.

While it might not result in a kill, it was enough to send Lucian back to base, causing Mingjing's previous laning advantage to vanish.

The camera then cuts to the bottom lane, where JieJie's Ivern is also trying to make a move on the bottom lane.

Ivern and Nautilus's combo can potentially result in a kill.

Meiko knew she couldn't miss this opportunity, so she simply flashed out and hooked the hook.

Unfortunately, Lehends on the other side reacted quickly and dodged the attack with a Flash. Both sides exchanged Flashes and nothing happened.

If Meiko had laid the groundwork beforehand, exchanging flashes with the opponent, then if JieJie had flashed and used Q to lock down the enemy, there might have actually been an opportunity to make a move.

This is a common approach for hard support players in professional leagues, but unfortunately Meiko didn't make such preparations this time.

It's enough to just use Flash.

JieJie helped push the lane into the tower, and then they all returned to base to replenish their equipment.

Next, both junglers continued their active play, making numerous moves.

Peanut still frequently roams to the mid lane, not necessarily to gain an advantage, but simply to harass and prevent Chaowei from being suppressed too much.

Of course, the two were not without murderous intent.

In the blink of an eye, seven minutes had passed.

Peanut has reappeared in the mid lane!

This was the umpteenth time he had ganked, but the difference this time was that Vi had reached level six because she had been frequently gaining experience in the mid lane!
Chovy's fox started with R, then placed it on the face and used E for charm.

Mingjing reacted brilliantly, dodging Ahri's close-range kiss with an E, but from the shadows to the side, another Vi flashed out and used her ultimate to lock onto his head!
To secure the kill, Peanut even used Flash + R instead of Q + R.

Mingjing laughed when he saw this.

What else is there to say? Just give it to them.

Vi uses her ultimate to lock onto the enemy's head, then lands and instantly uses her Q.

The fox followed up with QW, then chased after Lucian with RA, finally managing to secure the kill.

"First blood!"

First blood is born.

But the fierce battle on the field is far from over.

On the bottom lane, EDG also ganked and achieved results.

As the minion wave pushed into the tower, JieJie's Ivern appeared from behind and launched a tower dive!
Ruler's Ezreal, with Flash and E, was unkillable, so the three targeted Nami, who had no Flash.

Titan attacks the tower at close range, followed by a barrage of skills.

Finally, Viper's QA combo secured the kill!
"EDG Viper has killed GEN Lehends!"

A series of kills exchanged sparked a fierce offensive between the two sides! (End of Chapter)