Rekkles vs Steeelback: Who Should Be Fnatic’s ADC?
Fans of Fnatic are divided over the potential swap at the ADC position. Some are thrilled at the possibility of Rekkles returning to the team that made him a star. Others strongly support #KeepSteeelback. The question is, who is the better fit for Fnatic, a team known for using a top lane carry? In 2014, Rekkles was widely considered the best ADC in the Western world. However, with FORG1VEN’s comeback in the 2015 Spring Split and Elements’ disappointing season, Rekkles’ claim to the title became less certain. The debate between Rekkles and Steeelback is not as clear-cut as it would have been a year ago.
Statistics Aren’t Everything
In League of Legends, statistics are often used to support opinions. However, I believe that there is more to the game than just numbers. Factors such as team synergy and playstyle play a significant role in transforming a good team into a great one. Despite his critics, Steeelback is an EU LCS champion. In the Spring Split, he played his role perfectly as the clean-up crew on a team with hyper-aggressive players. This lineup is similar to the one in 2014, which included Rekkles, Xpeke, Soaz, Cyanide, and YellowStar. Steeelback may not have had standout performances, often underperforming in lane and relying heavily on Huni’s teleport ganks. Even when he played champions like Kalista or Lucian, his impact was minimal. Some argue that Fnatic needs a low-priority ADC like Steeelback, who can perform to the best of his abilities without much assistance. While this argument has merit, I find it hard to believe that Rekkles wouldn’t be an upgrade over Steeelback. Rekkles is respected worldwide, even by Deft, one of the best ADCs in the world. Elements’ underwhelming performance can’t solely be blamed on Froggen and Rekkles; it’s also due to Shook’s inconsistency and top laners who struggle to keep up with the meta. But let’s focus on what Rekkles brings to the table that Steeelback doesn’t.
The Difference Rekkles Makes
Rekkles excels when he has strong solo laners who are willing to take risks. Froggen, while regarded as the best Western mid laner, is a passive farm-first player. Xpeke, on the other hand, is more aggressive and Rekkles thrived off of that aggression. The pressure created by the solo laners allowed Rekkles to take advantage of the enemy team’s mistakes and clean up fights. Rekkles knows how to capitalize on leads, something that Steeelback has struggled with. Rekkles becomes unstoppable when he knows he has the upper hand and pushes the advantage. Even if Rekkles replaces Steeelback, I don’t believe Huni’s role as the main carry of Fnatic will change. If you watched MSI, you would have seen that Steeelback had the weakest laning phase among all the ADCs at the tournament. While some blame YellowStar’s roaming, I disagree. Steeelback lacks the killer instinct possessed by the top ADCs in the world. Players like Imp, Deft, and FORG1VEN can turn a small advantage into a significant lead through well-timed aggression. I want to make it clear that I am not a Rekkles fan, and I find his handling of his career in the past year somewhat embarrassing. However, Fnatic fans should put aside their personal feelings and acknowledge that Rekkles would likely make them a true contender for the 2015 World Championship.
Fnatic, Rekkles, Steeelback, ADC, League of Legends