A Legendary Surprise: Unicorns of Love’s Rise in the Esports Scene
A few months ago, Unicorns of Love were a lesser-known team trying to qualify for the LCS. They didn’t have a great start, losing 0-2 to Millenium in a 5-match series.
But then something unexpected happened. Millenium top laner Kevin blind-picked Dr Mundo in game 3, and UOL’s Vizicsacsi responded with the rarely-played champion Poppy. Vizicsacsi played exceptionally well, ending with a score of 8/0/7. UOL went on to make a remarkable comeback and win the series 3-2. Many attributed Vizicsacsi’s performance as the key factor in UOL’s mental turnaround.
Thanks to Vizicsacsi’s Poppy pick and their creative name, UOL gained a large fanbase. This fanbase voted them into IEM San Jose, where UOL’s jungler Kikis surprised everyone by taking Twisted Fate into the jungle. They surprised many by reaching the finals of the tournament, where they were beaten by NA giants Cloud 9.
Exceeding Expectations: UOL in the EU LCS Summer Split
In the EU LCS Summer Split, UOL continued to surpass expectations by reaching the finals of the end-of-season playoffs. They even eliminated SK Gaming in the semi-finals, winning games with uncommon picks such as AP Kog Maw, Udyr, and Jungle Gnar.
UOL has become known for two things: cheese picks and surprisingly good performances. These two things have often gone hand in hand to create significant moments in UOL’s history. It’s not just chance that brought these two signature traits together.
The Power of Cheese Picks
The individual players on UOL are not considered incredible compared to the other top EU teams. However, they have consistently outperformed star-studded teams like Elements and SK Gaming. UOL sets themselves apart by relying on factors other than star power.
One of these factors is their tendency to use cheese tactics. Cheese has been used effectively by teams from weaker regions to overwhelm stronger teams. UOL has proved that cheese can also give an edge to teams of a similar level.
Cheese puts opponents in unprepared positions, giving the cheesing team a significant advantage. UOL’s opponents often struggle to deal with their unconventional tactics or champion picks. For example, Millenium was not prepared for a Poppy lane, and no one at IEM had enough experience playing against Twisted Fate in the jungle to understand its strategies and weaknesses. In both cases, UOL effectively showcased the strengths of their unique picks and avoided allowing their weaknesses to be exploited.
While the meta is an important factor in the game, cheese picks can still be effective. Uncommon picks can either fit into the meta or counter it. However, cheese needs to be calculated and come with an understanding of the risks and potential rewards.
Cheese and UOL’s Impressive Performances
But let’s not forget the other reasons behind UOL’s impressive performances. They didn’t cheese in every game of the EU LCS – it was a selective strategy. UOL is a strong team regardless of surprise picks. However, cheese tactics have undoubtedly added an impressive element to their gameplay, and we hope to see more of it in the future.
Unicorns of Love, esports, UOL, cheese picks, surprise picks, unconventional tactics, EU LCS, meta, competitive gaming