2015 Mid-Season Invitational: An Action-Packed Tournament
The 2015 Mid-Season Invitational was an intense and action-packed event, featuring 62% more kills per minute than the LCK playoffs and a faster pace than expected based on each region’s playoffs.
Comparison of Kill Rates in Major Regions
The chart below compares the average Combined Kills per Minute (CKPM) from each major region’s playoffs and the entire Mid-Season Invitational tournament. Unfortunately, the LPL’s match histories are not publicly available. The chart also includes the average target selection for each region.
Difference in Pace: LCK Playoffs vs. MSI
The MSI tournament had a much faster pace compared to the LCK playoffs. On average, there were 62% more kills per minute at MSI than in the Korean playoffs. This difference in pace worked in favor of EDG, allowing them to defeat SKT and almost beat them as well.
Mid Laners in LCK: Low Target Focus
Mid laners in the LCK had the least target focus of any position in any league, accounting for only 13% of team deaths. Players like SKT’s Easyhoon and Faker, and Jin Air’s GBM demonstrated impressive performance with minimal deaths.
AHQ’s Killing Spree in LMS Playoffs
AHQ dominated the LMS playoffs, winning nine out of ten games. They achieved victory by aggressively taking down opponents, but unfortunately couldn’t sustain the same level of success at MSI.
North America’s Controlled Game
The relatively slower kill pace in North America can be attributed to Cloud9’s strategic playstyle. They prioritize objectives and sieging, resulting in the lowest CKPM in the NA LCS. In general, North American teams played a more controlled game compared to their European and Taiwanese counterparts. North American teams focused more on Top laners, likely due to kiting and disengaging strategies.
European Aggression in Numbers
While it may come as a surprise, Fnatic didn’t have the highest CKPM in the EU playoffs. Unicorns of Love, Copenhagen Wolves, and Gambit Gaming had higher kill rates. Support players in Europe had the highest death rates, averaging 25% of team deaths.
The LPL’s Place in the Hierarchy
The LPL’s position in terms of aggression falls somewhere higher, possibly on par with the EU LCS. However, without specific data, it is challenging to determine the average CKPM for the LPL.
Conclusion
It’s evident that different teams and regions have varying playstyles. CKPM and average target selection provide valuable points of comparison. As the Summer Split begins, viewers can choose to watch either the bloodiest games in the LMS or the strategic matches in the LCK, especially when SK Telecom T1 is playing.
Stats: LCK – 11 games, SKT victors; NA – 25 games, TSM victors; EU – 27 games, FNC victors; LMS – 10 games, AHQ victorious; MSI – 28 games, EDG victors
Note: T-tests performed on CKPM between leagues showed significant differences (p < 0.05) in all comparisons except for NA and EU playoffs.
Mid-Season Invitational, MSI, LCK playoffs, kill rate, CKPM, target selection, LMS playoffs, North America, Europe, LPL