The Rise of Janna Smite Top in the 2022 LCS Spring Split
Only two games into the 2022 LCS Spring Split and Janna Smite top has already made her debut. This unconventional pick has gained popularity in League of Legends’ Patch 12.2 with a 58.06 percent win rate in high Elo, according to U.GG. Now, Janna has found her way into the LCS as FlyQuest chose her in their match against CLG during the second game of the season.
Janna Smite Top was the first pick for FlyQuest top laner Kumo on the red side. There was initially some uncertainty about where Janna would be played, but FlyQuest’s fourth pick, Leona, confirmed that she would be in the top lane.
A Confusing Matchup
The game itself was puzzling, with FlyQuest gaining an early lead while CLG pushed deep into their enemy’s base, reaching the Nexus towers before the 30-minute mark. FlyQuest had many opportunities to close out the game, even to the extent that CLG left their Nexus completely exposed to take the Elder Dragon. Ultimately, FlyQuest ended the game at 47 minutes with a fight around Baron that led to mid laner Toucouille destroying the open Nexus. Kumo, FlyQuest’s top laner, finished the game with one kill, two deaths, and 17 assists. Despite some early laning difficulties, Kumo can still claim to be undefeated with Janna top, according to Oracles Elixir’s stats.
Janna Smite Top and its Competitive Viability
This is not the first time Janna Smite top has been picked in competitive play. Barcelona top laner Dreedy also chose this unconventional strategy and initially fell behind. However, they managed to overcome the odds and secure a victory in 32 minutes. Janna has yet to be defeated in the competitive League, and with more games to come in the LCS, this pick could potentially shape the top lane meta.
In their next matchup, FlyQuest has the opportunity to go 2-0 in their first week as they face off against the Golden Guardians. On the other hand, CLG aims to bounce back from their loss as they take on the reigning LCS champions, 100 Thieves.
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Janna Smite top, LCS, FlyQuest, CLG, League of Legends, competitive play, top lane, meta