In the dynamic world of competitive play, there arises sometimes a champion who takes center stage, overshadowing others with a more strategic edge. The champion who currently holds the spotlight is K'Sante, a frequent choice that spectators are starting to dislike.
This choice for a champion has not gone down well with many viewers who are apprehensive about his ubiquitous presence. Discontent is mounting as K'Sante goes from being a remarkable champion to an overly familiar one in the competitive scene.
Viewers are a critical component of the game as their interest fuels the popularity of the sport. However, the presence of a dominant champion like K'Sante might potentially disrupt the spectatorship, which is a crucial factor.
Conforming to a peculiar style since his introduction to the League, K'Sante, the Shuriman tank, was expected to shake things up from the traditional damage sponges. Interestingly, his arrays of abilities allow a greater degree of mobility and provides more opportunities for outplays.
The outplays made possible by K'Sante have now become regular within the game, reflecting more on the champion's strengths than the player- a reason why he has become a fixture for the pro play top laners.
The issue lies not in the capabilities of the champion as much as its repercussions on the game. The frequency of K'Sante's selection is emerging as a potential spoiler for the game's dynamics for many viewers.
Impressively, K'Sante currently enjoys a 60% pick-ban rate over the last year of the LCK. Portraying the role of a top laner, he efficiently meets all needs: he is self-reliant, takes on all the damage targeted at him, and efficiently removes the enemy from a teamfight with apt positioning.
However, the widespread dependence on K’Sante picks are leading to increasingly monotonous pro play games, frustrating a section of players who critique the game's meta.
This trend of depending on K'Sante has been met with criticism from multiple players for turning the pro play increasingly monotonous. Some players are disgruntled with the game's current meta that is heavily dominated by K’Sante.
The issue with K’Sante's dominance was raised by a player on the League's platform, claiming it was impossible for anyone to counter him in pro play. He goes on to say that K’Sante just scales up and deflects any damage they do to him while dealing damage as well. In his view, it made the game boring to watch.
The player clarified that his grievance was not about K’Sante's balance in the game, but rather about how his constant presence made the game dull to watch.
It might be safe to conclude that many viewers want more active pro play games. This view was also reflected earlier when the community expressed their approval for the removal of the stopwatch at the start of the 2024 season.
The reaction of players shows that the desire for more action-packed pro play games is strong. Their voice was loud and clear when they lauded the decision to do away with the 'unskilled defensive item' at the beginning of the 2024 season.
As much as the players are part of the game, so is the audience. They play a significant role in shaping the game's course. Champions like K'Sante, while popularly chosen by players for competitive reasons, could potentially impact the game's viewer base.
The current scenario reflects the delicate balance between maintaining strategical depth and ensuring dynamic gameplay that sustains viewer interest. It is thus critical to draw the line between a dominant strategy and an enjoyable spectacle.
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