DAMWON Gaming face Kingzone on April 5! This is a battle between rising rookies and resurging veterans, but only one of these parties will advance to the next round of the 2019 LCK playoffs. Let’s break down this matchup and find out who’s it going to be!
For a moment, it looked like DAMWON Gaming weren’t going to make it this far. They’re undeniably talented when it comes to coordinating in teamfights and navigating the late game, but they had a lot of trouble holding their own in the laning phase. However, DAMWON Gaming did a great job of covering these weaknesses in their previous series, and we’re excited to see what they have in store for round 2 of the 2019 LCK playoffs.
Kingzone DragonX have also exceeded expectations. They started the regular season as a team that lived and died by its world-class marksman, but they gradually improved to the point where they have reliable threats in almost every single position. On top of that, Kingzone have staggering amounts of veteran talent, and you can count on them to make the right macro calls in the later stages of the game.
DAMWON Gaming vs Kingzone – LCK Match Breakdown
Top Lane Matchup
There’s only one way the DAMWON Gaming vs Kingzone top lane can go. With a 2.8 KDA and 9.7 CS per minute, DWG Nuguri is a force of nature that routinely breaks open the game with his razor-sharp mechanics and instinctual game sense. His substitute isn’t too shabby either. Sporting a 3.7 KDA and 8.8 CS per minute, Flame is a battle-hardened top laner that knows exactly what he needs to do to find deadly flanks and initiate devastating teamfights.
Meanwhile, top lane is likely their weakest point of Kingzone’s roster. Holding a 3.1 KDA and 8.3 CS per minute, Rascal made a name for himself by getting through the laning phase and providing a robust frontline for his carries in teamfights. And while he started turning this reputation around with a number of potent carry performances, it won’t be enough to match DAMWON’s top laners.
VERDICT: DWG Nuguri and Flame claim the top lane as their own.
Jungle Matchup
The jungle matchup will definitely be interesting to follow. With a 3.4 KDA and 5.1 CS per minute, DWG Canyon is a talented jungler that shines the most on carries and playmakers. Unfortunately, he’s far too inconsistent in the early game, which might force his team to go with Punch. Holding a 4.3 KDA and 5.2 CS per minute, DAMWON Gaming’s substitute is much better at working together with his teammates, but he doesn’t have the same explosive energy as Canyon.
If you haven’t been keeping up with the 2019 LCK season, it might seem like Kingzone don’t have much to oppose this, but Cuzz made massive improvements this split. Sporting a 3.7 KDA and 5.5 CS per minute, Kingzone’s jungler went from an unremarkable role player to a confident carry that frequently finds himself a step ahead of his opponents. Combine that with his veteran experience, and Cuzz should have an edge in this matchup.
VERDICT: KZ Cuzz squeezes out a win in the jungle.
Mid Lane Matchup
The DAMWON Gaming vs Kingzone mid lane is going to be wild! With a 4.5 KDA and 8.9 CS per minute, DWG ShowMaker is an up-and-coming mid laner with a knack for performing on mechanically intensive champions. Yet, his game sense isn’t on par with his individual talent, and it’s common to see ShowMaker commit blatant positioning mistakes and shut down in face of aggressive opponents.
PawN is his polar opposite. With a 4.1 KDA and 8.6 CS per minute, Kingzone’s mid laner is a daredevil in every sense of the word, and while his prime might be in the past, he makes up for it with unwavering confidence and extensive game knowledge. Add in the sheer number of pocket picks at his disposal, and PawN will run circles around his rookie opponent.
VERDICT: KZ PawN outmuscles his foe in the mid lane.
Bot Lane Matchup
The DAMWON Gaming vs Kingzone matchup will be decided in the bot lane. His 5.5 KDA and 10.1 CS per minute might seem impressive, but Nuclear is nothing more than a secondary threat on DAMWON Gaming’s lineup. His supports aren’t that great either. Hoit (4.2 KDA) is formidable on defensive picks, but he doesn’t bring much else to the table, and while BeryL (2.6 KDA) is more flexible with his champion pool, he’s too volatile to be a reliable initiator for DAMWON Gaming.
Kingzone don’t suffer from the same issues. Sporting a 5.0 KDA and 10.0 CS per minute, Deft exerts immense amounts of pressure in lane and routinely tops the damage charts in teamfights. TusiN (4.5 KDA) is no pushover either. His relentless aggression and vast champion pool are great for highlighting the strengths of his AD carry, and it’s hard to imagine DAMWON standing up to this duo.
VERDICT: KZ Deft and TusiN run away with the bot lane matchup.
DAMWON Gaming vs Kingzone – LCK Match Prediction
DAMWON Gaming’s 2019 LCK playoffs run ends here. Kingzone are ahead of them in both skill and strategy, and unless DAMWON find a reliable way to break the series open through the top lane, they’ll take the L here. Our prediction is a 3-1 victory for Kingzone!
You can bet on Kingzone DragonX winning the DAMWON Gaming vs Kingzone match with a 3-1 score for odds of 3.63 at GG.bet
