TL;DR
- OpTic signs 2017 World Champion Crown to revitalize mid lane performance
- Dual jungler system with Meteos and Dardoch creates strategic flexibility
- Retained core roster provides stability while new additions bring aggression
- Team shifts from passive to proactive jungle approach for competitive edge
- Organization addresses previous season’s ninth and seventh place finishes
OpTic Gaming’s ambitious roster overhaul centers around securing former world champion Lee “Crown” Min-ho, marking a strategic pivot toward experienced international talent. The organization aims to leverage Crown’s championship pedigree to fundamentally reshape their competitive identity within the North American LCS ecosystem.
The landmark signing brings Crown to OpTic’s starting mid lane position, where he’ll synergize with newly acquired junglers William “Meteos” Hartman and Joshua “Dardoch” Hartnett. This triple-threat acquisition signals OpTic’s commitment to building a roster capable of challenging the LCS elite.
Following a disappointing competitive year, OpTic’s aggressive offseason moves demonstrate their determination to avoid repeating past failures. Crown’s 2017 World Championship victory with Samsung Galaxy established him as one of League of Legends’ elite mid laners, though his subsequent performance with Gen.G during the 2018 season failed to replicate that championship form, creating a compelling redemption narrative for the upcoming season.
Meteos joins OpTic following a brief developmental stint with FlyQuest Academy, bringing veteran leadership and proven LCS performance credentials. His previous tenure with 100 Thieves ended under ambiguous circumstances, creating additional motivation to reestablish his position among North America’s top junglers.
The surprising addition of Dardoch as secondary jungler provides OpTic with strategic flexibility rarely seen in professional League. Despite early career controversies that threatened to derail his professional prospects, Dardoch’s mechanical skill and aggressive playstyle have consistently kept him on LCS radars, earning this opportunity with a major organization.
Current plans position Meteos as the primary starting jungler for spring split, while Dardoch represents a high-impact substitute option likely to see competitive play throughout the season. This dual-jungler approach allows OpTic to adapt their strategy based on opponent strengths and meta shifts.
The jungle duo’s aggressive tendencies contrast sharply with former jungler Matthew “Akaadian” Higginbotham’s more measured approach. Teams often struggle when their jungle play becomes predictable, making this strategic variance particularly valuable in best-of series formats where adaptation becomes crucial.
OpTic strategically maintained continuity by renewing contracts with key core members, including bot laner Noh “Arrow” Dong-hyeon, top laner Niship “Dhokla” Doshi, and support Terry “BIG” Chuong. This balanced approach of retaining established talent while injecting new blood represents sound roster construction philosophy.
Head coach Thomas “Zaboutine” Si-Hassen continues leading the squad, providing coaching stability during this significant roster transition period. Maintaining consistent strategic direction becomes particularly important when integrating multiple new players.
The decision to retain three starting players while adding three new members creates an optimal 50/50 balance between continuity and innovation. Teams that overhaul their entire roster often struggle with chemistry issues, making this selective retention strategy particularly insightful for long-term success.
During their inaugural LCS season, OpTic Gaming consistently ranked among the league’s lower-tier competitors, finishing spring split in ninth position and improving only marginally to seventh during summer. These disappointing results necessitated the aggressive offseason moves we’re now witnessing.
The newly assembled roster brings substantial competitive experience across multiple regions and playstyles. Both Dardoch and Meteos are recognized for their aggressive jungle approaches that can dramatically impact game outcomes, representing a philosophical shift from OpTic’s previous jungle strategy.
This proactive jungle methodology contrasts sharply with former jungler Akaadian’s more reactive style. Teams employing aggressive jungle pressure often force opponents into predictable responses, creating strategic advantages that can be exploited throughout matches. The organization clearly hopes this more dynamic approach will translate into improved standings when competition resumes.
The transformed roster will debut when LCS action returns on January 26, 2019, facing immediate pressure to demonstrate that these strategic investments yield competitive dividends. For teams looking to understand strategic roster construction, our Class Guide explores similar team composition principles in different gaming contexts.
Successful esports organizations typically balance star power with role players, much like effective Complete Guide strategies emphasize building complementary skill sets across roster positions.
Action Checklist
- Analyze Crown’s champion pool and playstyle compatibility with new junglers
- Develop distinct game plans leveraging Meteos’ stability and Dardoch’s aggression
- Establish clear role definitions and substitution triggers for jungle position
- Integrate aggressive jungle approach with retained core players’ strengths
No reproduction without permission：Game Guides Online » A world champion hopes to elevate OpTic in 2019 How OpTic Gaming's strategic roster rebuild with Crown and dual junglers aims to transform their LCS performance