TL;DR
- OpTic Gaming executed innovative draft strategies against Echo Fox to keep playoff hopes alive
- PowerOfEvil’s surprise Fizz pick countered Damonte’s Zoe, exploiting pre-hotfix champion strength
- The team prioritized mid-lane dominance with Arrow’s Draven and Big’s Zilean support
- With three critical matches remaining, OpTic must maintain strategic flexibility
- Successful counter-picking requires understanding patch-specific champion interactions

Despite facing elimination from postseason contention, OpTic Gaming demonstrated remarkable resilience in their approach to critical matches. The organization known as the Green Wall has consistently punched above their weight class when confronting top-tier opponents during the final stretch of the regular season.
Many teams would crumble under the pressure of must-win scenarios, but OpTic’s players have shown exceptional mental fortitude. Their ability to perform when stakes are highest separates them from middle-of-the-pack rosters that falter during clutch moments.
Understanding how to manage playoff pressure is crucial for any competitive team. Common mistakes include over-preparing for specific opponents or abandoning successful strategies due to nerves. OpTic avoided these pitfalls by trusting their preparation and playing to their strengths.
Confronting Echo Fox’s formidable lineup required unconventional thinking during champion selection. OpTic deployed multiple strategic surprises that disrupted their opponents’ preparation and forced uncomfortable adaptations.
Noh “Arrow” Dong-Tak secured his renowned Draven pick, a champion known for snowballing advantages through aggressive lane dominance. This selection was strategically paired with Terry “Big” Chuong’s Zilean support, creating a hyper-carry protection system that could dominate teamfights.
The Zilean-Draven combination represents one of League’s most potent bot lane synergies. Zilean’s chronological abilities provide Draven with resurrection safety nets and movement speed steroids, amplifying his damage output while mitigating positioning errors that often plague aggressive marksmen.
Advanced players should note that executing this composition requires precise timing on Zilean’s ultimate and exceptional target selection from Draven. Poor coordination between these champions typically results in wasted resources and lost teamfight presence.
Echo Fox anticipated a standard mid-lane exchange when they blind-picked Zoe for Tanner “Damonte” Damonte. However, the evolving assassin meta has fundamentally shifted how teams approach the Aspect of Twilight matchup.
Tristan “PowerOfEvil” Schrage responded with melee assassin Fizz, a selection that capitalizes on Zoe’s vulnerability to all-in engagements and burst damage combinations.
The Fizz versus Zoe matchup demonstrates how counter-picking requires deep understanding of champion power spikes and ability interactions. Fizz’s playful trickster (E) completely negates Zoe’s sleep bubble (E), while his ultimate provides reliable engage that bypasses Zoe’s range advantage.
Optimization tips for this specific counter include maxing Fizz’s E first for dodging capabilities, rushing Hextech Protobelt for additional gap-closing, and timing aggressive trades around Zoe’s summoner spell cooldowns. Successful execution typically requires 15-20 minutes of focused lane phase practice to master timing windows.
Common mistakes when playing Fizz into Zoe include overcommitting without vision of enemy junglers or failing to respect Zoe’s level 6 power spike. Advanced players should prioritize early magic resistance and carefully manage wave positions.
This crucial match occurred on Patch 8.16, with PowerOfEvil utilizing the pre-hotfix iteration of Fizz. This version featured enhanced base damage on his ultimate and more forgiving mana costs, creating windows for aggressive trading that post-hotfix versions cannot replicate.
Understanding patch-specific champion strength is essential for competitive success. OpTic’s coaching staff identified this temporary power window and constructed their draft around exploiting it before subsequent balancing adjustments.
OpTic Gaming’s strategic identity heavily emphasizes mid-lane priority and resource allocation. They funnel more attention and jungle presence toward the center of Summoner’s Rift than any other LCS organization, making PowerOfEvil’s champion selection particularly consequential for their overall game plan.
The team’s approach to mid-lane dominance shares strategic principles with successful Class Guide approaches in other tactical games. Both require identifying power positions and allocating resources to maximize advantage.
Practical draft strategy tips include tracking patch notes for temporary power spikes, practicing multiple champion options for flexibility, and understanding how specific picks influence jungle pathing decisions.
OpTic Gaming confronts three remaining regular season contests that will ultimately determine their playoff eligibility. The Green Wall’s postseason aspirations remain mathematically viable but require near-perfect execution against formidable opposition.
Team Liquid, TSM, and 100 Thieves represent the final barriers between OpTic and a coveted 2018 NA LCS Summer Playoffs qualification.
Each opponent presents unique strategic challenges that demand tailored approaches. Team Liquid excels at late-game teamfighting, TSM dominates through individual lane proficiency, while 100 Thieves prioritizes objective control and macro decision-making.
Successfully navigating this gauntlet requires the same draft innovation and strategic courage demonstrated against Echo Fox. Teams that play conservatively when facing elimination typically underperform compared to those embracing calculated risks.
For comprehensive strategic planning similar to developing a complete Complete Guide methodology, OpTic must maintain their aggressive draft philosophy while adapting to each opponent’s distinctive weaknesses.
Advanced preparation should include studying opponent draft tendencies, identifying ban priorities, and having contingency plans for unexpected selections. This systematic approach mirrors the thorough preparation needed for Weapons Unlock optimization in other competitive gaming environments.
Action Checklist
- Analyze opponent’s recent draft patterns and champion preferences
- Identify patch-specific power picks and temporary champion strengths
- Practice 2-3 counter-pick options for expected matchups
- Develop synergistic champion combinations for key roles
- Create contingency plans for unexpected draft developments
No reproduction without permission:Game Guides Online » OpTic Gaming steals a win from Echo Fox with surprise Fizz How OpTic Gaming's strategic draft decisions and surprise Fizz pick secured crucial playoff positioning
