TL;DR
- Xmithie returns to Immortals after winning four consecutive LCS titles with Team Liquid
- The move follows Team Liquid’s controversial decision to replace Xmithie with European jungler Broxah
- Immortals gains veteran leadership and championship experience for their 2020 roster rebuild
- Doublelift publicly questioned the roster change, comparing it to TSM’s 2017 mistake
- The strategic implications will be tested when LCS competition resumes in 2020
Immortals has made a strategic move by bringing back a familiar face to anchor their 2020 League of Legends roster. This homecoming represents a calculated decision to build around proven talent with established team chemistry.
Jake “Xmithie” Puchero reunites with the organization where he previously achieved significant success. During his initial tenure in the 2017 NA LCS Summer Split, the North American jungler helped propel Immortals to a second-place finish and secured qualification for the prestigious 2017 League of Legends World Championship.
“Jake was my primary target when constructing the OpTic 2019 lineup, but he ultimately joined Team Liquid. Now, two years later with expanded competitive experience, we’re finally executing this vision. I’m incredibly enthusiastic about collaborating with him,” expressed Immortals head coach Thomas “Zaboutine” Si-Hassen via Twitter.
Xmithie is the best jungler for Immortals
Xmithie brings an impressive competitive resume to Immortals, having captured four consecutive domestic championships with Team Liquid. His veteran presence provides both strategic leadership and championship-level experience that creates a solid foundation for Immortals’ 2020 competitive aspirations.
The organization faced exclusion from professional League of Legends in 2017 when Riot Games declined their LCS application. Their return pathway materialized through acquiring OpTic Gaming’s LCS franchise slot, implementing a complete roster reconstruction strategy. Immortals released all players previously under OpTic contracts to build an entirely new team composition.
Xmithie’s acquisition serves as a cornerstone signing that enhances Immortals’ appeal to other elite players. Reports indicate European top laner Paul “sOAZ” Boyer, marksman specialist Johnny “Altec” Ru, and support player Nickolas “Hakuho” Surgent are likely additions to the evolving roster. The mid lane position remains the primary unanswered question for Immortals’ 2020 configuration.
Team Liquid’s loss is Immortals’ gain
Team Liquid initiated Xmithie’s departure by opting to replace him with former Fnatic jungler Mads “Broxah” Brock-Pedersen. This personnel change generated significant fan criticism, with many questioning whether Broxah constitutes a meaningful upgrade over the established North American veteran.
Team Liquid’s star AD carry Yiliang “Doublelift” Peng offered candid commentary during a recent broadcast.
“This situation parallels Season 7 Team SoloMid when we fielded our strongest lineup. We had a cohesive unit that maintained excellent performance, demonstrated growth potential, and sustained high motivation levels. As history demonstrated, dismantling that roster proved disastrous. This current move could represent a similar strategic error,” Doublelift analyzed.
Doublelift further emphasized his desire to continue competing alongside Xmithie in 2020, acknowledging their productive strategic debates during gameplay.
Xmithie established himself as a consistently reliable jungler who elevated Team Liquid to unprecedented competitive heights. While Broxah achieved domestic success within Europe’s challenging competitive landscape, that accomplishment may not sufficiently compensate for the established synergy Team Liquid developed with Xmithie.
The contrasting roster strategies adopted by Immortals and Team Liquid present fascinating case studies in team building philosophy. Immortals prioritizes veteran leadership and established North American talent, while Team Liquid gambles on European import potential. For teams looking to optimize their Class Guide approach to roster construction, examining these divergent paths offers valuable insights.
Successful team building requires balancing individual skill with collective chemistry—a challenge both organizations now face from different strategic angles. Much like mastering Weapons Unlock systems demands understanding multiple variables, evaluating roster changes necessitates considering both mechanical performance and interpersonal dynamics.
Definitive assessments will emerge when the LCS resumes competitive play in 2020, providing concrete evidence regarding which organizational approach yields superior competitive results. Teams seeking comprehensive guidance on competitive strategy development should consult our Complete Guide to competitive optimization.
Common roster construction mistakes include overvaluing individual statistics while undervaluing team synergy, and failing to account for cultural adaptation challenges with international imports. Advanced optimization involves creating flexible roster structures that can adapt to evolving meta shifts while maintaining core strategic identity.
Action Checklist
- Evaluate veteran leadership value versus import potential in roster decisions
- Analyze team chemistry factors when considering player replacements
- Assess competitive region strengths when evaluating player backgrounds
- Monitor early season performance metrics to validate roster decisions
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