The LEC Summer 2025 kicks off this Saturday, and two teams seem to be emerging from the pack. So far this year, four teams are vying for the LEC title. But GIANTX, BDS, and VIT could well upset the established order this split. And why not claim a spot at the Worlds?

GX, BDS, VIT: Can They Claim A Worlds’ Spot?

GENGX or FLOPX?

GIANTX blew hot and cold in 2025. They often seem to be the bearers of hope at some point in the regular season, even earning them the nickname “GENGX” when they’re playing to their full potential. From the feedback received from the LEC players, they often seem to perform very well in training. But as soon as playoffs came around, the team crumbled and left nothing but regrets. The addition of Isma to replace Closer did not have the desired effect in Spring, as the chemistry with Jackies left much to be desired. The midlaner prodigy, who had shown the full extent of his talent in Summer 2024, was a major disappointment so far. Many observers wondered whether the ADC meta in midlane had given him an edge, and the theory seems to be borne out.

GIANTX
Photo Credit: Michal Konkol/Riot Games

But it’s the botlane that seems to be the nerve center of this team. Noah and Jun were eagerly awaited after their acclaimed stint with Fnatic. Like last year, it’s when the pressure rises that the duo seem to hit the brakes. It’s high time they overcame this psychological barrier when they go on stage for high stakes matches. Two years playing together in the league should be more than enough time to acclimate. And just in time for Noah, it seems that Aphelios – the pick that made him famous in his early days with Fnatic – is back in the meta… In any case, it’s now or never for this team to prove that they’re not afraid of the stage, for Jackies to show that his Summer 2024 was no accident and for Isma and Lot to demonstrate that they truly belong at the top of the LEC.

BDS, Investments that must pay off

As for BDS, this is certainly the team I feel is best armed to upset the top 4 this Summer. Where certain choices might have left room for doubt at the start of the year, that is almost no longer the case. Firstly, the team has recruited one of the most promising toplaners in the world: Rooster. The Korean player would no doubt have joined Hanwha Life’s main team after proving his worth in the LCK CL last year, a trajectory not unlike that of Siwoo. But a certain Zeus, who did not extend his contract with T1, disrupted the prodigy’s career plans. He now joins BDS after a far less successful year. Rooster paid the price for a revamped and much less ambitious team, with Loki in particular leaving for Cloud9 at the start of 2025.

The toplaner will perfectly embody the piece that was missing from the strict, by-the-book game plan that BDS has been trying to establish since 2023 – very close to the LCK style. In the jungle, Boukada fits in perfectly, with a champion pool accessing fighters and tanks, combined with a great deal of creativity in the early stages and around objectives. It remains to be seen how the player will evolve in a team that is far more ambitious than his previous one.

Nuc has individually lived up to the expectations placed in him, with a very decent year and that clutch aspect standing still. Ice has recovered well to regain his standards in Spring, after a rather dubious Winter. He should now be back on track. Finally, it’s Parus who will be my main focus this summer. The Turkish player was part of the LFL 2024 trinity (with Caliste and Skewmond) and was highly anticipated for his transition to the LEC, especially in a support role that is lacking in Europe. It has to be said that he has not lived up to the individual expectations so far: he has one last chance to prove that he wasn’t part of the problem, and he’d better not miss it.

Vitality, The Support Puzzle

An honourable mention goes to Vitality, who proved that their sololaners do indeed have a place at the highest level. Despite some misgivings at the start of the year, particularly towards Czajek. The midlaner proved to be up to the LEC standard and his Ryze should be feared even by the very best. However, Lyncas seems a long way from the hopes he carried when he arrived in the league last year. And if we had to give him time, it’s now been a year. The same goes for Carzzy, who is still playing at the limits he is so well known for, but seems to have swapped his former clutch factor for an int factor. The ADC looked more like a burden than anything else for his team since the start of the year. Lyncas and Carzzy may not have been helped by their two former supports, who were clearly no gifts.

No more excuses this time, as Fleshy will finally consolidate the support role in the team. He will at least bring consistency and experience, but I would be very surprised if he proves to be the keystone capable of unleashing this team in playoffs. He will at least be reunited with his former teammate from KCB, with whom he won the LFL in Spring 2024. In my opinion, Vitality will be a mid-table team, as it has been since the start of the year. And even if they get their act together, I could potentially see them take fifth place, but I really don’t expect them to upset the top 4 in BO5.

Honourable And Less Honourable Mentions

Honourable mention must also go to Team Heretics, who have followed a fairly linear progression curve since the start of the year. They even did better than Fnatic on paper in the Spring playoffs, managing to take a game from Karmine Corp in BO5. Although I wouldn’t be surprised to see them come out of Group B, I think they should quickly hit a glass ceiling in playoffs.

As for Navi (formerly Rogue), the team seems to have moved out of the hopeless case category with some bold changes to turn things around. Hans SamD, for example, was long overdue in the LEC after having nothing left to prove in the ERL. Thayger was also the key to Barça’s success in Spring, and comes in as SuperLiga champion and EMEA Masters finalist. He was certainly the best possible option in the role of jungler, bearing in mind that Rhilech could not join the team directly for visa reasons. Unfortunately, there are still uncertainties surrounding Larssen, who has not performed at a high level since 2023, and especially Malrang, who role swapped to support. Although he will surely form a more obvious Korean chemistry with his ADC, the latest example of role swapping in the LEC brings back bad memories…

Navi LoL
Photo Credit: NaviLeague on X

As for SK, the changes are far too timid. To the point where I wonder whether the team isn’t about to show a lower level than the two previous iterations (as a reminder, only three victories in two splits). Although they were distributed in the group that seems slightly weaker, I wouldn’t be surprised if they didn’t win a single BO3 of the split. I’d be much more surprised if they won enough to make it out of groups. Given the roster’s lack of ambition at the most important time of the year, I think it’s time to start wondering about the future of the organisation in the league. I’ve heard some Rats want to sneak in…