TH Stend: “We don’t really know what to do in the game”

After a complicated week 2 for Team Heretics in the LEC Spring Split – with two defeats against G2 Esports (0-2) and KOI (0-2) – I sat down with TH’s support to discuss a few topics. Paul “Stend” Lardin spoke his mind about the issues the team have, the problems he is individually facing, his synergy with Sheo and the support role being the weakest in Europe.

How are you and your team feeling after this complicated week?

Stend: Well, it’s not going so well. In reality, even if we faced two big teams, I think that we didn’t show a good face at all. It’s true that we had a difficult week of training and it showed on this week against G2 and KOI. So yes, I’m not happy with my individual performance, and I’m also not happy with what we shown as a team because we didn’t show much, we were a bit of NPCs, in short. So yes, this is something that needs to be addressed as soon as possible.

Ethan: I still have the impression that against the weaker teams in general, it’s not so bad. It’s more As soon as you face a big one, it gets complicated.

What are you missing to make that extra step and look the top teams in the eyes?

Stend: Yes, I think our laning phase is not not yet stable enough, but it’s mostly our mid-late game where I think we’re not at all decisive enough on our rotations, on what we want to play for. And against the big teams, if we’re not decisive and we don’t know exactly what we want to play, we get punished in spaces that are not necessarily ours. So, I think that these are the two biggest points to work on.

Trust the process.#VamosHeretics pic.twitter.com/r9A6DpaS60

— Heretics League of Legends (@HereticsLeague) April 11, 2025

Ethan: From the outside I had the impression that it was unplayable for a Draven this game (game 2 against KOI), there was a billion threats, whether it was Aurora, Vi, Kai’Sa… It looked really complicated to play.

What was the idea behind this Draven draft?

Stend: In fact, there weren’t many options in ADC and we had a draft that was quite slow, we had K’Santé, Viktor, Skarner and I think we looked to have a win condition in the game because Draven in Kaisa is a very good match-up so we could have snowballed via this Draven and then if then we manage to control the flanks and have a Drake stacked, I think we could have won the game. But then I agree that the Draven game is not easy. They have a lot tools to dive and get him. Especially since it’s kind of the only threat. So if they manage to kill the Draven, we don’t have much behind.

Ethan: I wanted to ask you a little about the level of supports in Europe.

Would you say support is the weakest role in Europe?

Stend: Yes I think that’s the role where there’s the least competition.

I think that the support role is quite easy to be average. You can get by easily but on the other hand, to be the best, I think it’s very hard.

Because there are situations that are different all time, you have to be very smart on the map and even there are a lot of… It’s not like an ADC that has to click well, there are plenty of things to take into account so to be the best, I think it’s very hard but on the other hand to be average, I think it’s the simplest role.

And how do you explain that the role is weak in Europe? What sets us apart other major regions on this role?

Stend: I don’t know about other regions. But I know that, for example, from my experience I can’t find VODs of support because in reality I think it’s a bit… It’s not fun to watch, it’s a bit boring. So I think people will watch more people who play ADC, jungle or mid, where it’s going to be nicer to watch, they’ll try to copy. Well I remember when I wasn’t at all good at the game when I started, I looked at famous people and I copied what they did. And that’s kind of how I learned the game. And it’s true that looking at a support is not very interesting. So I think that’s why there are fewer players, basically. I think that there are less things to look at.

Ethan: I also wanted to tell you about your relationship with Sheo because I have the impression that in early game, it’s you two who dictate and find good angles in the Heretics’ game a bit.

What are for you the points that make your synergy work so well early and what are the points on which you think you really have to work on together?

Stend: It’s true that we manage to synchronize on our early games so we communicate well on that but I think that in our mid game…

We can’t get clear game plans yet for the team.

I don’t know who should do it exactly, but I think our mid-late macro game is still very weak so we can’t manage to… For example, in Game 1 and Game 2, we managed to take an advantage over Draven and in Game 1 over Corki and Zyra. But then, we didn’t manage to snowball and KOI ate us little by little and then we went behind.

Ethan: I wanted to know your level of satisfaction with what you have been able to show since you joined the LEC.

Do you feel that with time, you could match the top of the table of supports, at least on an individual level? And more importantly, do you feel that you have your place in the league ?

Stend: My winter, I’m very happy, I think I had the LEC level, I think I was in the middle, towards the top 5.

But after that I’m not happy at all with my Spring so far. Now it’s a bit complicated honestly.

But yes I think that it’s really doable to be in the top, because I think even top players. In fact, there aren’t many promising young rookies in this role. So I think that if I work and make the effort, I think I have the space to make it happen, yes.

What are Team Heretics’ ambitions this split?

Stend: We had short-mid-long-term objectives. In Winter, we knew that we had no expectations, because it was three rookies. So we knew it was going to be complicated. We were not delusional on this point, so we were quite happy to secure the top 8. But now, for the Spring, we would like to put more pressure on our shoulders.

The objective is to qualify for the playoffs and to make the top 6 at least. So if we don’t succeed, it would be a disappointment for us.

Ethan: And just to come back on a point that you raised.

How do you explain that you were satisfied with your individual level in Winter and no longer in Spring?

Stend: I think as a team, we don’t really know what to do in the game, so I find myself a little lost, I think. It means that I find myself with useless deaths or slightly suspicious engages and I think that’s what makes me, on my side, having a hard time… shining let’s say. But then it comes from me too, if no one is doing it,  maybe it should be my role to put everyone on the same page. But yes, that’s what leads me to not having a great time for the moment.