Fnatic coach Nightshare on the meta: “Supports are in hell”

Tomáš “Nightshare” Kněžínek of Fnatic spoke with esports.gg following their 0-3 defeat against G2 Esports in the LEC Summer Split Playoffs, discussing their disappointing performance, the current meta, and additional topics.

In their matches against five-time LEC champions G2 Esports, Fnatic found themselves in a string of unfortunate circumstances. They managed to gain a substantial advantage early on, but were consistently outmaneuvered and outperformed by G2 in the midgame. Consequently, Fnatic ended up with a 0-3 record. After the series, Fnatic’s coach Nightshare held a post-match interview to dissect the reasons for their loss and outline potential solutions. He covered various aspects from strategic decisions to game meta.

I truly appreciate the time you’ve taken to connect with us here at esports.gg, Nightshare. I can only imagine that you must be feeling quite disappointed with the outcome of the series. As someone who has been part of the esports community for a long time, I understand the emotional investment and hard work that goes into every competition.

“I’m very disappointed as I believe we were well-prepared going into these matches, but unfortunately, execution under pressure let us down. It seems that in many cases, we’ve had a significant lead, only to give it away through questionable decisions and individual errors, which were likely caused by stress and lack of clarity.”

Although we thought we had addressed our errors, unfortunately, they proved costly against stronger teams. These mistakes were inevitable, but the best teams capitalized on them. I believed we had made significant progress in overcoming these mistakes, but we seemed to regress back to our old habits. We must continue refining these aspects of our gameplan for the Season Finals if we hope to reach second place and compete with G2.

Have you found that consistently having a significant gold advantage at the end of games doesn’t guarantee a win for you? It seems this is an issue that reoccurs during pressure-filled competitive matches. Has this been something you’ve attempted to address through practice, only for it to resurface?

Based on my experience as a long-time League of Legends player and observer of many high-level games, I firmly believe that proper team coordination is crucial for success, regardless of the gold lead. I’ve seen countless matches where even a significant advantage in resources was squandered due to simple mistakes like failing to base together or getting stopped during crucial objectives.

Have you had the opportunity to talk to many professional players and coaches recently? They’ve expressed concerns about the unstable trend in the post-midseason meta, with AP junglers and ADC solo laners gaining popularity. What are your thoughts on this split’s meta, and do you sense the same instability?

As someone who’s been playing League of Legends for several years now, I have to admit that I’m not a big fan of the current meta. The sheer amount of damage dealers dishing out in every game is overwhelming, leaving little room for supports to thrive. I remember when supports were the backbone of every team, providing crucial shields and healing, but now they’re just hanging on by a thread with only one item like Warmog’s Armor.

In the early stages of the game, having two or even three ADCs or double AD Carries in the mid lane adds excitement. The mid lane becomes a battleground with more opponents, resulting in numerous skirmishes. For viewers, this dynamic is both entertaining and enjoyable to watch.

In terms of adjustments after the mid-season, lane swaps are scarcely used in the current meta but continue to resurface as solutions for specific matchups. With several months having passed since their peak at MSI, what is your perspective on lane swaps now?

As a gamer, I’ve noticed that lane swapping isn’t what it used to be. It can still be effective in certain scenarios, but these instances are quite particular. If you’re not familiar with these unique situations and execute the swap incorrectly, the consequences could be harsh.

As a dedicated fan, I’d identify the top qualities we want to keep intact for our team as they prepare for the Season Finals. These strengths could include their exceptional communication skills, unwavering focus, or their ability to adapt and overcome challenges. On the other hand, there’s one significant weakness that needs addressing before we face tough competition. By tackling this issue head-on, we can bolster our team’s performance and maximize their potential for success during the Season Finals.

“The skills we aim to preserve are those we developed during pre-season and throughout the regular season. Primarily, this refers to the synergy between support and jungle roles, as well as their strategic positioning around other players on the map.”

“Our greatest vulnerability was our undoing today – sharing too much information with our opponents. In essence, it comes down to: ‘How much are we inviting to be penalized?’ This weakness has always been our Achilles heel. When we compete against top teams like G2, they will surely capitalize on it.”

Based on my personal experience and observation, it seems that making mistakes can have serious consequences, especially when the situation calls for high levels of focus and precision. I’ve been there myself – feeling the weight of every error, each one a reminder of the potential repercussions. It’s a tough lesson to learn, but an essential one in life.

For our upcoming Arcane Season 3, we’ve been asking professional gamers for their preferences. If you had the power to decide which region should be showcased in this season, which one would you go for? And if there’s a champion from that region that you believe deserves more attention, who would that be?

Based on my personal interest in exploring new worlds within the League of Legends universe, I’m drawn to Freljord. The images I’ve seen suggest breathtaking scenery that I would love to discover further. Moreover, I’m intrigued by the animation style and techniques used to bring this frozen realm to life. Although my knowledge of its lore is limited at present, I do know that Tryndamere hails from Freljord – a fact that piques my curiosity even more since I’ve always been fond of Tryndamere’s champion backstory.

 Yes, Tryndamere is from the Freljord. Ashe’s husband of political convenience. 

I’d be intrigued to hear his backstory since he was among the initial champions I encountered in the game. Therefore, I look forward to learning more about him.

In the LEC 2024 Season Finals, Nightshare and their team will get another opportunity to qualify for Worlds. This is their last chance to represent the LEC on the international stage and conclude the season with a noteworthy achievement.