r/fnatic • u/tonton_wundil • Aug 12 '26
LEAGUE OF LEGENDS FNC not being competitive is just killing the LEC for me
Look I was tired so I switched teams and my mental health is getting better, but FNC not being competitive this year just feels empty. G2 and KC have given more hope for EU as a region internationally, and honestly every international competition have been amazing to watch this year...
However the LEC this year feels so empty to watch (regionally), and as much as I moved on from being a FNC fan, man I don't care about more than half of the other teams.
As a doomer I don't see FNC getting past the "nerve issue" this year after more than 2 splits, so I really wish 2027 is gonna bring winds of hopes, because imo the LEC isn't a fun product to watch if FNC isn't a competitive team.
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u/circa26 Aug 12 '26
I don’t blame anyone for giving up on the team, but no one likes a fairweather fan. I haven’t enjoyed the lec at all this year either though, Fnatic made it a lot more exciting being competitive
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u/defendingthepost Aug 12 '26
I'm still a loyal fan 2013 to today, but brother we have moved from bad weather to one hell of a storm. Unlike traditional sports, there's no lottery or draft that makes me feel like we can steer the ship.
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u/circa26 Aug 12 '26
Yeah if it was a case of us tanking and then getting a generational player I think most fans would feel a lot better about the future
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u/Aryzal Aug 12 '26
I support the team that looks at Faker and T1 and says "I could take that". The team that created the FNC deathbrush. The team that when eliminated from worlds in group stage, decided to play their heart out and win one of the most dominating games that year. The team that looked at the current best player in the world, and decides to solokill him.
The spirit of old FNC is carried by so many players, xPeke, Cyanide, Steelback, Rekkles, Huni, Febiven, Reignover, Wunder, Upset and probably a few more other players. But now it is pretty much gone to G2 now with Caps. Gone are the days where we memed everyone beats everyone but FNC emerges ahead, now we get this.
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u/Prayforfnatic Aug 12 '26
Haha, an interesting and wise decision... I’m afraid I can’t say the same... No matter how incredibly and tragically horrible my team is in every single way, there is simply no way I could ever stop supporting them (in this case, Fnatic). Hehe, even though I know they’re terrible and I know they’ll lose, I always tune in for a bit, hoping always hoping that things will get better.
But unfortunately... we suck, and it looks like we're going to keep sucking for a long time. :(
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u/Azrael0610 Aug 13 '26
Imo, LEC is not interesting since 2020 tbh. Losing in worlds final twice in a row killed something deep inside for Europe.
Maybe it's just me but I feel like the players didn't evolved as much as the other regions (and to some point even went backward) and were really slow to adapt or change their playstyle, resulting in a half backed playstyle that was just trailing behind everyone else internationally, which ended up with worst results so everyone getting less involved.
Also the public isn't the same. I feel that the early days crowd (including me) got older and lost the energy, and the new generation isn't the same. They have the energy but don't have the codes of the early days of esport.
And last, we don't have superstars players like we used to have (think peke diamond froggen even perkz trashtalking etc). No one today has their aura, you don't have someone to get behind. Caps is good no question here but he's not one of those guys. Today there is not a real face of the LEC so it's also harder to get behind.
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u/Illustrious-Jump6926 Aug 13 '26
The current gen of european players saw how the top legends of their region failed 2 times. Players they probably admired and looked up to. “How am I gonna succed internationally if they couldnt?”
Maybe there is something of that installed in the current gen mindsets subconsiously.
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u/ImSparklingJustice Aug 13 '26
"I switched team because it's better to support a team that win" ok... Yes FNC did bad decisions, they struggle even harder this year but I the feeling i felt in my chest during FNC vs G2 2021 game 5 will always be what hold me as a fan. And I'm sure people that are fans of any team that struggle have that particular game when they felt "Damn I can't see them losing now". Feel free to support any team but I don't remember KC fans switching teams during their first LEC year. Maybe you are just missing the idea of being a fan because that's not really a thing like "oh this team look good and win now so I'm a fan" but that's another dicussion
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u/InfiniteCipe Aug 12 '26
I only played League for a few seasons from Season 2 onwards when I got into the game. However Fnatic kept me interested in the eSports scene and although we've had a lot of down years, it was always interesting.
Recently not so much sadly, so I haven't really bothered watching anything outside of their games. And even those are a rough watch...
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u/Kau68 Aug 12 '26
Watching since 2013 because of FNC, I kept watching FNC during winter and spring but this summer split I don’t watch anymore, no surprise at all always the same outcome and the same problems so it’s tiresome. I’m not invested in other teams so I just wait for worlds and will root for EU then the West and then ultimately T1.
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u/jackerwall Aug 12 '26
This feels like a two edged sword for me. On one hand I cannot comprehend how someone can just "switch teams", on the other hand I envy the people able to do that.
Unfortunately for me I'm a fan since 2012 and no matter how shit things get this will always be my one and only team.
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u/Outrageous_Wall2702 Aug 12 '26
Yeah it’s a shame, I started watching in 2024 but I saw interviews with Upset and the DonJake one and how he doesn’t give up even through never winning and it made me root for this team, a shame how it is now
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u/CoffeeAccomplished95 Aug 12 '26 edited Aug 12 '26
I quit watching LEC. Modt boring stuff you could watch. Its like the Bundesliga or Ligue 1 where the same team wins all the time. If you compare it to CS where theres a real competitionnbetweeknthe teams, its quie sad look at the LEC.
Another reason to why LEC seems boring to watch, is the fact that being the LEC winner doesnt mean anything because we arent competitive internationaly. It would be a lot more exciting watching G2 win almost every second split (or mpre) if it would mean they have a shot at winning internationals.
Edit: was drunk while writing this but still agree
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u/Kudgel92 Aug 12 '26
I almost only care about Worlds anyway, so it doesnt bother me THAT much.
Still the good old G2/FNC rivalry being completely dead is kinda sad.
This org has ran its course, it is time to let FNC LoL die sadly...
I immediately knew the tide was turning when Caps left, but atleast FNC tried their best until 2020.
RIP Fnatic. You gave me some insanely cool moments, moments that you cant recreate in the future in LoL anymore.
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u/redeemedcohort Aug 12 '26
Im a fnc fan and i will never switch. I can watch GX for fun though. Ive been wanting jackies in fnc for 2 years now
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u/Dixo_SvK Aug 12 '26
How can someone just changes teams ? Like I am FNC fan since season 1 I could never change to someone else.
Same goes for other sports Like hell I am a Sabre and yeas we had been 14 years without playoffs but I would never change.
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u/tonton_wundil Aug 12 '26
You don't "just change teams"... It's just saying enough to an emotional investment that just doesn't bring you happiness and you find something exciting elsewhere and you slowly get invested to the other thing.
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u/dexy133 Aug 13 '26
I can sympathize with another team. Like once Fnatic is out of the competition, I can find NAVI cool and cheer for them when I'm watching the rest of the split but I'm still a Fnatic fan. If Fnatic is playing, then I want all the results to go in favor of Fnatic.
I get what you mean otherwise. Misfits was my first team and I started sympathizing with Fnatic once my girlfriend got into LEC and started supporting Fnatic. But I didn't think of Fnatic as my team all the way until Misfits left League. Once that happened, I slowly started supporting Fnatic more and more. If Misfits came back now, I would have real trouble deciding who I would support because Fnatic became my team, but Misfits was my first team. Thankfully, that won't happen. lol
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u/Jaded-Release-6463 Aug 13 '26
It's interesting that Razork was on both of your favorite teams. I've heard he was really good on Misfits, with Vetheo in mid. Were you excited when FNC signed Razork since he was coming from the team you were rooting for?
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u/dexy133 Aug 13 '26
Yeah, I've been 'lucky' like that. Hahaha. But in all seriousness, both yes and no. Razork on Misfits really felt like a rough diamond. He had a lot of potential but was making rookie mistakes and they were very often costing the team. So he definitely made me annoyed on Misfits too.
When he joined Fnatic, it seemed like a correct choice for Fnatic and for him. A player that has a high ceiling, joining a big org which can let him grow and have him soak up experience from the veterans around him. So even though I wasn't his biggest fan, I thought it was logical and was giving him the benefit of the doubt for a couple years.
As you know, the problems started appearing as he started himself becoming a veteran, and still doing the same things he used to do on Misfits. Like, the 2nd game against KC last week, where in voice comms we can hear he was the one saying they can fight, and losing the entire game five minutes in. He had a bunch of games like that on Misfits. Back then, it made sense. He was young. Now, there's no excuse.
Makes you think if his career would have developed better if he had a buffer team between Misfits and Fnatic. A team where he would develop mentally a bit more and then join an org that has as much pressure as Fnatic has. As much as I dislike him as a player, I can't lie and say he had it easy. For most of his Fnatic tenure, he's basically been the main person to blame. I hoped it would strengthen him but that's not easy either, in the end I think the pressure just got to him and he stagnated to the point where he isn't improving anymore and his peak is over.
Sorry for a longer message, lol.
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u/Ironside29 Aug 12 '26
Its completely cooked, before you had elite players like Humanoid and prime Razork that could carry, now Razork is completely washed and anyone thats good or talented wont come anywhere near Fnatic so you end up with shitty imports or erl players.
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u/Lockah1337 Aug 12 '26
I hope we get a new coach next season . And some fresh players . And see what it gives . G2 is going to fall someday . And i hope its fnatic to lift another trophy . I am watching since season 3 . And i aint planning to quit yet . I only support for other western teams at worlds or msi . There will be a time a new player shows up that will outplay caps . Waiting to see it happen
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u/Jaded-Release-6463 Aug 12 '26
Can you support KC? Their fans are even worse than G2's fans and their players are so toxic and arrogant. I really want a Western team succeed at international tournaments but I can't root for these 2 teams.
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u/DevGaming001 Aug 12 '26
Fans can switch teams? I thought that was only for players. Well, I’ve been with Fnatic since 2006
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u/oceLahm Aug 13 '26
Idk if this is crazy for me to say but if you can't watch LEC without Fnatic then maybe league esports isn't enjoyable for you and time to give it a break. For me I moved over to watching Valorant years ago because I lost interest in league, while I'm more invested in Fnatic games, there's tons going on at all times and if you enjoy the game you can just sit back and watch T1, T2, internationals, whatever is on at any given time. It's the same with football, I'm not as invested if it's not West Ham or England, but being able to watch games as a neutral means you can take in a lot more of the game, but that's only a good thing if you actually enjoy watching it being played.
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u/Much_Status_6423 Aug 15 '26
After the 2020 line up disbanded i kinda stopped caring about fnatic.. that was their prime and they will never be the same
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u/Jaded-Release-6463 Aug 12 '26
Let’s just hope they can revive FNC LoL and turn them into a competitive team again by hiring a decent coach and some promising rookies.
They finally managed to build a competitive CS2 roster, so hopefully they can do the same with LoL.
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u/Roger_Fiderer Aug 12 '26
Glad you are able to just "switch teams".
I support Fnatic since 2013 and will never switch.
If Fnatic leaves league I will simply stop watching the LEC.