The return of Vulcan to Cloud9 has not been as explosive as fans expected. Despite an upward trend after the two-week LCS break, the highs and lows in his career over the past year have altered his perspective on professional play.
While Vulcan’s impact on the LCS as one of the best supports in the region is undeniable, he has faced challenges in the last year. Although his time with EG showcased him as one of the top support players in NA, he has struggled to reach those heights since Spring 2023.
Following the less-than-ideal experience with the FlyQuest “super team” in Summer 2023, Cloud9 gave him an opportunity to prove himself. Although he is currently showcasing his value, the initial phase was a bit rocky.
In a conversation, Vulcan discussed the team’s performance. The efforts to regain their winning form, and how the past year has influenced him and his League of Legends career.
Finding Cloud9’s Win Condition:
Upon reflection, Vulcan highlighted the crucial difference between Cloud9 and FlyQuest that has facilitated C9’s recovery from challenging times – the ability to communicate effectively about the team’s shortcomings. Overcoming the language barrier has been immensely beneficial for him.
Despite acknowledging that there is still work to be done, Vulcan expressed that they are moving closer to playing and drafting according to their preferences.
He stated, “I guess we’re just still trying to find our consistency? This split, obviously, as everyone can see, we’ve had some highs and a lot of lows, unfortunately. We shouldn’t have nearly as many lows, but we’re pretty inconsistent even in scrims.”
While acknowledging the struggles in determining their win condition, Vulcan emphasized that the team is becoming more aware of their champions’ strengths and each teammate’s preferences.
LCS Competition Debate & Vulcan’s Perspective:
Addressing the debate around the heightened competitiveness of the LCS, Vulcan concurred with the notion that the league has never been this competitive. He noted that bottom teams are surprisingly good, reducing the gap between top and bottom teams.
Reflecting on his own approach, Vulcan admitted to toning down his trash-talking persona. He expressed humility, focusing more on personal improvement and grinding, especially after the shaky performance with FlyQuest in the last split.
“I just – I don’t feel like I’m in a place where I can sht talk. Coming off the last split on FlyQuest, being pretty shaky, individually and as a team, this split, I don’t feel like I’m in a position to talk sht to anybody. So, I’m just putting my head down and grinding.”