DIG Spica: "APA has been talking a lot of shit in solo queue, and I want to put him in his place"

Mingyi "Spica" Lu, previously jungler and content creator for FlyQuest, now joins Dignitas in the LCS 2024 Summer Season.

"It doesn't matter what others say. The job is to prove them wrong."

With the LCS 2024 Summer Season fast approaching, Dignitas and Spica are now getting ready to enter the stage once again. Though expectations for the squad remain mixed, the jungler seems determined to hoist his team on top of the League of Legends North American scene. In this exclusive interview, Spica discusses his return to professional play, his past struggles, and what to expect for his squad in the upcoming summer split.

How are you feeling joining this new squad after taking a one-split break?

Mingyi "Spica" Lu: "Honestly, I'm really excited because I think we've got a great squad. We've only been scrimming for a few days, but I would say playing with these guys is the most fun I've had in the past few years. So, I'm really excited to keep improving, play some official matches, and see where we stand right now.

How was your time as a content creator for FlyQuest? Would you say you felt that hunger to compete again while watching from the sidelines?

Spica: I mean, I would say going into this year, my goal wasn't to become a streamer or content creator. It was just the only path for me because of how my previous off-season went. So that was the only thing I could do while looking for a team in the summer. After the spring split ended, I was thinking about whether I should continue or not because I actually enjoyed it quite a bit, way more than I thought I would. I was contemplating whether I should pursue a team or wait until next year.

There are only eight teams in the LCS, and I feel like there might be more and better opportunities next year. But when I heard that Dignitas had this roster, I was honestly really excited because I have played with Zven before, and I think Licorice, Jensen, and I are all great players and will fit together well personality-wise. So that's why I went for it. And so far, I think it's been going great.

Did you fear that you would not find a team after last year's difficult off-season? Did you consider retirement?

Spica: At least in terms of personal skill, I think that I'm definitely good enough for the LCS. I was watching the Spring Split, and I feel like I gained new perspectives. Honestly, I think taking this split off made me a better player in the end. For the past two years, it was more about just going through the motions. But taking a break, getting a new perspective, and looking at things from the outside really helped me. I never doubted whether I was good enough, but it's always good to have confidence in yourself. Taking a break really helped me with that.

Spica, competing in the LCS 2023 Summer Split. Credit: Robert Paul/Riot Games

You mention playing with confidence often. Did you have moments of self-doubt after the disaster of 2023's Summer Season with FlyQuest?

Spica: After the disastrous split last year, when we were in ninth and didn't even make playoffs, I definitely had some doubts. So, after the split ended, I decided to go to Korea to boot camp in preparation for the next year. I was grinding in Korea for a whole month and reached pretty high on the ladder, with my peak being around rank 30-something.

Having that experience gave me a lot of confidence and direction in my gameplay. I started taking things more seriously, focusing on each game and myself. That definitely helped me improve. Going into this year, I still have that mindset, and I think it's going to help me compared to what I didn't have before.

Would you say that not having won a title since 2020 makes you hungrier to dominate the LCS now and earn your place at the top again?

Spica: That's everybody's goal, right? When someone plays in the LCS, they're here to win. I definitely feel the drive more than ever. Last year, we had a good start, but the ending was pretty bad. The year before, to be frank, I didn't feel like I was set up for success. In that environment, it was really hard to succeed.

After the failure last year, I'm more motivated than ever to prove that I can be the best and will be the best. Especially this year, I feel like all my teammates are motivated. We all have the same goal, and we get along really well. So, there are no excuses—it's only about going for that win, right?

Spica, competing with TSM in Spring 2020. Credit: Paul de Leon/Riot Games

Some people have jokingly referred to Dignitas as the "boomer squad" and compared it to the likes of Heretics in the LEC. Do you have any thoughts on people who think of DIG as a bunch of washed-up players?

Spica: First of all, I think all my teammates have performed very well recently. Licorice, for instance, was one of the best top laners in the LCS last year. Jensen was literally top two last split, and Zven, before he took a break, won the LCS twice as a support. So, I don't agree with the narrative that these guys are all washed up. My teammates have had success before.

There's a misconception that if you have older players, you won't do well, and that having rookies guarantees success. I believe in my teammates; they are great, and we work well together. That's all you need. Synergy in the league has become more important than just pure mechanical skill. If you work well with your teammates, you're going to be more successful.

We also have Isles, who I consider a rookie, as he's only played one split of the LCS. So, we do have that mix. I don't agree with those negative narratives.

You've mentioned not paying much thoughts to outside criticism from fans. Could you develop on your approach towards fan feedback and the stress that comes with being a pro player?

Spica: Over the years, I got a lot better at dealing with that. In the beginning of my career, I would care about what other people were saying. I didn't take it too hard, but I was still curious. But as time went on, and I grew older, I realized that it doesn't matter what other people say. The only job you have is to prove them wrong, and that's what you should focus on. If you care too much about what other people say, you might conform to it.

I also realized that a lot of people online just don't know what they're talking about. So, why would I listen to people who have no idea what they're saying? True. So, I just focus on myself and go with my own logic.

Spica, playing his last matches in the 2023 Summer LCS. Credit: Marv Watson/Riot Games

Simply put, what are your expectations for Summer? Are you aiming for Worlds?

Spica: I think our biggest goal is definitely going to Worlds, it's definitely the most exciting part of the whole league year. No matter what happens there, it's a great experience for any player. A lot of players level up during Worlds and become better, no matter what the result is. So, I just want to go back.

The last time I went, it didn't go so well. So, I want to make it this time and get at least one win. That's definitely our goal. And, you know, I just want to do well myself as well. I want to prove that I can still be the best and have a good result.

I saw you were playing Zyra Jungle in SoloQ but had around 48% win rate last I checked... [Editorial Note: 44% now]

Spica: Okay, okay... I was learning! It's been getting better.

Do you think there's a decent chance we see her in the LCS or is it more of a meme pick?

Spica: I've been playing her a lot, and it's honestly very fun. I think Zyra is a bit underrated. I think I'm the only person in North American high elo who plays it; I haven't seen anyone else play her. I'm not sure, but I hope so, just because I think this champion has a lot of potential and some strengths that people don't realize.

A lot of times, when you bring out a new champion, people have no idea what it does, which is an advantage in itself; I hope to maybe bring it out. I think it will be exciting for everybody to watch this champion that has never been played professionally, at least as a jungler. Hopefully, my coach will let me, I'm trying to convince him.

He now yearns to get back on stage. Credit: Reece Martinez/Riot Games

Are there any teams you particularly want to take down? Maybe FlyQuest?

Spica: Yeah, I think the two biggest teams I want to beat are FlyQuest, which is pretty obvious, and Team Liquid. APA has been talking a lot of shit in solo queue, and I want to put him in his place. I think the reason TL won last year was because the league was in a bad place. So, I want to prove my point, back up my shit-talking, beat them, and show that they’re not good—they just got lucky; they're bad but lucky. I want to back it up.

Are you going to contest APA for the title of King of Yapping as well?

Spica: Dude, I got some good ideas coming up, so hopefully we're not shit and I can actually do some yapping. We're going to beat them and I got some bangers coming."

Header Photo Credit: Robert Paul/Riot Games