Despite losing the last match of the first week of the LEC 2024 Spring Split, Humanoid and Fnatic are aiming to bounce back next week as they ready themselves to take on some powerful foes. Currently with a 2-1 score in the league, Humanoid took the time to answer some of our questions in this exclusive interview with Sheep Esports.
Humanoid and his team, celebrating after a win. Credit: Michal Konkol/Riot Games
| Unfortunately, you just lost a pretty back-and-forth match against Team Heretics. How are you feeling after that game?
Humanoid: "I feel pretty bad. I think we just completely ran down and it's crazy that we actually managed to lose this game."
| Despite this loss, your team has had a decent first week back in the LEC. What are your thoughts on week one overall?
Humanoid: "I think we could have played much better in all of our matches. We made massive mistakes in both of our wins. I think we should be able to play way better than this."
| Next week, you are taking on G2, VIT, and GX. Your match against G2 is considered as that week's match to watch. Are you confident in your ability to take them on?
Humanoid: "Yeah, I think we are confident; I think everyone is right now. G2 is for sure the strongest team in the league, right? But we can take them."
| A controversial change this split was the addition of pre-recorded drafts. You jokingly tweeted that you would go and check how Chovy played the match-up of this game about 20 minutes before the match since you had already completed your draft. What are your overall thoughts on this change?
Humanoid: "Yeah, I hate it. I think everyone hates it. I haven't talked to a single person who likes the change so far, at least talking to players or staff involved with the LEC. I'm hoping they will revert it... We'll see."
| Azir being disabled came out as a big surprise. When were you told about it? Was it a matter of days, or weeks? How has it affected the meta in your opinion?
Humanoid: "We got told a few days before the first week started. Still, I think that Azir being disabled just makes it so that more mid-laners can be played. With him in the meta, it's basically just Azir/Orianna every game. Overall, it's a nice change of pace, you know?"
| Speaking of balance, Smolder has also been a large issue since the return of pro play. Were there any discussions about playing on a pre or post-hotfixed version of the champion or was it enforced upon you? Do you have any thoughts on the champion overall?
Humanoid: "We didn't have a vote or anything. Honestly, playing on the hotfixed version or not wouldn't have mattered much in my opinion. I think that he would have been around the same power level as he is now. He's definitely a strong champion but, I don't think he's overpowered. He has a pretty weak early game during which he can be punished. If he scales for free though... then he will probably be a menace."
| By now, we haven't heard anything about Champions' Queue anymore in the EMEA region. It used to be pretty popular in the off-season but completely died down after the season's start. Do you think that CQ represents a missed opportunity? Or do you not miss it?
Humanoid: "I don't think Champions' Queue was that good honestly. I think that it's fun for a few weeks once in a while but, I wouldn't want to play it all the time. The fact that you have to join Discord, well, you don't *have* to but, if you don't, you'll always be at a disadvantage, which is not great. "
"When I have to play an entire day of scrims with communications, I don't want to spend the rest of my day talking to random people in Champions' Queue. I prefer just playing solo queue honestly. It was still fun during the off-season for a few weeks though."
| Any goals for this year?
Humanoid: "We want to win the split, and then the one after that."
| I assume that you're pretty confident about your MSI chances then?
Humanoid: "Yeah."
| When you get there, do you think this new FNC line-up with Jun has the potential to compete with Eastern teams?
Humanoid: "I mean, we have a chance for sure. As you know though, as always, the Eastern teams are way better than all European teams. I wouldn't say we are favorites going into MSI, neither are other European teams."
| Do you think the gap between the East and West is large at the moment then?
Humanoid: "I think that there's always one or two teams from China and Korea that are really far above the rest but, I think that lower seeds from those regions are closer in power level to European teams for example."
| Where do you currently rank yourself among the mids of the LEC?
Humanoid: "I think that Caps and I are the top two for sure. I'm not sure which of us is better though, I guess we'll see next week."
| Match of the week!
Humanoid: "Yeah, it always is."
| Are there mid-laners that have surprised you this year so far?
Humanoid: "I think that nuc has been playing well so far in both winter and spring."
| Are you looking for revenge against MAD Lions KOI after the winter playoffs
Humanoid: "Yeah, for sure. I think I have to win against them. It's more important than G2."
| Is the atmosphere in Fnatic good right now?
Humanoid: "Yeah, I think for sure now everyone is like really hungry to improve and to win. I think we are playing; we are doing practice with more structure than before. We used to just kind of play our games, and nothing would come from it. Everyone is just really invested in this split and tryharding."
| Have you seen any difference between winter and spring regarding the overall level of play in the league?
Humanoid: "I think it's kind of the same."
| Any last words for your fans?
Humanoid: "Thank you guys for following and supporting us. Hopefully, we will not throw any more games next time."
| Thank you very much for your time! Hopefully, the next time we'll talk won't be after a loss. Last split, I also interviewed Razork after a 2-1 week which ended on a Monday loss...
Humanoid: "So, it's your fault then, I see..."
| I'm so sorry man, it's really a curse I think.
Humanoid: "Yeah, you should interview the enemy team next time [laughs]."
| Alright, I'll request an interview with MDK in Week 3 then [laughs].
Header Photo Credit: Michal Konkol/Riot Games
