Cloud9 enter as the highest-seeded team in LCS history at 16-2. Their split-push mastery with Thanatos has redefined domestic macro play — teams haven't found a consistent answer to the 1-3-1 composition.

100 Thieves counter with teamfighting. Their triple-threat draft (engage, follow-up, hypercarry) has worked against every split-push attempt because their engage range exceeds most disengage ranges in the current patch.