Chapter 41: The Scumbag Sachima's BP Strategy! The Entire FPX Squad Left Stunned by the Draft

Chapter 41: The "Scumbag" Shaqima’s Draft Strategy! FPX Completely Baffled!

"Good afternoon, viewers in front of the screens! You are watching the qualifying match between IG and FPX for the third ticket to the S11 World Championship! I am your commentator, Jide."

"I am Miller."

"I am Rita."

As the players from both teams settled into their positions, the three commentators took their seats at the desk.

"IG's resilience this season has almost exceeded my expectations," Jide said with a smile, warming up the audience. "When many counted them out, the coaching staff brought up Shaqima, who had been riding the bench for years. Everyone thought it would be his final battle before retirement, but he bore the pressure and has brought us surprises again and again!"

"It seems Shaqima has finished recharging by the water cooler," Miller added with a grin.

"As the champions from two years ago, FPX spent last year in silence but has returned with a vengeance this year. They strengthened their roster by acquiring the top laner Nuguri from last year's champions, DWG, and Doinb looks to be in scorching form this year. This match is going to be incredibly exciting!"

"Indeed, it’s a clash of titans! The outcome hangs on this very battle! Let’s wait and see!"

"Alright, we can see the players have entered the draft phase. As the defending side in this BO5, FPX has the choice of side for the first game. Oh? They’ve actively chosen the red side? It seems Coach Steak, after consulting with his players, isn't planning to leave the counter-pick for IG."

"Wait a minute... IG has locked in Malphite as their first pick?"

Amidst the gasps of the commentators, the IG side revealed the Shard of the Monolith, covered in dark brown rock—Malphite!

"Rock solid!" the hero's line echoed at the perfect moment as the selection was locked in.

Jide and Miller exchanged glances. "Now that’s a statement. Shaqima’s Lux, Darius, and Blitzcrank were all left open. Is this a trap? I know you're skilled with those heroes, but I'm intentionally leaving them for you—do you dare take them?"

"Cheng Xian, are you sure you want to use this hero?" Nofe felt his heart skipping a beat.

It wasn't that Cheng Xian was being difficult. It was just that his playstyle was completely dependent on his current state at any given moment... or rather, the state he randomly rolled. He could only initiate the "random draw" once he was seated in the player's chair.

It was impossible for him to communicate the lineup to his teammates or the coach in advance. If this were any other player, they would have been kicked off the stage long ago. But given Cheng Xian’s recent performances, Nofe had been forced to compromise, allowing him to reveal his chosen hero only during the draft and having his teammates build the composition around him.

"Yes, let's use this," Cheng Xian nodded, confirming the Malphite pick.

"The problem is, which lane is this rock actually going to?" Jide asked, leaving the three commentators in deep thought.

Malphite is a hero with a high pick rate in solo queue. From Iron to Challenger, you can almost always find him. There is a saying among the fans: "Furrow your brows, it’s the Freeloader Beast!"

He is known for being a tool for "leeching" points, with ten thousand ways to play him for ten thousand different players.

"Is this Malphite pick intended as a flex?" Miller asked, sounding bewildered.

"Somewhat, yes," Rita replied, shrugging like a seasoned fan who had watched hundreds of Shaqima's matches. "Especially with his history of support Darius and top lane Blitzcrank. Without a counter-pick available for IG, if they recklessly ran a top lane Blitzcrank, FPX could easily pick a top lane Lucian to counter and deny him from the start."

Malphite’s flex potential is vast. Top lane Malphite as a bruiser/tank for team fights is common. Mid lane Malphite building AP for one-shots also exists in solo queue. Even support Malphite, while a fallback, can secure lane kills after level six.

However, in professional play, Malphite is rare. His weaknesses are glaring: no mobility before level six, and even after, his ultimate is his primary engagement and damage tool. Using it to escape is humiliating, and the cooldown is too long. Plus, his mana costs are high; he’s often empty after one combo.

"This is going to be tough." Coach Steak flipped through his draft notebook, but from cover to cover, he found no effective information on "how to suppress Malphite."

"Just pick normally," Steak sighed. "They didn't break up the Jarvan IV synergy. We'll save a spot at the end to counter Malphite and pair it with Jarvan in the jungle. We can gank him successfully before level six." He encouraged his players, "Play well. IG's other players aren't in form; only Shaqima is worth watching. But since he locked in Malphite, other than his ultimate, I don't see any special utility. Just make sure to dodge his R in team fights."

"If we dodge the R, this hero is useless. This game is basically a free win for us!"