technology

TFT patch 16.3 - Teamfight Tactics

Lau Chi Fung

— 2 min read

The Rise of Tempo Bilgewater: A Dominant Strategy in High Elo

In the fast-paced world of League of Legends esports, strategies come and go with each new season. However, one approach has emerged as a dominant force in high Elo play: Tempo Bilgewater. This aggressive, high-risk strategy is pushing teams to innovate and adapt in order to outmaneuver their opponents.

What is Tempo Bilgewater?

Tempo Bilgewater is a playstyle that originated from the popular mid-laner Lee "Faker" Sang-hyeok, who played for SK Telecom T1 (now T1) during his illustrious career. The strategy involves building up a powerful early game, focusing on laning phase dominance and rapid scaling to secure advantages in gold, XP, and items.

Key Traits of Tempo Bilgewater

Tempo Bilgewater is characterized by several key traits that make it a formidable opponent:

  • Aggressive Early Game: Tempo teams focus on taking objectives and engaging in team fights as soon as possible, often pushing the enemy tower down and forcing them to react.
  • Laning Phase Dominance: Tempo champions are built around laning phase dominance, with an emphasis on scaling quickly through items and abilities.
  • Item Slams: Tempo teams often save up for critical items that can turn the tide of a team fight, such as the ultimate ability of a champion or a game-changing item like Mejai's Soulstealer.

The Impact of Tempo Bilgewater

Tempo Bilgewater has had a significant impact on the League of Legends esports scene, particularly in high Elo play:

  • Increased Competitive Play: The tempo-based strategy has pushed teams to innovate and adapt, leading to more competitive games and higher skill ceilings.
  • Shift in Team Composition: Tempo teams often prioritize high-damage dealers and assassins over traditional tanky champions, which has led to a shift in team composition and playstyle.
  • Increased Emphasis on Communication: Tempo teams require excellent communication and coordination to execute their strategy effectively, which has highlighted the importance of teamwork and strategy.

Challenges and Controversies

While Tempo Bilgewater is an exciting and dominant strategy, it also presents several challenges and controversies:

  • Overemphasis on Scaling: The focus on rapid scaling can lead to a lack of emphasis on laning phase control, which can create opportunities for opponents to capitalize.
  • Vulnerability to Mind Games: Tempo teams often rely on executing their strategy perfectly, but the ability to manipulate opponents through mind games and misdirection is crucial to success.
  • Team Composition and Balance: The high-damage dealer-centric approach of tempo teams can lead to imbalanced compositions and a lack of team synergy.

Conclusion

Tempo Bilgewater has emerged as a dominant force in high Elo play, pushing teams to innovate and adapt in order to outmaneuver their opponents. While it presents several challenges and controversies, the excitement and competitiveness generated by this strategy are undeniable. As the League of Legends esports scene continues to evolve, it will be fascinating to see how Tempo Bilgewater adapts and evolves in response to changing meta and team compositions.

Read more