After more than nine months of blood, sweat, and tears, the League of Legends competitive year has come to a close. The 2022 World Championship has finished with Korea’s own Cinderella story DRX taking home the trophy, and now, the rest of the world is headed back to the drawing board for what could be a busy offseason period.
The North American scene, for example, is reeling after the region’s representatives went a combined 3-15 at Worlds.
This offseason, some North American teams spent big to bring in high-level talent, while others chose to promote players from within their own farm system in hopes of developing a stable core. Regardless, the LCS looks stronger than ever on paper heading into 2023. Holistically, many of the teams that may have sat toward the middle of the pack in years past are trending upwards, notably including Dignitas and FlyQuest. Perennial contenders like 100 Thieves and Cloud9 also shuffled their rosters around in an attempt to rectify their performances internationally.
Related: LCS matchday shift headlines changes to League’s 2023 esports schedule
From top teams scaling down their operations, mid-tier organizations trying to break into the upper echelon of the league, and more, this free agency period has signified a new era for North American League of Legends.
As the beginning of the 2023 LCS season draws near, here are all of the reported and official roster moves of the 2023 LCS offseason.
100 Thieves
- Oct. 17: PapaSmithy leaves 100T.
- Nov. 1: Closer and Abbedagge are reportedly leaving the organization for free agency.
- Nov. 7: Reapered leaves 100T.
- Nov. 8: Doublelift is reportedly returning to pro play with Spica, Bjergsen, and Busio as leading candidates to join him on 100T’s starting roster.
- Nov. 11: JungleJuice becomes the team’s newest general manager.
- Nov. 14: Former MAD Lions AD carry Unforgiven is reportedly joining 100T, not known if playing for main roster or Academy.
- Dec. 8: 100T confirms the additions of Bjergsen and Doublelift, and promotes Busio and Tenacity to the starting lineup for 2023.
Cloud9
- Nov. 3: C9 reportedly signs former Vitality.Bee mid laner Diplex and mid laner EMENES for Academy team.
- Nov. 17: Jensen is reportedly joining Dignitas as the team’s new mid laner for 2023.
- Nov. 24: C9 confirms Fudge, Blaber, Diplex, Berserker, and Zven as 2023 roster.
CLG
Dignitas
- Oct. 3: AD carry Neo departs.
- Nov. 17: Santorin and Jensen are reportedly headlining Dignitas’ new 2023 roster.
- Nov. 18: Dignitas is reportedly signing IgNar as the team’s starting support.
- Dec. 20: Dignitas reveals its 2023 LCS roster, including the mid/jungle support tandem of Santorin and Jensen, veterans Armut and IgNar, and upstart ADC Spawn.
Evil Geniuses
- Oct. 18: EG parts ways with head of coaching staff Peter Dun.
- Oct: 26: EG releases four coaches ahead of offseason.
- Nov. 14: Kaori is reportedly joining Karmine Corp in 2023.
- Nov. 23: EG signs Ssumday and FBI to replace Impact and Danny.
FlyQuest
- Sept. 1: Kumo announces free agency.
- Oct. 18: AD carry Johnson is removed from the Global Contract Database.
- Oct. 21: Diamond announces he is a free agent.
- Nov. 9: Toucouille is reportedly leaving FlyQuest to join Team GO in the LFL.
- Nov. 10: PapaSmithy joins as President and Chief Gaming Officer
- Nov. 18: Eyla reportedly reaches verbal agreement with FlyQuest as team’s starting support.
- Dec. 9: FlyQuest introduces former KT Rolster mid laner VicLa to the starting lineup
- Dec. 10: The team brings on another LCK star in former Liiv SANDBOX starter Prince to man the ADC position in 2023.
- Dec. 10: After winning Worlds with DRX, head coach Ssong signs a multi-year contract with FlyQuest.
- Dec. 12: Veteran top laner Impact is signed to the team.
- Dec. 14: FlyQuest rounds out its 2023 starting lineup with former LCS MVP Spica.
Golden Guardians
- Oct. 23: Olleh leaves Golden Guardians to complete his mandatory military service in Korea.
- Nov. 22: Huhi rejoins Golden Guardians.
- Nov. 23: Licorice, River, Gori, Stixxay, and Huhi make up the team’s new roster.
Immortals
- Nov. 28: Ablazeolive officially joins as team’s new mid laner.
- Dec. 1: Immortals sign Fleshy as new support from Turkey.
Team Liquid
- Sept 19: Liquid releases Hans sama.
- Sept. 26: Head coach Guilhoto becomes a free agent.
- Oct. 1: Liquid is reportedly releasing Bwipo.
- Oct. 10: Bjergsen is reportedly leaving Liquid after one year.
- Oct. 31: Hans Sama is reportedly joining G2 Esports in 2023.
- Nov. 5: CoreJJ is reportedly staying with Liquid for next year.
- Nov. 11: Bjergsen officially leaves Liquid.
- Nov. 17: Santorin is reportedly leaving to join Dignitas in 2023.
- Nov. 18: MaRin joins Team Liquid as head coach.
- Nov. 22: Former C9 top laner Summit is reportedly joining Liquid.
- Nov. 29: CoreJJ, Yeon, and Haeri are confirmed as LCS starters for 2023.
- Nov. 30: World Champion jungler Pyosik is reportedly joining Liquid.
- Dec. 2: Liquid officially confirms its 2023 LCS roster, which includes the internal talent of CoreJJ, Yeon, and Haeri, as well as the external pickups of former DRX jungler Pyosik and one-time Cloud9 top laner (and former LCS MVP) Summit.
TSM
- Sept. 6: Spica announces that he is a free agent.
- Oct. 10: Tactical parts ways with TSM.
- Nov. 11: TSM drops entire Academy roster.
- Nov. 18: TSM reportedly signs former Estral Esports jungler Bugi, re-signs Solo as starting top laner for 2023.
- Nov. 28: Solo, Bugi, Maple, Neo, and Chime sign with TSM for 2023.
Published: Dec 21, 2022 01:08 pm