LCK Draft Analysis: HANJIN BRION's Zaahen Pick Secures Edge vs DN SOOPers in Game 3

In the decisive Game 3 of their LCK series, HANJIN BRION faced off against DN SOOPers with blue side advantage. The draft revealed interesting strategic choices that could shape the outcome of the match.

Compositions

HANJIN BRION assembled a composition centered around strong mid-game skirmishing and scaling potential. Casting took Zaahen in the top lane, a pick that brings unique crowd control and damage over time to the front line. GIDEON selected Pantheon in the jungle to enable aggressive ganks and map pressure across all lanes. In the mid lane, Roamer piloted Ahri for her charm and mobility in teamfights. The bot lane duo of Teddy on Jhin and Namgung on Karma emphasized long-range poke combined with protective shields and speed boosts. This setup allows HANJIN BRION to play around objectives with superior vision and engage tools.

On the red side, DN SOOPers built a team with heavy frontline and objective control in mind. DuDu went for Olaf top to provide a durable bruiser capable of diving carries. Sharvel's Skarner in the jungle offers excellent dragon and baron control through his ultimate. Clozer chose Mel mid for her ability to output consistent magic damage and disrupt enemy formations. Peter on Bard brings global roaming potential and magical cc, while deokdam's Caitlyn provides safe farming and turret siege capabilities with her traps and net. The red side composition aims for a slow push strategy that transitions into powerful teamfights.

Key Picks

Several picks stood out during this draft phase. The selection of Zaahen by Casting was particularly notable as it flexed the top lane into a more utility-focused role, potentially denying DN SOOPers their preferred bruiser options. Mel for Clozer represents a strong counter to the poke-heavy blue side by offering wave clear and area denial. Pantheon remains a staple for blue side due to its ability to turn early game leads into snowballing advantages through coordinated ganks with Ahri.

Draft Edge

HANJIN BRION appears to hold a meaningful draft edge in this game. Their composition features better synergy between the Ahri charm setups and Karma shields, creating safe windows for Jhin to deal damage. The Zaahen pick adds an unexpected layer of engage that Skarner and Olaf may struggle to match without overcommitting. Red side's Caitlyn and Bard provide good utility but lack the raw engage power needed to punish blue side's backline effectively. Blue side's ability to flex Pantheon into multiple roles gives them adaptability that red side lacks in this particular draft.

Prediction

Based on the draft analysis, HANJIN BRION is predicted to take Game 3 and potentially close out the series. Their superior skirmish tools and the surprise Zaahen factor should allow them to navigate the early game safely before transitioning into a dominant mid-game where their carries can shine. DN SOOPers will need to find creative ways to use Bard roams and Skarner picks to disrupt the blue side momentum, but the overall draft favors the blue side.