Viper: It's tough for the red side's bot lane to adapt to the new patch; there's often frequent skirmishing around the map's resources

Xsportsnews, a Korean media outlet, released an interview with Viper, the bot lane player for HLE, discussing his views on the new season.

Looking back at the 2023 season, Viper expressed his biggest regret was the team's performance. Although HLE secured the third position in the LCK Summer Split, they failed to qualify for the 2023 Global Finals in the Regional Finals.

Regarding this, Viper mentioned, "If the performance is the biggest regret, having time to reflect is a good part. I realized there are areas where I can still improve."

Recognized as a candidate for the "Greatest AD Carry in History," when asked about it, Viper replied, "I haven't showcased the level to be nominated as the 'Greatest AD Carry in History' yet. To be considered the best in history at any position, it requires strangers to recognize your exceptional gameplay."

While he doesn't believe he has reached the level of the "Greatest AD Carry in History," he confidently stated, "As long as I consistently perform well, I believe I can meet that standard."

Before the transfer window, HLE had officially announced the contract renewal with Viper, which sparked discussions. Viper stated, "I want to play games in an environment where I can immerse myself in my work. If I stay in HLE, I believe good players will follow suit. From my and the fans' perspective, we haven't achieved satisfying results in this period because there are many goals yet to achieve, so I really want to achieve them together and decided to renew. I will do my best."

After the transfer window, many predicted the power dynamics in the LCK for the next year. Most people predicted T1, GEN, and HLE to be the top three teams.

Regarding this, Viper said, "Thank you for the praise, but I think we need to prepare well to reach the Global Finals. Other teams also have potential, so we'll only know the strengths and weaknesses after playing."

With significant changes in League of Legends for the upcoming year, when asked about the expected trend in games, Viper expressed, "Firstly, we can't approach the game the same as before. From the bot lane's perspective, it's hard to adapt to the red side due to significant changes. The blue side remains the same, but the red side has undergone substantial alterations. Due to the abundance of map resources, skirmishes might occur frequently. The presence of map resources might make the game trends more apparent. Each team's strategies and directions differ, and I'm curious about how each team interprets the new version."

Viper will be playing alongside Doran, Peanut, and Delight, who joined from GEN, in the next season. Viper expressed satisfaction with his new teammates' skills, "They are players who won the LCK championship last season; championships are not won for no reason."

After the roster announcement, many in forums speculated that HLE's ability to seize opportunities would be significantly enhanced. In response, Viper said, "Not just seizing opportunities, regardless of the actions they take, they have unique perspectives and play exceptionally well. So, I'm looking forward to it. I'll try my best to cooperate with them and aim to perform well. I believe we can positively influence each other."

Regarding his former teammate Doran from the GRF era, Viper mentioned, "His personality hasn't changed much, but there have been significant changes in his skill and status. Even if I don't say it, fans fully understand."

About Peanut and Delight, Viper commented, "There are no surprises in their personalities; they are just as kind as they appear externally, and they are decisive when playing games."

When asked about his training experience, Viper said, "Peanut's role as the shot-caller leads the game well, and other teammates can assist. They can also voice their opinions if they have different views. Delight is open during conversations and shares a similar perspective when we view the game. Thanks to this, there aren't significant adaptation issues, and I hope to perform well together in the future."

In previous interviews with other media, Viper had mentioned his thoughts on retiring. "Because I've been a professional player for a long time, I have considered the end of my career. Everything has a day to end. Since this season had a lot of free time, I had those thoughts. I think it's an unavoidable concern."

Regarding the common saying "All that's left is achievements," when asked if he agrees with it, Viper replied, "I'm not entirely sure. I believe every stage from debut to retirement is meaningful because I've given my all. So, even if I can't achieve significant results in the future, I won't be too obsessed. But there's still a long professional career ahead, and I'll definitely strive for good results." He emphasized that retirement is still far off, and during his active career, achievements will take precedence.

Lastly, Viper concluded, "Fans are my strength, and I also want to be their strength. Please look forward to next year, and in the future, I'll live my life to the fullest with gratitude towards everyone. The weather is cold, so please take care not to catch a cold."