Cloud9 adds ex-TSM carry Zven, Dignitas’ Vulcan as new bot lane duo

In a significant departure from their established team-building philosophy, Cloud9 has secured Jesper “Zven” Svenningsen and Philippe “Vulcan” Laflamme as their new bottom lane pairing according to ESPN’s Jacob Wolf. This move represents one of the most substantial roster overhauls in the organization’s recent history.

The acquisition process for Zven moved rapidly following his November 12 announcement that he wouldn’t renew with Team SoloMid. His transition to free agency created immediate interest from multiple LCS organizations seeking experienced AD Carry talent.

Vulcan’s transfer from Dignitas involved a substantial $1.5 million buyout, positioning him as one of the most expensive support players in North American League of Legends history.

Zven’s signing represents a calculated risk for Cloud9, given his mixed performance results during his TSM tenure. The Danish marksman brings international experience but faces pressure to rediscover his peak form.

Strategic considerations for this acquisition include Zven’s lane phase consistency and teamfighting positioning, areas where Cloud9’s coaching staff identified improvement opportunities for their 2020 campaign.

For teams looking to optimize their competitive approach, understanding role specialization strategies becomes crucial when integrating new players.

The substantial investment in Vulcan underscores Cloud9’s commitment to securing elite support talent. Despite Clutch Gaming’s early exit from Worlds 2019, Vulcan demonstrated exceptional individual performance metrics that attracted multiple suitors.

His playmaking ability and vision control were particularly notable, with statistical analysis showing top-tier performance in engage timing and objective securing.

Similar to mastering complex weapon systems and their mechanics, Vulcan’s champion pool diversity and adaptability make him a valuable asset in the evolving support meta.

Vulcan’s departure occurred amidst Dignitas’ comprehensive roster reconstruction. The organization made waves by releasing mid laner Tanner “Damonte” Damonte while committing $2.3 million to secure Heo “Huni” Seung-hoon, creating significant financial commitments across multiple positions.

These strategic decisions reflect the increasing financial stakes in professional League of Legends, where premium talent acquisition has become essential for championship contention.

The roster volatility created opportunities for strategic teams to capitalize on available talent, much like understanding comprehensive game strategy development requires analyzing multiple moving components simultaneously.

The dual acquisitions of Zven and Vulcan mark a dramatic departure from Cloud9’s traditional approach of developing talent internally before trading for profit. This strategic pivot suggests increased urgency to compete immediately for the LCS championship.

The organization’s previous success with support Tristan “Zeyzal” Stidam, now reportedly transferring to Evil Geniuses, exemplifies their former model of identifying and nurturing emerging talent.

Common mistakes organizations make during such transitions include inadequate role integration planning and insufficient consideration of team chemistry dynamics, which Cloud9 must carefully navigate.

Zven’s arrival likely signals the conclusion of Zachary “Sneaky” Scuderi’s seven-year tenure as Cloud9’s starting AD Carry. Since joining in 2013, Sneaky has become the organization’s most recognizable figure and one of the LCS’s most enduring players.

While Sneaky may transition to a content creation role within Cloud9, leveraging his substantial streaming audience and cosplay popularity, his potential departure from competitive play represents a significant cultural shift for the team.

The timing coincides with Cloud9’s disappointing Worlds 2019 performance, where they failed to advance beyond the group stage despite high expectations.

With Zven and Vulcan securing the bottom lane positions, Cloud9’s roster solidifies with Eric “Licorice” Ritchie in top lane, Yasin “Nisqy” Dinçer in mid lane, and Robert “Blaber” Huang as starting jungler. This configuration represents one of the most experienced lineups in Cloud9’s history.

The complete team composition suggests a strategic emphasis on veteran leadership and established mechanical skill, contrasting with their previous focus on developing younger talent.

Optimization strategies for this roster include developing early game synergy between Blaber and the new bot lane duo, while maintaining Licorice’s consistent top lane dominance.

No reproduction without permission：Games Guides Website » Cloud9 adds ex-TSM carry Zven, Dignitas’ Vulcan as new bot lane duo Analyzing Cloud9's strategic roster overhaul and what it means for their 2020 LCS championship aspirations