TL;DR
- Gen.G becomes first LCK team to boot camp in China, partnering with RNG in Shanghai
- Strategic move driven by LPL’s back-to-back World Championships and Gen.G’s 2019 struggles
- Completely rebuilt roster featuring star acquisitions Clid and Bdd shows early promise
- Cross-region training aims to adapt aggressive LPL playstyles into LCK structure
- RNG rookie XLB gains invaluable experience facing world’s best jungler Clid
As the 2020 LCK Spring Split approaches, professional League of Legends organizations are implementing diverse preparation strategies to reach competitive peak performance. While traditional Korean teams often focus on domestic training camps or team-building retreats, Gen.G has chosen an unprecedented path by establishing their preseason boot camp operations in Shanghai, China.
Through official social media channels, Gen.G publicly announced their groundbreaking decision to conduct intensive training sessions in mainland China. The organization confirmed they would be collaborating closely with Royal Never Give Up throughout this international training period.
RNG has recently centralized their competitive operations in Shanghai, where they’ll compete during the entire 2020 LPL Spring season. The Chinese powerhouse temporarily abandoned their Beijing facility due to ongoing construction of a new state-of-the-art gaming arena.
Gen.G’s Revolutionary China Boot Camp Strategy
Gen.G’s decision marks a historic first for LCK organizations, establishing China as a viable training destination. This strategic move stems from multiple competitive considerations that could redefine inter-regional training methodologies.
The most compelling factor driving this initiative is the LPL region’s consecutive World Championship victories in 2018 and 2019. For years, analysts criticized the Chinese playstyle as overly aggressive and inconsistent, but consecutive international titles have validated their approach.
Gen.G’s disappointing 2019 competitive year provided additional motivation for this unconventional strategy. After demonstrating respectable form during the 2018 KeSPA Cup, the team entered the regular season with confidence only to experience unexpected playoff misses in both seasonal splits.
Following their underwhelming 2019 campaign, Gen.G executed comprehensive roster reconstruction during the offseason. Strategic acquisitions included top lane specialist Kim “Rascal” Kwang-hee, elite jungler Kim “Clid” Tae-min, and mid lane powerhouse Gwak “Bdd” Bo-seong. The roster completion features veteran bottom lane duo Park “Ruler” Jae-hyuk and support specialist Kim “Life” Jeong-min.
This revitalized lineup demonstrated competitive potential during the 2019 KeSPA Cup, advancing to the quarterfinals before elimination by T1. Currently, the team maximizes their Shanghai training period, aiming to absorb LPL strategic insights for LCK competitive advantage.
During the 2019 season, both Gen.G and RNG employed remarkably similar strategic approaches centered around bottom lane priority and resource allocation. However, RNG demonstrated strategic flexibility during the 2019 Demacia Cup, abandoning their signature style to secure tournament victory. This adaptation occurred during star AD carry Jian “Uzi” Zi-Hao’s absence, with his spring season participation remaining uncertain.
The partnership provides exceptional development opportunities for RNG’s promising rookie jungler Li “XLB” Xiao-Long. XLB gains invaluable experience practicing against Clid, currently regarded as the global jungling benchmark. Clid’s previous LPL experience with Newbee Young, alongside teammates Kim “Khan” Dong-ha and Kim “Doinb” Tae-sang, adds strategic depth to the collaboration.
Pro Tip: Cross-region boot camps like this require meticulous visa planning and cultural adaptation strategies. Teams should allocate 2-3 weeks for administrative logistics before competitive training begins.
Gen.G continues their China operations but anticipates returning to Korea ahead of the LCK season commencement. The LPL kicks off its competitive calendar on January 13 featuring a championship-caliber opening match between defending champions Invictus Gaming and world titleholders FunPlus Phoenix. The LCK resumes competitive play in February, with specific scheduling details pending official announcement.
Common Mistake: Underestimating the time required for meta adaptation between regions. Teams often need 4-6 weeks to fully integrate foreign strategic concepts into their native playstyle.
For teams considering similar international training initiatives, our Complete Guide offers comprehensive preparation frameworks for maximizing cross-region learning outcomes.
Action Checklist
- Secure player visas and international travel arrangements 4-6 weeks in advance
- Establish training facility partnerships and equipment logistics
- Develop structured scrimmage schedules with partner organizations
- Create cultural adaptation and language support systems for players
- Implement meta-analysis frameworks to translate foreign strategies effectively
No reproduction without permission：Games Guides Website » Gen.G starts boot camp in China, will train with Royal Never Give Up Gen.G's strategic China boot camp with RNG aims to transform their LCK performance through LPL-style adaptation