“Rod of Ages is kind of a bulls— item”: Jensen talks LCS

Nicolaj “Jensen” Jensen represents one of the most enduring presences in North American League of Legends, competing professionally since his 2015 debut. In this exclusive discussion, he provides detailed insights about his transition to Dignitas and what distinguishes the 2023 competitive season from previous years.

As a perennial fixture in the LCS mid lane, Jensen frequently draws comparisons with fellow veteran Soren “Bjergsen” Bjerg as one of the region’s most accomplished players. The current season marks another significant transition, moving from Cloud9 to join a revitalized Dignitas organization. Following their opening match defeat against Counter Logic Gaming, Jensen offers perspective on the continuous adaptation required in professional League, the evolving competitive environment, and assessing rival teams.

WIN.gg: It’s a new year, with a new team, in a new split of the LCS for you. What’s the process of orienting yourself to a new organization and a new roster like for a veteran such as yourself?

Jensen: Adapting to the organizational structure has proceeded relatively smoothly with positive early impressions. However, integrating into an entirely new player lineup presents more complex challenges since we’re essentially building team dynamics from the ground up. The learning curve has been substantial as we develop collective understanding and coordination. Performance has proven more demanding than anticipated, clearly indicating significant developmental work remains ahead.

Given the current roster situation with Biofrost temporarily replacing Ignar, how do you establish objectives for yourself and your team entering a new competitive split?

I consistently maintain elevated performance standards for my individual play, which naturally extends to team expectations. Achieving top-tier team status remains the objective, as it does for every competitive organization. Fundamentally, I aim to secure another championship victory through comprehensive preparation and execution. Regarding specific targets, that encapsulates the primary ambition – pursuing excellence through maximum effort allocation. My approach involves systematic progression through incremental development phases rather than attempting immediate comprehensive transformation.

How do you feel the preseason has affected the game and mid lane, specifically? Has it been a positive or negative shift in gameplay since 2022?

The mid lane position has experienced relatively limited substantive alterations, which proves somewhat underwhelming for veteran competitors. Rod of Ages stands as the most significant addition to the item pool. This particular item introduces problematic dynamics by reducing strategic diversity during laning phases through excessive durability increases. Beyond this singular change, the landscape remains largely unchanged, creating a neutral competitive environment. While the current adjustments don’t align with ideal competitive conditions, adaptation remains essential. I would prefer seeing more extensive itemization revisions to enable greater build path variety and strategic flexibility. Additional modifications would enhance gameplay depth, though current circumstances require pragmatic acceptance.

Many organizations have stepped up their rosters this year heading into 2023. As a veteran of the league, how do you feel looking at your competition this year, and how does it stack up to previous years?

The competitive environment generates excitement due to increased parity among teams based on roster composition analysis. Historically, observers might identify three or four clearly dominant organizations, whereas currently multiple teams demonstrate potential competitive capability. Determining actual performance levels requires observation since assembling skilled individuals doesn’t automatically create cohesive team units. Success heavily depends on synergistic relationships and strategic alignment. Numerous rosters feature players who theoretically could elevate teams to elite status, but genuine achievement depends on interpersonal chemistry and role acceptance. Simply combining high-profile talents fails to guarantee success without understanding weak side gameplay and strategic flexibility. The league’s competitive depth creates compelling narrative potential, though definitive team hierarchies will emerge through sustained competition over subsequent weeks. Initial assessment proves challenging due to limited sample size and developmental stages.

For players navigating team transitions, focus on systematic integration rather than immediate results. The Dignitas situation demonstrates that organizational adaptation often proceeds more smoothly than roster coordination, which requires extended development periods. Understanding that preseason changes may not always align with competitive preferences requires adaptive mindset development. The 2023 season emphasizes that collective coordination frequently outweighs individual technical proficiency in determining competitive outcomes. Teams must prioritize developing complementary playstyles and strategic flexibility to capitalize on roster potential. As Jensen emphasizes, championship aspirations require navigating both the immediate competitive challenges and the longer-term developmental processes.

When considering class selection strategies in competitive gaming, similar principles apply regarding role specialization and team composition optimization.

No reproduction without permission：Games Guides Website » “Rod of Ages is kind of a bulls— item”: Jensen talks LCS Veteran LCS mid laner Jensen shares insights on team transitions, meta changes, and 2023 competitive landscape