Dplus Revolutionizes League of Legends Meta in LCK 2024 with Bold Strategies

The competitive scene of League of Legends has always been a breeding ground for innovation and adaptation. In 2024, the professional team Dplus (formerly known as DAMWON KIA) continues to challenge expectations and push the boundaries of conventional gameplay in the LCK (League of Legends Champions Korea). Their strategic approach is characterized by unconventional champion picks, quick adaptations to patch changes, and meticulous synergy in team compositions. This article explores how Dplus’s unique strategies have redefined the meta and shaped the gameplay not only in the LCK but across the global competitive scene.
Pushing the Limits of Champion Diversity
One of the most notable strategic innovations that Dplus has brought to the 2024 LCK season is their fearless approach to champion selection. Their willingness to experiment with unconventional champions in key roles has caught opponents off-guard, forcing the entire league to rethink the value of versatility and unpredictability. Unlike many teams that tend to fall into predictable patterns, Dplus thrives on versatility and uncertainty. The team has repeatedly selected champions that are rarely seen in competitive play, effectively breaking free from the standard meta. For instance, in the current season, they introduced champions like Trundle in the mid-lane and Sona in the jungle — picks that at first glance seem unorthodox. These choices turned out to be well-researched and highly efficient in countering the compositions of their specific opponents.
Their use of these non-meta picks stems from an understanding that the effectiveness of a champion is not just about individual power levels but also about how they fit into an overall team strategy. Trundle, traditionally used in the top lane or as a jungler, was brought mid to utilize his utility against enemy compositions focused on heavy engage. Trundle’s ability to drain stats from enemy tanks, combined with high survivability and wave clear, allowed Dplus to effectively control objectives while providing enough front-line power for late-game team fights. Another unique approach that Dplus has taken involves creating “Wildcard Flex” situations. This means intentionally selecting champions that can flex across multiple roles, effectively keeping their opponents in the dark until the very last moment of the draft phase. Champions like Gragas, K’Sante, and even Nautilus have been successfully deployed in multiple roles, giving Dplus tremendous draft flexibility.
For example, Dplus managed to create a scenario where Gragas could potentially be played top, jungle, or even mid, leaving their opponents struggling to assign counter-picks during the draft. This tactic doesn’t just provide strategic advantages, it also adds a psychological layer to their gameplay, as opposing teams are forced to expend extra mental resources trying to guess Dplus’s intentions. Flexibility in champion roles allows Dplus to execute compositions that favor high tempo or late-game scaling depending on how the game unfolds. This adaptability has consistently kept them one step ahead of their rivals, creating a game-state where Dplus dictates the pace, rather than reacting to their opponent’s plans.
In addition to these unconventional champion choices, Dplus places an immense emphasis on team synergy. They focus on finding combinations of champions that maximize crowd control, chain combos, or zone control abilities. A prime example of this is their frequent pairing of Seraphine and Wukong. While Seraphine is often considered a support or mid-lane mage focused on sustain and AOE control, Dplus has used her as a centerpiece to amplify Wukong’s engagement capabilities, allowing for a beautifully choreographed chain of crowd control that can devastate enemy backlines. Dplus’s synergy-focused approach extends beyond champion combinations to a deep understanding of how to manipulate wave pressure across lanes. They are one of the few teams in the LCK that consistently deploy strategies based on winning both bot lane and top lane priority simultaneously, creating pressure points that make it easier to control neutral objectives such as the Dragon and Rift Herald.
Adapting to Patch Changes: Staying Ahead of the Curve
Another key element of Dplus’s strategic approach lies in their ability to adapt quickly to patch changes, often setting the tone for how teams approach the meta after significant updates. The pace at which Dplus embraces new champions or item reworks showcases not only their strategic understanding but also their team’s dedication to outthinking opponents. One way Dplus has adapted to patch changes in the 2024 season is by utilizing roster flexibility and experimenting with role swapping. In response to patches that emphasize certain roles or introduce new champions that provide a unique edge, Dplus has demonstrated a willingness to switch player roles temporarily. Notably, their star top laner, Canna, has stepped into the jungle role in certain games to leverage his excellent map sense and aggressive playstyle. By making these kinds of adjustments, Dplus effectively exploits changes in the meta that favor different lanes or playstyles.
In the early part of the 2024 season, a patch buffed several tank junglers, making them significantly more impactful in team fights. Instead of relying on their regular jungler to switch gears, Dplus brought in Canna to play champions like Zac and Sejuani, providing a fresh perspective on how to maximize these champions’ potential in the early game. The flexibility to reassign roles based on a patch’s strengths has made Dplus one of the most unpredictable teams in the LCK, and a nightmare for opponents attempting to prepare against them. The ever-changing item landscape in League of Legends has always required careful consideration, but Dplus has proven to be exceptionally proficient at adapting their item builds to match the evolving meta. The 2024 season introduced numerous item reworks, especially in regard to support and sustain-focused items. Dplus’s support, Kellin, quickly mastered these new options, utilizing items like Echoes of Helia and Radiant Virtue in creative ways that allowed his champions to provide substantial healing and zoning during key team fights.
A notable innovation has been the “Anti-Tank Shredder” strategy employed by their ADC, Deft. As a response to a meta heavy with tanky frontlines, Deft incorporated a combination of Kraken Slayer, Lord Dominik’s Regards, and Guinsoo’s Rageblade in unique sequences. These builds allowed him to maximize damage output against champions with massive health pools and armor stacking. This kind of targeted itemization showcases the depth of preparation Dplus undergoes to counter the prevailing meta. In 2024, Dplus has emphasized objective control as a core pillar of their strategy, adapting their rotations and early game pathing to ensure they secure crucial early objectives. With patches constantly altering the power level of neutral objectives like Dragons and Baron Nashor, Dplus has excelled at evaluating which objectives are most critical at any given point in the game.
Their early game jungle paths are meticulously planned to leverage both solo and duo lane pressure. By adjusting their pathing based on whether a Dragon or Rift Herald is more valuable, they can ensure that they always have the upper hand when it comes to neutral objectives. The addition of Chemtech Dragon’s unique buff in 2024, which provides significant damage reduction and healing when below a certain health threshold, is something Dplus adapted to almost immediately, integrating it into their win conditions. In one particular match against Gen.G, Dplus demonstrated this approach perfectly. With the Chemtech Dragon spawning, they coordinated a deliberate series of lane shoves and ward placements to guarantee priority across all fronts. This proactive movement wasn’t just about controlling the Dragon — it was about denying Gen.G any opportunity to contest without risking a devastating fight. Their crisp execution on objectives continues to place them at the pinnacle of strategic play.
Another subtle, yet crucial, aspect of Dplus’s innovation is their use of mind games both in draft and in-game. Their unpredictable champion picks, the “Wildcard Flex” strategies, and their highly unusual role swaps are not just practical tools; they are also part of a greater strategy of psychological warfare. By repeatedly defying conventional wisdom, Dplus forces their opponents to overthink every decision, which can lead to mistakes during drafts or during key moments in a match. This was evident during their match against T1, where Dplus drafted Heimerdinger as a support. While Heimerdinger was perceived as an off-meta choice for support in that particular patch, Dplus understood that T1 had limited scrim time against such picks, putting them in a position where they were unsure how to allocate resources against this unpredictable lane. The result was a laning phase dominated by relentless poke and turret pressure, giving Dplus a significant early game lead that eventually transitioned into a victory. The combination of tactical adaptability, creative draft strategies, and psychological pressure is what sets Dplus apart in 2024. They’ve managed to maintain a level of unpredictability that makes them one of the most feared and respected teams not just in Korea, but worldwide.
Dplus’s unique approach to the 2024 League of Legends season is a testament to the power of innovation and adaptability in the highly competitive environment of the LCK. Their fearless experimentation with unorthodox champion picks, flexible role swapping, and meticulous mastery of new patches and items have redefined the meta and forced other teams to evolve or fall behind. By emphasizing unpredictability, synergy, and a deep understanding of both micro-level gameplay and macro-level strategy, Dplus has positioned themselves as true pioneers in the current competitive landscape. As the season progresses, their influence on the meta is likely to grow, setting new trends not only within the LCK but across the entire world of professional League of Legends. Fans and competitors alike can only watch, learn, and adapt as Dplus continues to reshape the way the game is played.