The biggest roster move in the LEC between the Winter and Spring splits was undoubtedly Team Vitality’s letting go of veteran support Hylissang in favour of a role-swapped Nisqy. The former mid laner joined the side in an effort to steady the ship following a disappointing seventh-place finish in the Winter playoffs. After the opening three weeks of competition, Team Vitality currently have a 1-2 record in Spring, their latest match a 2-0 defeat to Fnatic. Following the loss, we spoke to Nisqy for an interview.
Esports.net: What do you think was the difference today against Fnatic?
Nisqy: I think game one we played decent but then we did make one or two mistakes, and then I feel like they were just kind of outscaling us with the Aurelion Sol and the Gwen.
And then I would say game two, I think draft was a bit hard to play. I think they had a good plan coming into it and I feel like they played very stable. They played slow, and with our comp we kind of needed to be a bit explosive. But they made sure that nothing happens and I think they played the map well.
Lee Jones: On stream, you highlighted Mikyx and Alvaro as the toughest support opponents from your early scrims in the new role.
What was it like facing Miky on stage?
Nisqy: I feel like in official it’s less of a problem. I feel like in scrims it’s more of a problem, maybe because there’s just more fights or they just play way more aggressive. I feel like on stage the games are pretty slow in general, there’s not much fighting — it’s mostly just farming. But yea..
I would say Miky, Jun, Alvaro and Targamas are top four, for sure. I think these are the best supports right now that we have in EU.
How do you evaluate the 2-1 start?
Nisqy: I think Fnatic is for sure a top team. I think the level that we showed in game one, I feel like if we can show that into like the other teams that we’ll play in the next weeks — except maybe G2 and KC — I feel like all the other teams are worse than Fnatic so we should be able to beat them. I think it also shows in practice that, except against like the top ones, we do good. But I feel like right now we’re in a part where we have a lot of stuff to fix.
I’m also new to the role. I got a lot in my mind when I play on stage, I kind of play better than when I play in scrims. I think right now we just need some more time.
But I still believe we can make top six for sure. I think top four [is] arguably possible, of course, but I think top six is for sure the goal
Image credit: Riot Games
Were you given a clear goal like that by the coaches when they asked you to join? Or was there more of a general gameplay improvement that they wanted?
Nisqy: I think it’s just mostly playing well with the team. They did look very desynchronized in the way they played. Right now at least, even if we make bad calls or bad plays, it’s we’re together kinda. I just feel like right now it feels like VIT is playing more like a team rather than before. So I think that’s the stability I bring coming as the support role.
Had you already wanted to swap to support or was it something you decided as a result of Vitality’s offer?
Nisqy: I got asked multiple times actually to role-swap to support by multiple teams in the past as well. But yeah, Vitality came to me and they were like, “We want to make you role-swap support”. And then I thought I’d go and spam some games. I kind of liked it. It’s a new world, right? There’s so much to learn and I find joy in it. So I was like, “Sure, not much to lose”. Either it goes well and we’re happy or either it goes shit and unlucky.
But I knew with the work I can put and stuff that I would be at least fine. And I think right now I’m doing okay. But, yeah, there’s still a lot to learn and I think the only thing I need right now is time and repetition. Yeah.
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You’ve mainly played engage supports so far? Is that what you’ve felt more comfortable on or something the team needs from you specifically?
Nisqy: I think it just makes it easier for us to play when I engage or if I have a go button. I feel like in the past, Hyli would play a lot also engage, but maybe they weren’t finding the right moments or it was very like desynchronized.
But I think I’m just trying to kind of fill his role, but just kind of more stable in a way. I’m probably less creative and whatnot with the plays I make, but everyone is aware of what I’m doing. But yeah, I do play a lot of ranged support as well. It’s just with the way we’ve been drafting and the way enemy has been drafting, it’s kind of hard to pick them up.
Lee Jones: In an interview with Ethan Cohen from earlier this month, Carzzy talked about finding the right balance with regards to micromanaging you as your bot lane duo.
How has that evolved so far, do you feel like you’re more self-reliant now a few weeks into officials?
Nisqy: Week one, it was still a bit of micromanaging, then week two was kind of just a rough series against Rogue. But I feel like today, he didn’t really micromanage that much, actually. I think I just played my game and I felt like it was way easier to play because I don’t overthink my plays. I just do what I think is good.
I think for the future, for sure, I will get better at thinking less of my champion and what I’m supposed to do and just play the game. I think today it showed that, if I can just put the mechanics part away and just think of my game, then I’ll play good.
When you roll swap, usually you play champions that you never really played before, which is why it can be hard at times. But I think today I kind of unlocked something new where I feel like I just play, I don’t think much of mechanics.
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