The first-ever First Stand is right around the corner. In a matter of days, five teams will descend upon Seoul’s LoL PARK to complete the first international tournament of the season and become the First Stand champions in the maiden event.
First Stand 2025 Power Rankings
Here we have sorted the five attendees into a power ranking, taking into account early-season form, individual skill, and regional strength.
5. CTBC Flying Oyster
Credit: LoL Esports
CTBC is arguably the hardest team to gauge for First Stand as the international strength of LCP teams has fluctuated over the years. Vietnamese sides were improving towards the end of the 2010s before a COVID-induced absence from global tournaments saw them drop off heavily. PCS sides like TALON and GAM have had their successes and have always been prone to causing upsets, but CFO has had less experience on this stage.
That said, players like Rest, JunJia, and Doggo have appeared in a number of events of this magnitude and can lead the side in its latest international foray.
4. Team Liquid
Credit: LoL Esports
Prior to the release of patch 25.05, there was a strong argument that Team Liquid was the third best side in this tournament, behind only elite Asian competition. TL won the inaugural LTA with relative ease and has been praised for their macro prowess since last season; particularly on their understanding of laneswaps. But the latest patch has eradicated laneswaps altogether and could see TL’s strength diminish.
The Americas side are currently frontrunners with CFO to become the unfortunate team to be eliminated in the Group stage, but a quick adaptation to the latest update — and with a strong coach in Spawn that could lead that charge — could just as well see them move on to the Knockouts comfortably. I have them in my underdogs selection for their insane First Stand odds.
3. Karmine Corp
Image credit: Riot Games
As G2’s form picked up through the Winter split, it seemed only inevitable that they would wind up Winter LEC champions and earn a seventh consecutive regional title. Karmine Corp had other ideas. Their young talents in mid and bot already provided excitement for the future, but their Winter final sweep of G2 saw Vladi and Caliste catapulted into LEC legend. Jungler Yike joined the side with plenty of international experience during his two years with G2 and Korean top laner Canna has shown form to indicate that he could still perform back in the LCK.
While most of their side lacks experience in this type of event, their undoubted skill coupled with title-winning momentum means that they could easily prove to be ‘the best of the rest’ behind the LCK and LPL heavyweights.
2. Top Esports
Credit: LoL Esports
In any other international tournament, Top Esports would have a good chance of being favourites. Their star-studded roster contains a number of global winners; 2018 Worlds champion JackeyLove, 2019 Worlds winner Crisp, 2023 MSI champions 369 and Kanavi. In fact, only mid laner Creme is yet to taste victory at this level. However, Hanwha Life’s current form in Korea just sees them pip TES in the power rankings.
One unknown is the current level of the LPL’s top teams compared to those in the LCK. Not until Top and Hanwha Life compete head-to-head will this be clear, and it may well end up showing that China is stronger all along with a potential TES victory.
1. Hanwha Life Esports
Image credit: Riot Games
Hanwha Life Esports have gone from strength to strength since adding superstar top laner — arguably the best ever in his role — Zeus to their roster. An unbelievable LCK Cup run saw them win best-of-five series by a scoreline of 3-2 four times in a row, not only showing their grit in tough matchups but also giving them much more on-stage practice in five-game Fearless drafting than any other team at the tournament. They are the top favorite to win all matches in all of my First Stand predictions.