Locke, MSI Patch, and Spring Finals Recap with RiotPhroxzon! | The Dive Driven by Kia

RiotPhroxzon joins us for a special episode of The Dive Driven by Kia! He shares behind-the-scenes insight into the development of Locke, League’s newest champion, including the core goals that shaped the champion’s design and abilities. Our four hosts also debated whether the new mid-lane assassin is likely to make an impact in professional play or if he’ll be a solo queue menace.Looking ahead to MSI, the conversation turns to the upcoming patch and how its changes could influence the competitive meta. Fearless Draft remains a major topic of discussion, but the experimentation may be far from over (Freljord-only draft, anyone?).Azael, Kobe, and Meteos also break down the Arizona Spring Finals. C9 had a difficult series against TLAW, only for TLAW to suffer a similar fate against LYON the following day. While the hosts argue that pro-level games are often decided by team fights, what do you think are the key factors that separate the top teams from the rest?With the Spring Finals now complete, LYON advances directly to the MSI Bracket Stage, while TLAW heads to the Play-In Stage, where they’ll face T1 on the first day of matches. Be sure to join us next week on The Dive Driven by Kia as we take a closer look at MSI’s Play-In and Bracket Stages. Thanks for tuning in!Timestamps:0:00 - Intro & Locke w/ RiotPhroxzon20:28 - MSI Patch37:47 - Top Lane in Pro Play44:51 - LCS Spring Finals Recap47:16 - Cloud9 Kia Spring 20261:01:54 - Spring Grand Finals (TLAW vs LYON)1:23:22 - MSI Play-In Lookahead

This is it… the final Dive Driven by Kia episode before Spring Finals, and BOY is there a lot to unpack! First up: the highly anticipated Kia MVP reveal! Our hosts discuss the winner, the runners-up, and take a look at how the voting unfolded. What set the MVP apart from the rest of the players, and just how close was the race?If you’ve been keeping up with the latest champion announcement, then you’ve already heard about Locke, our favorite Ashen Exorcist. Meteos gave us a closer look at some of Locke’s abilities, but there’s even more to come! Next week, we’ll be joined by a member of Locke’s development team, who will provide deeper insight into his design and how he could impact both solo queue and professional play.Next, our hosts broke down Week 3 of Playoffs. The Fearless format continues to prove that success at the highest level requires more than just mechanical skills on the Rift. TLAW came in with a smart draft strategy, targeting Gryffinn’s top picks and forcing FlyQuest into some questionable compositions. Fans also got to see how the legacy C9 roster fared against a later season LYON squad. The LYON players might be apex predators, but is there something else shaking C9’s when the stakes are highest? And how will they show up when they face TLAW in Arizona?With Spring Finals just days away, now is the time to secure your seat at ASU’s Mullett Arena. Don’t miss your chance to witness the battle for North American dominance. Single-day and weekend tickets are still available, and be sure to check out the Spring Finals Fan Guide before heading to the event. Click the links below, and we’ll see you there! https://lolesports.com/en-US/news/fans-guide-to-the-lcs-spring-finalsTimestamps:0:00 - Intro1:04 - On Locke8:09 - Kia MVP Reveal 21:40 - FLY vs TLAW Recap 44:50 - C9 vs LYON Recap 1:14:12 - Finals Lookahead1:32:10 - Grand Finals Predictions

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Kia All-Pro Teams are ready to be revealed! Azael, Kobe, and Meteos couldn’t be more hyped to announce them live on this episode of The Dive Driven by Kia! Our hosts also take a closer look at each role and break down the voting results— some major decisions came down to fan votes, giving one player the edge over another.Other major news: there’s only one more weekend before the roadshow at ASU’s Mullett Arena! Don’t forget to get your tickets! Single-day and two-day passes are still available, so don’t miss your chance to see LCS’s top 3 teams battle for the title and the opportunity to represent North America at MSI. https://mullettarena.com/event/legendschampionship/Returning to our current season, these past two series flew by, but our experts still found plenty to discuss. From champion picks to team fights, they break down what worked, what didn’t, and why a favorable lane matchup doesn’t always translate into a winning team comp.The race to secure the third spot in Arizona is still on. Will the pressure get to LYON? Will APA decide to take his chances in /all chat? Can TLAW achieve the goals set for themselves, or will FlyQuest earn the opportunity to compete internationally?See the action in person as the Riot Games Arena in Los Angeles welcomes fans back for another weekend of high stakes competition. Tickets for Saturday and Sunday are going fast, and you don’t want to miss these riveting series. We’ll see you there! https://www.tixr.com/groups/lcs/Timestamps:0:00 - Intro & Arizona Tickets!1:36 - Gryffinn’s Hype Comms9:04 - Kia All-Pro Team Reveals10:48 - Kia All-Pro Support Breakdown18:52 - Kia All-Pro Bot Lane Breakdown21:35 - Kia All-Pro Mid Lane Breakdown27:44 - Kia All-Pro Jungle Breakdown37:18 - Kia All-Pro Top Lane Breakdown41:12 - FLY vs SEN Recap55:24 - C9 vs LYON Recap1:08:30 - Winners Semis + Lower Round 2 Lookahead!

You still have time to get your tickets to Spring Finals!https://mullettarena.com/event/legendschampionship/Patch 26.11 is here, and Azael, Kobe, and Meteos have a LOT of opinions. On this episode of The Dive Driven by Kia, the crew kicks things off by discussing the most recent game-changing adjustments, namely enchanter nerfs and some long-overdue tweaks to under purchased items. They also dive into the Quinn buffs but, rest assured, Kobe isn’t worried about it (or so he says).On the LCS front, both series from Week 2 of Playoffs went the full five games, delivering plenty of gameplay for the gang to unpack. TLAW’s CoreJJ seemed determined to push Inspired’s buttons, forcing him to pivot through aggressive tactics. FlyQuest continues to show up with high energy and creative strategies, entertaining audiences and casters alike. C9, on the other hand, showed a masterclass in team coordination, highlighted by a game-winning Ashe play by Zven.Looking ahead, Week 3 begins with a competitive face-off between FlyQuest and Sentinels. We already know the SEN roster is stacked with talent, but will the fearless Bo5 format open the door for FlyQuest’s inventive drafting to steal the spotlight? We’ll find out this weekend! LCS is back on stage and tickets are available now— we hope to see you there!https://www.tixr.com/groups/lcs/Timestamps:0:00 - Intro & Ticket Callout1:16 - 2026 Coaching Staff of the Split5:29 - Patch 26.1129:58 - FLY vs C9 Recap53:48 - LYON vs TL Recap1:24:51 - FLY vs SEN Lookahead1:36:58 - TLAW vs SR Lookahead

The regular season is over and Spring Playoffs are finally here! On this episode of The Dive Driven by Kia, Azael, Kobe, and Meteos open with a deeper discussion about LYON’s in-game comms. While it may seem toxic to some, there’s a level of understanding between the pros- friendship & flaming can go hand in hand when players aren’t afraid to step on eggshells while communicating. How do you prefer to express yourself with your teammates?Dhokla and Saint are still competing for LYON’s top lane spot, while FLY’s Gryffinn pulled out a Nasus jungle that hasn’t been seen in LCS pro play since 2013. Despite C9’s undefeated regular season, one of the rarer accomplishments in the LCS, the team is still trying to earn back fans’ trust after their performance at Americas Cup. Meanwhile, the top five teams all look dangerously competitive heading into playoffs, and even with Contractz bringing out his signature Olaf, SR still enters the bracket as the underdogs.After breaking down last week’s matches, our hosts lock in their Round 1 Playoff predictions. Can FLY’s champion pool find a way past the seemingly unconquerable C9? And in the highly anticipated rematch between TLAW and LYON, will revenge be on the table?Oh, and leave a comment for what Kobe should paint on Raz’s face on broadcast this Saturday. We’ll see you there!Single-day tickets for Spring Finals are available now! Experience two days of high-stakes LCS action live at Arizona State University’s Mullett Arena. Click the link below to secure your spot!https://lolesports.com/en-US/news/buy-lcs-spring-finals-2026-tickets-hereTimestamps:0:00 Intro3:17 LYON comms6:31 LYON vs FLY Recap19:39 DIG vs SEN Recap27:18 C9 vs TLAW Recap42:22 SR vs DIG Recap49:20 Playoffs Predictions: C9 vs FLY57:52 Playoffs Predictions: LYON vs TLAW1:09:23 Kia MVP + All-Pro Voting Now Open!

Get your single-day Spring Finals tickets here! https://www.ticketmaster.com/artist/1943936?venueId=205261&_gl=1*1j2xizo*_ga*MTU3NzQzODczOC4xNzc4NzI4MTcy*_ga_TEHJR60KD9*czE3Nzg3MjgxNzIkbzEkZzEkdDE3Nzg3MjgxNzIkajYwJGwwJGgxMTQyOTQyMDE3To the new league players coming from Jynxzi’s tournament stream, hello! Welcome to The Dive Driven by Kia, hosted by none other than Azael, Kobe, and Meteos. This tournament illuminated the fact that there is so much to learn for newbies, while reminding veteran players of their love of the game— and how it can bring the gaming community together. With their years of League of Legends experience under their belts, our hosts gave tips and advice to those who are just starting their League journeys.And as promised by Kobe, here’s the “Press R, Marlon!” clip: https://youtube.com/shorts/mTwsUQJlaXg?si=0RnGFB1FdJeZaJJPDuring the weekly LCS recap, Kobe and Meteos broke down two key moments from the final game of an incredible series between TLAW and LYON. Those big clutch moments, the confidence to make the huge plays, and listening into the comms of game-changing moments… is that what it takes to be the most valuable player in the LCS? Regardless, this upcoming Saturday begins the last week of the regular season— the battle for first begins! Playoffs can’t come soon enough!Finally, this jam-packed episode concludes with an overview of Patch 26.10. What do you think about the change to minion aggro?If you’re looking for more LCS content after finishing this episode of The Dive Driven by Kia, check out the PROS episode our hosts referenced here: https://youtu.be/nFEFDCizlkA?si=EU3TwKNs5YMTfaMrTimestamps:0:00 - Jynxzi Tournament7:35 - Tips for New Players!15:00 - DIG eXyu’s Interview27:39 - Remaking Scrims & Lyon Comms44:07 - SEN vs SR Recap53:59 - DIG vs DSG Recap1:01:34 - FLY vs C9 Recap1:13:03 - TLAW vs LYON1:26:40 - Week 7 Predictions1:40:28 - Patch 26.10

Don’t miss out on watching Spring Finals LIVE at ASU’s Mullett Arena! https://www.ticketmaster.com/lcs-spring-finals-twoday-bundle-tempe-arizona-06-13-2026/event/1900648DDD868888On this episode of The Dive Driven by Kia, LCS roster changes are the opening subject- and for good reason! Srtty may or may not be a permanent addition for DSG, though we all know where Castle is headed. LYON’s top lane spot is up for grabs and, as our hosts said, part of being a pro is being replaced. While there are competing feelings in the excitement for Castle and recognition of Dhokla’s battle, one question remains: Who will be this year’s Kia MVP and claim a spot on Kia’s All-Pro team?Azael, Kobe, and Meteos then recapped Spring Week 5, breaking down an impeccable Nexus fight that almost took a series to three games. Looking ahead, we’re moving into the last two weeks of the regular season. High pressure matches are ahead… who will make it to playoffs?This week is DIG’s last chance to go to Arizona, so they better bring their A-game! Fans are also getting a rematch between C9 Blaber and FLY Gryffinn- time to see who is really king of the jungle.Our hosts gave their predictions, but leave a comment letting us know whether or not you agree- we’re always curious to hear the thoughts of The Dive listeners! We’ll see you Saturday!Timestamps:0:00 - Intro + Roster Changes16:28 - Kia All-Pro and Kia MVP29:37 - Get your Spring Finals tickets!31:40 - DIG vs C9 Recap40:53 - DSG vs TLAW Recap47:52 - LYON vs SEN Recap1:02:02 - SR vs FLY Recap1:12:51 - Week 6 Lookahead

Don’t miss out on watching Spring Finals LIVE at ASU’s Mullett Arena! https://www.ticketmaster.com/lcs-spring-finals-twoday-bundle-tempe-arizona-06-13-2026/event/1900648DDD868888On this episode of The Dive Driven by Kia, MarkZ joins Azael, Kobe, and Meteos for a Roadshow discussion. The crew delves into the recent decisions made at the Riot Games Arena in Los Angeles, all made with a larger goal in mind: to bring you, the fans, the best LCS experience we can!Our hosts then tackled the controversial “Off-Meta Banning,” breaking down the balance between creative champion picks and the pressure to stick to proven, win-rate-driven strategies. Another hot topic: Jynxzi’s first attempt at League of Legends under the guidance of content creator Tyler1. And, of course, Patch 26.9! With the start of a season, this update brought more freedom to role quests, impactful champion changes across ranked and pro play, and rune adjustments. Last but never least, episode 13 wraps up with a recap of Spring Week 4 and the hosts’ predictions on this next week of intense LCS matchups.Got thoughts or questions? Leave a comment below! We’re always looking for more fan input & MarkZ might even return to answer a few…!Timestamps:0:00 - Intro0:59 - Fan-less Arena & Roadshows with MarkZ14:48 - Off-Meta Banning33:11 - Jynxzi and Tyler142:20 - Patch 26.91:09:07 - DIG vs FLY Recap1:18:32 - SR vs C9 Recap1:23:16 - LYON vs DSG Recap1:31:50 - TLAW vs SEN Recap1:40:37 - Week 5 Predictions!

Welcome back to The Dive Driven by Kia! To begin, Meteos gives listeners a behind-the-scenes peek inside the QA team and the play testing they’ve done on the announced Season 2 changes. Alternate builds, more versatility and creativity, item adjustments- looks like we’re gearing up for an exciting next step in Demacia!Next up: one of the hottest topics for high ELO-players: rank and MMR reset. With every reset comes the age-old debate… shorter queue times or perfect matchmaking? You can’t have both, so which would you choose?Our hosts also recapped LCS Spring Week 3, where C9 and TLAW have solidified themselves as undefeated leaders. Sentinels, on the other hand, picked up their first win. Could this be the momentum they need to push toward playoffs? Teams like DSG, DIG, and FLY still have more to show, this stage is far from over! After breaking down last week’s matches, Azael, Kobe, and Meteos shared their predictions heading into Week 4.DON’T FORGET! LCS Spring Finals tickets are on sale for all viewers! Claim your spot at ASU’s Mullett Arena to see which team will lift the trophy- we’ll see you there! https://lolesports.com/en-US/news/lcs-spring-finals-heads-to-asu-at-mullett-arenaTimestamps:0:00 - Intro & Kobe’s lucky number1:50 - Meteos’ Season 2 Thoughts!17:30 - Rank Reset for Apex Players27:46 - Short Queue Times or Perfect Matchmaking?32:42 - Spring Finals Tickets are Live!33:44 - C9 vs DSG Recap48:33 - FLY vs SEN Recap59:44 - SR vs LYON Recap1:08:36 - TLAW vs DIG Recap1:16:05 - Week 4 Lookahead!

Do YOU think a modern Masters player could go back to earlier League of Legends seasons and make rank 1?This episode of The Dive Driven by Kia kicks off with that exact debate (and yes, Kobe is VERY confident he could do it). We’re also joined by special guest Raz, who brings fresh insights and opinions on Patch 26.8 and the latest dev updates- including Tahm Kench’s “adjustments” and the addition of WASD controls in ranked.Turning to the Spring Split, our hosts break down Week 2’s matches and look ahead to Week 3, posing a striking question: are we training our rookies to play TOO safe?Raz shared stories of his travel show experiences and the indescribable feeling of being in an arena packed with passionate League of Legends fans so… DON’T FORGET! LCS Spring Finals tickets go on sale on FRIDAY (4/17, for Mastercard holders only) and SATURDAY (4/18, for general sale). Claim your spot at ASU’s Mullett Arena to see which team earns the chance to represent LCS at MSI!https://lolesports.com/en-US/news/lcs-spring-finals-heads-to-asu-at-mullett-arenaTo wrap up this episode, our hosts answered a different question from our YouTube comments- shoutout to @MrDukejt for submitting! Keep them coming, we love hearing from you! Timestamps:0:00 - Intro1:52 - Reddit Mind Benders12:39 - Dev Update + Patch 26.830:23 - Spring Finals Tickets33:59 - DSG vs C9 Lookahead46:25 - SEN vs FLY Lookahead56:02 - LYON vs SR Lookahead1:05:09 - DIG vs TLAW Lookahead1:12:02 - Thoughts on Week 3/Current Top Teams1:16:02 - Fan Question!